A semi-formal dinner dance kicks off the annual Oldsmar Days and Nights festival, which serves as the centerpiece of the city’s centennial celebration in 2016.
Oldsmar turns 100 this year, and by the time it’s over, the city might need another century to recover from the all the centennial celebrations.
The Oldsmar100 festivities kicked off in January with the first of four Fifth Friday concerts, but the partying will go to another level this weekend, thanks to a semi-formal dinner dance at Nielsen on Thursday night and the annual Oldsmar Days and Nights festival over the weekend.
The massive four days of fun will feature classic cars and classic rock, food and drink, singing and dancing, and also plenty of reminders of what the weekend is all about.
“I think it’s going to be huge,” Mayor Doug Bevis told Oldsmar Connect. “It’s exciting for the city to recognize its history by looking back, but also its future by looking forward.”
“But the thing I want to focus on is how we got to one hundred, and that’s why we try to ingrain that in everything we do,” he added. “Our history is very important, and we don’t want to forget it.”
A major part of Oldsmar’s history comes from the city’s founder, automobile pioneer Ransom E. Olds.
Having been named after such an import figure in American history is what sets Oldsmar apart from many other communities in the area, according to Bevis.
“I don’t know the history of every municipality, but I know we’re one of the only ones named after something or someone tangible,” he said. “And we take pride in that.”
That pride will be on full display throughout the weekend.
From the sold-out Centennial Dinner Dance, which will feature vintage Oldsmobiles as well as appearances by members of the Olds family, to the trio of classic car shows that are being held over the weekend, the spirit of R.E. Olds himself will be felt all weekend.
“I’ve already seen all these classic Oldsmobiles around town,” Council member Dan Saracki, the chair of the Oldsmar100 committee, said on the morning of the dance.
“And at the dance tonight, four of R.E. Olds’ grandkids will be present, plus a classic Olds from every decade from 1900 to 2004 will be on display. It’s going to be pretty special.”
Following the dance, the 55th annual Oldsmar Days and Nights gets into full swing on Friday evening, with a classic Olds drive-in event on Main Street “that would make R.E. Olds proud,” according to the press materials.
The downtown event will tie-in with the actual festival taking place at R.E. Olds Park, and shuttle services will be available to ferry visitors from State Street to the park.
From there, the fun will continue throughout the weekend, with carnival rides, classic rock performances, water skiers on the bay and, of course, more car shows.
In fact, there are so many cars in town, Saracki said the Oldsmar Annual Parade down State Street on Saturday had to be extended this year.
“We had to extend the parade and make the route longer because we have so many entries this year,” he said.
“It really is going to be the biggest weekend in Oldsmar’s history, and I can’t wait!”
For more information on Oldsmar Days and Nights, visit this section of the Upper Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce website.
For more information on Oldsmar’s Centennial celebrations, visit Oldsmar100.com.
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