Cream puffs and sock hops: Here’s what’s happening Friday at Cruisin’ The Coast
Most of the “gangster cars” and hot rods built decades ago are just memories, but for this one week in South Mississippi the survivors are shined up and shown off at Cruisin’ The Coast.
Those who love these classics, the music of those eras and the people who love to talk cars and old times have just a couple of days left to get their fill before the event rolls out of town and leaves South Mississippi cleaner than it was when the cruisers arrived.
Before they’re gone, go way back to the 1950s — the age of Elvis, poodle skirts and saddle shoes — at the Friday night sock hop in downtown Ocean Springs.
Or head west to the other Friday night highlights. Pass Christian welcomes cruisers with Pass In The Night and The Chee-Weez will put on quite a show at Hollywood Casino Gulf Coast in Bay St. Louis.
All seven of the Cruisin’ venues will be open during the day and people will bring their chairs and line Beach Boulevard to ooh and aah as the cars roll by.
Friday schedule
- KOTO spins the oldies at Cruise Central, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Registration and all Cruisin’ Venues are open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sites with bands: Bay St. Louis, D’Iberville, Edgewater Mall, Gulfport Cruise Central, Ocean Springs, Pascagoula, Pass Christian
- 2025 and 2026 Registration continues at Cruise Central, Gulfport, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Country Cruisin’ Breakfast, Long Beach Yacht Club, 7-10 a.m.
- Vicari Auto Auction at Coast Coliseum, doors open at 8:30 a.m.; Auction begins 10 a.m.
- Vicari Auction’s CTC Swap Meet open at Coast Coliseum, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Car Corral open and vehicle check-in, east of Treasure Bay Casino, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Dennis Gage appearance: Bay St. Louis, 9-11 a.m.
- Cristy Lee and Courtney Hansen appearances: Ocean Springs, 10 a.m.-noon
- Joe & Mandi Martin appearance: Cruise Central, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
- Gulf Coast Nationals, Gasser Racing, Gulfport Dragway, 5 p.m.
- Ocean Springs Sock Hop & Street Party, Live Entertainment by Brandon Giles, 5:45-7 p.m., and Bag of Donuts, 7:30-9:30 p.m.
- Pass In The Night,” 5:30-8:30 p.m., Pass Christian, Entertainment by Sons of Uh Beach
- Outdoor concert at Hollywood Casino, Bay St. Louis, The Chee-Weez, 7 p.m Tickets at Ticketmaster.
Cruisin’ Venue Entertainment
Bay St. Louis
- 11 a.m.-Noon – Daddy O
- 1-2 p.m. – Marvelous
- 3-4:30 p.m. – Na Na Sha
Pass Christian
- 11 a.m.-Noon – Travis B
- 1-2 p.m. – Platinum Café
- 3-4:30 p.m. – Departure
Gulfport Cruise Central
- 11 a.m.-Noon – Black Velvet
- 1-2 p.m. – Martini Shakerz
- 3:30-5:30 p.m. – Bad Medicine
Edgewater Mall Biloxi
- 11 a.m.-Noon – Shack N Up
- 1-2 p.m. – Cool Rayz
- 3-4:30 p.m. – Vince Vance & The Valiants
D’Iberville
- 11 a.m.-Noon – Eddie Mac
- 1-2 p.m. – Miles Flatt
- 3-4:30 p.m. – Hip Pocket
Ocean Springs Downtown
- 11 a.m.-Noon – Garry “Elvis” Wesley
- 1-2:30 p.m. – Modern Eldorados
- 3:30-5:15 p.m. – The Tip Tops
- 5:45-7 p.m. – Brandon Giles
- 7-7:30 p.m. – Chick’s Picks
- 7:30-9:30 p.m. – Bag of Donuts
Pascagoula
- 11 a.m.-Noon – Scott Hinson
- 1-2 p.m. – Barlow Brothers
- 3-4:30 p.m. – 2 Kindred
Casino Entertainment
- Jamey Johnson, Beau Rivage Casino, 8 p.m.
- Bayou Stampede, Silver Slipper Casino, Stage Bar, 7 p.m.
- Triggerproof, Beau Rivage Casino, EIGHT75, 9 p.m.-2 a.m.
- Hank Berumen, Scarlet Pearl Casino, Butler’s, 10 p.m.-12 midnight
- Tucker Wetmore, IP Casino, 8 p.m.
Saturday highlights
While all eyes are on the beautiful cars at the Cruisin’ venues, there also will be magic in the sky during The Mississippi Aviation Heritage Museum fly-by at 2 p.m. The aircraft will fly just offshore from Ocean Springs to Bay St. Louis.
Vicari Auto Auction will roll out the best cars of the week at the Coast Coliseum, where the Vicari Swap Meet also is under way.
Head to Gulfport Dragway to see classic car drag races starting at 1 p.m. and then on to Hollywood Casino in Bay. St. Louis for a free concert by Departure, a Journey Tribute Band.
Here is the full schedule for Cruisin’ The Coast.
