FALLBROOK -- With temperatures and the price of a tank of gas on the rise, organizers said Wednesday they hope to draw more people to downtown Fallbrook every other Friday night this summer for the 2008 "Hot Summer Nights" lineup.

The popular summer series of car shows and family fun nights kicked off last Friday with about 850 people, said Manny Gratz, president of Connections Networking, which organizes the events.

"That's probably 50 percent more than last year's kickoff," Gratz said. "It was awesome."

He said it's costing more and more these days for those who live in Fallbrook to travel to nearby cities every Friday, and that he expects soaring gas prices to tempt many local residents to seek out local entertainment on the weekends.

The fact that the Summer Nights events are free is another draw, he said: "All you have to buy is whatever you want to eat or drink."

The menu changes every time, with pizza and a beer garden on most weeks and a variety of local restaurants serving up their specialties.

While shiny, expensive cars remain one of the best attractions for Hot Summer Nights, not every event is built around automobiles, said Gratz.

On June 27, for example, the rows of hot rods will be replaced with a kids' slide and other family-oriented attractions, said Debra Zoller, who is organizing the "Western Youth & Family" night.

"We have various youth organizations from around town that will be participating, like some of the churches, a martial arts studio, a pony club," said Zoller. "It's all about bringing the community out, with the kids."

Hot rods and race cars will make appearances in downtown Fallbrook two more times this summer -- for the July 11 and Aug. 8 Hot Summer Nights events -- while July 25 and Aug. 29 will be all about cooking and food.

The Hot Summer Nights series is similar to Escondido's weekly "Cruisin' Grand" car shows in that it is held on Friday evenings and often draws car buffs, but Gratz said the similarities end there.

"Theirs is much more cruising, ours is more parking and walking and relaxing," he said. "Cruisin' Grand has some areas that are closed, but mostly it's for people who want to drive up and down, and ours is more for people who want to come and mingle. It's really different in that regard."

Contact staff writer Tom Pfingsten at (760) 740-3516 or tpfingsten@nctimes.com.

Hot Summer Nights in Fallbrook

- Located at Main Avenue and Alvarado Street

- Admission is free

- 5 p.m. until sundown, five Friday nights this summer

Schedule:

- June 27: "Western Youth & Family" night, music by Ruthless Cowboys Band

- July 11: "Rods & Relics," focus on classic cars, music by Tony Suraci

- July 25: "Taste of Fallbrook," sampling of local restaurants, music by Aunt Kizzy's Boyz

- Aug. 8: "Off Road, Race Car, Military, Classic Boat & Open Header Event," specialty vehicles on display, music by Tony Suraci

- Aug. 29: Chili contest, music by Ruthless Cowboys Band