DAWSONVILLE — The Mountain Moonshine Festival in downtown Dawsonville celebrated is 42nd year this past weekend with shopping, car shows and plenty of food.

All proceeds of the festival go to help needy children in Dawson County through Kare for Kids, a nonprofit organization that originated as a way to help provide toys, clothes and food to families in need around Christmas.

The organization supplies year-round assistance with school clothes and shoes, and it also does a back to school book bag drive. Last year Kare for Kids was able to help 304 families and 617 kids with toys, clothes and food for Christmas.

"We helped over 1,000 kids last year just on needs in Dawson County, and that's what Kare is all about," said Calvin Byrd, president of Kare for Kids.

Moonshine Festival is Kare for Kids' "big event" — there were more than 250 vendors throughout the weekend, and the car show drew more than 300 cars a day.

Byrd said that there are a lot of people who have been in the moonshine business that will show up at the event and tell stories.

"There's a lot of history here," Byrd said. "That's what sets us apart."

Byrd believes there is something for all ages at the Moonshine festival.

"The husbands can look at cars, the wives can shop, and we have a big kids area," Byrd said.

The festival is a family tradition for Byrd. Many years ago, his grandfather helped cook biscuits and set up the festival, while also leading a Boy Scout troop that helped with the festival. Byrd's father has also been a part of the festivities.

Hope and Jeff Reed of Jefferson were at the car show Sunday because of Jeff's love for hot rods.

"I dream (about) hot rods," Jeff Reed said. "I'd sleep in one of them if they let me."

Jeff Reed said there were several hot rods that caught his eye.

Hope Reed explained that they were able to see pictures of some hot rods from the festival on the Internet a couple of years ago and those pictures sparked their interest.

But the cars didn't only attract the attention of men.

Dianne Buckner of Douglasville sat in a yellow Scoot Cooper with sunglasses and a big smile on her face.

Buckner said she visited the festival because the proceeds are used to help children. It was her first year coming, but she said it won't be her last. She enjoys attending events that can help kids out.

Buckner said that it is important to have organizations like Kare for Kids because "there are so many children out there who are abused and misplaced."

The money earned during the festival doesn't just go to Kare for Kids.

"We will probably end up giving around $30,000 to different organizations in the county, and that's not including what we will make," Byrd said. "It helps the whole county."