A little rain did not dampen the enthusiasm, or wash away the fun of a big Thursday night in Salina.

Thousands of people lined Downtown Salina in anticipation of the unofficial opening event of the 2016 Leadsled Spectacular Car Show, the cruise down Santa Fe.

A thunderstorm rolled through as cruise time approached. It sent spectators and drivers scurrying for cover as it brought strong wind and dropped heavy rain. The storm was short-lived though, and the sky began to clear and the rain stopped in time for the cruise to begin as planned.

A surprise guest in the cruise was rock star Lita Ford. The legendary rocker was in Salina to perform in Oakdale Park at the final “Now That’s Entertainment” Thursday night concert of this inaugural season. Ford spent part of the afternoon checking out some of the classic cars that were rolling into the park, before jumping in one of them to ride in the cruise down Santa Fe. She told KSAL News “it was a fabulous time,  I loved it!”

Ford then took the stage, and put on a raucous show for a crowd of about 3,000 enthusiastic fans.

Friday is the first full day of the wildly popular car show in Oakdale Park, where visitors will be treated to over 1,500 classic car entries. Along with the cars, there will be booths, concessions, and entertainment throughout the park.

Friday night many of the cars will drag race at the East Crawford Recreation Area.

Saturday night there is a  “One Night With Elvis” concert at the Stiefel Theatre, featuring featuring tributes to both Elvis and Roy Orbison.

New to the show this year is the 1st  Ol’School Vintage Marketplace, which will be held inside two of the buildings at the Saline County Expo Center. It features vintage, original, re-purposed, retro home goods. Things like cowboy/western, Victorian, mid century modern furniture and decor, vintage boutique dress apparel, jewelry, watches, colored bathtubs, sinks, stools, stoves, fridges, home interior and exterior architectural salvage, windows, trim, fencing, patio furniture, and more.

A couple of child stars from a couple of classic TV shows will be a part of the car show this year. Butch Patrick, who starred as Eddie Munster in “The Munsters”, and Erin Murphy, who starred as Tabitha in “Bewitched” are in town for the show. Patrick brought with him a couple of custom cars, the “Munster Coach”, and the “Drag-u-la” coffin racer.

The 2016 Leadsled Spectacular is in Salina through Sunday.

Lita Ford performs Thursday night in Salina.