Usually, the Super Cruise’s kickoff ceremony fills the large municipal parking lot across the street from the Timberlanes Complex, but a snap storm dissuaded most cruisers from this year’s ceremony. However, it takes more than rain to dissuade Cruise Director Dennis Plegge and Mayor Cyndi Baronzzi Dickey, and in keeping with tradition, Dickey gave the annual order to “start your engines” to husband and wife Brian and Brenda May, who were equally undeterred.

“This is the wettest cruise kickoff we’ve ever had, but everything will dry off and we’ll be okay and have a great time,” said Plegge.

While the kickoff was originally to be preceded by a performance of the “Star Spangled Banner” by the Salem High School Pride of Salem Band, the band was unable to perform due to the storm. Nevertheless, the national anthem rang out across downtown as recent Allegheny Wesleyan College graduate Aaron Paulus stepped up to the plate on short notice to provide an a cappella performance.

The excitement will continue through the weekend with cruising downtown throughout the weekend, and fun events for the whole family set around the city including: valve cover racing on South Lundy today and Saturday from 4 to 8 p.m.; an antique car show at Centennial Park from 5 to 8 p.m. today; the SUPERKIDS Soapbox Derby at 9 a.m. Saturday; a car show at Salem Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram on Legacy Lane; the annual garden tractor pull on South Broadway at 2 p.m.; and live music on the Broadway stage by several bands throughout the day.

Despite a short-lived thunderstorm the 2025 Salem Super Cruise officially crossed the starting line Thursday, with the annual order to “start your engines!” given to drivers by Mayor Cyndi Baronzzi Dickey. (Photo by Morgan Ahart)

The cruise will wind down Sunday with the annual Show and Shine Car Show sponsored by Nick’s Auto Body in the Timberlanes lot from 11 a.m. through 3 p.m., celebrating the heights of automotive excellence from across the county on display at the cruise every year and will award trophies for best in show, mayor’s choice, sponsor’s choice, and over 20 other categories, and the first 100 entrants will receive dash plaques. Immediately following the show winners to be drawn for the annual four-day 50/50 raffle and beef and pork raffle by Moore Farms at 3 p.m.

mahart@mojonews.com

Cruise Director Dennis Plegge said that despite this being “the wettest kickoff” the Super Cruise has ever seen, that everything would dry off and the 2025 Salem Super Cruise will continue to provide fun for the whole family throughout the coming weekend. (Photo by Morgan Ahart)

While most were dissuaded from this year’s kickoff ceremony, husband and wife Brian and Brenda May were undeterred, filling the lot with the roar of their engines. (Photo by Morgan Ahart)

Vendors said that while day one of the Salem Super Cruise had been slow, a lot of people had come to enjoy the annual festivities despite an evening thunderstorm which deterred the majority of cruisers and show cars which usually attend the annual kickoff ceremony Thursday. (Photo by Morgan Ahart)

Live music throughout the weekend has been an annual staple of the Super Cruise for years and 2025 will be no exception with a slate of bands set to light up the Broadway Stage this year kicked off Thursday by Along for the Ride. (Photo by Morgan Ahart)