A new twist at this year’s Ponte Vedra Auto Show will include the inaugural A1A Cruise Night presented by Vystar Credit Union at 6 p.m. Nov. 13.
An open cruise will take place the night before the 2021 Ponte Vedra Auto Show and will be held between Nocatee and Neptune Beach on State Road A1A.
The night will include a drive-in dinner experience from 6 to 9 p.m. with 14 food vendors specializing in an array of various cuisines from Mexican to Italian, and many more.
“It’s good promotion for the show, because it’s the very next day,” show promoter Justin Felker said. “We decided last year that we definitely wanted to expand and do a little more heading into the show. Something still manageable, but that makes it a two-day event.”
Also, during that three-hour window will be a poker run for those involved in cruise.
It will include making stops along the way at five participating Vystar Credit Union locations along the designated route.
The person with the high hand receives a trophy and other prizes will also be awarded the next day during the Ponte Vedra Auto Show.
“It’s an activity for people to do to make it even more fun and engaging,” Felker said. “We have other ideas, but this is just the first one being implemented.”
Although the poker run and the drive-in dinner experience is scheduled from 6 to 9 p.m., there is no set ending for the open cruise, which exemplifies the laid-back nature that the open cruise is intended to be.
Those driving in the open cruise but not participating in the poker run can still stop at the Vystar locations along the route to gather and relax with others doing the same.
All types of vehicles are welcome to join the cruise with both old and new expected to be present.
The participating VyStar Credit Unions are located at 245 Nocatee Center Way; 100 Village Lake Drive; 212 Ponte Vedra Drive; 100 Third Street North, Jacksonville Beach; and 1307 Atlantic Boulevard, Neptune Beach.
The cruise is free to take part in and will begin at Nocatee Station Field. The exact car count is unpredictable according to event director Justin Felker with Art ‘n Motion in St. Augustine, but he hopes that the community embraces it and shares in his passion for cars.
This year’s Auto Show is scheduled to be 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Nov. 14 at Nocatee Station Field. The show will feature up to 200 classic and collector cars.
Felker wants to continue to feed off the passion for cars throughout the community by continuing to grow the event in the years to come.
“There’s all types of cars in this area,” Felker said. “Everything from supercars to someone bringing a 115-year-old Cadillac.
