August 26, 2021  
Arts & Entertainment Community Events Local History Local People Seasonal Special Interest

50s Fest Returns for 20th Year!

Don’t look so shocked, it’s true! 50s Fest & Car Cruise is returning for its 20th year in downtown Waynesburg!

On September 11, 2021, downtown Waynesburg welcomes back what has become one of the most popular car cruises in southwestern Pennsylvania. The 50s Fest & Car Cruise, presented by Waynesburg Prosperous and Beautiful, Inc., typically draws 150+ classic vehicles to downtown, including a wide assortment of hot rods, street rods, rat rods, and other classic cars, trucks and motorcycles. 

It’s a great day of family fun, because 50s Fest & Car Cruise is so much more than a typical car show. The festival also offers retro fun with dance contests, bubblegum blowing, and Hula Hoop contests with oldies music broadcast live all day by Sponsor WANB Radio’s “Greene County Greaser” aka Doug Wilson. There are also plentiful door prizes and unique shopping and specials from many downtown merchants and restaurants. 

Support is offered by several local sponsors who are featured on the back of the festival’s annual collectible T-shirt. The hand drawn t-shirt art is created each year by local artist Colleen Nelson and usually features an actual classic vehicle belonging to a cruise participant. This year’s shirt features Teri Garcia’s Dusk Rose 1967 Mustang. On the t-shirt, the car will be depicted in front of downtown Waynesburg. “It’s always fun to tie in some local landmark with the vehicle on the t-shirt, and Colleen Nelson has a way of really bringing the personality of both the site and the vehicle alive. Our 50s Fest t-shirts are highly collectible, they will go on sale at the 50s Fest at 10am for just $12, don’t miss getting yours,” advises Danielle Nyland, 50s Fest Committee Co-chairperson and board member for Waynesburg Prosperous & Beautiful.  The festival is organized by co-chairs Danielle and Doug Wilson and their committee of local gear heads, grumpy old men and car collectors.  

50s Fest tradition also offers a collectible magnetic dash plaque free to all participants and for sale to spectators as long as they last. “The generous support we receive from the downtown merchants and local businesses is what enables us to make this a free event for spectators and participants. There are no admission fees or registration fees for the 50’s Fest & Car Cruise in downtown Waynesburg. Make your plans now to be there, or be square,” warns Danielle. 

About Danielle Nyland

Current Position: Editor and Social Media Manager of GreeneScene Community Magazine. Danielle Nyland is a local photographer, artist, and writer. She is a Greene County native and currently lives in Nemacolin with her husband, Daytona, two sons, Remington and Kylo, and an English bull terrier, Sparky. Danielle has a background in graphic design, web publishing, social media, management, and photography. She graduated American Public University with an associate degree in web publishing and Bellevue University with a bachelor degree in graphic design. She has also attended the New York Institute of Photography. Before joining the team, she worked in retail and as an instructor at Laurel Business Institute. Outside of her work with the GreeneScene, she enjoys painting and drawing, photography, and loves reading books and watching movies – especially the scary ones! Danielle has been photographing and writing about local history and events since 2010 as part of the SWPA Rural Exploration team. She’s active in local community events and committees. She’s a board member with Flenniken Public Library and is on the committees for the Sheep & Fiber Festival, 50’s Fest & Car Cruise, and Light Up Night.

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