Albion will add cruises on Saturdays this summer
Photo by Tom Rivers: Cars are pictured during the Strawberry Festival last June for the car show. These cars are on east State Street. The new “Canalside Cruise Night” will have the cars by the canal.
Main Street will close for big cruise on July 22
ALBION – Saturdays will be cruise night in Albion this summer.
Some Albion business owners and the Village Board have seen the popularity of the cruise nights in other communities and they want to welcome car owners, and show off the historic architecture, serene canal waters and small-town charm of Albion.
The Albion Canalside Cruise Night will start on June 17 and continue on Saturdays from 5:30 to 8 p.m. until Aug. 26. Car owners should register for each cruise at Digital Ink Arks, corner of Platt and East bank streets.
“We want to bring some life to Main Street and the downtown on Saturday nights,” said Adam Johnson, one of the cruise-in coordinators. He is also opening 39 Problems, an eating establishment at 43 North Main St. The site will serve pizza, ice cream, soups, salads, sandwiches and other food. The business opens on June 5.
Johnson is sponsoring the cruise nights through 39 Problems. Digital Ink Arts, Arnold’s Auto Parts and the Village of Albion also are sponsoring the events.
Each week has a theme. Johnson said the cruises welcome old and new cars, motorcyles and even boats.
Johnson is hopeful to draw 60 vehicles or more for each cruise with cars down by the canal. A section of Main Street will be closed on July 22 for a big cruise.
The cruise-in schedule includes:
• June 17: late model cruisers
• June 24: custom paint and hot rod night
• July 8: jeep and truck night
• July 15: bike night (motorcycles)
• July 22: big cruise with Main Street shut down and several side streets, boaters also welcome
• July 29: rain date
• Aug. 5: classic cruisers
• Aug. 12: tuner night
• Aug. 19: boat night
• Aug. 26: finale featuring convertibles
File photo by Tom Rivers: John Borello, left, and Ed Hilfiker, guitarists with The Who Dats, perform during the Orleans County 4-H Fair in this photo from July 2015. The Who Dats will be performing in Albion’s concert series by the canal on June 29.
The village also is continuing its Thursday night concert series by the canal. That schedule includes:
• June 15: That ’60s Band
• June 22: The Dave Viterna Group
• June 29: The Who Dats
• July 6: Dady Brothers
• July 9: Traveling Troubadours
• July 13: Blind Leading the Blind
• July 20: The Lonely Ones
• July 27: DRIVEN
• Aug. 3: Jonesie & the Cruisers
