COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – A total of 14 local organizations will split $30,000 in donations from Coldwater’s 30th Annual Swap Meet and Car Show. The groups received their checks from the Swap Meet and Car Show committee Wednesday night in the 4-H Cabin at the Branch County Fairgrounds. The meet on May 13 and May 14, 2017 drew 1,412 show vehicles, which was about 350 more than last year.
Event Chair Dale Parshall said Saturday was their biggest day, but the attendance on Sunday was way down from the past.
He admitted spectator parking Saturday was the elephant in the room. Traffic was gridlocked Saturday morning as some people had to wait as long as 45 minutes to get into the Branch County Fairgrounds.
Parshall said they plan next year to shuttle cars through the swap meet gate starting at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday in order to ease congestion. He said most of the swap meet participants are in place by 8:00 a.m.
Since the Swap Meet and Car Show was reorganized into a non-profit organization in 2010, it has given out over $153,000 to other non-profit groups in Branch County.
This year’s recipients were the Branch County Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Branch Area Food Pantry, Branch County Fairgrounds, Branch Area Careers Center, Family Promise of Branch County, First Presbyterian Health Clinic, Sexual Assault Services of Branch County, Jacobs Well Ministries, Coach Eby Youth and Family Center, Branch County Humane Society, Tommy’s House, the Children’s Museum, Beginnings Care for Life Center and the CAPA Council.
