New Brunswick Revved-Up As Return of Car Show Honors First Responders

Car enthusiasts will be revved-up when custom coupes, modified muscle cars, restored roadsters and other vintage vehicles return to City Center.

The New Brunswick City Market Car Show Series cruises into town Thursday, May 18, with a night of fun and family entertainment.

Local roads will close at 4 p.m. for vehicle registration and placement. The show will begin at 5 p.m. Admission is free to the public.

This year’s series will kick off with First Responder Appreciation Night.

Pam Stefanek, executive director of City Market, said the event is meant as a thank-you to those who work hard every day to keep the rest of us safe – even if it means sometimes putting their own lives at risk.

“The invitation is open to all first responders in New Brunswick and the surrounding area to join us,” she said. “We invite you to bring your classic or vintage fire trucks, police cars, EMS vehicles and take part in the show. The invitation is also open to first responders who have a personal classic car. We would love to have you come be part of the show and give us a chance to say thank you.”

The car show promotion debuted last summer in New Brunswick. Downtown New Brunswick was filled with families strolling along George Street, Livingston Avenue, and the adjacent streets.

The event had a little of everything, from tricked-out hot hatches to old-timers that rolled off assembly lines more than 100 years ago. There was everything in between: an AMC Pacer drew a lot of quizzical looks.

It quickly became one of City Market’s most popular promotions as families and car enthusiasts arrived eager to check out, for instance, the clean, green 1972 Corvette Stingray. However, they inevitably ended up popping into Filippo’s for a Monster Pie or Tavern on George for a stuffed cheeseburger. Or they decided to do some shopping at one of the downtown’s many shops.

The May 18 event will also include live music from the 1950s, 60s, and 70s at Monument Square Park on Livingston Avenue.

Trophies will be provided by the event sponsors, including the Middlesex County Regional Chamber of Commerce, New Brunswick Parking Authority, Destination Dogs, City of New Brunswick, Kroozin Productions, and the New Brunswick City Center Business District.

By: Chuck O'Donnell