There was no better way to kick off Valparaiso’s 44th Annual Popcorn Fest this week than with the Hot Wheels Race of Champions and Food Truck Rally on Thursday and the highly anticipated Kickoff Concert on Friday.
People of all ages came out to enjoy food from local favorites like Valpo Velvet and The Lunch Box, chat with vendors like Currie Motors and HealthLinc of Valparaiso, and rock the night away to the Together Band.
“Valpo is just a really unique community and Popcorn Fest shows that off really well,” Fox said. “I don't feel like there's another town around that really does as good of a job as Valpo when it comes to bringing people together.”
The Popcorn Fest has become a long-standing tradition for Region locals but the Hot Wheels Race was going long before it joined the festivities to adorn Popcorn.
Hot Wheels Race of Champions Chairman Greg Simms said that the event actually started in the Washington Township Schools hallway in 1999, and the track wasn’t anything close to today’s 8-car-wide track that towers at 11-feet high and 80 - feet long. The love of Mattel's cars is timeless so generations of Hot Wheels collectors all came out with a good cause.
“If you look out into the crowd, you see older people reliving their childhood and then the young kids are enthused about looking at these cars,” Simms expressed. “It doesn't matter who you are, gender-wise, age-wise, people love playing with cars.”
With its long-standing tradition, the Hot Wheels Race is still continuing to grow, with just over 900 entries last year. This year they saw close to 1,000. To keep the event affordable, family-friendly, and fun for everyone, the entry fee was only $1. The proceeds from the race go to multiple charities; some even being sponsored by Hot Wheels themselves like Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Stop the Bleed, and Suicide Prevention. The generosity, community, and love of toy cars go well beyond the track.
The Hot Wheels Race of Champions wasn’t the only thing to grow during this year’s Popcorn Fest festivities. With the change of date to the Kickoff Concert to Friday instead of Thursday, it was even bigger than anticipated. Hundreds of people set out their chairs, slipped on their favorite dancing shoes, and got groovy. As the Together Band played iconic song after iconic song, couples swayed along to their favorites. Even a few babies had a fun time throwing their hands in the air.
Ultimately, the 44th annual Valparaiso Popcorn Festival couldn’t have gotten off to a better start. If the Kickoff Concert and Hotwheels Race of Champions are any sign, tomorrow’s festivities are sure to be even more incredible.
“Tonight has been fantastic. We’re so thrilled that we got to host the Together Band for our Kickoff Concert and we can’t wait to continue celebrating with everyone tomorrow,” said Tom Clifford, executive event and marketing manager for Valparaiso Events.
So come on out and enjoy one of the Region’s greatest festivals. With a parade maxed out with floats and hundreds of vendors ready to go, it’s sure to be another unforgettable moment in Valparaiso's history.
To learn more about the Valparaiso Popcorn Fest visit, https://www.valparaisoevents.com/event/valparaiso-popcorn-festival.