CruiseFest parade to bring the classics back to Berkley

BERKLEY — Classic vehicles from yesteryear will take to the city of Berkley during Woodward Dream Cruise weekend.

The Berkley CruiseFest Classic Car Parade will take place at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 16. The parade will be on 12 Mile Road, traveling from Woodward Avenue to Greenfield Road.

Interim Parks and Recreation Director Dan McMinn stated that there are around 300 vehicles registered for the parade.

“It’s just a good time for people of the community and neighboring communities to come enjoy the cars and enjoy the city of Berkley,” he said.

McMinn noted that if people still are looking to register for the parade, they can do so at the Berkley Community Center at 2400 Robina Ave.

“We do send out tickets for them to get into the station area at Roseland Park Cemetery. So, that’s how we know they’ve paid and everything like that. And with it being so close to the event now, it is a little bit late to mail out those tickets, but if they did want to still register, they can come to the community center, pay right on-site and get a ticket for the event,” he said.

Longtime Berkley resident Eric Murrell will be bringing his 1967 Volkswagen bus to drive in the parade.

Owner of the classic van since 2003, Murrell said he really likes the counterculture vibe of the early Volkswagen buses.

“Everyone’s got a story about how they drove to college in one or they used to party in one back in the ’70s or ’60s, depending on when they may have had access to it,” he said. “I’ve always really liked the counterculture aspects of my hippie mobile. It’s undeniably part of that era.”

Murrell has participated in almost every CruiseFest parade and loves the “unique” experience the event brings to Dream Cruise weekend.

“It’s only classic cars. They’re going down the road in single file. It’s very easy to see the cars and see what’s going on. We love the people. Our vehicle gets a great reception,” he said. “Before we had the vehicle, I used to watch the parade, but then also participating in the parade, we got a lot of positive reaction from our vehicle. We get lots of applause and waving and people standing up and saluting us. And it’s a lot of fun to see it from the side of a participant in the parade, because you really begin to see how … people remember the old Volkswagen buses and the important part it had in their lives.”

There also will be a party downtown following the parade that includes musical entertainment from Denise Davis and the Motor City Sensations and a showing of the movie “Cars” at The Neighbor’s Shoppe, located at 2833 12 Mile Road, roughly around 7:30 p.m.

McMinn said the whole event offers a little something to everyone who attends.

“The parade is great for the people who love the cars, but I think the after-party is great for people who just want to spend time with their neighbors,” he said. “It’s an all-encompassing event that brings out the best in Berkley, and we’re happy to do it each year.”

For more information on CruiseFest and the event, visit berkleymich.org/departments/parks_and_recreation/cruisefest.php.