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Date: 7/24/2019
CHICOPEE – Summer time means barbeques, beaches, and family get togethers. For the Chicopee Moose Lodge 1849, it also means cars, food, and fun in their weekly Cruise Nights.
The Moose Family Center on Fuller Street holds a cruise night every Thursday from 6 to about 8 p.m. as their field is lined with classic cars and burgers and hot dogs are cooked up on the grill. It is a great way to bring the community together, according to Governor of the Moose Lodge Steven Butler.
“It brings the community together and is just a great family fun night,” he said. Butler said the annual summer event is planned throughout the year. “We set the dates and then the people show up,” he explained. “We have a great group of volunteers available for this event.”
Butler said the one thing he has noticed over the last few years is how much the event has grown every summer.
“We have more cars, and more people coming now,” he continued. “We’ve been able to bring in bands, a DJ to provide live music, really anything to improve Cruise Night. We do take feedback from attendees to help us make the event a better experience for all.”
Aside from the classic cars lined along the field of the lodge, there is also a flea market available and a barbeque for those who attend the cruise night.
Butler said the cars are displayed on the field free of charge, though they do need to register with the Lodge to be displayed.
“The cars can show up on Cruise Night and register with the Moose Lodge and then they are able to be displayed,” he continued.
Butler said every Cruise Night has a trophy presentation for best car of the night.
“This is also our second year giving away a trophy at the end of the season for best car of the season,” he added.
Butler explained that the Cruise Nights began years ago when a member just decided to have a car show.
“Since then, it's been running every year for approximately the last 15 years or so,” he said.
Anyone who would like more information regarding the Moose Family Center’s Cruise Nights can contact the Lodge at 592-6285.