by Emmitt B. Feldner
for The Beacon

ELKHART LAKE — The return to normal continues in the village as the Village Board approved permits and requests for a pair of signature events.

The approvals are for the Vintage Concours d’Elegance car parade and show July 16 and 17 and the VSCDA Elkhart Lake Vintage Festival Sept. 17 and 18.

Both events, which regularly draw large crowds of vintage car owners and enthusiasts to the village and its streets, were both severely limited by the coronavirus pandemic last summer.

The Concours event, when it could not gain approval from the village on a timely basis, first planned its signature parade of cars in the city of Plymouth. That fell through, however, when health requirements could not be met and the parade was instead held on the Road America track with limited attendance.

The Vintage Festival was also limited in scope and size, held only at Road America and The Osthoff resort.

This year’s events will more closely resemble pre-pandemic years, village officials noted, with the usual requests from those years winning board approval.

Village Administrator/Clerk-Treasurer Jessica Reilly noted that the street closure for the Concours d’Elegance will be extended all the way up South Lake Street to the Village Square. Also, organizers will provide one more portable toilet than in last years.

“We decided with Road America to spread things out for the first year back,” Village President Richard Sadiq said of the extended on-street car display.

Trustees noted that the extension of the street closing could cause issues with South Lake Street residents who will be unable to get vehicles in or out of their homes during the display.

For the Vintage Festival, the board approved a street closure on South Lake Street from Square to Elm streets from 2:30 to 5 p.m. Sept. 18. They also approved a police escort for the parade of cars from Road America to Lake Street before and after the Saturday display, along with banner and walkway permits for the event.

“It seems like the town’s bounced back and is ready to handle big business,” Sadiq commented.