The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
‘This really is great to see’
Police Athletic League benefit car show, carnival held downtown
TORRINGTON — The sound of laughter, friends chatting with friends, hot cars rolling down Torrington’s Main Street, Beach Boys music blaring from speakers, and happy children on rides at the nearby carnival, all filled the air Friday night in downtown Torrington.
For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Glen Royals held his annual car show to benefit the Torrington Police Athletic League and the Police Explorers, along with a PAL carnival at the Torrington Plaza.
“People were just itching to get outside and do something fun again in a group,” said Chris Smedick, Executive Director of PAL.“We (had) a great turnout, some 300 cars and several thousand people passing through during the event.”
The “summer festival,” as it was called, continued Saturday with a three-on
three basketball tournament on Main Street in front of Torrington Savings Bank, activities for children at KidsPlay Museum and Five Points Gallery, free movies at the Warner Theater and a Dress for Success back-toschool giveaway at Franklin Plaza. The festival was a fundraiser for PAL.
Dress for Success allows more than 400 area families receive a backpack and school supplies for children to prepare them to head back to school in a few weeks to start a new year. Donated coupons for food and rides at the carnival were also included.
The car show was the first on Main Street, which was closed from Water Street to City Hall, since 2019, with the owners of cars on display paying $10 each for the privilege of showing off their automotive hard work and fancy rides.
Admission was free to spectators and there was food for sale. The cars at the show ranged from street rods and circa-1950s American beauties to a classic World War II-vintage Army Jeep and sparking new Corvettes.
The carnival was packed with rides and games in Torrington Plaza’s parking lot just off South Main Street, within easy walking distance of the car show. Stores remained open during the event.
“This really is great to see,” said Torrington Police Chief William Baldwin, Jr. “People out enjoying themselves on a beautiful evening and activity back on Main Street. And it all goes for a good cause that helps our kids.”
“A lot of people were involved in putting this together, including Brie Pergola and T.J. Calabrese, two interns at the Torrington Police Athletic League,” Smedick said.