Morning Journal/ Mary Ann Greier The Salem Super Cruise pulls into the city from June 9-12, kicking off Thursday with scenes like this one from the 2021 cruise. To learn more, see the cruise booklet available at different retailers or at Salem City Hall or visit www.salemsupercruise.com and the Salem Super Cruise Facebook page.

SALEM — People who love cars, crave fair food and want to relax with some great live music can get it all at the Salem Super Cruise — and then some — starting Thursday.

“We’re expecting a larger crowd than ever before,” cruise director Councilman Dennis Plegge said.

With COVID-19 restrictions a part of the past and everything opened back up, he’s thinking more people will show up and more car owners will come out, with a larger number of cars expected, too, so he’s ready to get creative on how to fit more cruisers in the main lot off of Pershing.

This is Plegge’s first year to oversee the cruise, with some help from former director Gene Johnson, who retired in the fall, but has been teaching him all the details for pulling off a great event.

It’s not a matter of just setting up a card table waiting for cars to show up. There’s a lot of planning by a lot of people to make all the arrangements, with city Service/Safety Director Joe Cappuzzello ensuring city services are in place, including electrical, police and fire. Someone has to make sure all the garbage containers are dropped off and put in place, portajons, signage for the cruise route, barricades to close the streets and the list goes on.

The mayor’s administrative assistant/council clerk Debbie Bricker deals with a lot of the paperwork for contracts for vendors and bands and suppliers. Mick Orosz handles the food concessions, making sure they have what they need. Tom Hall has been revving up interest in the cruise by keeping the Facebook page loaded with interesting tidbits about the attractions.

Plegge did a lot of legwork going out and getting businesses to be sponsors for the cruise brochure, with that money used to help pay for costs associated with the cruise, such as overtime for city workers, including the police.

As in the past, money from raffles, T-shirt sales, and the Chinese auction will be split between area food pantries who volunteer some free labor to the cruise. Copies of the cruise brochure have been taken out to various business and can be found at city hall. Copies were also included in local newspapers.

Plegge said he has a lot of volunteers lined up to help out.

The fun officially kicks off with that familiar “Start your engines” order at 7 p.m. Thursday, with cruising actually beginning at noon Thursday. The Salem High School Pride of Salem band will play the National Anthem. Along for the Ride takes the Broadway Stage from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

On Friday, Donnell Salem hosts a car show from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with trophies and a 50/50 and a DJ from 3 to 7 p.m., followed by The Tribute Band from 7 to 10 p.m. New this year at Donnell will be the Sideways Society Stunt Team, with performances at 5 and 6 p.m. The third annual Arts & Crafts Vendor Show is from 2 to 10 p.m. on South Broadway, Ray Lewis & Co. valve cover racing from 4 to 8 p.m. on South Lundy, and the SOBOS band from 7 to 10 p.m. on the Broadway Stage. The Tri-State Antique Car Show will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at Centennial Park, with free music and free food from the parks department and Berkshire Hathaway Home Services.

Saturday kicks off with the Diehl Chrysler Car Show from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Legacy Lane, Ray Lewis & Co. valve cover racing from 2 to 6 p.m. on South Lundy, the Arts & Crafts Vendor Show from noon to 10 p.m. on South Broadway, the garden tractor pull at 2 p.m. on South Broadway, the Memphis Soul Brew band from 3 to 6 p.m. on the Broadway Stage, followed by the band Manhattan from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. on the Broadway Stage.

On Sunday, the cruise winds down with the Show & Shine Car Show sponsored by Gilbert’s Auto Service from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the main show lot on Pershing; the arts & crafts show from noon to 3 p.m. on South Broadway; and the Christina Langen & House Party band from 1 to 4 p.m. on the Broadway Stage.

Special features will include Formula Drift Driver Dirk Stratton and Scotty G street cars, race cars and truck displays at Firestone Service Center on South Lundy and on South Broadway, the U.S. Army climbing wall and the U.S. Marines pull up bar.

Besides the four-day Chinese auction and four-day 50/50, there will be a beef and pork raffle from Moore Farms, giving the winner the choice of $500 worth of meat or $500 cash.

To keep up with all the plans and the schedule, visit salemsupercruise.com or the Facebook page.