The 10th anniversary of the Great Kulpmont Cruise promises to be the biggest and best one yet.
Joe Cesari, cruise chairman, said the event, scheduled for 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, is expected to attract 200 or more vehicles and feature some interesting sights, such as a Knoebels Amusement Resort float with a working carousel and three flatbeds with live bands - Mike Macker (former lead singer of The Mudflaps), Deuce and Another Side.
"That is something that makes our cruise unique," Cesari said. "The musicians are actually playing up on flatbeds and so they are a working part of the cruise."
Registration for the cruise begins at 11:30 a.m. at Holy Angels Roman Catholic Church picnic grounds, where the vehicles will be on display until the cruise starts at 3:30 p.m.
"We have 50 or more pre-registrations," Cesari said. "That's pretty good, considering that most entries come the day of the event."
The Kulpmont Football and Baseball Association will operate a concession stand on the picnic grounds beginning at 11 a.m., and a DJ will spin '50s and '60s hits throughout the day.
The main event is, of course, the cruise itself, and many residents and non-residents will set up their chairs or stand along Chestnut Street to enjoy it.
Cesari said town businesses and residents along the main thoroughfare in Kulpmont have already decorated their homes and storefronts in anticipation of the event.
"This is the most fun part," Cesari said. "When you see the people all lined up on Chestnut Street and you can see that they are enjoying it. One of the most gratifying things is to see the way the senior citizens smile and you know they are remembering. And there are so many young kids and while you'd think they'd go for the muscle cars they are really interested in the antique vehicles as well. It's a nice thing."
The Kulpmont Cruise is open to all types of vehicles with the entry fee of $13 benefiting the playground project at the Terry Miriello Sports Complex.
