Classic fun
Popular Classic Car Nights bring new life into downtown Summerside; final event of the season goes Friday night
“What really makes this event unique is the area — it’s the downtown. There’s a real atmosphere. You’re not going to get the same effect somewhere else.”
Robert Gallant
SUMMERSIDE — Whether by people or car engines, downtown Summerside was humming Friday nights this summer.
“It’s been unreal,” said Robert Gallant, the creator of the classic car nights event in Summerside.
Starting on July 5, the first event had 57 participants come out.
Aug. 23 was its largest turnout so far with 174 cars and hundreds of attendees. The final event of the season was held on Aug. 30.
“What really makes this event unique is the area — it’s the downtown. There’s a real atmosphere. You’re not going to get the same effect somewhere else,” Gallant said. The initiative started because Gallant was looking for a way to celebrate his 30 years of ownership of Michael’s Pizzeria.
“I didn’t want to just put out a special for the restaurant. I wanted to involve the whole downtown. Then Norma McColeman from city council recommended a car show. Immediately, it clicked.
“I love cars, they’re my thing. It's been a family thing since I was little. I and all my brothers all had old, classic cars and would drive around in them.”
Managing to get a portion of one of the busiest streets in Summerside to use on a Friday evening could have posed a problem.
But Gallant said with support from the chief of police and a handful of volunteers, the events went off without a hitch.
Pierre Gallant, owner of HMS Office Supplies, a business along the stretch of road where Classic Car Nights is held, said the event was fantastic.
“It brought so many people downtown — tourists and locals — everyone was happy. The way it was set up made each week unique, making you want to see what you missed.
“And it’s encouraging for retailers to stay open late on Fridays, it means there are so many people around.”