MONTPELIER — Bear Lake Valley's classic car event is celebrating its 20th anniversary milestone this year with two nights of activities, dozens of vintage vehicles and a special cash prize for best of show winners.

Each year, car enthusiasts from near and far bring between 80 and 90 vehicles to Wells Stock Park for a day of showcasing their custom builds, vintage vehicles and radical rides. Wells Stock Park sits at the corner of U.S. Highway 89 and 30, behind the Oregon Trail Center.

As a prelude to the event on July 24 at the park, the festivities will kick off with a cornhole tournament, giving out-of-town visitors something to do after arriving in Montpelier for the weekend. Entry costs between $5 and $10 per team. The evening will also feature desserts from Grace-based Rolled Moose ice cream, along with a gourmet fry vendor.

The car show itself runs the following day on July 25. Saturday's schedule kicks off with registration from 8 to 10 a.m., as participants arrive to sign in their vehicles.

The show runs from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with an awards ceremony to follow. The Montpelier Rotary Club will sell grilled hot dogs and hamburgers from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., with proceeds supporting the show's operating costs.

The event operates as a "sponsor's choice" show, a format organizer Jim Gricklock has used since it began 20 years ago. Local businesses each contribute $125 to sponsor. On the day of the event, sponsors walk the rows of vehicles and select their top three favorites.

Votes are tallied using a point system to determine two winners: an overall Best of Show and a Local Best of Show, reserved for entrants from the Bear Lake Valley area, including Montpelier, Soda Springs and Grace. The local award ensures area residents can compete for recognition without going head-to-head with high-dollar vehicles from larger markets.

This year, both winners will take home a $500 cash prize. The enhanced cash prize is a special addition for the 20th anniversary.

Beyond the vehicles, the show has grown to include a craft and vendor fair, giving family members who aren't car enthusiasts something to browse while others admire the automobiles. Vendors donate items for the show's door prize drawings, which help fund the event alongside ticket sales. Local businesses also contribute door prizes ranging from tools and hats to cash.

Show merchandise will include custom-designed 20-ounce tumblers featuring show artwork alongside America250 and Route 66 centennial designs, as well as custom T-shirts made to order.

Griglack said the show has become a community fixture that residents look forward to each summer.

"It's just a community event that people look forward to coming out to and seeing all the new cars and what people have done," Griglack said.

The show's flyer welcomes vehicles of every condition, from pristine restorations to unfinished projects.

“If it has a motor, bring it,” Griglack said. “Even if it doesn't have a motor, bring it. We’ve had some where they’ve pushed them in.”