POCATELLO — Historic Downtown Pocatello will soon celebrate the glowing success of a local committee’s work to restore the Gate City’s neon signs with a two-day festival set to begin the second Friday in July.

The local community and beyond won’t want to miss the first annual Neon Fest, slated for July 11-12. The work that Relight the Night, a committee associated with Historic Downtown Pocatello Inc., has done to restore and preserve nearly two dozen neon signs will be on full display through a variety of neon-themed events and activities, including an unveiling of the committee’s most recent project.

“I’m really just tickled to death about it. We have become a focal point of neon restoration across the country.” Randy Dixon, chairman of the Relight the Night committee, said about Neon Fest.“This is one of the most enjoyable things I’ve ever done in my life. I just feel so good about being able to be involved in Relight the Night.”

For several decades, the historic Idaho Motel provided a warm bed to the visitors of Pocatello. Located between the 1100 blocks of South Fifth and South Fourth avenues across from Idaho State University, the motel’s roots track back to 1938 and a portion of it remains today as an apartment complex next to Taco Bell.

“The Law family started the Idaho Motel in 1938 and put up the neon sign in the early 1950’s, an era when people with the (United Service Organizations) were coming here during World War II.” Dixon said. “They were a very predominant family who kept the motel going until 1976.”

That information and more will be listed on a plaque and included with the installation of the sign during a relighting ceremony at 8:30 p.m. at Lookout Point in the heart of Historic Downtown Pocatello.

‘I am super excited about this,” Stephanie Palagi, president and CEO of Historic Downtown Pocatello Inc. said about Neon Fest. “This is going to be an event that celebrates all the years of work that we’ve done to restore our historic neon signs, which is a pretty tremendous amount of work.”

Before Relight the Night flips the switch and brings back to life its 22nd sign since relighting the historic Chief Theater sign in 2013, festivities for the evening on July 12 will begin at 5 p.m., with food trucks, neon drinks, youth activities and musician Steve Eaton, a Pocatello native, taking the stage from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Palagi said, adding that the movie “Cars” will be shown on the stage after the relighting.

Much of the movie “Cars” takes place in the fictional town of Radiator Springs, of which it and the surrounding area, including landmarks and businesses, were inspired by real places along the historic U.S. Route 66, a place known for its neon signs. Dixon last year traveled to Arcadia, Oklahoma, a small town along Route 66, where he gave a presentation at the home of Jim and Shellee Graham about Relight the Night that he says has helped put the committee and its work in the Gate City on the national map when it comes to neon restoration. The Graham home has 22 neon signs on their property, Dixon said.

“What we’ve done is created this working model for people to actually be able to achieve their neon restoration goals, “Dixon said, adding that he’s hopeful the Grahams can make an appearance at Neon Fest in Pocatello in July.

Route 66, often called the Mother Road or Main Street of America, played a pivotal role in post-war road trips and military transport during World War II.

Jeff Glissendorf, the director of tourism and marketing at Visit Pocatello-Chubbuck, says Neon Fest has the potential to make the Gate City a destination much like Route 66 for people looking to relive one of America’s greatest pastimes.

“I’m an old fashioned road tripper myself, so I think there’s still a lot of nostalgia seekers out there who drive and look for the old-fashioned diners, neon lights and scenic byways,” Glissendorf said. “(Neon Fest) will continue to add to our area. It has great potential for the first year, but four or five years down the road, we’d love to see it grow into something that people are saying, ‘Hey, we need to hit Pocatello to attend that Neon Fest, we’ve heard it’s pretty awesome.’”

Palagi added, “We want to bring people from the Route 66 fan club and build it into an annual event that can grow and expand and really become a tourism highlight for our entire community.”

The Idaho Motel sign coming back to life and the presentation of “Cars” caps the end of Neon Fest, which will begin with what is actually a second Friday iteration of Historic Downtown Pocatello’s monthly Art Walk event. typically held on the first Friday of every month.

The July Art Walk will be held from 5 p.m to 8 p.m. on July 11 and will have a neon theme.

“Independence Day is the first Friday of July, so Art Walk has been pushed back a week to avoid the holiday and coincide with Neon Fest,” Palagi said.

Relight the Night will host a guided neon sign walking tour beginning at 8:30 p.m. on July 11 that will follow the neon signs outlined in a brochure beginning at the Chief Theater sign, Palagi said, adding that there is no cost to join the walk.

Leading up to the unveiling of the Idaho Motel sign on Saturday, Palagi said those visiting Pocatello for Neon Fest are invited to the Portneuf Valley Farmers Market on Saturday morning.

“Shop Downtown during the afternoon then join Relight the Night at Lookout Point for an evening of live music featuring Steve Eaton,” she said.

It’s during Neon Fest that Relight the Night will declare Pocatello as the “Neon Capital of Idaho,” Dixon said, adding that he can’t wait to celebrate the committee’s bright accomplishments and again relive the same emotions that he felt when the “Chief” came back to life over a decade ago.

“We are so anxious about what’s about to take place in this community,” he said. “It goes without saying that we are counting down the days. This is just a project that involves so much positive input.”

Palagi added, “Part of what we do downtown is we create memories for children. And if we can create memories for children in our area where they can look back and be a part of our community 50 years down the road then that’s a win for everyone.”