Since 2010, the Secret Santa Car Show has been bringing a time of “family, fellowship, and fun” to Oakwood.

Along with that, the show has helped to provide Christmas to families in need within the city.

“The Secret Santa Car Show was started as an event of the city of Oakwood to provide a fall-festival type atmosphere,” said Sheri Millwood, Oakwood City Councilwoman and commercial realtor. “Tony Tankersley and myself wanted to do a car show rather than just do a fall festival.”

And since Oakwood has been helping families in need at Christmas, the two events merged.

“And that’s why we named it the Secret Santa Car Show,” Millwood said.

The free show will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, at the University of North Georgia Gainesville campus. Activities are planned on the grounds and inside one building at 3820 Mundy Mill Road in Oakwood.

Last year, the show raised $7,000 and helped about 50 children and their families. This year’s goal is to raise $10,000.

Millwood said she believes it is attainable because of the new components of the event.

“This year, we have something really neat,” she said. “Because we chose Halloween weekend, we have trick-or-treating for children in costumes from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.”

At 1 p.m., those in costume may participate in the a contest. Judges will be Darth Vader and Santa Claus.

“We wanted to bring the Halloween element to it,” Millwood said.

Other activities include raffle tickets, a silent auction, four drawings totaling up to $2,000, food and  a kid’s corner with a “Jedi Academy.” At the academy inside a building at UNG, children will build a makeshift lightsaber and be trained how to use it.

“Once they finish training, Darth Vader is going to come out and they get to fight with Darth Vader,” Millwood said. “And then they’ll get their certificate that they completed this training.”

Adults, on the other hand, may wander through the vendors’ booths. Those range from jewelry and clothing stands to nonprofit organizations and local churches. The added bonus is the car show will accept credit cards.

But the biggest component and main staple is the car show. Almost 50 car will receive awards.

“We’ve added a lot of categories because we don’t judge,” Millwood said. “Our votes are from the contestants. Anyone who brings a car and registers gets a ballot. So that’s how they vote.”

A couple of the awards are the People’s Choice award and the Frank Turk memorial award. Turk was one of the men who helped start the event.

“This year … we have added another special award,” Millwood said. “It’s called the ‘best orange vehicle’ because it’s Halloween.”

The People’s Choice ballots are $1 a piece.

“Your donation and your money spent will go to provide Christmas to those in Oakwood that won’t have it without our help,” Millwood said.

Therefore, families can have fun and raise money for a worthy cause.

“Everything’s just about the community,” Millwood said.“The Oakwood Secret Santa Show is becoming a tradition. It’s a time when you can be in a family-friendly environment and enjoy looking at the beautiful vehicles and visiting with the vendors.  It’s just a time to slow down and spend some quality time with friends and family.”