Belle Vernon preparing for weekend celebration

A block party, bike run and car show will take place Saturday.

The 11th annual Belle Vernon Block Party, Bike Run and Car Show will take place Saturday afternoon.

Broad Avenue in North Belle Vernon will be closed from Vine to Grant Street as vendors, food trucks and vintage cars, bikes and trucks line the avenue to raise money for a good cause.

All proceeds from the event will benefit the Belle Vernon and North Belle Vernon Volunteer Fire Departments.

The event will begin with registration for the bike run at 10 a.m. at the Belle Vernon Musical Society, located at 514 Grant St.

At 11 a.m., there will be a blessing of the bikes before kickstands are up.

Organizer Kim Gray said 50 motorcycles typically participate in the ride.

Bikers usually return to the block party by 4 p.m., and entertainment, vendors and food trucks will be open all afternoon into the evening.

The car show will begin at noon with registrations. Gray said they usually have up to 50 cars participating, and 15 trophies will be awarded this year.

Cars will line up from Vine to Grant Street, and favorites will be determined by show participants.

Those who enter into the car show will each be given a ballot to walk through and vote for their favorites in various categories.

“That way instead of having someone walk around to judge, people are judged by their peers,” Gray said.

Entertainment will keep guests dancing throughout the day beginning with a performance at noon by DJ EESH.

Three bands will play this year, starting with Patron at 2 p.m., followed by Dirty $anchez at 5 p.m.

Bad Mother Trucker will close the night, performing from 7 to 10 p.m.

There will be several vendors and food trucks set up along the avenue for residents to shop, grab lunch or other refreshments.

Gray said there are usually about 50 vendors and eight food trucks.

Event organizers will sell tickets to a half-the-take and basket auction throughout the day that will feature more than 30 baskets donated by members of the community.

Baskets are still being accepted for the auction and can be donated by contacting Minniti Motorsports at 724-929-0111.

At 7 p.m., Grey will take the mic at the bandstand on Arch Street to announce car show favorites and basket auction winners.

This year’s event is sponsored by Minniti Motorsports, Just A Tavern, Southwestern Auto & Tags, GRS Coating Services LLC, Hydra Service Inc., Leaning House Fine Cigars, Ultimate Bronze 2, 1933 Grill, O’Brien Trucking, Edward Mendola CPA, Jake’s Pizza, Century 21 Frontier Reality, Mobile Cold Solutions, Pawlak HVAC, Mav’s Gym, Bill Brown Plumbing & General Contracting, Check Eye Group, Belle Vernon Musical Society and Doe Eyed Studio.

For more information or updates, find the Belle Vernon Block Party page on Facebook.