About 400 classic cars, muscle cars, trucks, motorcycles and antique cars lined up along Main Street from Constitution to College Blvd. for Kutztown Community Partnership’s third annual Kutztown Kruizz on July 29. An estimated 3,500 people came out to view cars polished and buffed to perfection, eat food, listen to live music by Shake, Rattle and Soul and check out the downtown businesses.
“I think people are just fascinated with cars, especially old ones. For people my age, it’s a look back. We see cars that we knew when we were young and they’re in the same condition they were back in the 60s when I was a kid,” said event coordinator Kelley Neyhart, member of the KCP Board of Directors. “I also see cars here that when I was young in my teens I dreamed of owning one and they’ve faithfully restored. It’s fun.”
About 15 awards were presented by each sponsoring business, one voted on by attending children, another voted on by all attendees and, the most prestigious, an award presented by Kutztown Mayor Sandy Green to Eric Humenick, of Hazleton.
“I like the way the community comes out and the number of cars we get. We have people from all over the region. This is our best year yet, 402 cars,” said Neyhart. “I like the size of the crowd, the way the merchants offer food and special events for the day. It’s just a great community day. It’s the best part of living in Kutztown.”
KCP members Gina M. Wiand, Borough Secretary, and Janet Yost, library director at Kutztown Community Library, sold KCP t-shirts during the Kruizz.
“It’s very impressive. Extremely well attended,” said Wiand. “Beautiful day, thank goodness.”
Yost hopes people learn that Kutztown is a nice place to visit.
“There’s things to do. There’s shops. While your car is parked here for a couple of hours, you can shop, you can eat, it’s a pleasant experience.”
“It’s a fun, welcoming community for everyone,” added Wiand.
Shake, Rattle and Soul rocked out all day at the Kutztown Kruizz, performing rock songs from the 60s and early 70s.
“A lot of the cars on the street are from the 60s and early 70s so we tie together the music and the age of the cars,” said band member Michael Vasko, guitar and keyboard player. “The music adds excitement. It’s good event with music, food and cars.”
During the event, Vasko met Kutztown trumpet player Jamal Damien, 18, a 2017 Kutztown High School graduate who will study music at the Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester. Vasko invited Damien on stage to join the band for a couple of songs.
“It’s fantastic. To help promote the young generation, bring them into a professional type situation. He’s excellent,” said Vasko who hopes to invite Damien to join them at future events.
“It was nice. I always love to make music that people can dance to. That’s always nice,” said Damien. “It’s really nice to jump right in. I think they sound really solid. It made it really simple to just walk in on it.”
The band got people dancing in the street, including KCP Office Manager Maggie Stange.
“This is a volunteer organization. The community really has a chance to make these events what they want them to be,” said Stange. “It shows that the community is engaged and actively together.”
The many event volunteers included Kutztown Soccer Team, National Guard and more. Neyhart thanked everyone who volunteered to help with the event, including Kutztown University, Business Link and about 30 businesses who sponsored the event.
“I just hope that more community groups get involved with Kutztown Community Partnership because that’s what it’s all about, is connecting with each other and showing off the good things we have in Kutztown,” said Stange.
Proceeds from the Kruizz will benefit Kutztown Strong, a subcommittee of KCP, as well as KCP.
“(Kutztown Strong) is really fighting substance abuse in this area so the proceeds from this event will go to Kutztown Strong and KCP. That’s a really big part of the Kruizz but it’s really just for the community to have a great time and check out the great businesses we have.”
Businesses offered specials and activities, such as temporary tattoos at Paradise Lost and a virtual reality experience at Computer Wizards.
Kutztown Thriving, a subcommittee of KCP that aims to grow sustainability in Kutztown, concluded their rain barrel auction, raising a total of $1,010 in bids. Local artists Joanne Lapic, Nathan Hurst, Courtney Hampton, Kathleen Walck, and Alyssa Damiani painted rain barrels for the auction to raise funds for Kutztown Thriving projects such as native gardens in town, plans to extend to the Saucony Trail and possibly bike racks in the future.
“I’m just happy that the day turned out well,” said Kutztown Thriving member Cecilia Holt, owner of Young Ones, who was taking bids for the barrel auction. “We have a lot of people interested in the barrels who love the design.”
Bob Hobaugh, Kutztown, displayed his motorcycle.
“Kutztown Community Partnership benefits all of us, the college and the town. It also benefits Kutztown Strong which is a very important program to address the opioid problem in our community,” said Hobaugh.
The Kutztown Kruizz concluded with awards and more music by Shake, Rattle and Soul while cars cruised up to Kutztown Park for an evening concert by the Fabulous Grease Band at the park bandshell.
