MAYFIELD, Ohio – With the warm weather here and the sweet smells of summer in the air, it’s time to hear the roar of retro cars as they drive down Wilson Mills Road.
In other words, it’s time for the 32nd annual Mayfield Village Cruise Night, which is scheduled for June 11 this year. It would have been the 33rd year of the event, but was canceled due to COVID-19 in 2020, while last year’s Cruise Night took place in September. This year there will be another change – earlier. This year’s Cruise Night will take place from 3 to 7 p.m.
Speaking about this earlier, Mayfield Recreation Director Shane McAvinew said: “The main reason is that in the last few years we have seen people leave (Cruise Night) at 8-20: 30 (pm) and they were going to St. Francis. at the Assisi Parish Festival in Gates Mills), so why compete with (the festival) when we can just move our time a little? ”The St. Francis Festival will take place June 9-12 at 6850 Mayfield Road.
McAvinew also believes that the earlier start of Cruise Night will give attendees more time to explore the area’s restaurants before enjoying Cruise Night.
Perhaps because there was no cruise night in 2020, the number of cars included in 2021 has increased compared to previous years. McAvinyu said that this year Cruise Night will have a lot of retro cars, comparable to last year. More than 500 classic cars are expected.
“We advertised (for cars) both on social media and in Cruisin ‘Times magazine. The answer was good. The weather always determines how much we get, but for now we expect to get some really good numbers. “
A few weeks ago, McAvinho needed volunteers for the event, but he said he now has a full team ready to sell goods and raise money for Hillcrest Meals on Wheels.
In terms of entertainment, there will be three groups. FM 77 will play classic rock from the 70s and early 80s near Austin’s Steakhouse, 6535 Wilson Mills Road; Geeze Cats will play rock ‘n’ roll from the ’50s and early’ 60s on stage near Yours Truly Restaurant, 6675 Wilson Mills Road; and Slick 31, which will perform music from the 80s and 90s in the Children’s Area, near the Village Hall, 6621 Wilson Mills Road. The children’s area will also include a DJ who will share time with Slick 31, face painting and tying balloons.
In terms of food, participants will include Austin’s Steakhouse, which will host a Cruise Night food and beverage garden; Yours indeed, which will serve outside; Roma Pizza; the Pizzazz food truck to be parked in the parking lot of the Municipal Room; the East Coast Custard food truck; Italian restaurant Piccolo, which will sell in the Heinen car park at 860 SOM Center Road; Heinen’s, which will bake hot dogs and burgers; and Deacon’s Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, which will serve hot dogs at 835 SOM Center Road.
“This is one of the longest cruise shows in northeastern Ohio, if not in Ohio,” McAvinyu told the event. “It brings cars from all over the state, so you’ll see a nice variety of classic cars, hot rod cars, muscle cars and everything in between.
“Besides, what we worked hard on was to have a children’s atmosphere, a family atmosphere. So everyone will have something to do.
“Besides, I don’t know too many events there that close the road and let cars travel on them. There are a lot of great shows around, but we are one of the few that allow cars to travel on the main street in the city. ”
The open-air concert season begins
McAvinyu said that the season for open-air concerts in the village will start at 18:30 on Thursday, June 2, with the performance of the band Sozzle. He said the show was originally scheduled for the Wilson Mills pavilion and SOM Center Roads, but that a nearby public room was being rented at the time.
Therefore, Sozzle will instead open the season at The Grove Amphitheater on June 2. Sozzle performs classic rock. The band played last year at The Grove, 425 N. Commons Blvd. McAvinyu said Sozzle impressed visitors in 2021, which earned him a reservation this year.
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