TIFTON — While the annual Rock the Block is always a blast of fun in the sun, the summer celebration will be getting a little tune-up this year.

The 2023 run of the event will be seeing a visit from antique car rally The Great Race, with participants making an overnight stop in Tifton along their nationwide exhibition.

More than 100 antique cars from 1974 and older will line Main Street in Downtown Tifton on the day of the celebration June 24, giving people the opportunity to peruse and even sit in the vintage vehicles.

Tifton is one stop for the rally on the nine-day, 2,300-mile race across the United States. Teams from all over the world will compete in a contest of speed, time and distance that will take them to 18 other cities across Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas and Colorado, organizers said.

This is the second time the rally has stopped in Tifton. The Great Race first paid a visit to the Friendly City during the 2017 Rock the Block, when the group awarded Tifton the gold medal for best overnight stay for the city’s hospitality.

With the race returning this year, Rock the Block organizers said they are excited to not only have it back.

“Most kids – if they weren’t here in 2017 or they were younger – this is something that they may not be able to experience again,” said Rosalie Reeder, project manager for the Tifton-Tift County Tourism Association. “But it’s a great community event that just also brings along the tourism side with these drivers staying in our properties.”

In addition to The Great Race, participants will find music, food and fun times traditional to Rock the Block celebrations.

Kason Layne Band, a country music group, and Velcro Pygmies, a 1980s rock cover band, will perform throughout the evening, accompanied by eight food trucks including 3 Beards BBQ, 3G Eats, Los Tamales Authentica and SnoBiz.

Bounce houses, inflatable slides and the event’s first-ever foam party are also planned.

Reeder said downtown merchants have expressed interest in participating in the festivities as well and eventgoers will be able to sip and stroll by picking up a drink at any of the alcohol providers downtown.

“A good mix of good food, checking out those cars and live music,” Reeder said. “It’s going to be a great summer day.”

Rock the Block is scheduled 4-10 p.m., June 24, with the first car from The Great Race expected to roll in about 4:45 p.m. The entire event is free and open to the public.

For more information, contact the Tifton-Tift County Tourism Association at (229) 386-0216.