The rain held off Wednesday night for a perfect evening to finally kick off the 22nd annual Cruisin’ the Tree show at the Liberty Tree Mall.

Young and old turned out to check out the hundreds of automobiles from hotrods, muscle cars and antiques to custom and special-interest vehicles on display while enjoying some tasty food, ice cream and some rockin’ tunes. There are also multiple vendors who set up shop each year.

The car show, which is held 4:30-7:30 p.m. every Wednesday (weather permitting) until October, benefits the Danvers Police Department’s D.A.R.E. program. and is held in the parking lot behind The Sports Authority. The annual event, which was first held at Costco for a few years, is sponsored by the East Coast Street Machine Association, volunteers and the Danvers business community.

The cruise night has always benefited the local D.A.R.E. program, but since state funding was cut in 2002, the event has become one of major sources of funding for the program, according to organizers of the event. The other major contributor is a yearly golf tournament.