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Saturday’s hot, humid Cruise Night ends with thundershowers

(Cruise Night concert also cancelled at 9:00pm)

LANSING, Ill. (July 15, 2019) – Saturday, July 14, was the second of three Cruise Nights in Lansing this summer. For car enthusiasts throughout the area, Lansing’s small-town downtown offers a perfect setting for what has become one of the largest Cruise Nights in the region.

Around 6:30, many enthusiastic fans were wandering Ridge Road, taking in all of the sights and sounds Cruise Night has to offer. (Photo: Katie Arvia)
Some enthusiasts stroll the sidewalks to see the parked cars. Others claim a spot, sit, and watch the cars drive past. (Photo: Katie Arvia)
Amanda Dotter poses with her 1958 Chevrolet Biscayne. The car was completely refurbished by her fiance, Chris Czaszwicz, and includes custom interiors. (Photo: Katie Arvia)
The #34 racecar is driven by 18-year-old Clay Curts of Manteno. Curts frequents area race tracks such as Grundy County Speeday. (Photo: Katie Arvia)
State rep Marcus Evans had planned to be at Gayety’s on Cruise Night, along with Mayor Patty Eidam, but neither was able to make it. Instead Evans’ assistant (far right) Micaela Smith represented District 33. ComEd sponsored the meet-and-greet, providing 150 coupons for a free ice cream cone. These were distributed by Trustees Saad Abbasy (left) and Maureen Grady-Perovich (second from right). The ice cream was scooped by Gayety’s owner Laurene Lemanksi (second from left) and her staff. (Photo: Melanie Jongsma)
Around 7:00pm, clouds rolled in to bring some relief from the afternoon’s 90-degree temps. (Photo: Melanie Jongsma)
Rain began falling around 8:00pm, causing many attendees to seek shelter inside the Ridge Road businesses or under awnings. (Photo: Katie Arvia)
Jessica Jose, of South Holland, waits out the rain with a game of darts at Jack’s. (Photo: Katie Arvia)
As the rain became a deluge, car owners began packing up and leaving. (Photo: Katie Arvia)
But members of the Roamin’ Chariots stuck it out until the end of the night when the rain cleared. (Photo: Katie Arvia)
By 9:00pm, the July 14 Cruise Night was officially over. (Photo: Katie Arvia)
Katie Arvia
Katie Arvia
Katie is a lifelong Lansing native who currently works full-time in marketing while also freelance reporting for The Lansing Journal. In 2015, she graduated with high honors from Saint Xavier University in Chicago with a BA in English, and she plans to pursue a Master's degree in the near future. Her favorite Lansing Journal assignments include coverage of TF South High School's walkout ("Demonstrating the possibilities") and her St. Patrick's Day interview with her grandma ("St. Patrick's Day traditions: reflections of an Irish granddaughter").