BowmanFest   2019 - October 5th and 6th

What a unique event with perfect weather this year! The Bowman Field Airport celebrated its 99th year with Bowman Fest 2019. Saturday morning, October 5th, started off with a 5K Run on the Runway race that had approximately 600 participants. 

Last year saw KYANA cars placed among some of the airplanes on static display, but this year, due to a larger number of airplanes arriving, and the amount of early foot traffic on Saturday morning (provided by the runners) we were able to display our old jalopies on the Runway. What a unique and once in a lifetime occurrence to see about 25 beautiful show cars being escorted down a runway while vintage planes were taking off and landing around them.

KYANA showed up with a very diverse group of cars that was very well received by attendees. Our location on the runway was easy on the autos and easy on the large number of spectators that went by. The show directors estimated about 10,000 people attended on Saturday and a little less on Sunday. Plus, our runway location made it easy to leave the airport at any time.

Lynn Harpring summed things up well by stating: "Bowmanfest was a great event. In addition to the many fine KYANA people with interesting, rare and beautiful autos, the airplane exhibit of antique and unusual planes was a real crowd pleaser as well as the other ancillary attractions. It was impressive to note the large number of attendees, from oldsters like me to children in strollers, and others of all ages in between. "

We had a great lunch on both days, with Saturday being pizza from Bearno's and with Sunday being homemade sandwiches from Morris Deli right down the road. Plus, the organizers placed a 20 ft. by 20 ft. tent for us to use during the festival.

There are some great pictures of planes on the BowmanFest.com website and on the Facebook page for the Bowman Field Friends. One of the neatest moments of the event was when a young Down Syndrome girl commented on how she liked Bennie Coleman's 1955 Ford Thunderbird, and he proceeded to take her for a trip on the runway in his T-Bird. She will remember that the rest of her life!

After speaking to the Event Organizers they were very impressed with the foot traffic and the positive comments that our show cars generated. They said that they will make the cars more prominent in next year's event so you won't want to miss next year, the 100th anniversary of Bowman Field. Should be a great event!

Chris Mueller

BowmanFest Sponsor