Cruising is back!
On the fourth Saturday of the month from June until August, car enthusiasts can cruise downtown Elkin for the first time since the 1990s. The Cruise-In will be helping raise money for the Reeves Theater restoration.
“I grew up with cruising and still have a love for it,” said Vicki Roberts, who is co-chair of the event. “We know a lot of people in the area who enjoy the nostalgia and want to continue to the tradition, so we are bringing it back as a fundraiser for the Reeeves.”
The Cruise-In is in connection with Downtown Elkin Incorporated, the Town of Elkin and the Main Street Advisory Board to also help spotlight the downtown businesses.
In order to bring cruising back for three nights this summer, Roberts filed a permit with the police department and the town. She also presented it to the commissioners and was granted the variance to allow cruising.
“I want to have fun and bring back the history of cruising to the area. Everyone the has been very cooperative,” Roberts said. “We will have places for people to park their classic cars so they can socialize and visit the downtown restaurants and stores that will be open.”
Drivers will take the same loop that was originally designated for cruising: starting at Yadkin Valley General Store, going down Main Street towards the library, turning on Standard St. and then coming around past Combs Butcher Shop back on to Main Street.
“Cruising is all we did,” said Al Banner, 1965 graduate of Jonesville High School. “People came from good distances from other towns and counties to cruise Elkin. A lot of people met their future spouses cruising Elkin.”
Banner, who now owns Banner Drug in Statesville, drove a 1953 Chevy during cruising his sophomore through senior year of high school. Banner plans to attend the Cruise-In with his classic Chevrolet car club.
“It was quite an event. It was a different time and most of us had older cars, because none of us could afford anything new,” Banner said. “We were identified by our cars. It was the equivalent to Facebook of today.”
The Cruise-In is a free event and the money will be raised for the Reeves through t-shirt sales. T-shirts will be $20.
“Our main goal is to benefit the downtown businesses,” Roberts said.
The Cruise-In is the fourth Saturday of every month from June to August. The first one will be from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, June 23.
For more information, visit www.facebook.com/CruiseDowntownElkin.
Reach Jessica Pickens at 835-1513 ext. 18 or jpickens@heartlandpublications.com
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