Seemingly everyone in Perry was on Willis Avenue at some point Friday evening, as the old tradition of “Cruise the Loop” was rekindled as an acceptable social gathering in a time of social distancing.

Hundreds of cars drove from the 4 Seasons Car Wash on the east side of Perry to 2nd Street downtown and back over the course of two hours. There was a great deal of waving, laughing, and honking along the way, and the mood was festive throughout. To help the procession along, Raccoon Valley Radio provided a live soundtrack for the event on AM 1310, FM 99.7 KDLS. Shawn Kenney served as emcee and took people’s requests and calls during the evening.

The event was spearheaded by Stacey Walton and Cheri Welch, who remembered a time when “shagging the drag” was something most everyone in town did. They said they wanted to provide a way for people in Perry to have fun and socialize on a Friday night, while still maintaining the social distancing required during the COVID-19 pandemic. The community responded by coming out in droves, and by all accounts it was a big success.