Frog Follies are this weekend in Evansville. Here's what to know about this year's event.

EVANSVILLE − It's late August, so that means you're going to see a lot − and we mean a LOT − of pre-1949 street rods cruising Evansville streets and packing hotel parking lots.

It's time for Frog Follies, the nation's largest independent street rod event.

Here are five things to know about Frog Follies, an Evansville staple since 1975.

When and where are Frog Follies in Evansville?

This year’s event is set for Aug. 23-25 at the Vanderburgh 4-H Center off Boonville-New Harmony Road. Organizers usually expect approximately 3,000 registered vehicles from all over the United States.

Frog Follies is hosted by E’ville Iron Street Rods Ltd., a club of street rod enthusiasts. Hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 23-24, and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 25.

Admission for spectators is $10 per person, free for ages 12 and younger. Spectators should enter at Gate 1 or Gate 3.

What activities take place at Frog Follies?

In addition to the enormous car show, the event features several things that both registered participants and spectators look forward to.

• In the large Swap Meet and vendors area you can find classic automotive parts, new parts, vintage signs, tools, and even cars for sale — essentially everything you need to build your own street rod or outfit your “man cave.”
• The Women’s World shopping experience in the Activities Center offers several dozen booths of local artisans and crafters with woodcrafts, clothing, jewelry, quilts, floral arrangements, candles, soaps, pottery, home and garden decor, artwork, holiday decorations, candy and snacks.
• There’s food concessions, Frog Follies memorabilia, Frog Follies Run T-Shirts.
• Some events are reserved for registered participants including a Friday night karaoke session, a Saturday Night Dance with The Bobby Clark Band and the Eliminator ZZ Top tribute band, and games for children and adults that include such things as valve cover and oil pan races, trike races, TP toss and frog races.

So what is a 'street rod?'

A street rod is a passenger car or truck manufactured before 1949 that has been modified in some way such as modernization to the engine, transmission or interior.

According to the Frog Follies web site, frogfollies.org, 1948 was the end of a specific body-style era. The E’ville Iron Street Rods Ltd. got its start when a few enthusiasts advertised in the local newspaper that they were going to gather one Sunday afternoon at Wesselman Woods Park to “talk cars” and swap stories.

About 30 car owners showed up and the organization (as well as the event that would eventually become known as Frog Follies) was launched.

Where did the Frog Follies name come from?

As the Der E’ville Iron Street Rod Fest, as it was originally called, grew from the 50 street rods in 1975 to what it is today, the club decided to rebrand the event to attract more car enthusiasts and spectators.

After some brainstorming, they settled on naming it after a signature activity that dates to Year One: A bullfrog-jumping contest.

Who benefits from the event?

In addition to an influx of tourism dollars across the region at hotels and other hospitality outlets, the event has donated more than $2 million to local charities since it began.

The planning organization also has provided scholarships to Tri-State high school graduates pursuing careers in the automotive industry to help continue street rod interest in future generations.

Donna Stinnett contributed to this article.

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Frog Follies are this weekend in Evansville. Here's what to know about this year's event.