ST. PAUL — The lunchtime crowd in downtown St. Paul will get a taste of what’s in store at the 40th annual “Back to the Fifties” Weekend.

More than a dozen street rods will rev their way to Mears Park on Thursday.

The event is free and open to the public. There will be games, live music and hula hoops to help kick off this weekend’s classic car extravaganza.

Nearly 12,000 classic cars, customs and street rods will be on display at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds Friday through Sunday. All cars are dated 1964 and older.