Cruise Day Schedule of Events

At the event, there are 50/50 raffles, and an array of raffle items to choose from including a R4T exclusive rock box filled with swag from the R4T performers. Local musicians generously volunteer with 20-minute sets throughout the afternoon and into the evening. The committee members and volunteers first worked out of a warehouse to package the toys. Over the years, the event has moved around based on Jimmy’s ownership of the bars, but eventually landed at Freddy’s, which so far has been a great fit. Years later, she worked with Jimmy Klapp, who was the owner of The Dawghouse bar on Groesbeck Highway. He wanted to host a toy drive to collect toys for the Goodfellows.

Port Huron man arrested after stabbing at local bar

You can see sponsors listed on the cruise website and 2023 posters posted in businesses six weeks before the cruise. The cruise committee said the event will go on as scheduled although participants may find the route a little backed up. A grand marshal is a person selected at an automobile race by the track owner or race sponsor to be the public leader of events on race day or throughout the race weekend.

Clinton Twp. Gratiot Cruise moves the party to 16 Mile Road

After that, lane passes are also available each day at the Car Show Registration. On Cruise Day, lane passes are $20 and available at the Registration at Eastpointe High School and also from Cruise Ambassadors on the street, up and down Gratiot. Because of the closures, MDOT isn’t allowing the cruise to temporarily shut down any lanes to allow for the VIP lap which traditionally opens the cruise, committee members said. The VIP lap, where police the cruise route to let the dignitaries take a ceremonial ride through it, will return next year. For their 20th anniversary, the Clinton Township Gratiot Cruise committee has moved all of the township’s activities to one spot at this Sunday’s cruise event.

T-shirt, medal, water and snacks free with registration!

There will also be door prizes and car show prizes given. This is a FREE public event for residents, friends, family and out-of-towners with or without classic vehicles. This summertime tradition is an opportunity to showcase our community to neighboring residents, and visitors from across the State and Midwest.

Cash prizes include $500 for the top male and female winners, $250 for second place and $100 for third place. The top finishers in each age category will receive a $25 Hanson’s gift card. Cars will parade along Gratiot Avenue at noon, with cruising encouraged until 5 p.m. Registration costs $30 and can be completed online through Friday or in person at the event. Cash prizes and trophies will be awarded in stock and modified classes at 4 p.m. Best Overall in Show wins $1,000; first place wins $300; second place, $200; and third place, $100.

Crashes, fights, gunfire occur at massive car show on Detroit's east side - WDIV ClickOnDetroit

Crashes, fights, gunfire occur at massive car show on Detroit's east side.

Posted: Mon, 29 May 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Registration can be taken care of here. Registration cost is $30.

The North Gratiot Cruise is a one-day celebration of automobile history that attracts muscle cars, street rods, customs, collector cars, special interest vehicles and the people that love them. Expect to find your dream car, live music, great food vendors, parties and family fun. The Gratiot Avenue Chamber of Commerce has been presenting the North Gratiot Cruise for over a decade and in that time has granted $50,000 to community groups. Celebrating Macomb County’s largest procession of hot rods, roadsters, motorcycles, antique vehicles, pickup trucks and other wheeled contraptions that gather on Gratiot between 14 Mile and Wellington Crescent for a day of family fun. In advance of the vintage vehicle showcase, the cruise committee hosts a series of pre-cruise car shows at businesses throughout the community that attract on average 100 classic cars.

This year’s honored guests are known as community do-gooders

Turner was in charge of making sure the proceeds would benefit the children of Clinton Township. Lane passes are $15 prior to June 17 and $20 if purchased on cruise day. The local school district with the most pledged support will win $1,000 awarded to the athletic department. New this year, the area church with the most runners also wins $1,000 to be used for programs within its youth ministry. Letcavage said some parts of the activities will include toy construction tools to carry the construction theme over. Organizers of this year’s cruise have been forced to make some changes to the route because of ongoing road construction.

The show is scheduled to start at 4 p.m., but Csokas said people typically begin arriving with their classic cars much earlier in the day. The Clinton Township Gratiot Cruise committee is a non-profit organization registered with the State of Michigan. The planning group’s purpose is to organize an annual car cruise within the Clinton Township Downtown Development Authority (DDA) boundaries to promote both the businesses along Gratiot Avenue as well as the community. Several businesses in Clinton Township have donated and are now considered a Cruise Sponsor. Sponsorships cover the cost for all you see all day long, along with the pre-planning including promotions, entertainment, police/security, children’s activities, merchandise, prizes, etc.

Eastpointe’s Cruisin’ Gratiot is the ONLY Michigan Cruise with a MDOT authorized Cruise Lane.The passes MUST be on display in your driver-side window at the top. This year’s Rock-4-Tots event is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 2-3 at Freddy’s Bar on Garfield Road in Clinton Township. The committee of community-minded individuals decided to honor another group of do-gooders in the Rock-4-Tots organizers for the Aug. 6 cruise along Gratiot Avenue, from 14 Mile Road to Wellington Crescent. The Cruise Headquarters is located in the parking lot of the McLaren Macomb "Glass House" Building, at the southeast corner of 16 Mile & Gratiot. When cruising please stay in the outside lanes. Watch for brake lights not working and be ready.

You may set up a small tent along the Cruise route as long as you don’t infringe on local businesses. There are no reservations, it is First Come – First Serve. Yes, the left lane on both sides of Gratiot is solely for those with Cruiser packages and lane passes.

The 5K route runs primarily through local residential streets, starting on Cotton Road and turning into the Eagle’s Nest subdivision. The 1K route will be a path around cruise headquarters, staying onsite for the duration. Bibs will be given to those who want them, but racing times will not be recorded. Contact the Cruise office and you may advance-purchase a dedicated lane pass for $15, pre-Cruise. Your pass can be mailed to you provided you send in a self-stamped envelope and register before the mailing deadline of June 1, 2024.

Aug. 6, with festivities starting as early as 9 a.m. The Michigan Department of Transportation has two of four lanes closed as work crews continue on a resurfacing project along Gratiot from 14 Mile Road to Wellington Crescent. MDOT says the project should wrap up this year. There is no charge to attend the shows or the cruise, which runs from noon-6 p.m.