Popular Trumbull County ox roast, car show won’t return this summer

Staff report

WARREN

The popular, free Glenn Christian Church Ox Roast and Car Show will not return this year, the church has announced.

The event in recent years was at the Trumbull County Fairgrounds at the end of summer.

“We realize that many will be disappointed at this news. The family fun and entertainment it has provided for nearly two decades for countless people will be sorely missed,” the church said on its website. “We understand, as it has it has been a great source of memories for our church members and families, too.”

The church said there were several factors that led to the decision “that we will not disclose publicly at this time.”

The note added, however, “We are not a large church and this event is an enormous undertaking for our congregation. Over the years, this show has grown tremendously while our congregation and its leadership is aging.”

The church called the show, which began 19 years ago and took place at the church on U.S. Route 422 just north of the state Route 5 bypass, “a labor of love,” adding that it “has been a blessing to have reached out to thousands upon thousands of people, to provide a day of free family entertainment, food, and even free amusement rides.

“We have been touched by countless stories of how families were able to enjoy a weekend of fun, who otherwise could not afford to do something like this. Most of all, we are thankful to have been used by God to present the Gospel of Jesus Christ in our open air church services. In each service many people, sometimes dozens, made a decision to receive Jesus Christ as their Lord.”

The car show began in 1996 with 17 cars and 100 people and grew to more than 2,000 cars and more than 30,000 spectators, the church said.

Last year’s ox roast and car show, called the Ox Roast, Car Truck & Motorcycle Show, was Aug. 29-31.

Cruisin Times magazine named the ox roast and car show the best nonprofit show for many years in a row starting in 1999.