Cruise Nite, Masonic Lodge
Spaghetti Dinner, Ag Museum Concert recently held
June 06, 2014
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
Where can you enjoy a full evening of entertainment and enjoy classic cars, eat fine food, hear great bands and have plenty of fun in three unique venues all within a few blocks?
Come to Santa Paula’s historic Downtown where tonight there will be Cruise Nite featuring the acclaimed Cruise Knights band, an All You Can Eat Spaghetti Dinner at the Masonic Lodge and a concert at the Ventura County Museum of Agricultural Museum.
The fun starts at about 5 p.m. with Cruise Nite, Ventura County’s most famous curbside car show.
This automotive showstopper is held the first Friday of every month through the event’s April-October season, although this year will be dark due to the July 4 holiday.
Cruise Nite closes historic East Main Street from 10th to 7th streets - and side venues - to fill hundreds of parking spaces with classic pre-1975 cars, trucks and motorcycles.
A special treat tonight is an appearance by the famed Cruise Knights Band, which will take to the plaza below the historic Odd Fellows Lodge/Clock Tower at about 5:30 p.m. for an evening of old-fashioned hard rocking rock ‘n’ roll!
The Cruise Knights - whose members are mostly retired or still active police and firefighters - got its start in Santa Paula and now is sought for public and private gigs in and out-of-state (rock out with them at the Ventura 4th of July Street Festival and on July 26 at the Citrus Classic Balloon Festival).
Cruise Nite visitors not only enjoy the cars but also have a chance to stroll down one of the most recognizable Main Streets in the state, its historic buildings featured in numerous films, TV shows and commercials.
And what’s better than stopping in at one of many restaurants in the area to enjoy a delicious snack or meal - most offering Cruise Nite specials - and browsing various unique shops. Visitors also have the chance to purchase a Cruise Nite T-shirt created by Wendell Dowling and each month featuring a custom car seen at the show.
Socializing is also a Cruise Nite tradition and the event draws people from throughout Southern California.
Something new for Cruise Nite is a chance to slip into what is famed for being a somewhat secret society when the Masonic Lodge #291 will show off its facility and feed you at an “All You Can Eat Spaghetti Dinner!”
Tonight’s dinner will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Lodge, located at 102 N. 7th St., at the extreme west end of Cruise Nite.
For a $10 donation adults will get dinner and entry into a raffle for a Mini iPad; a $5 donation is requested for children under 12 for the meal only (no raffle ticket included).
The drawing will be held at 8 p.m. when the Silent Auction also ends.
The dinner at the Lodge, which last year celebrated its 125th anniversary, include salad, French bread, all you can eat spaghetti with meat sauce as well as plain marina sauce for those preferring meatless, and a bottle of water or soft drink.
Members of the Santa Paula High School Band and Santa Paula High School Football Team are selling tickets and will receive 10 percent of the tickets they sell.
The Lodge will use their portion of the proceeds to improve the facility’s kitchen and purchase a commercial refrigerator.
Special guests include famed artist and Mason District Inspector Steve Eberhardt, whose artwork will be included in the Silent Auction; other auction items include Angels Baseball tickets with preferred parking, restaurant dinner packages, SPHS Cardinal Football Helmet, custom wood lathed salt- and peppershakers, and much more.
Although tickets will be accepted at the door pre-sales are encouraged; take out will also be available.
For more information call Dave Beaver, 805-535-8028.
As it starts to get dark and Cruise Nite gets ready to shut down you can keep your engine revving by visiting the Agriculture Museum (926 Railroad Ave. one block from the Downtown), where The Canela Band will reunite!
Established in the 1970s by Santa Paula High School friends, the band is reuniting for one performance from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
And no matter where you ate earlier in the evening you’ll have room to enjoy Rock Chef Rolls from 7-9 p.m., one of Ventura County’s very best food trucks.
They will be serving high-voltage, fresh choices you can bring inside for dinner as you enjoy the fantastic The Canela Band, playing Latin, Rock, Salsa and Funk!
Ag Museum Music Night admission is $10; $5 members; $2 kids with adult. First come, first seated; tables provided.
For more information call 805-525-3100.
