Cruise Nite: County’s most famous car show roars back to SP tonight
March 31, 2016
By Mike Kelley
Santa Paula News
You won’t be an April Fool but still have plenty of fun Friday when the 18th season of Santa Paula’s famed Cruise Nite kicks off a season of ncars, music and socializing in the historic Downtown.
The April 1 Cruise Nite — Ventura County’s original and most famed reoccurring car show — will be roaring into town starting at 5 p.m. with hundreds of pre-1975 vehicles for a night of festive family fun.
Playing old fashioned rock ‘n roll, the popular Johnny & The Love Handles will be playing at the base of the famed Odd Fellows Clock Tower building. Restaurants and shops will be open to welcome visitors, many taking advantage of Cruise Nite specials.
East Main Street between 10th and 7th and several side streets are closed early for Cruise Nite, which runs the First Friday of each month from April through October.
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 Niters come early, eat in town and then enjoy the show until cars leave at about dusk.
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 restaurant gift card!
Cruise Nite is a great time to visit historic Downtown Santa Paula 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.
Cruise Nite is jointly sponsored by the Santa Paula Police Officers Association and the Chamber of Commerce, but Dave Anderson and Henry Aguilar, both retired SPPD Officers and the Kings of Cruise Nite, are the longtime coordinators of the event.
