At a time when small communities across North Dakota are shrinking, there’s one that is bucking that trend and bringing new life to its Main Street every summer.
Like most other small towns across the state, Bottineau has lost population to the tune of about 700 people in the past 40 years. So it’s not unlike many of its neighbors. What is different is how the entire community and surrounding area is working to “stop the bleeding.”
For the past 15 years, Bottineau has held a car show on Main Street and from what the locals have said, it gets bigger and better every year. On Aug. 2, there were about 240 vehicles entered into the Bottineau Car Show. That’s up considerably from the 190 entered last year.
There are a lot of places that have car shows these days. And other than people showing off their classic muscle cars or old Model T’s, what could a car show do for a local economy?
Plenty in Bottineau’s case.
In talking with several community leaders during the car show, it was anticipated the show brought about 1,500 people to town who wouldn’t normally be there, at least not at the same time. So imagine, Bottineau’s population at 2,100 with an additional 1,500 people in town on a hot Saturday afternoon.
Main Street was crawling with people.
That said, local downtown merchants had sidewalk sales, others had special offers for their products, a bank had a digital display of the car show on its marquee and there were at least six food trucks.
But the best part of this particular Saturday afternoon near the Canadian border was this car show brought people to town from all over the place. As an example, there were numerous car show entries from Montana, there was one from Wisconsin, there was at least one from Manitoba and here’s the amazing part, one person, with a South African address, had a jeep entered in the show. But we’ll put an asterisk beside that one, assuming he is a farm worker in the area.
Within North Dakota, the following communities were represented; Surrey, Minot, Belcourt, Carpio, Beach, Pembina, Cavalier, Jamestown, Bismarck, Westhope and many others including many from right there in Bottineau.
It most likely wouldn’t be the car show it is without the help of the local Chamber of Commerce. For it was the chamber and other sponsors who gave away numerous prizes for kids and adults in addition to trophies for the best vehicles.
It was pretty obvious the children’s prizes drew a considerable crowd of young families who were either part of the show, or were there to enjoy an afternoon of gazing at nostalgia.
Chamber members made it clear they’re not going to let their county seat community shrink anymore than it already has. Chamber staff and a number of volunteers work all year to make the car show bigger and better to draw more people to Bottineau in early August.
Some of the additional activities included bouncy houses, face painting and free swimming for the kids. Those activities were big draws in addition to the children’s prizes.
Part of the show included tractor row. There was an entire side street that was blocked and only tractors were allowed in. At noon, those tractors had a parade right down the middle of Main Street where the car show was taking place. That got the attention of just about everybody on the street.
Yes, there are a lot of car shows happening in North Dakota every summer. Some are impromptu, some are laid back, some are happening weekly, but there is no doubt the Bottineau show is highly organized and well played out.
And in case you’re wondering, with 240 entries, the people’s choice winner was a 1929 Mercedes Benz roadster.