Friday night, downtown Kitchener will get a heaping spoonful of nostalgia as Cruising on King takes over the main drag.
Over 100 classic cars will be lined up along King Street, between Frederick Street and Francis Street North, for the evening. Visitors will get a chance to wander among the rides, enjoy live music and maybe sample some of the fare from the shops, restaurants and food trucks in the area.
Steve Roth, manager of special events with the City of Kitchener, told 570 NewsRadio, people don’t have to be a “car person” to enjoy Cruising on King.
“What is really cool about this is, whether you’re a car enthusiast or not, there is so much to see and so much to do.”
Roth said there will some famous vehicles making an appearance.
“If anyone has seen the show Knight Rider, Kit will be out at the show. Lightning McQueen will be out at the show. There’s a DeLorean à la Back to the Future, and we also have one of the Jeeps from Jurassic Park.”
There will be live music throughout the evening featuring tribute acts to some of the biggest stars of the ’50s and ’60s, including The Beach Boys, Elvis, Johnny Cash and Roy Orbison.
Admission to Cruising on King is free.
Roth is encouraging people to take public transit, given the LRT runs right through the downtown. He said there will be a bike check available for those who choose to cycle to the event. Roth said there are plenty of parking options downtown, many of them free on Friday night.
King Street will be closed starting early in the morning to allow time for parked cars to be removed and for set-up, while several side streets along King will also have closures for the day. People can review a list of closures below; access to the City of Kitchener parkade will be maintained.