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Twenty-two years ago, a few local car buffs organized the first Graffiti Weekend celebration in Roseburg. There were no games or prizes, live music or cash giveaways. But that didn't matter. There were classic automobiles, and for the 200 people in attendance, that was enough.
Now, however, the Graffiti Weekend has become a grand local tradition that features something both the young and old can appreciate.
"I've seen a 5-day-old baby, newlyweds, a 103-year-old lady and everybody in between," said Don Larson, an organizer of the event. "People tell you 'thank you' for having a nice time, and that makes it worth it. Thank you means the world."
About 20 activities are included in this year's Graffiti Weekend, which runs throughSunday in Douglas County.
During this time, visitors can see a wide selection of art at the "Car Talk" display at the Umpqua Valley Arts Center. They can traverse the Sutherlin area in a poker run and they can attend one of numerous shows featuring classic cars and antique pickups. The Stray Angels, Umpqua Flatheads and other local groups joined forces to create the offerings.
Organizers agree that the two most popular events are the River Forks Show-N-Shine and the Umpqua Flatheads Roseburg Graffiti Night Cruise. Both activities take place Saturday.
For the Flatheads cruise, each vehicle must have been made in 1960 or earlier. Zink and Larson said they expect about 600 vehicles to participate this year, which come from as far away as Montana, Illinois, Texas and Nevada.
"For a lot of people, it's a way to show off their cars and relive their cruising days," Zink said. "I still kind of get the chills (when I see the parade of cars), just because so many people come out and you feel like you've done something right."
Other events popular with area residents are the retirement and rest home exhibits, the Graffiti Celebration at the Roseburg Town Center and the Purple Foot Gang Poker Run and Car Show.
The retirement and rest home exhibits take place Thursday in Roseburg from 1 to 4 p.m. During this time, people get together with their classic cars and proceed to visit numerous local retirement communities. It's a chance, Larson said, for the show to come to people who might not have otherwise be able to attend.
"The looks on people's faces make it worthwhile," he said.
The Days of Old Graffiti Celebration is a chance for visitors to rummage through antiques and other memorabilia at the sidewalk sales, and during the poker run, people can engage in a pleasant two-hour drive through Douglas County. Participating in the run or the car show that follows costs $4, while paying $12 for a T-shirt will buy admittance into both. Proceeds will benefit Jolene Coleman of Sutherlin, a 21-year-old battling cancer.
UNIVERSAL APPEAL
For Larson, Graffiti Weekend takes him back to his youth. In the 1950s and '60s, he said, Roseburg was a simple, relaxed town. People left their doors unlocked when they left the house. Children played in the parks unsupervised, and everybody was willing to lend each other a hand.
Seeing classic automobiles parading through Douglas County, he said, is like seeing a piece of history reborn.
"It takes me back to a time when people were feeling more comfortable with life," he said.
Dorothea Tyler of the Stray Angels agrees. She thinks the young and old appreciate Graffiti Weekend because cars have a universal appeal.
"Kids are fascinated by a 50- to 70-year-old car that is still running," she said. "Cars made today won't run that long down the road."
Larson said organizing Graffiti Weekend takes about a year of preparation and cooperation from thousands of volunteers. The Roseburg Area Chamber of Commerce helps out too and has brought in sponsors for the event.
Sponsors help pay for services such as free parking and shuttle services for the Saturday events, which originate from the Douglas County Fairgrounds and help avoid traffic jams at River Forks Park.
The majority of the Graffiti events are free. Those entering cars or pickups usually pay a small fee to cover costs -- money that is later donated to Doernbecher Children's Hospital in Portland, the local Camp Millennium for children dealing with cancer and other charities.
Raising this money, as well as giving people a good time, are Larson's main objectives. He said he wants people to be happy and safe, and as for himself, he looks forward to learning from each celebration to make the next one even better.
"Organizing it has always been a challenge, but you could always get it done," Larson said. "You never stop learning, no matter how old you are."
