Sunset Cruisers will be slightly moving the location of their monthly car show this year. After nearly a decade of spreading across several downtown blocks of 2nd Street, they’re moving over the 3rd Street and will utilize a few parking lots in the area.
The conversation to move wasn’t new, as the organization had been in contact with City of Owensboro Public Events Director Tim Ross toward the end of the last year.
Organization spokesperson Steve McNatton said after hosting the car show on 2nd Street for the last 8 years, they were outgrowing the strip. He said it had become too spaced out for everyone to hear the speakers and be able to enjoy the event as intended.
“It’s going to be consolidated,” McNatton said of the new plans. “It’s not gonna be spread out for about eight blocks like it was.”
In addition to street parking for their 400+ vehicles that attend, the Cruisers will be utilizing parking lots including First Baptist Church, the Chamber of Commerce, and City Hall.
McNatton said the location is a familiar one.
“That’s where we used to have the barbecue festival car shows for about 10 years or longer, and it’s actually a little bit bigger [of a footprint] — so we’re tickled to death,” McNatton said.
Downtown restaurants and businesses will also benefit from the move, as roads and parking spaces won’t be blocked off.
“The car show events are popular and provide an added attraction for our visitors,” President/CEO of Visit Owensboro Mark Calitri said. “The new location allows for traffic to still flow downtown while allowing easy access for visitors.”
The Sunset Cruisers season starts April 2 this year. McNatton said they will continue through October with events on the first Saturday of every month as usual.
