Page 67 - South Mississippi Living - October, 2016

Get ready for fun and America’s largest block party as vehicles roll in October 2 – 9 from all across the country to celebrate the 20th Annual Cruisin’ The Coast. Each year the week-long event features activities such as cruise-ins, exciting entertainment, swap meets, auto auctions and more! Cruisin’ began in 1996 as an event to increase visitors during a slow time of the year and to spotlight antique, classic and hot rod vehicles. It has grown to become one of the Coast’s most celebrated tourist attractions. The festival’s first year featured only 374 registered vehicles, but the number increased each year and had 7,639 cars registered in 2015.
Once a year, car enthusiasts of all ages flock to the Mississippi Gulf Coast to showcase their cars and cruise along the scenic coastline. Designated stops are spread out among the three coastal counties, each featuring live music, vendors, and reserved cruiser parking. This year,
the city of Moss Point has been added as a new location for cruisers, expanding the Crusin’ party farther into Jackson County.
Only registered vehicles
may drive into and park in the different venues, but spectators are welcome to visit and see the beautiful cars and enjoy the entertainment. Spectators need to park offsite and walk to the venue to take part in the events. There is no admittance fee for the venues, but there is a fee to attend the swap meet.
“A lot of what you enjoy remains the same for Cruisin’ The Coast 2016,” said Sherwood “Woody” Bailey, vice chairman and executive director of Cruisin’ The Coast. “Cruise Central will again be located at Centennial Plaza
in Gulfport; we do truly love
the shade of the oak trees and breezes off the Gulf,” said Bailey. “Our stamping sites will include Bay St. Louis, Pass Christian, Edgewater Mall in Biloxi, D’Iberville
and Ocean Springs. The autocross, swap meet and auto auction will be at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum and Convention Center. Cruise-ins will kick off the year’s festivities in Gulfport and Pascagoula on Sunday.”
Cruisin’ The Coast is supported by 11 host car clubs who provide the event with more than 700 volunteers who make it all possible. Cruisin’ The Coast and its staff have done an outstanding job in past years, and have won a variety of awards for their efforts. The event received
the Governor’s Excellence in Tourism Award as Festival/ Event of the Year in the State of Mississippi, the Southeast Tourism Society’s “Shining Example Award” for Best Festival/Event of the year, and the Automotive Restoration Market named Cruisin’ The Coast the 2007 Restoration Event of the Year, just to name a few.
E REFLECTIONS OF THE GULF COAST >> www.smliving.net October 2016 • SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living 67
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