Merger details in place

CLOVIS — In less than two months, a recent tradition and a new one will team up, as the 4th Annual Draggin’ Main joins up with the 30th Annual Clovis Music Festival will be held in downtown Clovis from June 17-24.

The eight-day celebration begins with 7 p.m. June 17 races at Ned Houk Motor Sports Complex and concludes with a daylong celebration on Main Street June 24.

The Clovis Music Festival will be June 22 and 23 at the Marshall Middle School Auditorium. Each night of music has its own rock ‘n’ roll theme. Monday will be 50s Rock, featuring covers of Buddy Holly by Johnny Rogers, Roy Orbison by Brian McCullouth, and Richie Valens covered by Ray Anthony. Tuesday’s theme will be 80s Hair Metal featuring Winger with Firehouse opening. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m.

“Johnny Rogers is kind of our go-to Buddy Holly character,” said Derek Cockrell, committee chair of the Clovis Music Festival.

June 19-22 will include a daily “Tour of Clovis’ Classic Drive-ups,” with tours beginning at 5 p.m. each day.

Draggin’ Main is named for the activity that was a staple in the Clovis community for years, while the Clovis Music Festival has been around since 1987. The decision to combine the events was made in hopes to increase attendance for both.

Gene Porter, the chair for Draggin’ Main, is also on the committee for the music festival.

“A buddy of mine (Bryan Boone) and I just started a conversation,” said Porter. “There wasn’t anything for car people to do.”

Both Porter and Cockrell said they spent their adolescence dragging Main Street as a social activity.

“Draggin’ Main, that’s just what we did,” said Cockrell. Regarding Winger and Firehouse, he said, “Those are the guys that I grew up with.”

The parade will be 9:30 a.m., with vendors, food trucks and various activities planned until midnight.