When you think of words that go great together, “bug” and “jam” aren’t at the top of the list.
What is Bug Jam, anyway? Something you eat on a dare? A crazy collection of insects?
Fortunately, it’s neither of those. But it is one of the more popular annual events in Pasco County.
Now in its 26th year, the Pasco Bug Jam is a tribute/competition/celebration of all things related to the Volkswagen Beetle, affectionately known as the Bug. It also includes entries for the VW Thing and the VW Type 2, also known as a VW camper or bus.
But really, the star of this show is the Bug. And there are a lot of them. The Bug Jam has 66 separate vehicle classes for judging, and around 18 — more than any other — are devoted to the Bug.
Proud owners will show off their cars, convertibles and campers in a family-friendly setting on Nov. 9 at the Pasco County Fairgrounds, 36722 State Road 52 in Dade City.
But wait a minute: You’re not a VW Bug fanatic, you say? Why should you care about Bug Jam? Well, you don’t have to be obsessed with Bugs or cars of any kind to enjoy this event.
If you were obsessed, you’d probably be competing in one of the categories yourself. But thousands come every year to see the beautiful antique cars, lovingly restored and maintained by their owners. Some of these vehicles are more than 50 years old, and get more attention and care than we do.
Just checking out all the entries is a fun trip down memory lane.
But there’s a lot more to do than look at cars. There will be games, activities for children, and contests for visitors of all ages. A disc jockey will play music all day long. And you’ll also see a performance by a Blues Brothers tribute band.
By the way, they aren’t just guys who throw on suits and ties and pretend to be the Blues Brothers, the iconic characters made famous by “Saturday Night Live” stars Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi. The Jake and Elwood Blues Revue has opened up for many mainstream music acts, played with the original Blues Brothers band, and were even part of the “Blues Brothers” 25th anniversary DVD.
They know all the songs, all the moves, and throw in a lot of audience participation. If you like the Blues Brothers, it’s worth going for this show alone.
And if you do like the VW Bug, you should have had this circled on your calendar for the past year. Besides all the different makes and models, there will be more than 100 vendor booths, where you can get new and used parts, collectibles, toys and who-knows-what other Volkswagen-inspired merchandise. Add in giveaways, trivia and other car-themed events, and you have a full day of fun.
And if all that’s not enough, they also do something called Stuff the Bug, where they try to squeeze as many people as they can into a Beetle. Would you believe they once got 21 people into one? They’re trying to break that record this year, too. Do you really want to miss that?
So it sounds like a really good time. But how much does it cost? Well, since you’re reading it in our On the Cheap column, you know it isn’t much.
Admission is just $5 per person, and it’s $5 to park. So stuff some friends and family into your car (don’t try to break their record, OK?) and spend the day listening to music, playing games, and enjoying the cars on display. And keep most of your money in your pocket while you’re doing it.
Gates open at 9 a.m., with opening ceremonies at 10 a.m. It runs until 5 p.m.
For more information about Pasco Bug Jam, visit FloridaBugJam.com.
Published November 5, 2014
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