14th Annual Topless Cruise
Benefitting Strong Like AK
The Topless Cruise is a beloved Belmont tradition that has been Cruising for a Cause for 14 years! Founded by Denise Price Thomas and organized by Julie Galloway, the annual cruise brings our community together for a fun-filled ride through downtown Belmont while giving back to a meaningful cause. This year, 100% of proceeds will benefit Strong Like AK and families facing childhood cancer. And don’t let the name fool you. ALL vehicles are welcome! Top down or top on, buckle up and join us for a great day of cruising for a cause.
Saturday, October 24, 2026 | 9:00 AM | Downtown Belmont, NC
Gather and Register
9:00 AM
First Presbyterian Church
Belmont, NC
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Come check in, gather with fellow cruisers, and get ready to hit the road.
Welcome and Announcements
10:00 AM
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We'll officially kick off the 14th Annual Topless Cruise with a brief welcome before the cruise begins.
Let's Cruise
Downtown Belmont
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We'll cruise through downtown Belmont with an escort from the Belmont Police Department.
After the Cruise
Breakfast at Nellie's Southern Kitchen
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Join us at Nellie's Southern Kitchen for breakfast, fellowship, and sponsor recognition immediately following the cruise.
AFTER THE CRUISE...
Let’s Gather at Nellie’s!
Topless Cruise After Party
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After cruising through downtown Belmont, we’ll head to Nellie’s Southern Kitchen for breakfast, fellowship, and sponsor recognition.
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We are incredibly grateful to Nellie’s Southern Kitchen, our 2026 After Party Sponsor, for generously providing both the gathering space and breakfast for our cruisers.
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Come hungry, grab a seat, and enjoy some time together as we celebrate another year of Cruising for a Cause!
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Breakfast immediately follows the cruise.
EVERY MILE HAS A PURPOSE
Cruising for Strong Like AK
Every cruise has a destination. This year, every mile has a purpose.
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For Denise Price Thomas, choosing Strong Like AK as the beneficiary of the 14th Annual Topless Cruise is personal. Adam Kincaid was a friend of her grandchildren and a young man loved by so many throughout our Gaston County community. Denise’s daughter, Julie Galloway, now serves on the Strong Like AK Board of Directors, helping carry forward a mission born from Adam’s life and legacy.
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Adam was diagnosed with NUT Carcinoma at just 14 years old. During his 18-month cancer journey, his family experienced firsthand how childhood cancer affects the entire family. After Adam passed away at 16, Strong Like AK was created in his honor with a simple promise: to help other families facing childhood cancer know they do not have to face it alone.
Today, Strong Like AK provides cost-free medical housing, financial care, and meaningful experiences for children and families navigating childhood cancer.
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100% of proceeds from this year’s Topless Cruise will benefit Strong Like AK and the families we serve.
