Gaston Lions Club Park is gearing up for three straight nights of rides, racing and rubber-melting mayhem as the Lions Gaston Lions Club End of Summer Bash rolls out from Thursday, August 27 through Saturday, August 29. The lineup mixes a family-friendly opening night with two nights of grassroots motorsports, capped by a demolition derby, and organizers say the full schedule is now locked in.
According to a post from the Gaston Volunteer Fire/EMS Department on Facebook, the Lions Gaston Lions Club announced that the event schedule is finalized and invited people to volunteer, set up as vendors, sponsor, race, or simply ask questions ahead of the weekend. Thursday's Family Night offers free parking, $30 wristbands, vendors and rides, making it the most budget-friendly entry point for households looking for an evening out.
Friday, August 28 shifts into stock car racing featuring Modifieds, Hornets and Crown Vics, with $5 parking, $10 grandstand admission, and the same $30 wristband option that also includes food, vendors and rides. Saturday, August 29 closes out the bash with a demolition derby carrying identical pricing — $5 parking, $10 grandstand admission and $30 wristbands — plus food, vendors and rides on-site.
Vendor Slots Fill Fast Inside the Barn
Organizers have also nailed down logistics for anyone hoping to sell at the event. Per the Gaston Lions Club's August announcement, indoor vendor space inside the park's barn is capped at the first 20 applicants, though outdoor vendor space remains unlimited. Vendor hours run from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. across all three days, and every food vendor is required to hold valid food and health permits.
The Gaston Volunteer Fire/EMS Department typically runs its own concession stand at major park events, selling walking tacos, nachos, popcorn, cotton candy and 50/50 raffle tickets to raise funds for local emergency response operations, per the department's own Facebook posts. That funding push carries extra weight this year: the Gaston Volunteer Fire Company received a $5,000 grant from the Ball Brothers Foundation in 2025 for equipment upgrades, following a $2,500 grant in 2021 for technology improvements, according to the foundation's grants database.
A Park With Decades of Community History
The End of Summer Bash arrives less than a month after the same grounds hosted the Gaston Lions Club's 90th Annual Fair from July 29 through August 2, a five-day run that featured dirt track racing, truck pulls, demolition derbies, monster trucks and fireworks. The 30-acre venue at 7449 W 850 N Rd has deep roots in the town: according to the Gaston Lions Club, the land was originally purchased as Rigdon Grove in 1953, with community events permanently moving to the grounds in 1956 after two decades of festivals held along the streets of Gaston itself.
The Lions Club hosting the bash has been part of Gaston's civic fabric since January 11, 1935, when 17 charter members held their first meeting at the Gaston Town Hall, according to the club's own history. Revenue generated by the club funds four $750 annual college scholarships for Wes-Del High School graduates, eye exams and glasses for local children in need, and holiday food baskets for families, in addition to supporting national programs like Leader Dog for the Blind.
A Small Town Punching Above Its Weight
Gaston is a small rural town in Delaware County with an estimated population of 806 residents as of 2025 Census projections and a median household income of $52,292, according to figures cited by World Population Review. Despite its size, the park has become a regional draw beyond Lions Club events, having hosted the 25th Anniversary Thunder in Muncie truck show and sled pull in June, pairing drag racing at Muncie Dragway with sled pulling on the park grounds.
Local youth also have a stake in the club's fundraising success. Wes-Del Community Schools, which operates the town's elementary and high school, serves as the primary hub for student activities and Lions Club scholarship distributions, according to background compiled by Facts for Kids. With the schedule finalized and vendor spots limited inside the barn, organizers are encouraging anyone interested in racing, volunteering or setting up a booth to reach out before the gates open on Family Night.
