Cruisin' the Coast

Here are the best photos from 25 years of Cruisin’ The Coast in Mississippi

By Hannah Ruhoff
Participants toss throws during the Cruisin’ The Coast parade in Long Beach on Monday Oct. 8, 2012.
Participants toss throws during the Cruisin’ The Coast parade in Long Beach on Monday Oct. 8, 2012. JOHN FITZHUGH SUN HERALD

This year, 2021, marks the 25th anniversary of Cruisin’ The Coast, now the largest event in Mississippi that draws thousands to the Gulf Coast each year.

Vintage, antique and classic cars fill U.S. 90 and cities across Hancock, Harrison and Jackson counties, from Bay St. Louis to Biloxi and Gulfport to Pascagoula and Moss Point

Cruisin’ The Coast celebrated its first year in 1996. Here’s a look back through the years.

1997: Visitors get a look at classic cars on display during the second Cruisin’ the Coast.
1997: Visitors get a look at classic cars on display during the second Cruisin’ the Coast. JOHN FITZHUGH SUN HERALD
Ken Endicott, left does the electric slide with Jane Petsch and his wife Mary Ann Endicott, all of Newnan, Ga. on October 10, 1998 during Cruisin’ the Coast at Point Cadet. Hundreds came to see vintage cars at Point Cadet during annual event.
Ken Endicott, left does the electric slide with Jane Petsch and his wife Mary Ann Endicott, all of Newnan, Ga. on October 10, 1998 during Cruisin’ the Coast at Point Cadet. Hundreds came to see vintage cars at Point Cadet during annual event. CARA OWSLEY THE SUN HERALD
Richard Speck of Gulfport, Miss., changes spark plugs on his 1923 Ford as Cruisin’ the Coast came to a close for 1999 on Sunday, Oct. 10, 1999.
Richard Speck of Gulfport, Miss., changes spark plugs on his 1923 Ford as Cruisin’ the Coast came to a close for 1999 on Sunday, Oct. 10, 1999. Sun Herald
Nancy Burge of Gulfport, left, and Cathy Pierocich of Long Beach will be in their newly refurbished 1964 Ford Thunderbird in 2000.
Nancy Burge of Gulfport, left, and Cathy Pierocich of Long Beach will be in their newly refurbished 1964 Ford Thunderbird in 2000. JOHN FITZHUGH
Metropolitan Nash owners Jerry Guillot, of Ponchatoula, La, left front, and Walter Perez, of Robert, La, center, wait in traffic on Main Street in Bay St. Louis in 2002. The event continues to grow with 2018 setting new registration records again.
Metropolitan Nash owners Jerry Guillot, of Ponchatoula, La, left front, and Walter Perez, of Robert, La, center, wait in traffic on Main Street in Bay St. Louis in 2002. The event continues to grow with 2018 setting new registration records again. DAVID PURDY sunherald.com/File
Twelve-year-old Amy Ardis of Mobile reads a novel during the final day of Cruisin’ The Coast on October 12, 2003 at Jones Park in Gulfport. Amy said she comes every year with her father John Ardis who owns a 1963 Impala Super Sport.
Twelve-year-old Amy Ardis of Mobile reads a novel during the final day of Cruisin’ The Coast on October 12, 2003 at Jones Park in Gulfport. Amy said she comes every year with her father John Ardis who owns a 1963 Impala Super Sport. CARA OWSLEY THE SUN HERALD
Cruisin’ The Coast spectators make their way to their carsat Jones Park in Gulfport on October 9, 2004, as a squawl from Tropical Storm Matthew pelts them with rain.
Cruisin’ The Coast spectators make their way to their carsat Jones Park in Gulfport on October 9, 2004, as a squawl from Tropical Storm Matthew pelts them with rain. JOHN FITZHUGH
Cruisin’ the Coast visitors at Veteran’s Cruise In at Biloxi VA in 2006. The event was originally held at both the Gulfport VA and Biloxi VA, but was combined after Hurricane Katrina destroyed the Gulfport facility.
Cruisin’ the Coast visitors at Veteran’s Cruise In at Biloxi VA in 2006. The event was originally held at both the Gulfport VA and Biloxi VA, but was combined after Hurricane Katrina destroyed the Gulfport facility. JAMES EDWARD BATES SUN HERALD
