Bristol will once again open its arms to welcome those participants in the upcoming British Motor Car Festival on June 7 and 8.

According to Michael T. Byrnes, local organizer of the event since its inception five years ago, this year’s Motor Car Festival will have a little bit of everything for everyone.

“This is a family-friendly event,” he emphasized. “Things will get underway on Friday, June 7, with a car rally with 40 or 50 British cars going through Bristol and into Little Compton and Westport, then back to Bristol.”

The cars will line up at the Bristol Town Beach at 9 .m. and then come through town from 9:30 to 10 a.m. On Friday night, a street party will be held at Independence Park from 6 to 9 p.m. Before that, according to Mr. Byrnes, two, 40-car divisions will assemble at Colt State Park and begin their tour of downtown Bristol along Hope Street, and continue to Constitution Street, to Thames Street, and finally end at Independence Park.

“All the cars will be displayed there at the park,” said Mr. Byrnes. “There will also be food and drink available, as well as a live band performing Beatles music and other English tunes. This is open to the public free of charge.”

Mr. Byrnes said one of the main reasons in having this festival is “to welcome the people who are in the car show to Bristol, and make them feel right at home.”

Things really heat up on Saturday, June 8, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with the main show at the Bristol Town Beach practice soccer field area. Admission for the day is $10. Children under 12 will be admitted free.

“We’ll have 200 vintage British motor cars on display,” said Mr. Byrnes, “and the Bristol Train of Artillery will give a salute around 10 or 11 a.m. There will also be a car corral with a select few British cars for sale. This will be a great chance for those interested to buy a British car.”

High-end British cars will also be on display, which Mr. Byrnes described as the ‘Cream of the Crop, Concours d’ Elegance.’ “That will be a big feature on the schedule,” he said.

“There will be food and drink available,” he continued, “and we want to stress the fact that dogs and bicycles will not be allowed on the field.”

Mr. Byrnes said he could never put this festival together without the help of many others.

“I have a very strong group of about 100 volunteers,” he noted. “Everyone pitches in to help make this a great event each and every year.”

The highlight of the day will come later in the afternoon, when the prestigious “Bristol Cup” Trophy will be presented to the “Best in Show” by local town officials.

“This is one British invasion that Bristol looks forward to,” Bristol Town Administrator Steven Contente quipped. “This festival has been an upbeat fun weekend that we welcome back and enjoy having in Bristol.”

“People always keep telling me how much they enjoy participating in the British Motor Car Festival,” Michael Byrnes said in conclusion. “Many of these car owners not only come back each year to take part in the festival, but return many other times to enjoy this beautiful town we live in.”