Cruisin’ the Coast is officially underway for the 28th edition of antique cars making their way to south Mississippi for a week of festivities.
The event, which takes place annually during the second week of October and has been touted by USA Today as the top car show in America, began in 1996 to celebrate classic and vintage cars along with giving locals and tourists alike a reason to have a week-long block party.
In Cruisin’ the Coast’s debut, 374 cars were signed up to be part of the event. The celebration has grown so large in recent years that an estimated total of more than 10,000 vehicles were registered in 2023.
The usual seven-day car show – which added an eighth day this year to include Chapel Hart and other music acts in a kickoff concert this past Saturday – has become synonymous with the Mississippi Gulf Coast as 12 cities are participating in 2024. With cruise-ins, burnouts, auctions, swap meets, car corrals, and multiple parades and parties, Cruisin’ the Coast has become one of the state’s largest economic boosters.
Woody Bailey, executive director of Cruisin’ the Coast, explained that officials conduct an economic study every five years with the last one showing over $30 million brought into the region.
“We did our last economic study in 2021, and we’ll do another one in two years. In 2021, when you take into account the entire state, it’s $31.6 million with the three coast counties getting $33.1 million,” Bailey said. “So, we’ve grown a lot over the last 28 years.”
Cruisin’ the Coast 2024 has 12 host car clubs providing over 700 volunteers who help register vehicles, direct cars ay venues, give directions, and welcome guests. 43 U.S. states, Canada, and England are currently represented at the event with that number possibly growing by the end of the week, according to Bailey.
To find a full schedule of events, click here.
