SWEET TREATS … Taryn of PattyCakes offers a wide variety of homemade sweet treats.
(PHOTOS BY BRENNA WHITE / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
IMMACULATE … A shiny, teal 1956 Chevy Bel Air flaunts its pristine condition at the car show.
By: Brenna White
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
A warm breeze and the rumble of vintage engines greeted visitors on Tuesday evening, June 24, as Empire Street hosted its second summer Cruise-In and Farmer’s Market, presented by Kannel Insurance.
While the gathering was more intimate than the earlier month’s record-setter, organizers estimated roughly two dozen vehicles were on display, still packing plenty of small-town charm into the two-hour showcase.
The festivities kicked off at 5:00 p.m. with a lineup of classic cars, hot rods, and a few eye-catching late-model customs. By 6:00 p.m., the strip was alive with steady foot traffic, as families, car enthusiasts, and after-work passersby took in downtown Montpelier.
Calli’s Smokehouse served pulled pork sandwiches and paired them with watermelon wedges, chips, and ice-cold drinks. Free ice pops were handed out to the first 50 kids to show up, thanks to Fritsch’s Flowers. Several downtown businesses, including the Wispy Willow, extended their business hours to join in on the fun.
Just steps away, the pop-up farmer’s market offered a taste of Williams County’s handmade and home-grown staples.
Shoppers browsed jars of homemade maple syrup, raw honey, aromatic spice blends, fresh-roasted coffee, and much more. A handful of rummage stalls rounded out the mix between bakers and artists.
The next Cruise-In on Empire Street is tentatively set for July 8th, promising another relaxed blend of cars, music, food, and neighborly conversation.