St. Clair Shores, MI—As the roar of engines and the haze of burning rubber filled Harper Avenue on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, the Harper Charity Cruise on Harper Avenue brought car enthusiasts, families, and spectators to St. Clair Shores.
People sat in chairs along the avenue from 8½ Mile Road to 12 Mile Road as muscle cars, antique vehicles, and other collector cars drove up and down Harper Avenue throughout the event.
For those unfamiliar with the cruise’s history, the Harper Charity Cruise on Harper Avenue has been a local tradition for more than two decades. Traditionally the last Wednesday in August. The Shorewood Kiwanis took over the event in 2005, following the format of other area car cruises while adding its own charitable touch.
Proceeds from the Harper Charity Cruise will go towards giving back to the community and to charities’ causes. The popularity has grown from the fact of the crowds up and down the avenue. A statement on the Shorewood Kiwanis website describes the 2025 event as “…one of the highest-attended events in years past.”
The event is hosted by the Shorewood Kiwanis, with Roy O’Brien Ford serving as a corporate sponsor. Many of the other local businesses in St. Clair Shores and their surrounding cities help to make this happen. The full list of contributors to the event was printed on the back of the official Harper Charity Cruise on Harper Avenue t-shirt, which was sold at the event and at various retail locations before the cruise.
Lining Harper Avenue, some could say, is a collector’s dream with everything from antique vehicles to custom muscle cars. With the vechicle are the proud owners, who would gladly talk to you about their car.
One such person was the owner of a 1929 Mercedes. While talking with him, he mentioned that he owns other cars, but the Mercedes was the one that he liked to drive.
Another car enthusiast was the owner of a 2017 80th Anniversary Dodge Challenger, George Bogunovic. The Pitch Black / Billet Silver car was one of only 80 produced in that color combination for the anniversary of the Challenger. Another 80 were made in the Pitch Black / Contusion Blue combination.
He seemed to be happy showing off his collector car. The car is only 1 of only 80 of the Pitch Black / Billet Silver cars made that year for the anniversary. The other color made for the anniversary was Pitch Black / Contusion Blue. They only made 80 of that color as well.
In total, 160 Anniversary Challengers were made. Bogunovic’s Challenger is number 14 of the Pitch Black / Bullet Silver in the series.
What started out as a warm summer day that turned into the threat of rain towards the end of the event. Even so, the 2026 Harper Cruise appeared to be another hit, drawing onlookers and auto enthusiasts alike. With a wide range of vehicles, there was something for everyone to see for the whole family.
