Wienermobile expected at first downtown cruise-in of 2020

July 28, 2020 | 12:08 am

Updated July 28, 2020 | 10:11 pm

Photo courtesy of the Kraft Heinz Company

Downtown Owensboro will host the first cruise-in of the season after COVID-19 put the brakes on the event for several months. This weekend’s event will also feature a visit from the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile.

The Sunset Cruisers are kicking off their 2020 season from 4-9 p.m. Saturday.

Joe Anderson, president of Sunset Cruisers, said the shows normally run once a month from April-October. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the organizers decided to hold off on the event until Aug. 1. 

Anderson said there will be no fee required for participants or attendees. Antique cars, trucks and hot rods will be on display for the public to view. Ford will be this month’s featured vehicle. Two featured vehicles will have reserved parking, but all makes and models are welcome to participate in the cruise-in, Anderson said. 

Whether the season’s first event will be crowded or not is up in the air at this time, but Anderson said the Downtown Cruise-in has historically brought in large crowds. 

“In 2019, we had over 300 cars a month, with a high of 412,” he said. “You just don’t know if it’ll be a banner month or an average month with what’s going on.” 

Anderson said the event supports downtown Owensboro because of the high amount of foot traffic it brings in, but he also said Sunset Cruisers could not pull the event off without the City of Owensboro’s support. 

“The cruise-in brings families out, young and old. It’s quite a mixture of people,” he said. “It draws people in from Indiana and Illinois. We’ve got a group from Louisville coming this weekend. We’ve had people come in from Florida and Michigan.” 

For the first time, the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile will make an entrance at the cruise-in. Anderson said the company has a fleet of six vehicles that travel all across the country.

Sunset Cruisers is asking all attendees and participants to wear face masks and abide by the CDC’s regulations for social distancing. 

The event also supports a local charity each month, Anderson said. This month’s charity will be Lighthouse Recovery. 

If all goes well, Sunset Cruisers will hold another downtown event in September, Anderson said.

July 28, 2020 | 12:08 am

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