Craig Scharton
Latest posts by Craig Scharton (see all)
- For the Love of Chocolate… - February 11, 2019
- Tower Yoga is about balance, flexibility, and community - October 25, 2018
- What it’s like to accompany the veterans of Central Valley Honor Flight to Washington D.C. - October 5, 2018
Saturday nights in downtown Fresno were meant for Draggin’ the Main, a.k.a. cruising on Fulton Street. Until the Fulton Mall broke ground in 1964, Fulton was the main drag. Now, on the second Saturday of each month, Draggin’ the Main is back.
A chance to meet and mingle
The historic Draggin’ the Main was known throughout the Central Valley. Car enthusiasts and young people came from throughout the region for the show of cars and to hang out and meet and mingle. Downtowns are all about fun and life. Back then, the cruise was a way for a girl from Reedley to meet a guy from Kerman, and vice versa. I’ve heard dozens of stories from people who met on a Saturday night in downtown, or from the kids and grandkids of those couples who met while Draggin’ the Main!
Now that Fulton Street is re-opened, we have restaurants staying open later and adding outdoor dining, and new restaurants are under construction. Draggin’ the Main is one more good reason to come downtown to see the change that is happening.
The event starts two hours before sunset and ends two hours after sunset (that we can change throughout the year). We aren’t closing any streets or intersections, we’re just letting the cruisers and the regular flow of traffic blend, just like in the old days. It’s a great time to see some cool cars, do some people watching, and have some food and drink with your friends.
Next Draggin’ the Main is May 12
The first Draggin’ event on April 14 was a huge hit. We’ll see you this Saturday, on May 12, for the next one. Bring your car, or just come to admire others. Let your mind wander back to those earlier days and imagine how many people have enjoyed our downtown over the decades. Then realize that you are part of making a new tradition and making our downtown fun again.
If you are interested in parking your car at the Housing Authority parking lot, send an email to christianchavez333@icloud.com. For $5 you can park and leave your car there; they have security to watch the cars while you go grab some dinner and walk around. For more info, check out the Facebook event page here.