See cars, aircraft and more at Grissom, Oct. 24
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The third time is the charm. It’s a saying that has been around since the 16th century, and on Oct. 24, the Grissom Air Museum is hoping that rule of three holds true. It will host the Warbird Cruise-In on that date, inviting hundreds of car enthusiasts to the museum for a day of hot rods and aviation history.
According to Floyd Krieg, volunteer with the museum, the theme of the event has changed slightly, as it originally was scheduled to take place on Aug. 1. Weather and other conflicts pushed the date of the cruise-in twice, leaving it as an early autumn event. The organizers are leaning into the change, however.
“Since it’s close to Halloween now, we’re trying to get some of the guys with cars to pass out candy,” said Krieg. “We’re going to encourage costumes, and there will be a bounce house and music.”
According to the museum’s executive director Rhiannon Cizon, there will be quite a bit more than what an average car show might offer. The trunk or treat is just one aspect of it, and participating car owners will be given pumpkin signs to display, letting visitors know to stop for a treat. And for those who don’t or can’t come in costume, the museum will have loot bags for a nominal fee so everyone can participate.
Given that the show has shifted to appeal to a younger crowd with the seasonal festivities, Cizon sees an opportunity for young ones who might not have attended in August.
“For kids who love cars, this is the place to go,” said Cizon. “They have a great opportunity to look with their eyes and not with their hands and learn to admire what they can see.”
Cizon added that there will be food and merchandise vendors at the event, including a couple that she is particularly excited to have in attendance.
“The Military Celebration Commission will be here,” said Cizon. “They’re going to be doing raffles to raise money for a celebration of the 80th anniversary of the Air Force, which happens next year. And we have a veteran, Eric Donoho. He is an author, and he talks a lot about his journey.”
Donoho is a retired sergeant from the U.S. Army who served in Iraq in 2006 as airborne infantry and a scout and sniper. He received a Purple Heart for injuries received in the line of duty, and his memoir, “Canyon of Hope: From Darkness to Dawn,” recounts his time in combat, the trauma of his experience, and how he rebuilt his life after coming home.
For car show participants, registration is 7:30-9:30 a.m. Since the cars can be parked beneath the aircraft on the museum grounds, there will be great photo opportunities for participants and visitors alike. That said, the gates won’t open any earlier for those seeking a particular spot.
The event runs from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Awards should be given out around 1:30 p.m. The Warbird Cruise-In is a bit different when it comes to awards as well. The first 250 entrants will receive a commemorative America250 dash plaque. And the car owners will vote for many of the awards.
The visitors will have a chance to vote the People’s Choice award. The reserve base’s wing commander will choose the winner of the Commander’s Award. The special Barry Riggs and Bud Fivecoate awards will be selected by the families of those individuals, and the museum’s volunteers will be tasked with choosing who takes home the titular Warbird Trophy.
“Most of our guys here are not just plane guys; they’re car guys as well,” said Cizon. “So, we trust their opinion. In the event that we have a tie among our volunteers, then our board chair, who is also a car guy and has shown his vehicle plenty of times, will be the tiebreaker.”
Admission to the museum and car show will be just $5 per person, with children ages 12 and under admitted free. This includes access to the museum’s new B-58 display, which preserves the legendary aircraft that once called Grissom its operational home. The museum has one of just seven remaining B-58s
“This is our big fundraiser, and 100 percent of the proceeds from this event goes towards supporting the museum’s operations,” said Cizon. “We’re the only Cold War museum in Indiana. We’re one of only a handful of Cold War museums in the U.S. So, we are a very important location for the preservation of veterans’ stories. We just happen to use military aviation as our lens.”
There are still vendor opportunities available, though time is running out to register. Cizon said they will take new vendors through Oct. 17; food, business, or craft. Electricity is limited, but potable water is available. To register as a vendor, visit www.grissomairmuseum.com and look under Calendar Events. There is no pre-registration required for the vehicles, and admission is at the gate on the day of the event.