Cruise in, bull rides for Midnight Madness

Contributed photograph
TAKE A CHANCE — It can be a wild ride from 6 p.m. to 12 a.m., as the project graduation committee for the Class of 2012 will sponsor electronic bull riding for $5 in front of SAGE Financial during Midnight Madness. At this year’s project graduation celebration, Cody Briggs attempted to see how long he could stay on the bull.
By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
    HOULTON — While many shopping enthusiasts will be scouring downtown Houlton Friday evening as part of the 25th annual Midnight Madness event, admirers of a different sort will also be joining in the fun.
    A “Cruise In” event and mechanical bull ride attraction will be included with this year’s celebration.
    John Miller of Northern Maine Motor Society is hosting a “Cruise In” event in conjunction with Midnight Madness. Capitalizing on the theme of the 1950s, the cruise in will feature many antique and class autos and motorcycles for people to check out from 6 p.m. to midnight.
    As a fundraiser for the Pregnancy Care Center of Aroostook, a number of donated items will be raffled off during the event. One of the larger items to be raffled off is a baby quilt created by Tammy Ritchie. The event will benefit the Houlton branch of the center. Miller will also be playing 1950s music throughout the night. At 9 p.m., the band “Mellow Endeavor” will perform. The raffle winner will be drawn at about 10 p.m.
    The cruise in is not a car show, per se. Instead, it will involve people bringing their old cars, trucks or motorcycles to Market Square for folks to check out. Unlike a car show, the owners of the vehicles do not have to stay for a set amount of time. Instead they are free to come and go, Miller said.
    “There’s no trophies or anything like that,” he said. “It’s just a chance for people to get together and have a good time.”
    The event will be held in front of Zippy’s snack shack, which will offer specials tied-in to the car event.
    Miller started NMMS last fall with the intentions of raising funds for various charitable groups.
    “I really wanted to do something to raise money for charities through motor sports events,” Miller said. “We focus on the motorcycle hobbyists, car buffs and racers.”
    The cruise in is the first of several events he has planned this summer and fall.
    On July 16, Miller will host a cruise called the “Fallen Heroes Cruise,” from the Houlton Big Stop to Madawaska and back to the Caribou Veterans Cemetery. This cruise will benefit the Caribou Veterans’ Cemetery.
    “I’m expecting quite a crowd for this cruise,” Miller said. “We’ve had numerous confirmations already. We are going to charge $5 to participate with all of the money going to the Veterans Cemetery.”
    On Sept. 10, the NMMS will participate in the annual “Rockin’ the Doghouse” fundraiser for the Houlton Humane Society with a car show on Broadway.
    On Oct. 1, a “Cruise for the Cure,” for breast cancer awareness will be held in Caribou.