* You can reach reporter Erin Snelgrove at 957-4208 or by e-mail at esnelgrove@newsreview.info.
Now, however, the Graffiti Weekend has become a grand local tradition that features something both the young and old can appreciate.
"I've seen a 5-day-old baby, newlyweds, a 103-year-old lady and everybody in between," said Don Larson, an organizer of the event. "People tell you 'thank you' for having a nice time, and that makes it worth it. Thank you means the world."
About 20 activities are included in this year's Graffiti Weekend, which runs throughSunday in Douglas County.
During this time, visitors can see a wide selection of art at the "Car Talk" display at the Umpqua Valley Arts Center. They can traverse the Sutherlin area in a poker run and they can attend one of numerous shows featuring classic cars and antique pickups. The Stray Angels, Umpqua Flatheads and other local groups joined forces to create the offerings.
Organizers agree that the two most popular events are the River Forks Show-N-Shine and the Umpqua Flatheads Roseburg Graffiti Night Cruise. Both activities take place Saturday.
For the Flatheads cruise, each vehicle must have been made in 1960 or earlier. Zink and Larson said they expect about 600 vehicles to participate this year, which come from as far away as Montana, Illinois, Texas and Nevada.
"For a lot of people, it's a way to show off their cars and relive their cruising days," Zink said. "I still kind of get the chills (when I see the parade of cars), just because so many people come out and you feel like you've done something right."
Other events popular with area residents are the retirement and rest home exhibits, the Graffiti Celebration at the Roseburg Town Center and the Purple Foot Gang Poker Run and Car Show.
The retirement and rest home exhibits take place Thursday in Roseburg from 1 to 4 p.m. During this time, people get together with their classic cars and proceed to visit numerous local retirement communities. It's a chance, Larson said, for the show to come to people who might not have otherwise be able to attend.
"The looks on people's faces make it worthwhile," he said.
The Days of Old Graffiti Celebration is a chance for visitors to rummage through antiques and other memorabilia at the sidewalk sales, and during the poker run, people can engage in a pleasant two-hour drive through Douglas County. Participating in the run or the car show that follows costs $4, while paying $12 for a T-shirt will buy admittance into both. Proceeds will benefit Jolene Coleman of Sutherlin, a 21-year-old battling cancer.
UNIVERSAL APPEAL
For Larson, Graffiti Weekend takes him back to his youth. In the 1950s and '60s, he said, Roseburg was a simple, relaxed town. People left their doors unlocked when they left the house. Children played in the parks unsupervised, and everybody was willing to lend each other a hand.
Seeing classic automobiles parading through Douglas County, he said, is like seeing a piece of history reborn.
"It takes me back to a time when people were feeling more comfortable with life," he said.
Dorothea Tyler of the Stray Angels agrees. She thinks the young and old appreciate Graffiti Weekend because cars have a universal appeal.
"Kids are fascinated by a 50- to 70-year-old car that is still running," she said. "Cars made today won't run that long down the road."
Larson said organizing Graffiti Weekend takes about a year of preparation and cooperation from thousands of volunteers. The Roseburg Area Chamber of Commerce helps out too and has brought in sponsors for the event.
Sponsors help pay for services such as free parking and shuttle services for the Saturday events, which originate from the Douglas County Fairgrounds and help avoid traffic jams at River Forks Park.
The majority of the Graffiti events are free. Those entering cars or pickups usually pay a small fee to cover costs -- money that is later donated to Doernbecher Children's Hospital in Portland, the local Camp Millennium for children dealing with cancer and other charities.
Raising this money, as well as giving people a good time, are Larson's main objectives. He said he wants people to be happy and safe, and as for himself, he looks forward to learning from each celebration to make the next one even better.
"Organizing it has always been a challenge, but you could always get it done," Larson said. "You never stop learning, no matter how old you are."
* You can reach reporter Erin Snelgrove at 957-4208 or by e-mail at esnelgrove@newsreview.info.
