A line of cars made their progression in front of Demopolis High School Thursday evening, handing little yellow tickets to one group of students as another group passed out Styrofoam boxes full of freshly fried catfish and all the makin’s.

The annual event was running smoothly, said Annie Robertson, director of this year’s DHS Fish Fry.

“This is one of the best pickups I think I’ve ever seen,” she said. “The weather is beautiful.”

With a setting sun and temperatures in the low 70s, the weather was conducive to the event, which was shared by the Beta Club selling all occasion cards and the Drama Club, passing out fliers announcing its upcoming production of “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.”

Signs leading drivers to the pickup point had a clear message to any dieters, with warnings of “no Atkins” and beckonings of “get a sweet for your sweetie.” Students and faculty manned push carts full of pies, cakes, cookies and other goodies – sold by the slice or the whole pie.

For those who wanted to socialize while they enjoyed the meal, dine in was available in the high school cafeteria, complete with hostesses who brought diners their dinner and drinks, and took care of drink refills.

The cafeteria kitchen was abuzz with activity as students worked alongside staff and administration to fill plates, to-go boxes and cook up the fish.

Robertson said some extra plates had been prepared, but said presales of tickets had reached 1,100 before the pickup began.