Hawaiian Luau, Car Show for Senior Day in the Park

Visalia's Mooney Grove will be the site of a Hawaiian luau on May 16 when more than 700 seniors, their families and caregivers are expected to attend the 45th annual Senior Day in the Park.

Organized by the Kings-Tulare Area Agency on Aging with the help of Community Services Employment Training, anyone 60 and over is welcome along with their family and friends of any age to enjoy live entertainment, food and more. There is no charge to attend and participate.

A traditional part of the event and one looked forward to every year, is the car show hosted by Visalia Vapor Trailers, the Good Timers and Rollin' Relics car clubs. More than 100 cars, originally built before the '60s have been shown each year, said Homer Davis, past president of Visalia Vapor Trailers.

There is no entry fee and no judging.

“It's really just there for the seniors,” Davis said.

In fact, most of the cars and their owners are seniors themselves, he said.

There are always a couple Model T Fords and other vintage cars of different makes and models, he said. Davis, himself, has a 1924 Model T, a Model T bucket roadster, a Bricklin and a 1941 Ford pick-up that he used to drive to college.

“Most of us enjoy the old cars,” he said. “And those who have older cars, enjoy seeing other old cars.”

On hand will be the revamped A&W Restaurant van, Davis said. The Visalia Vapor Trailers supply ice cream, and the local A&W Restaurant supplies root beer for floats that are free, he said.

Some 700 visitors attend the Senior Day in the Park event annually. This year's event starts at 9 a.m. and ends at 2 p.m. Anyone with an older vehicle is welcome to enter it in the car show. There is no preregistration.

“They can just show up and I'll tell them where to park,” Davis said.

In May, 1963 Older Americans month was declared by President John F. Kennedy and a few years later, the first Senior Day in the Park was held in Tulare County.

For more information about the event, call 1-800-434-0222.