The New York State Veterans Home at Oxford invites the community to participate in its annual Car Show on Saturday, July 25. (Submitted photo)

OXFORD – For more than 20 years, the New York State Veterans Home at Oxford has invited car and motorcycle enthusiasts to show off their rides to the home's residents during its annual “Vets Cruise-In Car Show.” This year's event will take place Saturday, July 25, from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., offering residents and visitors a chance to connect over classic (and contemporary) cars, motorcycles, and shared stories. The show is free, open to the public, and requires no registration, anyone is welcome to bring a vehicle at any point during the event.

Senior Recreational Therapist, Brittany Weissman CTRS, who helps coordinate the long-running tradition, said the day is one of the most anticipated of the year by the home's residents.

“Whether or not a resident is or was a car lover throughout their life, this day brings excitement, energy and positive memories to the home,” Weissman said.

A day designed around connection, recreation, and reminiscence

The car show connects to the therapeutic recreation approach that the home uses in its programming. The approach focuses on enhancing residents' quality of life through meaningful experiences.

Weissman said, “This day provides the residents with the opportunity to enhance their overall quality of life by supporting long-term memories, life stories, and connections with others.”

The day also gives people a chance to connects over common interests and shared experiences. Weissman said that the residents will often share travel stories, military memories, and chapters of their lives sparked by the vehicles on display.

“They really do enjoy the variety of cars from classic to modern, and it really does bring back just really happy and positive memories for them that they share with community members,” Weissman said. “Every interaction leaves a lasting impact on our residents.”

These moments of connection instill a sense of camaraderie between the residents and community members over a shared interest.

Open to all cars, motorcycles, and community

The event welcomes any and all classic cars, modern vehicles, motorcycles, and specialty autos. Staff members, volunteers, family members, and local veterans often bring their own vehicles to show off. Visitors can come and go throughout the day, and there is no limit on attendance.

“Being able to bring a car show to the home for residents to enjoy, helps us facilitate community connections and provide them with an experience they may once have enjoyed in their personal leisure time with loved ones and their community,” Weissman said.

If you want to bring your vehicle to display simply show up and set up. It is free to do so.

“It's open to anyone in the community and the more the merrier is greatly appreciated,” said Weissman.

Local food vendors are expected to be on site throughout the day. Including the Outpost and Lickety Split.

Additionally, there will be a providing information on the Sidney Veterans Wall in Sidney, hosted by Renee Halbert, with spaces for other organizations available.

If your organization is interested in setting up a table at the event contact Weissman at the home to see if it would be a good fit.

While the Veterans Home traditionally host its car show annually on the last Saturday in July, this year that coincides with a larger community celebration, Promote Oxford's America 250 celebration. The Veterans Home will be one of the locations on the event's community road map, according to Weissman.

Free to attend, donations will support resident programming

While admission to the Cruise-In Car Show is free, donations to the Veterans Home are accepted and go directly toward resident experiences and future recreation programming.

The NYS Veterans Home at Oxford releases a monthly calendar of recreational programs for residents to connect, stay active, and have enjoyable experiences. They offer a variety of therapeutic recreational programs from the Red, White, & Bloom gardening program, Sensory Safari, and Krafty Kreations, among others.

“Anything that we raise there, it goes back into being able to continue to do more programs,” said Weissman.

Weissman acknowledged that the Cruise-In Car Show is a team effort and brought to the home by the entire recreation department.