Catch a movie and a cruise-in downtown
The recent push to inject new energy into downtown has left McMinnville’s Court Square bustling with activity.
That trend continues this Saturday night when Court Square will be the spot for a McMinnville Cruisers car show, an outdoor movie, and live entertainment.
“We’re trying to bring back the ’50s and ’60s feel and do things to draw people downtown,” said McMinnville Cruisers representative Bobby Ashford. “By having a cruise-in downtown, it’s an asset to our club, and our town too.”
It all starts at 5 p.m. when classic cars will begin filling the streets around Court Square. In addition to live music provided by a Nashville group named The Cruisers, other entertainment will include a hula-hoop contest, a street dance contest and a limbo contest. Door prizes and awards will be presented, including awards for best-dressed adult and best-dressed child.
The McMinnville Cruisers are teaming with Main Street McMinnville in organizing this event. The movie has been changed and now it’s “American Graffiti” which is scheduled to be shown on a big screen on the side of Cumberland Bank at 8 p.m. Free popcorn will be provided.
“We’re going to do something we don’t know of being done anywhere else with our cruise-in and movie afterwards,” said Main Street president Rodney Boyd. “And any money we raise will be donated to the fight against cancer, so we’ll have a good time and it will benefit a good cause.”
Larry Ashford is one of the regulars when it comes to McMinnville Cruisers shows – and for good reason. He has restored a 1950 Ford Custom almost completely on his own and the results are eye-catching.
“I probably did 90 percent of the work in house,” said Larry, who is a mechanic by trade as owner of Larry’s ATV Cycle and Repair on Harrison Ferry Mountain. “I always tell people you could probably build two houses in the time it takes to restore one car if you do it the right way.”
Larry and his wife, Sharon, have participated in car shows from Pennsylvania to Florida and have shown their meticulously restored Ford in close to 10 states. Larry took an early interest in cars, thanks largely to his father.
“I’ve been messing around under the hood ever since I was a little boy,” said Larry. “My dad used to quiz me on parts of an engine. He would point at the starter and ask me to tell him what it was.”
For more information on Saturday’s cruise-in and movie night, contact the Main Street office at 506-5335.