By KEVIN BOWDEN
Staff Reporter
Get ready for a fun-filled weekend in downtown Union City when Sept. 14-15 rolls around. That’s when the Obion County Chamber of Commerce will host its first-ever Obion County Cruise-In.
Taking a page from the former Goodyear Car Show series, organizers of the Obion County Cruise-In are expecting more than 100 vintage cars to roll into town for the event.
Keisha Hooper has been working on the cruise-in for the past six months. She and a team of around 20 volunteers have put together an entertaining two days of events and activities.
The cruise-in will kick off that Friday night with a block party in the parking lot of the Giant Flea Market on West Reelfoot Avenue. The block party is scheduled to begin at 7 and will last well into the night. The Bullet Town Band of Milan is scheduled to perform on the parking lot from 7-11.
A second block party will take place in Kiwanis Park starting at 8 p.m. Sept. 15. The local band Blind Red Rooster will perform on stage at the park.
There is a poker run for motorcycles scheduled for early Sept. 15, starting at the Union City Masonic Lodge on West Church Street.
The main attraction of the cruise-in, though, will be the lineup of vehicles along First Street in downtown Union City on Sept. 15. First Street will be blocked off from Main Street to Florida Street during that day so visitors can stroll along the street and admire the cars. Larry Mink will provide transportation up and down First Street aboard his motorized train.
Those involved in the Obion County Cruise-In event met Thursday afternoon at the Obion County Chamber of Commerce to go over a few last minute details. Plans have been made for special cruise-in T-shirts, giveaways, goody bags, drawings and a football toss where the winner could win a $25,000 cash prize. There will also be concession booths set up downtown on Sept. 15.
Flyers have already been printed promoting the event and promotional banners will be placed around the area in the next few days.
Mrs. Barnes said more than 7,000 cruise-in flyers have already been mailed out. There is also a website that has been set up for the cruise-in — www.obioncountycruisein.com, and Mrs. Barnes said three additional websites are also promoting the event.
The local business community has really stepped up to support the Obion County Cruise-In. A total of $8,500 has been given by 12 corporate sponsors.
All the proceeds from the two-day event will be donated to the local American Cancer Society.
Organizers are hoping to make the cruise-in an annual event.
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Staff Reporter Kevin Bowden may be contacted by email at kmbowden@ucmessenger.com.

Published in The Messenger 8.31.12