Scoop Waukegan has its origins in the days when a taxi driver would “scoop” up riders downtown. Nowadays, it’s a car show and car parade that brings families, car enthusiasts and the generally curious together downtown on a summer weekend. Scoop Waukegan is from 5 to 9 p.m. July 12 and 12 to 9 p.m. July 13 on Genesee and Water streets in downtown Waukegan. Presented by the City of Waukegan, Scoop Waukegan includes a car parade, a car show, live music and food vendors, said David Motley, director of public relations with the City of Waukegan. “This is an event based on a common practice from the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s where people would hang out downtown and show off their cool cars and enjoy one another’s company,” he said. “This event is meant to emulate that event from our history.” It’s been run by various groups over the years after it become an official event, he said. “It is basically a car show with cars of all types,” he said. “This year as always we are focusing on the classic cars and matching the classic cars with amazing food and live entertainment.” Headlining the event July 12 is blues piano player Eddie Domino, nephew of legendary Louisiana rhythm and blues piano player Fats Domino. The Scoop happens on July 12. “Classic cars can line up and have the exclusive opportunity to drive around the downtown, much like they did in the event’s history,” he said. “We have a limit of 1,000 classic cars that can join us on Friday night from 5 o’clock to 9 o’clock to have that exclusive opportunity to parade around downtown … and show off their classic vehicles, driving up and down the streets and making the route that is known as Scoop.” Long ago, a Waukegan cabbie referred to this process of driving around downtown and picking up passengers as “scooping the loop,” Motley said. “He would scoop up passengers and drop them off and basically do a loop in the downtown. Somehow that stuck,” he said. There are two check-in points: Grand and County streets and the other at Water Street and Sheridan Road. People who want to participate can check in at either location, he said. “If they pass the judgment of the classic car folks they get the opportunity to enter the grounds,” he said. That’s right, cars must pass muster. “There’s a vetting process so it’s not just anybody’s grocery-getter can get in there,” he said. “It’s got to be a show-worthy car.” Cars from the 1920s to the 2000s will be in the parade. “Those types of cool cars from Waukegan’s history and also the history of the United States, the emergence of the vehicle,” he said. “Where better to highlight and pay tribute to these vehicles than a lot of these American-made cars from that era. You’ll get your Corvettes and you’ll get your Camaros and you’ll get every manner of Chevrolet. It’s not a parade of cars, it’s more like a museum parade of amazing vehicles.” On July 13, people who want to show their cars — or cruise in and park — can check in starting at 11 a.m. at Water Street and Sheridan Road. Cars on display will include imports, rat rods (a custom car with an unfinished appearance), lowriders, motorcycles, modern classics and trucks. Vehicles are allowed in until judging begins at 1 p.m. Admission is free to attend and to show their cars, Motley said. The city works with two classic car clubs to put on the event: the Viejitos Vicleros and the Mis-Shifts Car Club. DJ. Spontaneous will be spinning “legit 45 records” from the main stage from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. July 13, he said. Awards are handed out from 3-5 p.m. Meanwhile, the music continues on the main stage with the band Caliente from 3:30-5:30 p.m. “The headliner on Saturday night is hometown hero, Raphael Mendez and the Fabulous House Rockers from 6:30-8:30 p.m.,” he said. Another musical option is the Gospel on the Beach event from 12-8 p.m. July 13 at Stiner Pavilion at the Waukegan Beach. “It’s a second stage for Scoop and another way to be connected to that diversity and amazing community,” he said. There will be a small selection of food vendors, he said, but people won’t be hard-pressed to find food and drinks with the Scoop’s proximity to downtown. “We’re very lucky to have a very occupied downtown Waukegan with great amenities, restaurants and pubs and the like, but we are also bringing in a limited number of food vendors,” he said. “One of our most favorite food vendors for Scoop is Tres Flores Funnel Cakes, they always have a long line of supporters. They’re so popular … and we’re really happy to bring them back.” There also won’t be craft and trinket vendors or carnival-style rides. “We don’t want to take away from the importance and reverence for the vehicles, so we don’t have a lot of additional things going on,” he said. “It’s a very focused event on vehicles and classic cars.” Scoop Waukegan continues to be popular for a variety of reasons, he said. “(Car enthusiasts) really enjoy this experience from their youth or when they were younger people growing up in this community,” he said. “You are able to encounter so many people who have such reverence for the event. It celebrates the diversity of the community with the common thread that everybody loves these cars.” Annie Alleman is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun. Scoop Waukegan When: 5-9 p.m. July 12 and 12-9 p.m. July 13 Where: Genesee and Water streets in Waukegan Tickets: Free Information: 847-599-2500; scoopwaukegan.com