Cruise Weekend to bring classic cars, entertainment to Fort Gratiot

McKenna Golat, Port Huron Times Herald
·3 min read
Cars fill parking lots along 24th Avenue on Blue Water Cruise Night Friday, June 28, 2019 in Fort Gratiot.
Cars fill parking lots along 24th Avenue on Blue Water Cruise Night Friday, June 28, 2019 in Fort Gratiot.

Classic cars, a carnival and fireworks are all things to look forward to in Fort Gratiot starting Thursday.

Blue Water Cruise Weekend has been bringing classic cars to the area for 16 years. The Fort Gratiot Business Association and Fort Gratiot Township have organized the event every year together through the Cruise Weekend Committee. Wing Thiele, co-chair of the committee, said the organizers are excited for the event.

"I think we'll have a great turnout this year," she said. "Now that the bridge is open, we're hoping to get some Canadians to come down. The weather is looking good so far, too."

Most of the events are free. The carnival, which is taking place Thursday through Sunday, will have $30 wristbands for all day rides.

The carnival will take place from 3 to 11 p.m., Thursday; 2 to 11 p.m., Friday; noon to 11 p.m., Saturday and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday. It will be near the Dunham's entrance of Birchwood Mall, located at 4350 24th Ave.

Cruise Weekend was started 16 years ago by Keith Peterson, a previous president for the Fort Gratiot Business Association. Thiele said Peterson wanted to do something new for the community, and as a car enthusiast, he started Blue Water Cruise Weekend.

Cars cruise along 24th Avenue on Blue Water Cruise Night Friday, June 28, 2019 in Fort Gratiot.
Cars cruise along 24th Avenue on Blue Water Cruise Night Friday, June 28, 2019 in Fort Gratiot.

The Keith Peterson Memorial Car Show will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday at Birchwood Mall. Also on Saturday, the Miss Blue Water Bombshell Pin-Up Contest will be taking place.

"The ladies dress up in vintage clothing, and it goes well with the vintage cars because they walk the different cars and people can get photos," Thiele said.

Every year, the organizers of cruise weekend choose a local charity to donate a portion of the money gained from the event to. The organizers have chosen Tires and Treads this year.

"They help children with school supplies, clothing and other things like that with own car shows, so we just thought it was fitting," Thiele said.

People will get to show off their classic cars on Friday during Cruise Night. Between 6:30 and 8:30 p.m., drivers will go down a loop in Fort Gratiot and visit various businesses that are designated pit stops. Each pit stop will have a point of interest such as D.J.s, restaurant specials and prizes. Drivers will be given cards that can be stamped at each pit stop.

People do not have to register to participate in the cruise.

There are 14 pit stops this year, which is the most Blue Water Cruise Weekend has ever had.

  • Northgate Ford

  • Applebee's

  • Mercy Village

  • Texas Roadhouse

  • Culver's

  • Blue Water Lodge

  • Snyder Performance

  • Preferred Towing

  • Jersey Mike's Fort Gratiot

  • Meijer

  • Moran Chevrolet

  • McDonald's Fort Gratiot

  • AT&T Cellular

  • Tanisha B's Cake Galour

Tanisha B's Cake Galour is the final pit stop and where drivers must turn in their cards. Jersey Mike's and Culver's will have restaurant specials during Cruise Night. Driver's will need to ask for the Cruise Night Special before their order is rung up.

Drivers who turn in their cards will be placed in a drawing, where the prize will be gift cards donated by various local businesses.

There will also be fireworks Saturday night, with the best spots to watch them in the Meijer and Walmart parking lots.

Contact McKenna Golat at mgolat@gannett.com or (810) 292-0122.

This article originally appeared on Port Huron Times Herald: Cruise Weekend 2023