Do you remember the feeling of getting behind the wheel by yourself for the first time? After finally passing your written test, overcoming the daunting parallel parking section of your road test, and completing all of the necessary, tedious paperwork, you were finally ready to hit the road. That feeling of fear mixed with excitement is second to none. You had no particular destination, but how liberating was it just to be able to drive somewhere? That childlike joy, instead of a source of stress (think traffic on the commute, insurance, or your engine going out right after you got a raise at work), the car as a symbol of freedom is exactly what Tim Connelly wants people to hold onto.

“Cars should be driven,” says Connelly, who organizes the weekly Classic Car Cruise Nights every Tuesday evening in July and August at Misquamicut Beach. “They should be enjoyed. They should be taken out for other people to see. There’s pleasure involved in that.”

Celebrating its 26th year this summer, the cruise nights have become a staple of the Misquamicut summer experience that car enthusiasts and laypeople alike look forward to each year. The event dates back to 2000, when the Misquamicut Business Association, which had been defunct for about a decade, came back together and was looking for some simple, enjoyable activities that would draw people to the beach. One of the first ideas was to run a weekly car show, a straightforward and modest idea that has stood the test of time and grown into a beloved tradition.

“I want to attract as many people as possible,” Connelly shares. “It really is a group of people who love coming and who enjoy what they’re doing with their vehicles. It’s a great opportunity to meet new people.”

Over the years, the event has grown from a small handful of cars gathered near the beach, to an average of 60-100 vehicles each night. Connelly was able to elucidate the difference between a car show and a car cruise for me. I appreciate a nice car as much as the next guy, but this was new information. The cruise nights are intentional about not having a judging aspect. At a traditional car show, a panel of experts examines your vehicle, and the crowd will also cast votes to pick a winner. That’s not what this is. Every person who comes with a car receives a raffle ticket, and prizes like car cleaning kits, wax, and other automotive supplies are drawn throughout the evening, ending with a $100 grand prize sponsored by classic rock radio station 102.3 The Wolf.

“I want this to be an even playing field,” Connelly says. “The kid driving a broken-down car who’s got a big heart and loves to do this and is learning about it can win just as easily as the guy driving a $100,000 ‘65 Corvette. His heart is there. He loves it, and I really appreciate that.”

Another distinction between a car show and Misquamicut’s cruise nights is that while shows are competitive and formal, with people spending a lot of time and money to achieve elite levels of refinement and detail in their vehicles, a cruise is really about the atmosphere. Attendees take in the beach views and classic rock pumping from DJ Doc, food and drink in hand from one of the neighboring restaurants, to create an all-around experience. New this year, food offerings will include hot dog vendor Dirty Water Dogs. The event has also widened the range of vehicles over the years. Military vehicles, beach buggies, Ford Model-Ts—anything with a good story behind it is fair game here.

For Connelly, the stories and the people are the best part of the whole thing. He lights up talking about “barn finds,” cars that have been stowed away in garages, under tarps, in yards, with all the original components intact. He loves seeing these types of vehicles on the road. “That feeling when you’re driving it, and somebody gives you a thumbs up,” he says. “It’s like taking a step back in time.”

You don’t need to be able to explain what a carburetor or catalytic converter is (I sure can’t) to have a good time here. More often than not, you’ll find yourself enthralled more by the various people you’ll meet, enthusiastic regulars saving spots for friends who are still on the way, strangers exchanging stories, and people who have become close friends over the years through meeting here, than by the cars themselves. The cars are the draw, but the people and the atmosphere are the reasons people return.

The Misquamicut Classic Car Cruise Nights run every Tuesday during July and August, beginning around 5 p.m. at the drive-in theater parking lot at Misquamicut Beach. Admission is free for spectators. Follow South County Cruisers on Facebook for information and updates about the show. Read more