Car cruise with Dad at Hartwood Acres

Roll with dad to a free Father's Day Car Cruise at Hartwood Acres from 2 to 7 p.m. June 17, sponsored by the Allegheny County Parks.

Hartwood Acres is located off of Middle Road in Allison Park on 629 acres in Hampton and Indiana townships. The car cruise will be held at the park's outdoor amphitheater section, a perfect venue to have a car cruise, said Bill Deasy, special events manager for Allegheny County Parks.

“It's been a really nice tradition for families to enjoy. Hartwood Acres is so gigantic and beautiful, so it really makes a nice venue for this,” said Deasy.

Vito Capaccio, owner of CarCruises.com., said the space, layout and natural setting of Hartwood makes this cruise “really special.”

Car enthusiasts can expect almost anything. They estimate hundreds of cars to show up, and it doesn't cost anything to cruise a car in either. And Capaccio said it is one of the top one-day car events in the North Hills.

“People can come and bring whatever they want. You'll see every kind of car,” said Capaccio, who lives in the South Side of Pittsburgh.

“This could include anything from classic Studebakers or Corvettes to even antique dump trucks. It's a big cross-section, and people come and go,” he said.

Deasy said the event has been around for a couple of years.

The first 150 cars receive a dash plaque, said Capazzio. Mike Frazer of 3WS will be broadcasting from 2 to 4 p.m. and DJ Phil Lenz will also be providing oldies tunes, according to the county website.

Deasy said there will be a variety of food trucks and craft beer sold by Hop Farm Brewing Co..

Later that evening, there will be a band on the amphitheater stage, one of Allegheny County's free summer concert series, which happens every Sunday at 7:30 p.m. at Hartwood.

On Father's Day, Deasy said Swinging With the Angels will be that evening's show, which he said is an “oldies-based” band.

“It compliments the day very well,” he said. “It's a really nice way to spend the day.”

Capaccio said it's very family friendly because the space allows for kids to run around and play, throw Frisbee and relax.

Natalie Beneviat is a Tribune-Review contributor.