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By Brandie Gay
The annual Summer Palooza was held on July 13, 2024, at the historic Vandalia Area Fairgrounds. This free event is a celebration of local pride, camaraderie, and the simple joys of summer.
The day kicked off with vendors unfolding their tables, revealing a mixture of treasures for everyone. By 10 a.m., the Car Cruise-In was in full swing. Classic cars, polished to perfection, lined up like a colorful parade. Their gleaming chrome and rumbling engines transported visitors back in time.
Proud owners shared stories of restoration, and onlookers marveled at the sleek lines of mid-century automobiles. It was a nostalgic journey down memory lane for some.
The fairgrounds transformed into a playground for all ages at 2 p.m. with cornhole and kid’s games.
No fair is complete without food, and the Summer Palooza delivered. Along with hamburgers and hotdogs, at 4 p.m., you event goers could find fish on the menu at the food stand, and the Aletha Club held a cake and ice cream social.
The locals came out to watch and participate in the back seat driver’s competition and the mud-pig catch. The Summer Palooza would close out the event with the Garden Tractor pull at 7 p.m.