Saturday Classic Car Cruise, Longest Running Car Cruise in America, Celebrates 32nd Anniversary in March
Old Town and its more than 60 shops and restaurants, live entertainment and signature car cruise events on Friday and Saturday nights had a 2021 like no other. All retail and restaurant rentals were fully occupied, with no vacancies. Parking on the weekends was 75 percent over what it was in 2019. And there’s no slow down forecasted for 2022 at Old Town.
“We’ve had our highest rental of shops and restaurants in the six years I’ve been at Old Town,” said Thearon Scurlock, Vice President and General Manager of Old Town. “Six years ago, we averaged 20 to 30 cars a night for our Friday car cruises. Now we have well over 200 muscle cars for our Friday night cruise and 200-300 on any given Saturday.”
A key element to Old Town’s pandemic success, according to Scurlock, was deferring rental payments for a year and setting up multi-year pay-back plans for tenants. “It really made a difference in how we do business, how we treat our tenants and the experience we are able to provide for our guests because of it,” he noted.
Scurlock also credits the strong drive market and high vacation rental home occupancies in the area as factors that have increased and maintained constant traffic into Old Town. “The local campaigns that Experience Kissimmee facilitated helped all of us in the 192 Corridor,” he added.
This year, on March 19, Old Town will be celebrating the 32nd Anniversary of its Saturday Classic Car Cruise, the longest running car cruise in America. “It’s going to be so special. You don’t want to miss it!” exclaimed Scurlock. “We are expecting 400-500 cars and drivers from all over the U.S. and they will start arriving 7 a.m. that day.” Participating drivers will receive a special anniversary commemorative license plate.
Recognized as America’s longest running weekly car show, the Saturday Nite Classic Car Show and Cruise has been a weekend tradition for the past 32 years. Guests are invited to drive down memory lane as Old Town welcomes show-quality 1987 and older hot rods, street rods, and antiques. Cars will be on display during the day with a cruise down Old Town’s brick main street at 8:30pm. The all-day celebration on Saturday, March 19 begins at 11 a.m. and includes live entertainment, giveaways, and more, until 11 p.m.
Old Town is host to a Classic Car Show and Cruise every Saturday all year long. It’s a free event for car owners to participate and spectators to enjoy. For more information, visit Old Town’s website at www.myoldtownusa.com.