Classic cars and car enthusiasts filled Hardy Court Plaza in Gulfport Sunday for the first Cruise In of the 2009 Cruisin’ the Coast.
Classic cars and car enthusiasts filled Hardy Court Plaza in Gulfport Sunday for the first Cruise In of the 2009 Cruisin’ the Coast. JOHN FITZHUGH SUN HERALD
Richard and Sylvia Davis of Biloxi watch the action from the back of their 1953 Willys station wagon during the last day of Cruisin’ The Coast at Cruise Central at Centennial Plaza in Gulfport in 2010.
Richard and Sylvia Davis of Biloxi watch the action from the back of their 1953 Willys station wagon during the last day of Cruisin’ The Coast at Cruise Central at Centennial Plaza in Gulfport in 2010. JOHN FITZHUGH SUN HERALD
Traffic moves at a snail’s pace as Cruisin’ The Coast slows U. S. 90 to a crawl on October 9, 2011.
Traffic moves at a snail’s pace as Cruisin’ The Coast slows U. S. 90 to a crawl on October 9, 2011. Tim Isbell
Car enthusiasts walk along Beach Boulevard in downtown Bay St. Louis during Cruisin The Coast on Thursday, October 11, 2012.
Car enthusiasts walk along Beach Boulevard in downtown Bay St. Louis during Cruisin The Coast on Thursday, October 11, 2012. AMANDA McCOY SUN HERALD
Randy Lejeune of Lake Charles and his pink 1965 Cadillac Fleetwood Limo on Friday, October 11, 2013, at Cruisin’ The Coast.
Randy Lejeune of Lake Charles and his pink 1965 Cadillac Fleetwood Limo on Friday, October 11, 2013, at Cruisin’ The Coast. AMANDA McCOY SUN HERALD
A Halloween themed car was a favorite during Cruisin’ the Coast parade Monday, Oct. 7, 2014 in Long Beach.
A Halloween themed car was a favorite during Cruisin’ the Coast parade Monday, Oct. 7, 2014 in Long Beach. TIM ISBELL SUN HERALD
Spectators look at cars parked on Caillavet Street during the Cruisin’ The Coast salute to the military event at MGM Park in Biloxi on Tuesday Oct. 6, 2015.
Spectators look at cars parked on Caillavet Street during the Cruisin’ The Coast salute to the military event at MGM Park in Biloxi on Tuesday Oct. 6, 2015. JOHN FTIZHUGH SUN HERALD
Rose Martin, 3, plays with the door handle of a 1961 Chevrolet Belair during Cruisin’ The Coast on Saturday, October 8, 2016, at the Edgewater Mall.
Rose Martin, 3, plays with the door handle of a 1961 Chevrolet Belair during Cruisin’ The Coast on Saturday, October 8, 2016, at the Edgewater Mall. Amanda McCoy amccoy@sunherald.com
John Mitchell of Diamondhead relaxes in an easy chair in the back of his 1978 Chevy Custom Deluxe pick-up as he watches Cruisers arrive at Cruisin’ Central at Centennial Plaza in Gulfport on Monday, Oct. 2, 2017. Mitchell said the truck belonged to his father and he rescued it from the weeds.
John Mitchell of Diamondhead relaxes in an easy chair in the back of his 1978 Chevy Custom Deluxe pick-up as he watches Cruisers arrive at Cruisin’ Central at Centennial Plaza in Gulfport on Monday, Oct. 2, 2017. Mitchell said the truck belonged to his father and he rescued it from the weeds. John Fitzhugh jcfitzhugh@sunherald.com/File
Cruisers roll into downtown Bay St. Louis for Cruisin’ The Coast on Thursday, October 4, 2018.
Cruisers roll into downtown Bay St. Louis for Cruisin’ The Coast on Thursday, October 4, 2018. Amanda McCoy amccoy@sunherald.com
Cruisers file into Cruise Central at the new Centennial Plaza as spectators watch on the second day of Cruisin’ The Coast 2019 on Monday morning, Oct. 7, 2019.
Cruisers file into Cruise Central at the new Centennial Plaza as spectators watch on the second day of Cruisin’ The Coast 2019 on Monday morning, Oct. 7, 2019. Lauren Walck Biloxi
Classic cars roll down Washington Avenue in Ocean Springs Thursday, Oct. 8 as part of the 2020 Cruisin’ the Coast festivities.
Classic cars roll down Washington Avenue in Ocean Springs Thursday, Oct. 8 as part of the 2020 Cruisin’ the Coast festivities. Alyssa Newton Biloxi
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