Cruisin’ The Coast started in 1996 and now attracts 8,452 registered vehicles.
The event spans eight days across 12 coast cities and boosts tourism.
Cars, accessories and families create economic impact and community tradition.
It started in 1996 as a way to boost tourism while the weather is beautiful and except for the year of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Cruisin’ The Coast has been celebrated every year since in South Mississippi.
Billed as the country’s Largest Block Party, the eight-day event brings 10,000 registered cars, a legion of fans and the huge economic impact the founders of the event envisioned.
Now the biggest event in Mississippi and the USA Today top car show in the country for six years running, Cruisin’ is a blast of fall color rolling along the white sand beach and to all 12 Coast cities.
The stars are still the cars — Chevys and Fords, antiques and muscle cars, pristine machines and rat rods. Every year there are standouts:
A 1914 Model T Speedster sits on display at Beach Park in Pascagoula for Bachtoberfest in 2014. AMANDA McCOY SUN HERALD
Car fans take a closer look at a 1953 Allard J2X, one of the many cars on display during Cruisin’ The Coast’s Biloxi Block Party on Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2010 in downtown Biloxi. Sun Herald file
A 1936 Mercedes-Benz 540k Spezial Roadster on display at the Biloxi Block Party in Biloxi during Cruisin’ The Coast on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. According to a sign next to the vehicle, only 29 of these vehicles were made between 1934 and 1936 and this one is a recreation from one at the National Automobile Museum and was used in movies. Hannah Ruhoff Sun Herald
A 1947 Ford Coupe, right, A Chevy BeAir, center, and a 1949 Chevy Pickup truck were just several of many Cruisin The Coast classic cars parked outside of the Isle of Capri Casino in Biloxi. DAVID PURDY THE SUN HERALD
Cruisin’ salutes
Some of the owners post signs about the history of their cars and the restoration that’s been done. Other cars have their history or purpose painted on their vehicles,
The driver's side door of Leon Hagwood's Corvette features a mural of a pelican and a shrimp boat. TIM ISBELL SUN HERALD
A salute to 911 is painted under the hood of this car at Cruisin’ The Coast 2024. Mary Perez Sun Herald file
Cruisin’ The Coast 2020 brought this bug with a facemask to Cruise Central during Covid 19. Lukas Flippo Sun Herald File
Surprise around every corner
You never know what kind of cars will show up and be driving down Beach Boulevard during Cruisin’ The Coast. A shopping cart, a huge red wagon and a wooden truck were spotted over the years. Here are some of the surprises.
The Beach Boys’ classic car pulling a guitar trailer and signed by The Beach Boys was parked in downtown Biloxi during Cruisin’ The Coast 2019. The band performed at Beau Rivage Resort and Casino in Biloxi for years, but the shows were canceled this year following the death of Brian Wilson in June. Mary Perez Sun Herald
Jacob Scott’s Ecto-1 ‘tribute car’ sits in front of the Grand Theater in Biloxi during a showing of ‘Ghostbusters in 2016. Courtesy Jacob Scott
The first Batmobile was one of the featured cars up for sale at the Vicari Auction at the Coast Coliseum. Courtesy of Vicari Auction
A dragon perches on top of a Game of Thrones themed car during View the Cruise in downtown Gulfport on Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021. Hannah Ruhoff hruhoff@sunherald.com
A giant shopping cart is Cruisin’ The Coast this week. It is motorized and street legal and it drew a crowd of admirers at the block party in downtown Biloxi in 2023. Mary Perez Sun Herald
Aliens invaded this purple haze VW van parked at the 2019 Biloxi Block Party. Mary Perez Sun Herald
Accessories and apparel add fun
Part of the fun of Cruisin’ The Coast is looking for the special accessories like pirate skeletons in the back seat, burgers and fries on a window tray and all colors of fuzzy dice.
