RIDE-CT – Classic Cars Celebrating Classic Cars in Connecticut
MORRIS, CT – For the second consecutive year (and for the third time in four years), Morris’ pleasant “Car Show on the Beach” on the south shore of Bantam Lake has been canceled, primarily due to the one-week postponement of a larger show nearby because of rain. The show at Morris Town Beach had been scheduled for this Sunday (October 18).
The Cars for Kids Automobile Show at Connecticut Junior Republic just a few miles away in Litchfield was originally set for October 11 but rain that day forced a postponement, putting the Car Show on the Beach in the position of potentially losing entries to the competing event.
So, once again, it’s a no-go.
“Due to the weather impacting other local car shows, we’ve made the decision to reschedule. We’ll be back next year, with a new date, and a lot more to look forward to,” stated a social media post by the show’s organizers – the Morris Fire Company and the Morris Beach & Recreation.
Why a solution to this repeated lamentable situation cannot be found seems ridiculous. The situation is mostly caused by a logjam of shows in the area at the height of the foliage season. This Saturday (October 17) there’s also the Litchfield Lions Club Fall Festival Car Show in Bantam, while on October 25 there’s the March Farm’s Trunk or Treat Car Show in Bethlehem.
As originally scheduled, that meant four shows over three weekends in a cluster of three towns (with Bantam being a part of Litchfield). Until it rained on October 11.
Perhaps a summit involving the four shows can arrive at a solution. One is certainly needed. Maybe the Car Show on the Beach could shift to the Saturday preceding the Cars for Kids show or the Saturday before the March Farm’s Trunk or Treat show.
Or, if maintains its traditional position of being the Sunday following Cars for Kids, maybe Cars for Kids could postpone two weeks instead of one if a rain date is required. At least there’d be some physical separation between the show at CJR in Litchfield and the one on the hilltop farm in Bethlehem.
What exists currently isn’t working. The CJR show looks bad by big-footing and crushing the Morris show (even though rain dates for car shows are usually the next weekend).
Perhaps the Car Show on the Beach could shift to a spring date to help launch the car show season. Budding trees aren’t as beautiful as fall colors, but at least the show could go on. Essentially forcing what is a picturesque and welcoming show to cancel three out of four years seems rude. Shows need to work together, not stomp on one another even if the conflict is unintentional.
