After a seven-week weather delay, the eighth annual Back to The Strip will get in gear this Saturday, June 22.

“So many people are not sure about the new date we need to get the word out that it’s this Saturday,” said Mary Walker, one of the organizers. “It’s the same great event we had planned for May. We’re keeping the same schedule. The only difference is we had to move it back due to weather.”

Walker said Back to The Strip will be held this Saturday, rain or shine. It will not be rescheduled again. The extended AccuWeather forecast looks promising with no rain predicted for Saturday as of press time.

Back to The Strip has expanded into an all-day event with activities beginning in downtown McMinnville in the morning before moving to The Strip at night.

Festivities get under way with a 5K run that starts and finishes at the Court Square fountain. Registration begins at 6 a.m. for the 7 a.m. race.

Beginning at 9 a.m., entries are accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis for the car show. The downtown area will be blocked off to traffic so car show entries are asked to enter by the library. Cost is $10 and will be limited to the first 150 entries.

In addition to the car show, the downtown area will include food trucks and other vendors.

Downtown activities end in the 2 to 3 p.m. time frame and action will move to The Strip and be centered in the parking lot of Warehouse Discount Groceries beginning at 5 p.m. 

As always, visitors are encouraged to bring canned food items as the event is a fundraiser for Meals on Wheels.

McMinnville Police Chief Bryan Denton reminds motorists to obey the rules of the road while riding The Strip so the fun isn’t derailed by an accident.

“I always tell people if it’s illegal on Friday, it’s illegal on Saturday,” said Denton who indicated there will be an increased law enforcement presence.

Burn-outs will not be permitted and other behavior, such as riding on the hood of vehicles, will not be tolerated.