The Wright City Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting the annual Strassenbash Festival Sept. 14-15 at the Wright City Lions Club.The purpose of the event is to combine businesses with the community.“It’s the Chamber putting this on, but we’re made up of all these businesses. We want people to be familiar with the businesses in their town. You have to have both for a community to survive,” said Kelly Hill, president of the Wright City Area Chamber of Commerce. “That’s why we work so hard to advertise our businesses leading up to Strassenbash.”Names of businesses in Wright City can be found all over advertising leading up to the event and at the event itself. It is up to event organizers to create an event the community wants to attend. With that in mind, Hill said, the Chamber has expanded the event.The Lions Club is located at 678 Westwoods Road, Wright City. This is a new and larger location for the event, and not the only change guests will notice. The event has a new, family-inspired logo, a car show, several new activities for children and more live bands performing.It seems like the changes are stirring more interest.“We’ve had 25,000 visits to the Strassenbash Facebook page. It makes me feel like we’re going to have a good turnout,” Hill said.Car show/musicThe event opens Friday, Sept. 14, with a car show and live music at the beer garden and main stage. Vendors will be set up with food, crafts and other goodies for purchase.“This is our first car show,” said Hill. “The show itself is from 5 to 7 p.m. in the grassy area in front of the Lions Club building. Registration is 4 to 5 p.m. or people can download a form on Facebook and bring it with them. Registration is $10 per vehicle.”Car show registrants will receive T-shirts while supplies last. Prizes will be awarded to the top three winners, who will be selected by event patrons. The grand prize is a custom fire pit made by Town and County Garage. The fire pit is made with miscellaneous car parts.Person of the Year will be announced at 6:15 p.m. on the main stage.Saturday EventsEvents continue on Saturday. Vendors return as well as live music at the beer garden and main stage. Kids activities are scheduled along with a parade, German heritage activities, bingo, baby contests and the queen coronation. Four girls are vying for Strassenbash Queen this year.The parade starts at 11 a.m. on Bell Road and ends about noon at the Lions Club on Westwoods Road.Parade lineup starts at 10 a.m. at Sunrise Church, 70 Bell Road. The church is providing a cooling station, snacks and refreshments.Hill said kids who want to be in the Bike Parade and contest need to register. The theme is Wildcat Pride. Bicycles, tricycles, strollers, wheelchairs, scooters and wagons are welcome. Bike Parade judging will take place before 10:30 a.m.Prizes will be given in two categories, ages 2 to 7 and ages 8 to 12. Participants should be creative. First place will receive a $25 Walmart gift card. Second place will receive a $15 gift card to Warrenton Cinema. Third place will receive a $10 gift card for ice cream at Legacy Drugstore.At the festival, kids will enjoy face painting (1-4 p.m.), Cindy’s Zoo (noon - 3 p.m.) and lunch with Captain America and Wonder Woman (11 a.m.-1 p.m.).“If you have children, you absolutely don’t want to miss the characters lunch,” Hill said.The Chamber is selling 200 $50 raffle tickets in the “Golden Ticket Drawing.” Hill said someone will win as much as $5,000 by entering.Trixie Delight will close out the event with a set from 8-11 p.m. on the main stage. Hill said the Chamber’s Facebook page was inundated with fans wanting to see the band perform on the main stage.“I expect a very large crowd,” she said. “We’re asking people to bring blankets and lawn chairs because we won’t have enough seating for everyone.”People coming to the Strassenbash Festival should bring money. Money coming into the event helps pay for the event.Hill said the Chamber always hopes more local people and families attend. They also hope to see people from out of town so they can see what Wright City has to offer.The Strassenbash Festival is held every year during the third weekend of September.For more information about the Strassenbash Festival, visit Facebook or the Chamber’s website.STRASSENBASH LOGO