Starting June 4, 2026, Ypsilanti will resume its Depot Town Cruise Nights. Each Thursday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. visitors can come see classic cars and an artist market.
Since 1993, every Thursday in the summer in Ypsilanti welcomes visitors to roam East Cross Street to cruise the classic cars, shop at local stores, enjoy music and art, and grab a meal at restaurants like Sidetrack and Maiz.
Former owner of Sidetrack, Lisa French partnered with Mike Ischesco Jr. from the Automotive Heritage Museum in Depot Town in the early 90s to have a cruise event, said director of Awesome Automotives, Peter Church. The museum was the last Hudson dealership in Michigan, and has become a home for cars whose brands have gone out of business. These orphan cars were the inspiration for the original Depot Town Cruise Nights run by the Depot Town Foundation, and financially supported by the Ypsilanti Downtown Development Authority.
As the cruise events became more popular, French realized that Cross Street would be the perfect place to expand.
“Basically, it’s a great setting for them to be out on the street with those older buildings and be able to show off their cars. That’s what sets it apart from other cruises that may be in parking lots or parks; they’re on the street — their intended environment,” Church said.
Each week, up to 200 classic and unique cars come to Cruise Nights, where visitors can admire the cars and chat with the owners right there on the street. This location has become lucrative to Southeast Michigan cruisers.
“Half the people that come to Depot Town Cruise Nights do not live in Ypsilanti or Ypsilanti Township. We draw a lot of people from surrounding areas, mainly because of the setting. It's nice to be able to show off your car and then be able to have dinner right there while the show is going,” Church said.
When the cruise night tradition first began, Cross Street was available to block off for events free of charge. After about twenty years, Ypsilanti City Council changed the city policy to charge for events to cover the costs of labor and police work during these road closures.
Each year since, the Depot Town Foundation requests a waiver for this charge, because as a non-profit organization, it do not make money that they can spend on the event. Each year since, City Council has granted Depot Town Cruise Nights this waiver. Church said he hopes that the event becomes recognized as a benefit to the city so that organizers can have a longer-standing agreement with City Council.
The weekly event has grown over the years. With kid’s hula-hooping competitions, local shopping, 50/50 raffles and DJs playing music each week, there is always something to look forward to on a summer Thursday. Church even hinted that Detroit Tigers mascot Paws will be in attendance at the July 9 cruise.
Cruise nights are open to the public and do not have an admission fee.
Those interested in displaying their car can come find a spot on East Cross Street and visit the Cruise Night tent to get a placard for their vehicle.
Rally in the Alley is an artist market open during Cruise Nights thought up by French after the COVID-19 pandemic. Once people were able to get together again, she wanted to help her fellow small business owners, and she created an event for crafting businesses. Vendors can table in the alley connecting Cross Street to Depot Street during the car cruise.
Cruise Night will take place every Thursday evening from June 4 to August 27. In the case of severe weather, Cruise Night will be cancelled. All cancellations will be announced on the Depot Town Cruise Nights’ Facebook page by 4 p.m. the day of the event.
Church explained that the newest project cruise nights are working towards is more advertising and awareness of the event.
“We want to demonstrate to potential sponsors that we are worth having their name associated with,” he said. "It is a haven for classic and special interest cars."
