Cruise-ins return to Medina on Fridays beginning June 9

Photo by Ginny Kropf: Peter Castricone and Vicky Albone of Medina pose by his 1961 Olds Cutlass which he recently purchased. He will be taking it to Friday night cruise-ins in the Canal Basin, which begin June 9.

MEDINA – Cruise-ins in the Canal Basin have been a Friday night tradition in Medina for more than 25 years.

Dave Green of Medina has been involved since very early on, and for many years has organized the summer event. The first one of this season will be June 9. Official start is 5:30 to 7:30, but cars start arriving as early as 4 p.m., Green said.

Boy Scout Troop 35 will be in the basin, cooking hot dogs and hamburgers during the month of August. Green is waiting to confirm who will do the cooking in June and July.

Each Friday features 50/50 drawings, half of which goes to United Way of Orleans County, the event sponsor. DJ Hank Nevins provides the music weekly.

Between 80 and 100 cars visit the Canal Basin for the cruise-ins, with as many as 300 at the Super Cruise, which ends the summer event this year on Aug. 23 on Main Street. Terry Buchwald as Elvis will return to entertain at Super Cruise. Rain date is Aug. 24.

Peter Castricone of Medina wouldn’t miss a Friday night, he said. He has owned a 1991 Camaro convertible for nearly six years, but decided it was time to trade, and recently purchased a 1961 Olds Cutlass convertible (which he calls a “ragtop”) in mint condition. He and his friend Vicky Albone are looking forward to spending Friday nights visiting with other “gearheads” in the basin.

“I try to get there every Friday night,” Castricone said. “I love talking to all the guys about all the cars. Ninety percent of our conversations are about cars.”

“Some of the cars are amazing,” Albone said.

She enjoys the evenings as much as the guys.

Green has owned a variety of classic cars. His most recent is a 1973 Cougar Convertible.