Mardi Gras beads, fuzzy dice and a hula girl decorate the inside of a car at Centennial Plaza during Cruisin’ the Coast on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023. Hannah Ruhoff Sun Herald
A plastic pirate skeleton sits in the driver’s seat of a classic car at Biloxi Block Party 2023. Hannah Ruhoff Sun Herald
RC Cola and Moon Pies in the window of this Cruiser in downtown Ocean Springs add a Southern touch to Cruisin’ The Coast. Mardi Gras beads also swing from many rearview mirrors when cars from across the country come to South Mississippi Mary Perez Sun Herald
Wax figurines were for sale at the Cruisin’ The Coast Swap Meet at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum and Convention Center on Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021. Hannah Ruhoff hruhoff@sunherald.com
A Caprice Classic is outfitted with a diner burger and fries at the Long Beach parade, which always rolls Monday during Cruisin’ The Coast. Tim Isbell Sun Herald file
Hood ornaments and fashion statements
Be sure to look for the hood ornaments gleaming in the sun and the poodle skirts and souvenir T-shirts, both local and from car shows across the country, that add color to every event.
A hood ornament on a 1934 Packard Sedan is a work of art at Cruisin' the Coast Biloxi Block Party. Tim Isbell Sun Herald file
The first poster for the inaugural Cruisin' The Coast on 1996 hangs in the office of executive director Woody Bailey. A poster has been created for all 29 years. Mary Perez Sun Herald
Darlene Stevens wears her guitar sunglasses as she listens to DD Thunders perform at the Town Green in Biloxi during a previous Cruisin' The Coast block party. Tim Isbell Sun Herald file photo
Stickers from past years of Cruisin’ the Coast on a car during View the Cruise on Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021. Hannah Ruhoff Sun Herald
Some of the best vanity plates are spotted at Cruisin’ The Coast. Mary Perez Sun Herald
People, places, pets and kids
When early registration ended Aug. 15, Cruisin’ The Coast had 8,452 vehicles registered and cruisers coming from 41 states, Canada, Australia, England and Germany. Of those, 1,089 have never been to Cruisin’ The Coast before and aren’t sure what to expect.
The event is about the people, who are living — or reliving — their dream of driving down the beach in a fantastic ride. They love talking about their cars and admiring the others parked nearby. They bring their kids and grandkids, their cute dogs and their stories:
Girls wearing sock hop costumes eat popsicles during View the Cruise in Downtown Gulfport during Cruisin’ The Coast 2022. Hannah Ruhoff Sun Herald file
Jace Richardson of Kounteze, Texas., rides through the Biloxi Town Green in his custom-built mini 1937 Ford Coup on in 2015 during the Crusin’ The Coast. SHANNON DAVIDSON SPECIALTO THE SUN HERALD
Eric Knight and his dog Cody sit in his classic car during View the Cruise in downtown Gulfport on Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021. Hannah Ruhoff Sun Herald file
A young fan gets ready to cool down with a huge snow cone during the Ocean Springs Cruisin’ the Coast Block Party in 2021. Bobby McDuffie Special to the Sun Herald
Fisher Roberds, 7, of Fairhope, Ala., poses for a photo in a friend's 1972 Oldsmobile 442 during Gulfport's View The Cruise on the first day of Cruisin' The Coast in 2016. John Fitzhugh Sun Herald File
Dave Cardillo helps his daughter Samantha Cardillo, 7, out of a Mystery Machine look alike during View the Cruise in downtown Gulfport on Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021. Cardillo said he and his daughter have seen all the Scooby Doo movies and shows. Hannah Ruhoff Sun Herald file
Darren Babin channels Elvis as he performs for the cruisers Saturday night along Beach Boulevard in Biloxi during Cruisin’ The Coast. TIM ISBELL SUN HERALD
Mary has won numerous awards for her business and casino articles for the Sun Herald. She also writes about Biloxi, jobs and the new restaurants and development coming to the Coast. She is a fourth-generation journalist.
