A not-too-hot night planned for cool cars on Brand.

By Charly SHELTON

Mellow temperatures on Saturday make for a perfect evening of cool cars, live music and fireworks in the city, all part of the annual Glendale Cruise Night.

Along Brand Boulevard, from Broadway to Doran Street, over 300 classic cars will be parked, most with hoods up, ready for guests to admire the handiwork of the owners who restored them. Drivers have registered to feature their cars in the event with many coming from across the state, from San Jose to San Diego, to take part in Cruise Night. According to Patty Bettancourt, special event coordinator with the City of Glendale, Cruise Night is a favorite of many drivers because it takes place on the street so the cars don’t have to go bumping into parks or unpaved lots, dirtying the collector vehicles.

Each of the cars is competing for different awards that will be presented at the end of the evening by judges who will be roaming the event. Visitors may catch a glimpse of this year’s celebrity guest judge, Kent McCord. McCord played Officer Jim Reed on “Adam-12” from 1968-1975.

In addition to car owners, many of the shops and restaurants of Brand Boulevard will welcome Cruise Night visitors by staying open late. In all, Bettancourt said, they expect between 55,000 and 60,000 visitors to the event just as they did last year.

While checking out the cool cars and other vehicles, visitors will be treated to music.

“We’re going to have two stages – one of them will be our Main Stage on Milford Street and Brand Boulevard, and the other one will be on Wilson Avenue at Brand,” said Bettancourt. “A DJ will be playing some music [at Wilson and Brand] for the other side of the event.”

In addition to the DJ spinning records for the evening event, the Main Stage will host Jumping Jack Flash, a Rolling Stones tribute band, Who’s Next, a tribute band of The Who, and Motown Magic, a Motown tribute band, performing throughout the evening.

Visitors will also find a variety of information booths from the City of Glendale and local organizations. There will also be a family area, a rock wall, crafts, carnival games, a hula hoop contest and more. The end of the night at 10:30 p.m. will be marked by fireworks that will be set off at the top of the festival at Brand Boulevard and Milford Street.

“[Admission] is free, and it’s a fun family-friendly event,” Bettancourt said.

Glendale Cruise Night is this Saturday, July 21, from 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. For more info, visit GlendaleCruiseNight.com.