Morton Ave Misfits draw crowds, raise money at Jacksonville car show

In December 2025, the Morton Ave Misfits donated $4,500 in gifts to local families through the Crisis Center Foundation and $4,000 in scholarships to local graduating seniors pursuing skilled-trades careers.

The Morton Ave Misfits is a not-for-profit volunteer organization, and no one in the group is paid. Money raised through cruises, car shows, registrations, merchandise sales and sponsors is reinvested into the community or used to fund later events.

The group also matched a $4,500 donation from the year before. The scholarship recipients included CeCe Trace, Bennett Karr, Jacob Adams and Thatcher Frye.

The annual Jacksonville car show and cruise drew spectators downtown and along Morton Avenue. The show ran from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. around the downtown Jacksonville square and featured 24 judged classes covering a wide range of years and models. Later that evening, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., the Summer Cruise rolled out of Hardee’s along Morton Avenue between Main Street and Lincoln Avenue.

Even with a good amount of rain, spectators still showed up with umbrellas and enthusiasm. The tradition dates back to 1984, when the Jacksonville Cruise Nite Association first sponsored the show before the Morton Avenue Misfits took over after years of hosting by the Heart of Jacksonville and the cruise association.

The club’s next event is Sept. 19, when the 42nd annual Fall Cruise Night is scheduled to return as a two-part event. The car show is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Community Park at the junction of Routes 36 and 267, followed by a 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. cruise on Morton Avenue, headquartered at Hardee’s, with free morning registration, specialty awards, door prizes, a 50/50 drawing, vendors, a swap meet and all vehicle years welcome.