The Historic Bellefonte Cruise, one of the area’s great summer traditions, returns this Father’s Day weekend, June 16th and 17th. Come for the signature blend of antique and classic cars and motorcycles, and stay for the live music, delicious food, and fun activities for the entire family.

The celebration begins on Friday, June 16th at 6 pm with the Open Cruise, where the streets of Bellefonte will see a parade of classic show cars and high-performance vehicles. The opening ceremonies for the cruise start at 7:30 pm on the Diamond and it’ll be followed by a good old-fashioned Sock Hop with lively tunes by the Fabulous Flashbacks, a local band who specialize in great oldies.

On Saturday, June 17th you’ll get to look at the vehicles from the parade up close during the car show which runs, rain or shine, from 7 am-5 pm. The cruise promises more than 30 classes of cars, trucks, and motorcycles for you to take in. You’ll be able to see everything from antique cars and trucks to Corvettes and Mustangs.

Bellefonte.com spoke with Rick Haines, Bellefonte Cruise Parking Chairman, who said he’s expecting anywhere between 250 to 500 cars for the event. Haines said that the wide variety of cars is one of his favorite parts of the cruise every year, along with the people who drive them. “Talking to the people is my biggest thing, hearing their stories about the cars,” he said. “They’ll talk your ear off,” he joked.

Pre-registration is open for the cruise until June 10th for $10, and all registrations after that (including on the day of the cruise) are $15. This year’s cruise even includes a kid’s class, with free registration, for the little ones to show off their wheels. Any kid (under 16) who registers gets a special goody bag and is eligible for a grand prize drawing.

The cruise isn’t only about the cars, though, and there is lots to see and experience for everyone who comes downtown on Father’s Day weekend. Local favorite DJ Vid will be spinning records from noon to 5 pm on the main stage, and the second stage will feature performances by the Rocket Blasters (with the 3WZ Crew) from 10 am-1 pm, followed by the Spring Hollow Band from 1-3:30 pm.

The cruise even has its own marketplace, located on the courthouse lawn, where locals and visitors alike can be introduced to the businesses and talented artisans of this part of the state. The cruise is also a great time to explore downtown Bellefonte, and the local merchants would love for you to stop in and see all they have to offer.

All of that walking will get you hungry, and you can grab some food for your family from a food truck or one of the many restaurants that will be open during the cruise. Even beyond the kid’s class auto show, your kids can enjoy free balloons and face painting, and watch the bike games, sponsored by US Vets MC, making this a summer Saturday to remember.

The cruise comes to a close at 5 pm on Saturday with the awards ceremony at the Diamond. If you registered your car for the event, make sure to stick around for this, because you must be present to accept your award.

If you’d like to help out during this year’s cruise, Haines noted, “We could always use volunteers to park cars.” You don’t need to be there all day, just let the organizers know when you’re available, and they’re sure to find a job for you.

Haines also asked that visitors be aware that High Street is the entrance to the cruise, and pay attention to the detours that are around because of the roadwork. He suggested you take your time, don’t be in a hurry, and enjoy a great day at the cruise.

And what a terrific day it’s going to be. A local tradition for more than three decades, the Bellefonte cruise offers a fantastic time checking out the classic cars and motorcycles and having a great weekend with family, friends, and neighbors in downtown Bellefonte.