Thousands coming to MS for Cruisin’ The Coast 2020. What to expect during COVID-19.
The biggest annual event in Mississippi — Cruisin’ The Coast — is a go for 2020 despite the coronavirus pandemic.
While the crowd may be a bit smaller than the past few years, there still will be thousands of antique and classic cars on South Mississippi roads Oct. 4-11.
Executive Director Woody Bailey said 6,367 vehicles are registered from 41 states.
That’s 958 fewer registered cars and trucks than what they’ve had at the end of August pre-registration the last few record-breaking years.
“We’re pleased concerning our numbers,” he said, especially since more than 800 of those registered are first-timers to the event.
They still aren’t sure if this year, given the coronavirus pandemic, whether Canadian cruisers will be able to cross the border with their vehicles.
What’s changed
“It’s going to be a little different Cruisin’ this year,” said Bailey, who has served as executive director for 12 years.
Here are the big changes to the Cruisin’ schedule this year:
- Most of the casino entertainment and events are canceled this year due to COVID-19 restrictions
- No preview day on Saturday
- Gautier’s event will be a drive-in movie
- There will be no “throws” of beads or anything from the cars in the Long Beach Parade
- The D’Iberville venue will be back at the civic center behind city hall
- Registration is split to reduce lines Those whose last names start with A-K register Monday and K-Z on Tuesday.
- No flame throwing competition at Island View Casino
- No Sock Hop at Beau Rivage Casino
- No Burn ‘em Up in the Pass at Pass Christian
- Car celebrities Cristy Lee, Courtney Hansen and Joe and Amanda Martin will be back this year. Dennis Gage won’t be attending.
“We think you can do it safely,” Bailey said, especially considering that about 95% of the events are outdoors.
Most of the longtime Cruisin’ events will go as scheduled. Cruise Central is back at Centennial Plaza on U.S. 90 in Gulfport. From there the cars and drivers will cruise to every city on the Coast to get their card stamped and qualify for thousands of dollars in prizes at the end of the week.
The winner of this year’s raffle car, a yellow 1932 Ford Roadster, also will be drawn at the closing ceremonies.
What are the concerns?
While some Coast residents question the timing and safety of holding Cruisin’ The Coast this year, business owners — especially at hotels and tourist attractions — have seen profits plummet since the pandemic began to impact them in March.
Gov. Tate Reeves said that if Cruisin’ The Coast can follow the executive orders pertaining to the coronavirus, it can happen like the state fair and other events.
“Outdoors is a much safer venue to have an event than indoors,” State Health Director Dr. Thomas Dobbs said at a recent press conference.
“I love Cruisin’ and it’s one of my favorite events,” said Cheryl York of Wiggins. She and her husband were there for the first Cruisin’ in 1996, and they have friends who come from Baton Rouge every year. None of them will be at any of the venues this year, she said.
“The thing I don’t understand is the double standard,” she said. Funerals are limited to 10 people graveside, she said, and they had to cancel their family reunion for 80 people at Flint Creek Park, which she said has a limit of 20 people at the indoor pavilion and 40 outdoors.
She worries that people won’t social distance, especially in areas where there are bands, and that Cruisin’ could become a super-spreader of COVID-19.
“Next year we’ll come out and be loud and proud again,” she said.
Bailey said the Cruisin’ organizers have heard the concerns on both side of the fence.
The goal of the event, when it was organized in 1996 by a group of casino executives and business owners, was to have a significant economic impact for the Coast beyond the normal tourist season.
“Cruisin’ means a lot to a lot of businesses up and down the Coast,” Bailey said.
Drive safely
Safety measures will be built into every event.
Drivers and spectators should wear masks when they can’t social distance, Bailey said. Signs will be out at the events to remind people to wash their hands and to maintain a social distance of 6 feet — “half a car length” in Cruisin’ terms, he said.
“We’re asking people to take some personal responsibility for themselves,” he said.
“The crowds are where you get into trouble,” said Steven Demetropoulos, M.D., a physician at Singing River Health System and the mayor of Pascagoula. His city will be hosting Cruisin’ The Coast, and he said extra precautions such as hand sanitizing stations will be in place.
Other precautions he suggests people take:
- “I think wearing a mask is still going to be one of the best practices.”
- “If there is music keep yourself spread apart from other people.”
- Don’t shake hands.
- Support local businesses by ordering take-out meals or eat outside where possible.
- Go to the events early.
- Those with heart disease, diabetes or other chronic illnesses may want to stay away this year, or view the cruisers from inside their own cars.
It is a concern when people come from other areas of the country that could have higher numbers of coronavirus cases, he said. Jackson County is down to about 20 new cases a day, he said, and there is “quarantine fatigue” that makes people want to get out.
The volunteers who work the events will have face masks to match their yellow shirts, and the vendor who provides official shirts and other souvenirs will have Cruisin’ The Coast masks for sale. The vendor has already been to other car shows that are coming back and understands how to operate under the coronavirus guidelines, Bailey said.
The swap meet and auction inside the Coast Coliseum in Biloxi are two indoor events, and Bailey said the booths will be spread apart to provide social distancing.
“Everybody is talking about how to do things safely and have a good event for everyone,” he said.
