Salem Super Cruise scheduled for June 8

May 10, 2023

SALEM — The annual Salem Super Cruise will power through Salem again this summer.

"The Super Cruise benefits the city immensely every year; this is our Canfield Fair," said Councilman and Super Cruise Director Dennis Plegge.

This year's cruise will be held June 8 to 11, with the annual kickoff at Salem West Healthcare Center from 3 to 7 p.m. June 8. Mayor Cyndi Baronzzi Dickey will give the beloved order to "Start Your Engines" and officially start four days of fun at 7 p.m., with cruising to begin at noon. 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.

In addition to daily activities the cruise will feature several activities all four days including: a four-day 50/50 drawing; a four-day Chinese auction; a $500 beef and pork raffle by Moore's Farm; the annual Super Cruise shirt sale at a cost of $15 for all sizes; a vendor craft show at the corner of Pershing and Broadway; the U.S. Army climbing wall; the U.S. Marines pull-up bar; and special race cars and truck displays at the Firestone Service Center on South Broadway Avenue, including the return of the ever-popular Bigfoot monster truck Friday and Saturday.

Friday's activities will include: a car show hosted at Donnell Salem from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with trophies, dash plaques, door prizes and a DJ 3 to 7 p.m., followed by The Tribute Band from 7 to 10 p.m.; Ray Lewis & Co. valve cover racing from 4 to 8 p.m. on South Lundy Avenue; and the SOBOS band from 7 to 10 p.m. on the Broadway Stage.

Saturday's activities will include: a car show at Diehl Chrysler from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; a car show at Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Ray Lewis & Co. valve cover racing from 2 to 8 p.m. on South Lundy Avenue; the annual garden tractor pull at 2 p.m. on South Broadway Avenue; and the Memphis Soul Brew band from 3 to 6 p.m. on the Broadway Stage, followed by the Manhattan Band from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. on the Broadway Stage.

Broadway Avenue, Lundy Avenue, the municipal lot across the street from the Timberlanes complex, and the approach way to the post office adjacent to the lot will be closed beginning June 6 in preparation for the event and will remain closed for the duration of the cruise. The post office will remain accessible from Columbia Street and Penn Avenue.

The cruise will wind down Sunday with the Show & Shine Car Show sponsored by Gilbert's Auto Service from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Timberlanes lot, and will award trophies for best in show, mayor's choice, sponsor's choice and over 20 other categories, with the first 100 entrants receiving dash plaques. Immediately following the show, the drawings will be held for the annual four-day 50/50 raffle and the Moore Farms $500 beef and pork raffle. The Christina Langen & House Party band will perform from 1 to 4 p.m. on the Broadway Stage. Plegge said the winner of last year's four-day 50/50 won over $1,100.

Plegge said that other special attractions at this year's event will include Formula Drift Driver Dirk Stratton, axe throwing and a put-put golf course, in addition to over 20 specialty vendors. Plegge also said that Columbiana County Humane Agent Erica Rice will have a tent at this year's cruise where protective rubber boots for dog's paws could be purchased, and that Rice would be educating people on the special precautions required when residents bring their furry friends to events like the cruise.

Plegge said that the Super Cruise is officially the longest cruise in the state of Ohio with its run of four days and nights of cruising and family fun, with the next longest cruise only lasting two days and nights. To achieve such a feat is no small task, with each year's cruise taking months of planning and leg work by cruise organizers and dozens of volunteers to successfully bring it together. Each year's cruise also sees Salem's city safety forces at work to ensure the community can safely enjoy the annual fun, despite the cruise not being an official city event. Plegge said each year it costs approximately $42,000 to 43,000 to run the event, most of which is paid through sponsorships from local businesses and registration fees from food and craft vendors. The cost to rent a space for a craft booth this year will be $75 and the fee for a concession stand on private property this year will be $525.

"I truly appreciate everyone who does everything to make this event happen every year both in front of and behind the scenes. People don't realize all the work that goes in to making this happen," said Plegge.

Fore more information on this year's event visit the cruise's website at www.salemsupercruise.com.

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