Clinton Township Parks and Recreation employees Claire Cannon, Trevor Kirsch, Jessica Finegan, and Kyle Gabalis, spent much of Wednesday baking and frosting cupcakes for children attending the Gratiot Cruise 10th birthday party on Sunday. The party will be held at the top of each hour on Sunday with the first 50 kids receiving free cupcakes and hats. Macomb Daily Staff Photo by Chief Photographer David N. Posavetz

Gratiot Cruise celebrates 10th birthday on Sunday

Last Updated: 8/3/2012 1:38:03 PM

By Mitch Hotts
mitch.hotts@macombdaily.com

Clinton Township’s Gratiot Cruise turns 10 on Sunday and organizers will hold a special free birthday celebration for youngsters in attendance.
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There will be birthday cupcakes and hats, and the “Happy Birthday” song at the beginning of each hour starting at 1 p.m. at the McLaren Macomb Cruise Headquarters on Gratiot Avenue at Metropolitan Parkway. A nearby duck pond will contain special prizes for kids.
“The first 50 kids at the top of each hour will help us sing ‘Happy Birthday’ and they can help decorate their own cupcakes and eat them right there,” said Linda Walter, director of the township’s Parks and Recreation Department.
In addition, children coming to the Gratiot Cruise will have a variety of free activities at the Moran Kid Zone, also at the cruise headquarters.
Activities include a Paint-the-Car event — the zone’s most popular item — face painting, tattoos, Safety Town with box car races, and a sandbox filled with toy cars and trucks to play with.
Cruise committee chairwoman Shanon Rupkus said McLaren Macomb is paying for the birthday party, as well as T-shirts and hats for the children’s pedal car parade that kicks off the cruise and additional crafts in the Kids Zone, which is also sponsored by Moran Chevrolet. The children’s activities run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
“McLaren Macomb has become our largest sponsor to date and the kids who will come out on Sunday will receive the benefits,” Rupkus said. “All of our major sponsors such as McLaren, and Dorian Ford, Moran Chevrolet, Macomb Community College — and so many more, they’ve all really helped us make this cruise bigger than the ones we’ve had before.”
Dorian Ford will again host a midway in front of Lowe’s on Gratiot at 15 Mile Road that will have an assortment of things to check out including various nonprofit organizations, public safety, food, entertainment, and WCSX-FM (94.7).
Organizers expect approximately 200,000 people — cruise participants and observers — to watch the procession of vintage vehicles and hot rods making the 2.5-mile trek along Gratiot Avenue between 14 Mile and Wellington Crescent on Sunday afternoon. Numerous other parties and celebrations will be held at restaurants along the strip. The cruise officially starts at noon and runs until 6 p.m.
Meanwhile, if attendance at pre-cruise car shows taking place this week are any indication, the number of classic cars taking part in the cruise will be higher than ever.

Related Link: www.macombdaily.com/article/20120801/NEWS01/120809934/gratiot-cruise-celebrates-10th-birthday-on-sunday