Sep 22, 2021
Hundreds of cars and thousands of people swarmed Pembroke’s Town Park Sunday afternoon for the Kiwanis 14th Annual Car Cruise and Fall Festival.
John Drogi, president of the Pembroke Kiwanis Club, said the car cruise started out with an idea to benefit the club. It’s now the club’s biggest fundraiser.
“We started with 21 cars in the Corfu Fire Department parking lot,” he said, adding that Sunday’s event was approaching 300 vehicles.
The event was moved to the Pembroke Town Park 12 years ago. It attracts thousands of people throughout the day.
Justina Fritz, of Darien, had come to the car cruise for the first time this year.
“I just moved to the area, saw the signs, and decided to check it out,” she said.
Fritz said the Car Cruise and Fall Festival is very nice, and added her cousin was one of the food vendors.
Sharon Bidwell, of Kent, and Marge Rummer, of Batavia spent the morning exploring the vendor booths. Rummer had been to the Car Show and Fall Festival two years prior, although Bidwell had come for the first time — invited by Rummer.
The women said the festival had something for everyone and was a great place to visit.
On Sunday, the Car Cruise and Fall Festival had a bounce house for the kids, a Chinese Auction, and 70 vendors. The Pembroke Community Band and magician act were new this year.
There were 40 prizes all together for the show cars.
“We appreciate the support of the people,” Drogi said.
