As far back as she can remember, Gina Smith has tagged along to car shows with her father, Tom Fredericks.

She was barely a toddler when she first went; barely tall enough to reach the hood of the 1965 Buick Skylark that Fredericks meticulously rebuilt and restored in his Summit Hill garage.

“I remember he had different wheels on it then with itty bitty spokes,” recalled Smith, of Summit Hill. “It was my job to clean them because he had a lot of other things he had to do.”

On Sunday - Father’s Day - Smith was with her dad for the Tamaqua Historical Society’s 31st annual Tamaqua Summerfest. In front of them, of course, was Fredericks’ glimmering Skylark.

“I still follow him to all the shows,” Smith explained.

But this one, hosted by the Jukebox Cruisers Car Club, was special because it brought Fredericks’ wife, grandchildren and other two daughters. He recently overcame a heart attack and quadruple bypass, and before that, suffered a stroke.

“It couldn’t be any better,” Fredericks said. “I’m spending Father’s Day with my family.”

Another father, Casey Greenly of Lansford, carried his daughter, Jascey, 4, on his shoulders, and held the hand of his son, Herbie, 6.

It was the family’s first time at Summerfest, and they decided to hit the car show before scoping out the dozens of other activities in the downtown.

“I like the blue ones,” Herbie said. Jascey said she’d rather red cars.

Whistles from Reading and Northern Railroad trains pierced the air to signal the start of excursions to either the High Bridge in Rush Township or to the village of New Ringgold. Those who weren’t aboard or watching departures from the Tamaqua Train Station could take in a much smaller version a few blocks away.

John Shucavage, president of the Tamaqua Anthracite Model Railroad Club, worked the controls of an engine that whizzed along tracks set up on a sidewalk.

“We are hoping people can come and learn from this and see how anthracite moved,” he said.

The club’s headquarters was closed for Summerfest as members begin work on a new display that will represent a route that traveled from Tamaqua to Sheppton, Shucavage said.

The Tamaqua Historical Society’s Museum and Annex also displayed railroad memorabilia, along with thousands of other artifacts.

“It’s been jammed all day. We’re getting lots of wonderful comments from people who are enthused to see it reopen and happy to see it up and running again,” said historical society President Dale Freudenberger.

Freudenberger stood outside the building to welcome visitors and to greet those strolling the downtown. Every now and again, Leiby’s Carriage Service passed by with horse-drawn trolley cars and the smell of kettle corn was captured by the wind.

“It’s a great day. The weather is the number one reason so many people decide to come out. It is a sunny and beautiful day,” he said. “We have a great turnout and a great number of vendors here.”

People could buy crafts, photographs, clothing, purses and blankets. Even gnomes, macramé, pet attire and wood crafts were available.

Cyndi Giuli, owner of Broken Coconut, had handcrafted natural items made from cocoa butter including makeup, insect repellent and soap.

One that brought the curious was “goose balm.” With a mix of coconut oil, beeswax and menthol crystals, the topically applied product promises to keep the sinuses clear.

Long lines formed for funnel cakes, and many nonprofit organizations sold ethnic foods. St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church, McAdoo, made its inaugural appearance selling “Ukrainian-style” Reuben sandwiches.

Church member Joe Krushinsky said the specialty, made with Coal Region kielbasa, was a hit at the church’s summer picnic last year.

“We knew people would enjoy it here,” he said.

It plans to introduce it again at its Aug. 5-7 picnic, and will donate portions of its sales to its Ukrainian humanitarian aid efforts. To date, the church has raised $50,000.

“Even here today, some people say they aren’t buying food but they want to give a donation,” Krushinsky said.

A few stands away, Jason Dellinger manned the Larry’s Amazing Liquid Volcano stand.

“Basically it is a liquid snow cone,” he explained. But unlike the traditional frozen treat, puffs of smoke poured from the concoction after Dellinger dropped in a bit of dry ice.

Dellinger’s stand has been at Summerfest before but under a different name. His father, who owned the business, passed away in July.

“His name was Larry and I renamed it in his honor,” he said.

Back at the car show, oldies tunes pumped from a sound system and Fredericks shined his Skylark. He owned it before he served in the U.S. Army from 1968-70 and repurchased it 25 years ago for $25. It had no wheels, no tires, no engine and was “demolished,” Fredericks said.

He restored it a little by little, as time and money would permit.

“When I wasn’t with him at car shows, I was helping him in the garage,” Smith explained.

To date, the car has won dozens of awards, including 14 on the national level. While all eyes were on the car Sunday afternoon, the evening’s focus would a Father’s Day cookout to celebrate Fredericks.