Hot Rods, Sock Hops & Summer: Rock’n August Festival takes on diabetes

Twenty years ago, the St. Albert Cruisers Car Club, the Cosmopolitan Clubs of St. Albert, Edmonton and Sturgeon, and the St. Albert Chamber of Commerce “put the pedal to the metal” to raise money for the Alberta Diabetes Foundation. What was just a fun idea to get people to donate to diabetes research and education morphed into one of the best car and music festivals in western Canada, as well as the third largest festival in St. Albert.

With the help of 40 sponsors from Edmonton, Sturgeon and St. Albert, the Rock’N August Festival is a much anticipated, week-long event complete pancake breakfasts, street dances and races, barbeques and, of course, car ogling and cruisin’. Just over half of festival goers are from beyond the Greater Edmonton area, with the furthest travelling from California to show off their classic cars. The main event is Saturday’s Show & Shine—over 800 beautiful classic cars will park at Lion’s Park so people can “remember when…” or imagine what it would be like to sit behind the wheel.

But all this nostalgic fun for all ages has a serious goal: researching and educating the people of Alberta and beyond about the rising number of people being diagnosed with diabetes. The statistics are that 1 in 4 Canadians will be affected by the disease within the next 3 to 4 years. This year’s goal is to raise $150,000 for Alberta Diabetes Foundation research. To date, the Rock’N August Festival, its sponsors/partners and attendees have raised over $600,000.

So fluff out the poodle skirt, slick on the Brylcreem (that stuff never expires) and for a minimum donation of $5 for an entrance button you can take in all the events, all week long.

For more information including the event schedule and sponsor list click here.