Cars line the street in 2015 during a cruise in event on the Benton court square. The first cruise in of the year is set for this Saturday.
BENTON – Kentucky Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB), City of Benton and the Benton Partnership organization have joined forces to continue a new mainstay of summer in the county: The Benton Cruise In.
The group will host its first cruise in of the year from 4-7 p.m. Saturday April 29 on the court square in Benton. The event, which initially began in 2014, is open to all makes and models of cars, trucks, vans, motorcycles and even tractors and boats. CVB Marketing Director Elena Blevins said organizers hoped to bring a fun, family friendly event to the area for residents and visitors alike.
“We’ve got kids activities planned,” Blevins said. “We’ll have sidewalk chalk and I think we’ve got bubbles … just a few other really kind of, hopefully, fun – simple, but fun – things for kids. Bracelets and bead making and all that sort of stuff. … We’ll have music, it won’t be live music, it won’t be like a live band, but we will be utilizing the sound system and playing sort of that ’50s (and) ’60s classic car theme.”
In addition to children’s activities, organizers will present awards for best in show and kid’s choice winners among participants. Car enthusiasts will have the opportunity to enter for a chance at a 50/50 draw, and door prizes will be given away to lucky winners, also.
And, of course, there will be food. Blevins said food truck vendors would be on site at the event.
“We have two sort of dessert vendors … and then we’ll hope to have about three sort of various actual food vendors,” Blevins said. “And we try not to have any competition. … So they can all maximize their profit as much as possible. So, there will be a small selection but a good selection of food and dessert available.”
And while organizers have a number of the day’s events down to a science, Partnership member and Benton Edward Jones consultant Kayla Teckenbrock said the group was always looking for volunteers and sponsors.
“If you are a business – you are a local business – and in the past you’ve participated as a sponsor for some of the giveaways, we are still looking for that,” Teckenbrock said. “What we’ve kind of decided is … what we’re looking for is if you want to donate a gift card of – $25 is kind of what we’ve put it at – from your business and then put a card in there … or if you own a business where you can give a gift card away, absolutely, we’re looking for that. So, we’re looking for four per event. … It is a good way if you’ve done it in the past, if you want to keep your name kind of associated with it.”
Saturday’s cruise in is one of several planned for the year; subsequent events will begin at 4 p.m. on the last Saturday of each month through September on the square. Registration is free for enthusiasts who want to display their vehicles in the show.
In the event of inclement weather, organizers will cancel the event for the day by 2 p.m. that day.
“If it’s just supposed to sprinkle and kind of rain, I mean, we’ll have it,” Blevins said. “But if there’s the threat of a storm with thunder and lightning, rather than try to move it indoors or redo the times, we’re just calling it. We’re canceling it.”
Cancellation information will appear on the Benton Main Street Facebook page, Teckenbrock said.
For more information, visit the Benton Main Street Facebook page. Those interested in sponsorship opportunities may contact Benton City Hall at 270-527-8677 or the CVB at 270-527-3128. Participants who intend to bring boats need also contact Blevins at the CVB prior to registration.