JACKSON, MI — Classic car fans will have to wait until 2021 to check out Studebakers and Thunderbirds driving downtown Jackson.
Jackson’s Downtown Development Authority has canceled the remaining Cruise In events for August and September, Executive Director Cory Mays said in an email. All five of the classic car shows in downtown Jackson, usually happening on the fourth Friday of each month from May to September, were canceled because of the novel coronavirus pandemic.
The events usually feature live music, closed streets and hundreds of participants walking around residents’ glossy classic cars
Officials at the DDA said attendance estimates from previous years outpaced the state-mandated limits on crowd sizes in an outdoor event.
Remaining Food Truck Tuesday events were canceled, as well, Mays said.
Jackson cancels three upcoming Cruise-Ins, Memorial Day parade due to pandemic
“We want to hold amazing events and bring people downtown to shop, eat, relax and be outdoors,” Mays said in the email. “But our primary concern is the safety of our citizens, our parents, our children, our grandparents.”
The remaining Cruise Ins were expected to occur Aug. 28 and Sept. 25.
Some impromptu car events have occurred in downtown Jackson this summer with attendees parking their classic cars downtown, Mays confirmed. He said the DDA was not involved and no city services were used, like street closures or additional police patrol, because they were organized outside of the city.
“We are optimistic that we can be back in full swing for 2021, offering a great mix of car shows, food truck events, concerts, festivals, and other amazing outdoor events,” Mays said. “Downtown Jackson is the place to be, but for now, we want people to stay safe, wear a mask, and practice social distancing so we can all get through this safely.”
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