FeedsMichigan Avenue Cruise takes shape, set for next week
Things might get a little congested along Michigan Avenue next weekend.
The first Michigan Cruise will take place along the state thoroughfare from noon to 8 p.m. on July 12—from Dearborn through the City of Wayne.
But how many cars are expected for the first-ever event? Even organizer Don Nicholson said he isn’t exactly sure.
“I don’t know, but I can tell you this: we had 22,000 hits on our website last Monday,” said Nicholson. “It is just phenomenal.”
Nicholson, who puts on other local charity car shows, came up with the idea last year to build on the automotive heritage in the area, promote tourism and bring additional business to the community.
The show will stretch along Michigan Avenue, with plenty of attractions in each of the four cities. In the City of Inkster, the event coincides with the Inkster JazzFest, and concerts will be featured. In Westland, a special area will be set up in front of the old Eloise Hospital for Model T classics. In Wayne, the Chamber of Commerce will host a cookout; the U.S. 12 bar will provide an outdoor concert and several other activities will take place, too.
There will be additional car shows at both Jack Demmer locations—in Wayne and Dearborn—which bookend the event.
“Everyone has something neat going on,” he said.
Nicholson said it’s hard to predict how many classics will take part in the event, but he’s heard from car clubs both near and far and is predicting a good turnout.
“If businesses don’t get extra customers from this, it’s because they’re closed or they haven’t let anyone know where they’re at,” Nicholson said.
Nicholson said he hopes to build up the cruise so that it rivals the annual Woodward Dream Cruise—but at a draw of about 1.5 million, he said that would be tough to top. For now, he said he’d be satisfied if he pulled in similar numbers to the downriver cruise that took place last week. He’s printed up 175,000 maps for the event.
He hopes to bring the event back next year, and said it will be the business community that makes it happen.
“It’s nice to see how well the business community has pulled together,” he said. “That’s what’s going to make things happen.”
