Port Orchard’s CRUZ Car Show expects thousands of visitors this weekend

The event is Kitsap County’s most-attended summer event.

By Bob Smith • August 9, 2018 1:30 am

PORT ORCHARD — You might not know it, but Kitsap likes everything automotive — new cars, vintage cars and tricked-out cars. And trucks and custom vans.

Numbers don’t lie. In recent years, the annual CRUZ Car Show at the Port Orchard waterfront has attracted between 15,000-20,000 visitors to the one-day event, most of them from Kitsap County. That’s a lot of people coming to what is believed to be the most-attended community event in the county, year after year.

It shouldn’t be any different this year for the Saints Car Club-sponsored event, its 31st presentation in South Kitsap, on Sunday, Aug. 12. Hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Roger Jensen, one of the organizers of the car show, said he also expects a robust turnout of vehicles to be on display — perhaps up to 600 of them at the close of the morning registration period. As in past events, an exhibit of featured cars will be set up for visitors to see.

Pre-registration isn’t available for car exhibitors. Vehicle registration begins at 7 a.m. on the morning of the car show. The registration fee is $12 per vehicle.

The CRUZ Car Show is free, although visitors are asked to bring some canned goods for the South Kitsap Helpline Food Bank.

Due to the Tremont Street widening project construction, those who plan to exhibit their vehicle need to exit on Sedgwick Road, then follow Bethel Avenue into downtown to access the car show.

Jensen said the CRUZ Car Show is a family affair, with plenty of crafts and food vendors on site. Also taking place in parallel downtown on Bay Street is the annual Fathoms O’ Fun “Festival by the Bay” Street Fair. That event will feature vendors, crafts, food and other fun activities to entertain family members who aren’t especially enamored by showcase cars, trucks and vans.

It’s worth remembering that Bay Street, where fair activities will take place, will be closed to traffic during both events. Shuttle buses will provide transportation for those wishing to visit both activities from the Kitsap County Courthouse parking lot on Cline Street, and from the Park and Ride lot next to the Armory on Mile Hill Drive in Port Orchard.

CRUZ T-shirts and sweatshirts will be sold by Saints Car Club members at their vendor’s booth. Other activities include a pedal car raffle drawing, a door prize drawing for registered exhibitors and a 50/50 raffle drawing.

At 3 p.m. at the waterfront gazebo, the Saints Car Club will conduct an awards ceremony. Trophies sponsored by local businesses will be awarded to 60 different class categories. Co-sponsor of the car show is Kitsap Bank.

For information about Saints Car Club, visit its Facebook page.