Low-rider car show coming to Fired Up

The principal organizer of Tucumcari's annual Fired Up festival, slated for Saturday, is feeling fired up herself with the addition of a low-rider car show to the event.

Steven Roybal, president of the Tucumcari chapter of the Rollerz Only low-rider club, is organizing the car show for this year's Fired Up at the Tucumcari Historic Railroad Plaza. Vehicles will be lined up along closed sections of Main and Second streets downtown.

Rollerz Only, founded in 1988, is one of the largest car clubs in the world, with more than 70 chapters. Not only will Rollerz Only members show up from a wide area, but also low-rider aficionados from other clubs.

Roybal said he "almost guarantees" 50 low-rider cars will show, with a goal of 100. Car owners from Oklahoma, Texas, Iowa and Kansas are expected.

"The feedback from the community has been awesome," Roybal said. "I'm getting calls from all over."

Connie Loveland, executive director of Tucumcari MainStreet that organizes Fired Up, said previous editions of the festival have featured only 30 to 40 vehicles in the car show.

"It's been a wonderful partnership with them and one we look forward to continue to grow," she said of the local Rollerz Only chapter. "They've done a lot of cleanup and prep work in downtown in the last few days to get things ready."

Loveland noted she has a record 60 vendors lined up for the festival.

"It's more than doubled from last year," she said. "We have vendors coming from as far as Midland, Texas, and Colorado Springs. I think it's because of the car show and how well Steven Roybal has put this (car show) together."

Loveland expressed optimism that Fired Up might break its attendance record of 4,271 set in 2019 if good weather prevails.

Fired Up will have its usual offerings, including the popular, fire-themed performance from Odd Lab and the festival-ending fireworks show.

The Fired Up schedule:

- 6 to 11 a.m.: Rollerz Only car show registration and roll-in

- 7 to 11 a.m.: Vendor setup

- Noon: Opening ceremony with presentation of colors and the national anthem

- Noon to 5 p.m.: Rollerz Only car show with DJ Lorenzo "House" Otero

- Noon to 9 p.m.: Food court, vendors and exhibitors open

- 1:30 p.m.: Prince Tocum and Princess Kari children's pageants at the Odeon Theatre

- 2 to 4 p.m.: Rollerz Only car hop

- 3 p.m.: Free showing of "Elemental" at Odeon Theatre

- 5 p.m.: Rollerz Only car show awards

- 5:30 p.m.: Atzmus Martial Arts demonstration

- 6 to 8 p.m.: Live music by Limited Edition

- 8:30 p.m.: Odd Lab performance

- 9 p.m.: Fireworks show by Tucumcari Fire Department

More details about the festival may be found at tucumcarimainstreet.org/fired-up.