By ALEXANDER SIMONE

Staff writer

The Peabody Cruise marks four years Sunday and members of the Dreamers club say they are building on a four-year investment.

The event has been an important way to bring people into Peabody, said Linda Martinez, a Dreamers club board member.

“We wanted to get together and start something,” she said. “It gave the community something to do, but more importantly, it brought other people into the community once a month.”

The Dreamers have city council approval to close downtown Main St. for the cruise the last Sunday of every month, from April through October. That means from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., everyone in the area is a pedestrian.

It works well because it gets people walking around to interact with each other, and vehicle owners aren’t worried about their cars and bikes being damaged, Martinez said.

“We created it for bikes and cars,” she said. “Those people work on their vehicles on Saturdays, and Sundays are their day to cruise and relax. We’re catering to them, but inviting our whole community.”

People don’t have to be car enthusiasts to enjoy the cruise, Martinez said.

“I’m terrible with cars, even though I put this on,” she said. “They have four wheels and an engine, that’s all I know.”

The laid back nature of the event encourages people to socialize, Martinez said.

“It’s not too busy and crowded,” she said. They’re able to relax and have a good time.”

Between 100 and 150 bikes and cars show up to the cruise, but the schedule is very loose.

Having less structure makes getting down to Peabody more convenient for when he has time, Hillsboro resident Mike Duerkson said.

“It’s nice because everyone comes and goes how they please,” he said.

Duerkson has been attending when possible since it began, with the option to take one of his several cars, including a 1958 Chevrolet, ’62 Chevrolet Nova, and ’59 Plymouth.

Starting with the cruises was the catalyst but it allowed friendships to for that went beyond, Martinez said.

“We’ve built relationships with people who love coming to Peabody,” she said. “We’ve created friendships from that on Facebook.”

In addition to vendors and tents worked by local organizations, there is an optional church service from 10 to 10:30 a.m., which features a different Peabody pastor each month.