By Mark Wineka
mark.wineka@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — The Fifth Annual St. Paul’s Lutheran Church “Cruise ‘n Barbecue” will take place April 25 at the church, 205 St. Paul’s Church Road.

Proceeds go to benefit Louise Harkey and Pam Peeler, both of whom are fighting cancer, and there also will be a Red Cross bone marrow registry and screening from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. in honor of church member Chloe Monroe.

Monroe, who received a bone marrow transplant, has returned to school at the University of North Carolina and “is an inspiration and example of how the Red Cross Bone Marrow Registry saves lives,” organizers said.

The daylong Cruise ‘n Barbecue has a little bit of everything, including a cruise-in and show for classic cars, street rods and motorcycles; a poker cruise with five stops; Port-A-Pit Chicken dinners; raffles; half & half drawings; and music.

The Poker Cruise will take place from 9 a.m.-noon. At each stop, participants receive a card, and the best and worst poker hands receive cash prizes at the end. The route will take participants throughout the scenic Rowan County countryside.

The cruise-in, car show, music and Port-A-Pit Chicken will be available from noon to 4 p.m. Judges will award first-, second- and third-place trophies in the car show.

Upwards of 20 other awards will be handed out for crowd favorites, including a “Kid’s Favorite” award.

The Port-A-Pit Chicken dinners are available to eat on site or can be picked up in a drive-through line. Homemade ice cream and cakes also will be available, along with other concessions.

Details on the entry fees and registration for the Poker Cruise and car show can be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/stpaulscruisenbarbecue. A $35 “Super Ticket,” for example, includes the Poker Cruise entry, car show registration for one vehicle and two barbecue tickets.

The Poker Cruise for one vehicle is $15; car show, $15; and barbecue tickets, $8 each. Checks should be made payable to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church Men and mailed to St. Paul’s Cruise ‘n Barbecue, 205 St. Paul’s Church Road, Salisbury, NC 28146.

The Cruise ‘n Barbecue volunteers meeting will be held at 7 p.m. April 23 in the church fellowship hall. There will be an ice cream and cake bar, briefings on April 25’s activities and assignments and T-shirts for the volunteers will be handed out.