Rising Costs Threaten Long-Running Classic Car Parade In Logan

LOGAN, Utah — The Cache Valley Cruise-In car show has been a tradition in the area for 38 years, the car parade that goes along with it has been going for roughly 30 years.

Cache Valley Cruise-In President, Brandon Douglas said his organization learned earlier this year in a letter from Logan Mayor Holly Daines, that rising costs could threaten the future of the parade.

“They just said they’re trying to be more effective as a city, and this is what it costs them to come down and help cover traffic-wise to put on the parade,” Douglas said.

The costs, totaling around $10,000, mostly covers overtime hours for dozens of Logan City Police Officers, and employees. Mayor Holly Daines said since the road is maintained by UDOT, there are strict regulations when it comes to shutting part of it down, even on a Saturday.

 “Over the years, the cost of it has really risen,” Daines said. “There are some very stringent requirements on things that have to be done to close the road.”

Daines emphasized that the intent of the letter was never to shut the event down.

“I think we’re all compromising and working together with the point being that this is a great event,” Daines said. “Let’s keep it in Logan.”

Douglas says he’s been working closely with Mayor Daines to come up with a way to cover the costs, though it’s not easy. Even though the organization already receives a grant from the city to help cover their expenses, Douglas says their budget is tight.

“Like most families around here, we live paycheck to paycheck. Our car club lives car show to car show,” Douglas explained.

Volunteers, city have to come up with about $10,000 to keep longtime tradition going. KSL story, 5&6pm. https://t.co/iE8vgiowh3

— Mike Anderson (@mikeandersonKSL) March 21, 2019

Since the parade benefits several local businesses, Douglas says a couple have come forward and agreed to sponsor the parade, covering some of the costs.

Other cost-cutting solutions include possibly shortening the parade route, or moving it off of main street, though those ideas come with their own challenges.

“The problem that comes with that then is you’re pushing 400 cars up and down a residential street or a street that’s not designed for that heavy of traffic,” Douglas pointed out.

Still, Douglas and Daines both say they remain confident that a solution will be found. The ideas ultimately will have to be taken to the city council.

“I think we can maybe come up with an idea where we cut the expenses, the city maybe provides a little bit of help, they get some additional sponsors; that’s what I’m hoping works out,” Daines said.

“She doesn’t want it to go away. We don’t want it to go away,” Douglas later added. “Obviously all the people who come out and sit, they don’t want it to go away.”

Independent from the parade, the Cache Valley Cruise-in car show will be held at the Cache Valley Fairgrounds, July 4-6. A complete schedule can be found here: https://cvcacruisein.com/events/