For Baby Boomers, the sounds of rock and roll and the gleam of a classic car will forever start their engines. Put the two together on Market Night tonight and — presto — it’s a formula for a good time.

Webster City’s iconic The Shades regroup for another round of the classics tonight. They’ll take to the downtown Availa Plaza stage during the event from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Plus, it’s Classic Car Night. Bring down your classic car and park in the 700 block of Second Street.

If it rains, the show will go on unless there’s a tornado, Anna Woodward, Webster Area Chamber of Commerce director joked Wednesday. She’s crossing her fingers for a dry forecast.

More than 50 years ago — yikes — a group of young men from Webster City took a bold step onto the national stage when they walked into Chess Records in Chicago to cut their first single. That group was The Shades, and their journey began on an October night at the Star Ballroom in Dakota City during a spirited battle of the bands — an event they won as the last to arrive and the first to perform.

Jerry Foster, lead singer and the youngest of the group at 17, was joined by Bruce Seaboch (keyboards), John Hemingway (bass), Bruce Hovland (drums), and Doug Meyer (guitar). Their sound quickly gained popularity across the Midwest, playing venues like The Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, The Playmor in Fort Dodge, and The Macomba Club in Sioux Falls.

With encouragement from friends and connections to Iowa State’s music scene, The Shades traveled to Chess and recorded their original track “When You Said Good-bye.” On the flip side was an instrumental, “Ballot Bachs,” written the night before. The session was engineered by the legendary Ron Malo, whose credits include The Rolling Stones and Billy Joel.

Now, a half-century later, The Shades return to where it all began to celebrate with their hometown crowd at Webster City Market Nights Classic Car Night.

Here’s tonight’s rundown: The Shades — 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.; Classic Car Show — Cars line up from 4 to 5 p.m. (enter at Prospect and Second streets); trophy announcements – 7:20 p.m. near the American Legion, Community Choice voting at the Legion Auxiliary booth, Karl Webster City Trophy selected by a weekly sponsor.

There will be food: the American Legion will be grilling, plus there will be food trucks downtown refreshment, including Mornin’ Glory Coffee, Wildcat Distilling Co., Leon’s Pizza & Restaurant, La Perla Jarocha Mexican Restaurant and Chicago Style.

As always, you can stroll through the 500 and 600 blocks of Second Street to browse the many vendors.

New this year, thanks to Hamilton County Farm Bureau, youth under 18 can stop by the Farm Bureau table, complete a fun activity, and receive a $1 produce voucher redeemable at any participating produce vendor. It’s a great way to encourage healthy choices while supporting local growers.