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Eleventh Annual Car Show And Street Festival Takes Over East Passyunk

by Cherri Gregg

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Cars, art, and music took over East Passyunk Avenue in South Philadelphia.

It's the East Passyunk Car Show and Street Festival, and for the eleventh year in a row it drew thousands of people from all over the region.

So why come to this tiny little neighborhood?

"People walk around and see these cars and say, 'wow, that was my first car,' or 'wow, I had my first kiss in that car,'" explained Pat Ciambrello, a member of the Northeast Monster Car Club who has been with the festival since day one.

It began with a handful of cars and has now grown to 140 show, antique, and muscle cars, trucks, and motorcycles.

"We call it the 'horseless carriage,'" said Bernie Varella of his 1960 reproduction of a 1906 Oldsmobile.

Outfitted with a wooden chassis, leather seats, and thick cloth hood, Varella is proud to enter the East Passyunk Car Show and Street Festival for the first time.

"I always come and admire the cars, I'm in walking distance, I grew up around the corner," said Varella.

Renee Gilinger, executive director of the East Passyunk Avenue business district, says it a good way to introduce people to the neighborhood, which is growing fast.

"We have a 4% vacancy rate here, we can't hold anything when it opens up, everyone wants to be here," she said.

The Festival featured drink, food, and shopping discounts; as well as special activities for kids.

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