source: http://www.centralctcommunications.com/bristolpress/article_1bab9ce8-2155-11e6-a2ff-4ba649a584f1.html

Wings and Wheels returns to Plainville airport June 11

Posted on May 23, 2016

by Brian Johnson

PLAINVILLE — The fifth annual Wings and Wheels Festival returns to Robertson Airport June 11, offering helicopter rides and a chance to see a vast assortment of aircraft, classic cars and motorcycles.

The festival, sponsored by Interstate Aviation, Bristol Auto Club and the Plainville Fire Company, will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the airport at 62 Johnson Ave., with a rain date of June 12. Proceeds will benefit the Plainville Community Food Pantry and the Petit Family Foundation. Since it began, Wings and Wheels has raised a total of $100,000 for each charity. Last year, 250,000 people attended the event, collecting $12,000 for both organizations.

“Wings and Wheels has grown every year,” said Scott Saunders, a town councilor and chairman of the event. “It’s a great, fun day with planes, helicopters and cars and it supports two really great local charities who have given a lot to our community.”

In addition to vehicles brought in by the Bristol Auto Club, Saunders said, the UConn Car Club has committed to bring more than 100 cars and Trantolo and Trantolo will be bringing more than 100 classic motorcycles.

“You can expect to see everything from the brand new Tesla Model S to a Model T and everything in between,” said Saunders. “I’m a big Corvette guy myself, and last year there were a lot of older Corvettes. I also saw a 1923 Ford Model T that has been in the same family since it was purchased new.” Andrea Saunders, Board of Education chairwoman and wife of Scott Saunders, said that, in addition to the aviation and automobile attractions, this year’s festival will offer bounce houses and carnival rides for children, live music from local rock bands Curl Daddys and The Groove, and food trucks from Faddy’s Donuts & Ice Cream, The Spud Stud, J. Timothy’s Taverne and World’s Best Sundae. There will also be vendors for local organizations including Farmington Bank, Liberty Bank, Wheeler Clinic, Crowley Ford and the Petit Family Foundation.

“Between Wings and Wheels in June, the Balloon Festival at Norton Park in August and the new Pumpkin Festival that we hold downtown in October, we’re showcasing the best of what our town has to offer,” said Andrea Saunders. “We’re also broadening our advertising this year with the hopes of drawing more people. In past years we had two billboards and this year we have four, including a digital billboard that you can see on the way in to Hartford.”

Admission is $5 for adults and free for children 12 and younger. No alcohol will be allowed on the grounds.

For more information, visit plainvillewingsandwheels.com or call Scott Saunders at 860-747-8837 or Steve Emmendorfer at 860-747-9839.