By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post
Automobile enthusiasts will once again take over downtown Hays and Municipal Park this weekend for the annual Thunder on the Plains Car, Truck and Cycle Show.
Last year, the annual event that brings together cars, trucks, motorcycles, and tractors from across the region celebrated its return to downtown with more than 230 attendees, and this year, they will celebrate their 10th year on Friday and Saturday.
The event will, once again, begin with the cruise-in starting at Big Creek Crossing at 6 p.m. on Friday. The cars will travel to 27th Street, then proceed down to Main Street and the park.
Jackie Lang, a member of Thunder on the Plains, said they would like people to line Main Street to get a good look at the cars that will be on display on Saturday.
"If people want to see that parade of cars, they're sure welcome to come down and see it," Lang said. "That's a good way to see a lot of the cars that are going to be in the show, just to come down."
Once at the park downtown, there will be a barbecue. And if you want to register a vehicle but missed the preregistration deadline, you can register on Friday night.
Saturday’s event opens with registration from 7:30 to 10 a.m. at Municipal Park.
The live auction will take place at 12:30 p.m., followed by the awards ceremony at 2 p.m.
There are more than 50 awards up for grabs and $1,000 in cash prizes.
The awards include Best of Show in four categories: car, truck, cycle and tractors.
They also have awards for Kids' Choice, Mayor's Choice, Best Paint, Best Interior and Best Engine.
There will also be an award for project cars. They hope this will convince people to bring their vehicles, of all shapes and sizes, to the show.
"Why have this beautiful automobile hidden in your garage if you're never going to let anybody see it?" Lang said. "It's really something we encourage is for people to get them out, bring them out, show them off."
There will also be plenty of things for families and kids to enjoy.
The Hays High cheerleaders will be doing face painting and a bounce house.
The beer garden returns, accompanied by several other food vendors. That includes barbecue, snow cones, bubble tea and a cigar vendor.
While the weekend is about the fun of the show and enjoying the vehicles, for the Thunder on the Plains group, the fundraising and the lives they affect through the show remain the highlight.
In the nine years leading up to the 2025 show, the group has donated more than $140,000 to local nonprofit organizations.
Last year, the group elected to focus on a larger organization and raised almost $17,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Missouri and Kansas.
Once again this year, 100% of the proceeds from the show’s auction will benefit a wish recipient in Ellis County and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The live auction begins at 12:30 p.m.
Lang said last year, three local children who were waiting for their wishes received them. All three went to Disney World.
There is one Ellis County child who is waiting for a wish this year, and they are planning to attend the show.
This year, Thunder on the Plains also will continue to provide scholarships to Ellis County seniors pursuing education in the automotive industry.
This year, Nikole Orinder and Lillian Wellbrock each received $1,000.
It was the first time both recipients were female.
Each year, sponsors donate items for the live auction. You don’t have to have a car registered at the show to bid at the auction.
One of the major auction items this year is a bar crafted by Rod Roy, a group member. Members also donated their favorite wines and spirits to help the winner get started stocking their bar.
The late Craig Fischer, a big supporter of the event, donated most of the materials.
You can find more information about the auction items and the show on the Thunder on the Plains Facebook page.
