Ever since Henry Ford rolled his first Model T off the assembly line, Americans have been obsessed with automobiles. Driving, accessorizing vehicles and tinkering have never gone out of style.

It's a fascination that the Lititz Lions Club is more than happy to explore.

On Wednesday, Aug. 16, the Lititz Lions Club will conduct a car cruise from 5:30 to 9 p.m. on several blocks of East Main Street in the borough. More than 200 models of cars, from classic to modern to antique, will line both sides of the street, making one of the Lititz Lions Club's biggest fundraisers a festive event.

"Some people have grown up with cars," said Meghan Clair, the chairperson for the Lititz Lions Club Car Cruise. "They may have an emotional connection with their cars. A lot of people like to tinker. It might be their hobby. It might be their passion. They're very invested in it. They want their cars to be as good as possible. It's their thing."

Prizes will be awarded in 10 categories, including best of show. Spectators and participants will be afforded an opportunity to vote for their favorite automobile entries.

Then, after the prizes are awarded, the cruise will close with all the cars pulling out and driving down Broad Street together.

"We'll have a DJ, some of the local businesses will stay open later and people can walk and look at cars on both sides of the street," said Clair. "We have a lot of local people entered, some from out of state and people who have participated in the event in the past. Our spectators are coming to look at the cars. They and the owners are the aficionados."

"There's a really wide range of cars," Clair continued. "It's really fun to see all the different cars and see how they're displayed in so many different ways. It's a good time to hang out, but also to find out what the Lions Club is all about."

Clair said that the Lititz Lions Club has been staging its car cruise on a semi-regular basis over the last few decades. The local service organization also conducts a chili cook-off, a Patriot Parade and a Halloween parade, as well as other smaller events, as part of its annual fundraising efforts.

The Lititz Lions Club Car Cruise is hoping to raise $5,000 for community service work.

"It keeps getting larger," said Clair. "We're getting new people every year. We're trying to make it more interesting."

"I have a love and appreciation for service," added Clair. "This is service, and it's a huge service project. We want to do as much as we can to make more money and put it back into the community."

A branch of Lions Clubs International, the Lititz Lions Club consists of 40 active members.

"When we're planning all of our events, we're attracting a wide range of people," said Clair. "And when we're doing that, we're introducing those people to the Lions Club."

For additional information on the Lititz Lions Club, go to http://www.lititzlions.org.