PETERBOROUGH — A new cruise night in town is a cool way to spend a hot summer night.

Cruisin' to the Valley is a Thursday night car show from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Valley Automotive on Elm Street.

Sandy Williams, general manager of Valley Automotive, started the event mid-May and plans to continue it through September. “I just have an interest in cars and I just thought it would be something fun to do.”

Thursday night Williams showed off her 2010 Camaro and said you don't have to bring an antique to get into her car show. That's part of the fun, people have been bringing everything from a Model-T to a Chevelle, a 1960s muscle car, she said.

“I can appreciate a good classic or a good muscle car. I know people that when they have their cars shows they only allow classics or antiques. But my policy is 'if you're proud of it bring it,' cause not everybody likes to look at old cars,” she said. “In my definition, it's any car that is sharp and nice and taken care of and maybe a bit unique.”

In between playing oldies with his band, like Fats Domino's Blueberry Hill, musician and car enthusiast Dave Galante of Jaffrey said, “I love this event.”

The Dave-G Band plans to play live music at the cruise night every third Thursday of the month, Williams said.

It adds to the fun and gets people dancing, she said.

Father and son Ray and Chris Wallace of Francestown pulled up in a 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air. They have owned the Bel Air for four years. Working together in their garage to keep the car running is a hobby for the father and son.

“It's nice to get an excuse to drive the car for sure,” Chris Wallace said of the cruise night.

A group of ConVal High School friends also brought cars to show — Jacob McTague, 18, of Temple with his 1968 Ford Torino GT, Alan Fox, 18 of Temple with his 1976 Chevrolet truck and Devin Wade, 17, of Francestown with his 1976 Pacer.

Their friends Brady Eastes, 18, and Cody Boutwell, 17, of Peterborough said it's a “cool” event but were a little disappointed the threat of rain that day meant fewer cars in the show that week.

“Some of these cars that people have are amazing, and they only drive them when it's sunny and beautiful and never get a rain drop on it,” Williams said.

Regardless the teens said they are hooked on the event.

“It's a good place to hang out,” Boutwell said.

The cruise night also attracted multi-generational families with everyone from grandfathers to toddlers enjoying the music and the cars that night.

Attendees who bring a car to show get a discount at Bowling Acres Grill, located next-door, and are entered into raffles for detailing items donated by Carquest Auto Parts and Fisher Auto Parts.

As the summer continues, Williams said she plans to organize special theme nights and contests.