Russ Holderfield will be looking to sell his 1947 Dodge convertible this weekend — as well as some items from his array of parts for antique automobiles.

Friday afternoon Holderfield was at the front of a long line of trucks, cars and trailers parked two abreast waiting to move onto the Douglas County 4-H Fairgrounds and set up for today’s opening of the 41st annual Swap Meet.

The line on an access road at the east end of the fairgrounds stretched all the way to Kansas Highway 10.

Holderfield, 57, of St. Louis, said he collected and sold the car parts and cars as a hobby. He’s been doing it since he was 19. Every weekend he travels to another swap meet in another town.

“It’s expensive, but it’s better than a bar tab and a hangover,” he said.

At least 650 vendors from throughout the country will put their wares on display, according to Joe Arneson, chairman of the Swap Meet, which is the largest of its kind in Kansas. The Swap Meet is sponsored by the Lawrence Region Antique Automobile Club of America.

“It is really something else,” Arneson said as he drove a golf cart around the fairgrounds.

Although many antique car collectors prefer genuine parts for their cars, they are usually difficult to find, Arneson said. Most of the parts are going to be reproductions.

There also will be about 50 antique cars on sale. The Swap Meet began at 6 a.m. today and will continue until 8 p.m. It opens again at 7 a.m. Sunday and runs until noon.

The Swap Meet is one of many activities going on this weekend.

At noon today the annual Art Tougeau Parade will begin downtown. The parade route is from the Lawrence Arts Center, 940 N.H., south to 11th Street, west to Massachusetts Street and then north to Seventh Street, east to New Hampshire Street and back south to the arts center.

The annual parade always features a bizarre collection of colorful vehicles from lawn mowers to refrigerators on wheels.

On Sunday nearly 100 artists will set up in South Park for the 42nd annual Art in the Park. The day’s activities begin at 10 a.m. and end at 6 p.m.

In addition to the display and sale of artwork, those attending will be treated to live music, and a children’s art tent. The Lawrence Humane Society will set up a booth and have dogs and cats available for adoption.

Also this weekend is the Great Strides 2003 10-kilometer walk to raise money for cystic fibrosis research. Registration begins at 8 a.m. today at Southwest Junior High School, 2511 Inverness Drive.

The weather should cooperate today. It will be cloudy and breezy with a high of 71, according to the 6News forecaster Ross Janssen. There is a 30 percent chance of rain late in the day.