CHESHIRE, Mass.— After nearly being sidelined by rising costs, the community-loved Cruise Night returns Aug. 8 at the Cheshire Community House.

 

For 35 years, the event has brought the community together for a daylong event, featuring a rock wall, bounce house, games, a car show, raffles, food trucks, performers, and more. 

 

"It is important for us to keep it going on a yearly basis as the public enjoys it and comes out and supports it," said Timothy Garner, interim Police Chief and Cruise Night coordinator. 

 

"Families plan gatherings around this event and see people they haven’t seen in awhile and just show up and have fun and converse and catch up with each other."

 

The event's rain date is Aug. 9. 

 

Unlike in years past, the fire department will not be cooking this year. Instead, attendees can choose from a variety of food trucks, including M&J's, Good Dogs, Pizzapocolypse, Markis French Fries & Fried Dough, Two Sisters, Berkshire Blends, Krispy Cones and more.

 

There will also be a performance by the band Shut Up and Dance from 7 to 9 p.m. 

 

"This will be our 34th year holding this event, and the very first without the fireworks display to end the event," Garner said. 

 

"This year's event and 50/50 raffle will benefit the Fire Department to be able to do some of the things they support in town, and who knows, maybe sometime, bring back the fireworks too," he said. 

 

The event was founded in 1992 to raise funds for the town's 200th anniversary celebration. 

 

Following its success, the Fire Department decided to continue it as an annual tradition, using the money raised to hold a fireworks display every second Saturday in August. 

 

Over the years, the event has undergone changes in both its location and funding, with the Hoosac Hose Company eventually taking on the full cost of the fireworks after the event returned to the Cheshire School grounds. Another change was the Adams Fire Department's decision to back out of assisting with the cost of the fireworks display. 

 

"We continued to hold the event and have been partnered with the Night Cruzers of Berkshire County since we started this event and the amount of vehicles they bring to display are incredible," he said. 

 

The Hoosac Hose Company initially announced the event's cancellation on May 21, citing rising fireworks costs that had become increasingly difficult to cover through event proceeds alone.

 

However, after an outcry from community members, the decision was quickly reversed – the event would continue, but this year, without the fireworks. 

 

Garner said the cost of fireworks has skyrocketed because of tariffs and, in his opinion, increased demand ahead of the nation's 250th anniversary celebration has driven prices even higher.

 

Three years ago, the event’s 20-minute firework display cost $5,500; last year it jumped to $8,500, and this year that cost increased to $12,500.

 

If they were to have a firework display, the Hoosac Hose Company would have depleted all of its profits from fundraising activities throughout the year to cover the cost. 

 

"We have been using the same company to produce the show since we started in 1992. However, this year with the cost so high, we voted to cancel the Cruz-Nite event altogether," Garner said.

 

"However, within days, the public outcry was so supportive to continue the event without the fireworks. Most said we didn’t need the fireworks to keep the event a success."