The stage is set for the All-’70s Reunion this weekend in Perry, and the party will last until Tuesday for alums riding in the Fourth of July All-’70s float.
“So many aspects have come together perfectly,” said Joelle Miner of the organizing committee. “The All-’70s reunion planning group have had a lot of fun planning this event for over a year. We invite you to come to all or part of the event and look forward to reminiscing about our days as Perry Bluejays and Jayettes.”
Celebrations start Friday, June 30 at 7 p.m., with barricades carving off chunks of space at Second Street and Otley Avenue and at the Hotel Pattee’s Soumas Court. There will be food and beverages for purchase and music at some of the establishments, and the Perry Volunteer Fire Department will light up the area and check IDs.
In the event it rains, the Hotel Pattee has graciously offered to let us gather in the ballroom, Miner said, so invite your friends and family to join us and you downtown Friday, June 30.
There are a few things not specifically planned but that could be thrown together over Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, the Fourth of July, such as bike rides, softball games, golfing — and everyone is welcome to climb on board the flatbed float in the parade.
Selfies in front of the Big Bike at First and Willis avenues are strongly encouraged.
A golf outing may be held during the morning and afternoon of Saturday, July 1, with bike rides along the local trails another possibility. There might even be a chance for a ride on a Perry school bus, with narration by John Palmer of the Perry Historic Preservation Commission.
The party swings Saturday night to the Elks Lodge at 2823 Willis Ave. Hy-Vee will cater a buffet dinner from 6-8 p.m., with the Perry Elks club handling the booze and brews.
The menu looks tempting: Roast beef, pork loin, augratin potatoes, green beans with bacon/onion, pasta salad, fresh melon salad, roll and cookies.
“The Elks went above and beyond to accommodate us,” Miner said. “They’re removing panels from their enclosed patio, and we’ll barricade the parking lot and provide tables and tents — for the sun — so that people can be inside and outside.”
Miner said Joe Jacobsen has graciously allowed visitors to park on two properties of his: the old Rosene building and the Sale Barn lot. The Barcks at Rainbow International (the old Stardust Lanes lot) will also permit parking for the event. She said signs will be posted.
A Chicago-based band, The Student Body, will take to the stage after dinner at the Elks. The band members dress the parts of the hippie, nerd, jock, Catholic school girl and Prom King — a fun and entertaining play on all the cliques that ruled many schools.
The Student Body promises to play all our favorite high-energy party anthems from 8 p.m. until 1 a.m., with their infectious and humorous stage show, soaring three-part harmonies and medleys that will serve as dementia tests.
Sunday, July 2 remains open to bike rides and/or golf, with organizers expecting to have an alumni softball game at Paul and Mary Ann Graves Diamond in Pattee Park at 1 p.m. A fundraiser will be held to help pay for a new scoreboard to the former home site of the Jayettes.
Those still hanging out or living in the area are invited to gather at the East Perry Plaza at 9 a.m. Tuesday, July 4th, where a hay rack will be provided for the classes of 1970-79 to ride in the annual Independence Day parade.
All donations collected beyond those required will be donated to PHS Activities.
For last-minute arrangements and special instructions, visit the All-’70s Reunion Facebook page or contact committee member Denise Niebuhr at 515-465-4344.
Sentimental suspense has been building for months leading up to the reunion, the first since the 2010 party seven years.
“In a few days, as we hug and chat each other up,” said Lisa-Lin Burke of Dallas, Texas, “how much will we talk of this place, how at one point we thought we’d never get there? Then when we did step inside, would we ever get out? Now, these years later, where did the time go? How about one more homeroom drill for old times’ sake?”
