By Charly SHELTON

Annual Brand Boulevard Cruise Night celebrates the car culture of Southern California.

It’s that time of year again – time for classic cars, cool tunes and warm nights. It’s time for Glendale Cruise Night.

Wheels are currently in motion to set up this 24th annual event that invites visitors to stroll up and down Brand Boulevard on Saturday, July 15 from 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. to check out more than 350 classic and collector cars.

“We just want [the public] to come out and have a fun event. We’ve been working hard with fire and police [departments] to ensure the safety of everyone who attends, to make sure everything is safe,” said Patty Betancourt, event coordinator for the City of Glendale. “We’re just hoping for a really well-attended show.”

In addition to the classic cars lined up along the sides of the closed off street, there will be shopping and dining nearby, community groups and sponsors will staff tables in order to educate the public on their activities and there will be a youth area with arts and crafts, carnival games and a rock climbing wall.

But what is a street fair without live music? Glendale Cruise Night has a hefty line-up of tribute band artists performing on its main stage at the top of Brand Boulevard, including The Coral Paradise Band, a tribute to Jimmy Buffett, Creedence Relived, a Creedence Clearwater Revival tribute band, and Gregory Wolfe, performing as Rod Stewart. Autographs with the performers will be available after each of their performances in an area near the stage. This all culminates at 10:30 p.m. with a fireworks display over the car show.  

The event will begin two hours and 30 minutes before the sun sets. Weather forecasts indicate temperatures in the low 90s at the event’s beginning, dropping only 10 degrees by the time the sun sets just after 8 p.m.

“We want people to dress comfortably. We see that it’s going to be hot. And they need to make sure they stay hydrated – and just enjoy themselves,” Betancourt said.

For more information, visit the website at GlendaleCruiseNight.com.

  Charly Shelton