2010 Events
- Catch "Freddy Vette and The Flames" on Civic Square from 8pm-10pm!
Experience the ultimate musical journey through the rockin' 50's. Enjoy everything from Elvis, Buddy, Little Richard, Jerry Lee and Fats.- Don't miss a special Guess Who tribute band at the Kitchener Market from 8pm-10pm! Be sure to stop in for some of the tasty treats our Market vendors will be serving up.
2008 Photo
Cruising on King Street celebrates its 20th year!
Tuesday, July 06, 2010 | http://www.kitchener.ca/news/MediaDetail.asp?tid=19432
KITCHENER - A flashy parade of classic cars gleaming with chrome and ripping rubber will be cruising along the King Street strip on Friday, July 9, from 7-11 p.m.
Cruising on King is a unique car show and exciting parade featuring more than 250 vintage and classic cars, and drawing about 20,000 spectators. There will be all kinds of makes and models, styles and colours on the street, from muscle cars to vintage classics.
Best of all, they will sparkle inside and out, from their gleaming grills to their buffed-up chrome wings and bumpers.
Admission is free.
A show-and-shine at Victoria Park will take place from 3-7 p.m. Car owners will be detailing their cars prior to the cruise down the main drag. The cruise starts at 7 p.m. from the park.
This year, Cruising on King Street will feature Freddy Vette and The Flames on Civic Square from 8-10 p.m. Experience the ultimate musical journey through the rockin' '50s -- everything from Elvis, Buddy, Little Richard, Jerry Lee and Fats.
Not feeling nostalgic enough yet? Down the road at the Kitchener Market, Cruising on King will feature Guess Who Else, a Guess Who tribute band, at 8 p.m. on the market piazza.
Anybody else remember when we used to cruise King St. (repeatedly!) for real as a Saturday night ritual?
They're saying thundershowers for Friday. Hopefully they change their minds otherwise cruise night will be a washout.
"Only the insane have the strength enough to prosper. Only those that prosper may truly judge what is sane."
We managed to avoid rain and King Street (from City Hall to just past the market) was packed with thousands of people!
Cruising on King - July 9, 2010
Great turn out for the event!! WAY more people then I would have expected would be downtown. I'd expect it helped downtown businesses a little bit.
This was the largest turnout in the event's history (both in terms or people and cars), with over 360 vehicles entered and 3 stages. I would have taken some pictures while I was there, but I forgot my camera.
In the future though if they get even more cars, I think they are going to have to extend the event. The "cruise" finished at about 7:40 (40 minutes long), but the vehicles were parking until about 8:00. This only left about 2 hours to walk down the street and see the cars up close. I had just barely enough time to walk down King and see all of them before the event ended at 10:00 PM (and I was moving at a good clip). Maybe do it on a Saturday from 2:00PM to 10:00PM. Although I'm not sure the car owners would want to spend all day there.
"Only the insane have the strength enough to prosper. Only those that prosper may truly judge what is sane."
Extending it an extra block will help once the construction is finished, but I know what you mean. Does the city not want to go past 10pm?
I do think the friday evening thing is the way to go though just because of the tradition behind it.
Love the chrome at Cruisin’ on King July 8
City of Kitchener | Link
Twenty-one years on, Cruising on King is still the greatest car show around! On Friday, July 8, the City of Kitchener will be holding its annual Cruising on King Street parade, one of Canada's largest classic and antique car parades.
A show-and-shine brightens up Victoria Park starting at 3 p.m. The cruise will start at Victoria Park at 7 p.m. The classic cars will be parked on King Street from 8-10 p.m.
New this year is a summer movie night under the stars, featuring the movie Grease at dusk at the corner or Benton and King streets. Admission is $2, with proceeds to the Waterloo Region Record’s Kids to Camp Fund.
Glider, a local band, will entertain the crowds at city hall, while Pauly and the Goodfellas, performing at the Kitchener Market, will take the audience back to the ‘50s, ‘60s, ‘70s and early ‘80s, recreating the look and sound of the most memorable music and styles of the era.
Entertainment will run at the market from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Ronnie and the Rockets, from Hamilton, will perform from 4–7 p.m. at the market. Together for more than 28 years, the band as performed throughout southern Ontario. The Athertones from St. Catharines will also perform. Also at the market:
- Blue, a 1988 police car, and a 1981 police car (6-9 p.m.)
- Vendors on the piazza, including Bolero's, Everyday Gourmet/Apple Fritter, Casa Salsa, La Flor de Izote, Caribbean Kitchen and Serrinia Coffee (inside).
- Beer garden run by the Lions Club.
Perfect weather last night for the festival, King Street was packed with thousands of people! I really enjoyed the new Summer Movie Night, and would love to see this concept catch on (there's a few playing this summer in Waterloo Park). Wouldn't it be great to see a movie at the square every Friday night during the summer? Yes!
July 8, 2011
I had a quick peek on the way home from the golf club last night, and downtown was PACKED. Especially in the east end no less! I'm sure the nice weather had something to do with it, but the turnout was fantastic and I hope it convinces the city to do more events like these.
Great turnout downtown. I love the idea of movie nights downtown in the summer. God, if only I had been there when Grease was playing!! As a child of the 70/80s that was an iconic film for my generation.
Great pictures! I really hope they keep the movie night idea going. Dusk is past bedtime for the littlest member of the family this year but next year he may just make it.
I'm guessing we don't see a lot of "roads are for cars" letters to the editor on Monday because of this event...just a hunch.
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