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The popularity of the annual Americarna festival shows no signs of slowing down as event organisers plan how to make next year’s event even better.

The four-day festival, which pumps an estimated $4 million into the Taranaki economy, wound up on Saturday with a display and activities around New Plymouth’s central business district.

Although the weather was wet earlier in the morning, thousands of people still flocked into the city to look at the hundreds of vehicles on show.

Event director John Rae described the 15th festival as “sensational”, despite some issues with the weather late in the week which impacted on the Friday night cruise around New Plymouth.

It took almost 90 minutes for the full Americarna fleet to snake its way around Waitara before all the cars came to a stop, filling the north Taranaki town’s main street, adjourning park and side avenues on Thursday.

The record number of festival entries filled the joint as hundreds of fascinated onlookers worked their way in and around the wide and polished bumpers.

Having arrived with the sound of an orchestra of horn blowers, the air was quickly filled with hot exhaust fumes as marshals did their best to muster the motors into gaps.

Day two of the four-day car festival was greeted with the same enthusiasm as the day prior, American flags outnumbering those of our own country by a rough ratio of 3000 to one.

Outside the NZ Post office, Tauranga’s Colin Denize was fascinating the bemused passing crowds as he moved the teardrop caravan from side to side through a click of a button on his keyring.

It took almost 90 minutes for the full Americarna fleet to snake its way around Waitara before all the cars came to a stop, filling the north Taranaki town’s main street, adjourning park and side avenues on Thursday.

The record number of festival entries filled the joint as hundreds of fascinated onlookers worked their way in and around the wide and polished bumpers.

Having arrived with the sound of an orchestra of horn blowers, the air was quickly filled with hot exhaust fumes as marshals did their best to muster the motors into gaps.

Day two of the four-day car festival was greeted with the same enthusiasm as the day prior, American flags outnumbering those of our own country by a rough ratio of 3000 to one.

Outside the NZ Post office, Tauranga’s Colin Denize was fascinating the bemused passing crowds as he moved the teardrop caravan from side to side through a click of a button on his keyring.

Absence has fuelled the enthusiasm to welcome Americarna if Wednesday’s festival opening day is any guide.

Hundreds of people gathered in the settlements, villages and towns that dot Taranaki’s Surf Highway 45 to cheer on the hundreds of drivers as they cruised from New Plymouth down to Ōpunake where they soaked up the sun and adulation of onlookers.

After last year’s festival was cancelled due to Covid restrictions, the 2023 version had attracted a record number of entries for the four-day festival.

While overhead conditions hinted at a wet start when the fleet left its New Plymouth base, there were no such concerns by the time the cars had been parked up at Ōpunake Beach.

In fact, the only concern on anyone’s face was that of event director John Rae whose brow was furrowed as he looked at the approaching high tide lapping near and nearer the campsite road.

He needn’t have worried, as high tide passed and the relaxing nature of the festival took over.

Americarna organisers are still expecting a record number of entries to roll into the region this week despite a number of late withdrawals.

Event director John Rae, who has overseen 14 festivals since the first in 2007, said there were still 900 entries registered for the four-day event, which starts officially on Wednesday with a mass cruise along Surf Highway 45 to Ōpunake.

However, most of the entries will arrive in New Plymouth on Tuesday with registrations opening from 1pm at the TSB Stadium.

The effects of Cyclone Gabrielle, the Auckland floods and cancelled Cook Strait ferry crossings have seen a number of late withdrawals.

“We’ve clearly lost a few from Auckland, and we’ve lost 60 in total, which is not that bad,” Rae said.

“The latest kick in the guts was Straigt Shipping cancelling a number of their sailings, so we’ve got a bunch of guys who can’t get here from the South Island.”

Despite the late setbacks, Rae said they were in for a “great week coming up” for a festival that pumps an estimated $4 million into the Taranaki economy.

The record number of entries comes after last year’s event was cancelled due to Covid restrictions.

“2023 is going to be by far the largest event we’ve ever had.”

Event director John Rae says that with more than 900 cars registered for the event, this year’s Americana celebrations are set to be the biggest ever.

“It’s a little bit pressing. The entry fees haven’t changed since July 2021. The costs have been through the roof but luckily with the number of extra people registering we’ve been able to fund it.”

The cars will be cruising Taranaki roads from February 22-25, making a number of stops in towns during that time. They will stop in Opunake on Wednesday, February 22, Waitara and Inglewood on Thursday, and then Stratford and Hāwera on the Friday.

“The road crews are working with us. We will have to take a detour when we leave Hāwera which means no gravel or roadworks, which is great. We’re very thankful to the road crews for working with us and also recognising the significance of this event.”

John says the cars will be parked in Stratford longer this year, arriving at 9.50am in the morning and departing for Hāwera at 12.45pm.

“It’s beneficial for Stratford and also our entrants as they get more time in the town. In the past as the first car is leaving, the last arrives in Stratford so it will be great for everyone to be regrouped to leave for Hāwera.”