This year’s Box Car Days celebration certainly has an extra special feel to it
By Per Peterson
his will be no ordinary Box Car Days.
Starting Friday, the city of Tracy and all its residents will begin celebrating the 90th anniversary of the very first Box Car Days in 1927. Of course, a lot has changed over the decades, including the variety of things to do over the weekend. And this year, there will be more for everyone to enjoy than ever before.
And that has meant more stress for Tracy Area Chamber Director Kim Roggatz, who is overseeing her final Box Car Days celebration.
“There’s been a little more stress with the 90th, but overall we’re ready,” she said. “I’m just hoping the weather cooperates — there’s a very small chance of rain. And I think people are ready to get out and do something for the final hurrah of summer.”
One big change for the year’s celebration is back-to-back bands for the annual street dance.
There is no cover charge for the show, which begins at 8:30 p.m. when Minneapolis-based country band Maiden Dixie kicks off the two-part spectacle. Then, after about a half-hour of downtime while the equipment is being switched out, the Ron Keel Band will take the stage at approximately 11 p.m. and will play until 1 a.m. Its summer tour schedule featured headline shows at major biker events, fairs, festivals and arenas, as well as a couple of dates with the multi-platinum rock group Tesla.
Roggatz said both bands come very highly recommended.
Maiden Dixie, we’ve heard a lot about them recently; I was reading some of their reviews and they’re kind of the ‘young group to watch’ from Nashville,” she said. “I think we’re going to see a lot from them in the future and it will be cool that we had them here. Ron Keel Band is kind of a spin-off of Hairball. I’ve heard a lot of great things about them, they put on a great show.”
Maiden Dixie has put on more than 100 live concerts on its Unsafe & Sound tour.
Anyone can attend the street dance, but a 21-and-over arm band is required to purchase alcohol.
For more on this article, see this week’s Headlight-Herald.