Perryville residents will have the chance to see some of the tri-state region’s fanciest and best-lit big rigs when the seventh annual “Laid Back on I-55 Truck Show” takes place Aug. 16-17.
According to event organizer Robynne Duvall, watching the trucks roll into downtown Perryville is always an amazing sight.
“These truckers put a lot of work, money and pride into their trucks as most drivers spend more time in their trucks than they do at home with their families,” she said. “We started this show seven years ago with around 50 trucks and it's more than tripled in size.”
The first year of the event, 48 trucks took part in the show and then quickly grew to more than 70. Last year, the event brought in around 140 trucks
Proceeds from this year’s event will once again benefit the Down Syndrome Association of Greater St. Louis in honor of Abigail Hotop. Last year, the truck show raised a grand total of $27,177.10.
The event kicks off Friday, Aug. 16 with truck registration at 108 Progress Drive starting at 3 p.m., followed by the Big Rig Light Show at dusk. From 8 to 10 p.m., the Chad Cooke Band, 2022 Texas CMA Band of the Year, will perform on the main stage at the Downtown Pavilion.
Saturday’s events include registration from 8 to 10 a.m. and the second annual Trucker Rodeo at 10 a.m., both on the Alley Cat parking lot at 304 W South St. A kiddie tractor pull begins at 1 p.m. The awards ceremony will take place after the live auction, which starts at 3 p.m. Following that, the convoy will depart from downtown Perryville at 5:30, proceed down Main Street, take a route across AC Highway past the Missouri National Veterans Memorial Wall, and then return to the Perry County Courthouse Square on St. Joseph Street.
Still Standing will provide live music from 8 to 10 p.m.
Asked what her favorite part of the weekend is, Duvall quickly replied, “Friday night is the best night. The guys have their trucks all lit up and all around the downtown square. It's a really cool thing for people of all ages, not just adults.
“Children love it too. A lot of the truckers let the kids get up in their trucks and get the feel of it — that's my favorite part. Truckers are often unappreciated, but people need to remember that whether you're eating it, wearing it, sitting on it — whatever — a trucker had a part in it.”
