Cruise Nite, 1st Sunday at
Airport a weekend of SP fun!
April 03, 2015
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
With Cruise Nite roaring into town for its 17th Season and the First Sunday of the Month at famed Santa Paula Airport that’s plenty for the whole family to do this spring weekend.
With Friday’s Cruise Nite, Ventura County’s most famed car show, you’ll get down in the Downtown with hundreds of pre-1975 vehicles in a night of festive family fun.
Johnny & The Love Handles band will be playing at the base of the famed Odd Fellows Clock Tower building and restaurants and shops will be open to welcome visitors many offering Cruise Nite specials.
East Main Street between 10th and 7th and several side streets are closed early for Cruise Nite, which starts at about 5 p.m. … but Cruise Niters come early, eat in town and then enjoy the show until cars leave at about dusk.
April’s Cruise Nite starts the season that runs through October; November through March the car show hibernates until the change in the season and the clocks “spring forward” bringing more daylight hours to enjoy the show.
Cruise Nite T-shirts — each month designed with a show participating car — will be available across the street from the Les Maland Plaza bandstand and Santa Paula Fire will be offering free Hands-Only CPR training near Mill and Main streets. Also known as Sidewalk CPR, the method to save a life only takes minutes to learn and those that receive the free training will be entered in a raffle for a La Cabana gift card!
Cruise Nite is a great time to visit the historic Downtown where car lovers from throughout Southern California come to admire the dazzling array of automotive beauties or drive in to display their four-wheeled pride and joys.
There is plenty of free public parking in the Downtown area!
Saturday is a good day to wander the Downtown: see unique shops, visit the famed murals, drop in at the wide variety of restaurants — from sushi, New Orleans and Mexican fare to steaks and Irish and specialty soups and sandwiches, even fast food for those on the go — Santa Paula has to offer throughout the city.
Santa Paula has an abundance of wonderful museums (California Oil, Santa Paula Art, Agriculture and Aviation) great historic architecture and a popular walking/biking trail, among other attractions the city is noted for.
And speaking of museums don’t miss the First Sunday Open House at the world famous Santa Paula Airport, where you’ll be able to take a nice pause between Easter festivities and treat the kids to something different from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and visit the Aviation Museum of Santa Paula.
Alas, due to the Easter holiday the popular Fight 126 Café won’t be open Sunday, but hopes you’ll visit anytime during regular business hours and during the May First Sunday at the Airport event.
Santa Paula Airport is where “Local Aviation History Comes Alive!”
The museum’s fascinating “Chain of Hangars” are open for you to explore; Hangar Number One is home to the museum and features displays on the history of Santa Paula Airport — founded in 1930 — and a great gift shop.
Visitors are then invited to stroll through privately owned hangars that house vintage aircraft and collections of memorabilia, vehicles and antiques.
The Young Eagles program offers free plane rides for youth ages 8 to 17; contact Neil Fowler at (805) 647-6994 for more information and reservations.
An extra treat Sunday is the SoCal Smarties car club displaying their fun — and very smart! — vehicles from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Since 1930, Santa Paula Airport has been widely recognized around the world for its antique, classic and experimental aircraft as well as celebrated for its climate and its friendliness.
The Airport is located at 800 Santa Maria Street, between Palm and 10th Street exits of the 126 Freeway. Rain — like that’s going to happen! — cancels the event. Call (805) 525-1109 or visit http://aviationmuseumofsantapaula.org/
