Dozens of large vehicles and heavy construction equipment will be on display Saturday, Aug. 1, at Shreveport’s Betty Virginia Park. It’s the inaugural “Wheels In the Hills” event. Organizer Matt Snyder it will cater to kids and the young at heart.
“I know there will be a lot of great vehicles. The sheriff’s department is bringing a hovercraft and an armored car. The military is bringing real cool vehicles. The fire department is excited. We have a crane, trackhoe, bulldozers and a helicopter,” Snyder said.
Snyder owns a local marketing firm. He teamed up with some other Shreveport business owners to create this event. Snyder and this group planned the recent successful Derby Day. It was another new event surrounding the Kentucky Derby and held on the grounds of the R.W. Norton Art Gallery. Snyder says the goal is to create memorable events in the heart of the city to instill a stronger sense of community.
“It just drives me crazy that everyone goes to Austin, Texas, to go to this festival and goes to New Orleans, and I enjoy those festivals, too. But I just don’t think there’s any good reason that Shreveport can’t have great events like that,” Snyder said.
Proceeds will benefit children at Providence House who need back-to-school supplies. Perhaps most importantly, Snyder says, there will be a very large air conditioned tent.
“We got ready, and all these trucks were coming. We thought, oh my goodness, it’s so hot. How are we going to do this? I can’t stand out there,” Snyder said.
The first “Wheels In the Hills” event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Betty Virginia Park, 3901 Fairfield Ave., Shreveport.
