20th Cruisin’ The Coast could be biggest one yet

The 20th year of Cruisin’ The Coast is running ahead of last year’s record pace with just a month to go to pre-register vehicles.

At the end of June, 3,851 antique and classic vehicles were registered — 205 ahead for the same time a year ago. Registration since has climbed over 4,000, said Woody Bailey, Cruisin’ The Coast executive director.

A record 7,639 Cruisers registered last year and Bailey said this year owners from 39 states, Canada and Australia already have signed up for the event.

“We’d love to see all 50 states represented,” he said.

Pre-registration closes Aug. 15 and doesn’t reopen until the festival that runs Oct. 2-9 in South Mississippi. Pre-registration is $60 and increases to $90 for those who register on-site starting Oct. 3. Registering gets the vehicles into all the Cruisin’ venues and other perks.

For the 20th year, an all-out celebration is planned and Bailey said, “It should be a very special year.”

Cruisin’ is the biggest festival in the state and those who have an idea to cash in should know that Cruisin’ The Coast has federal trademarks for the name and the logo that prevents their use without permission.

Bailey cautions businesses considering printing T-shirts or ordering other merchandise with the Cruisin’ name or logo that unauthorized use is not allowed.

“We have a licensed vendor that handles those type of items for us,” he said. Through the licensing agreement, the vendor returns a portion of the profits to the nonprofit organization that manages the festival and those proceeds are used for the next year’s event, Bailey said.

“Cruisin’ The Coast’s mission statement is to have a significant economic impact on the communities of the Gulf Coast,” he said. The organizers want businesses in South Mississippi to benefit from the crowds, but not by using the logo and brand.

“We don’t want a merchant to go out and buy a lot of merchandise,” he said.

Sponsors of the event can use the name and logo in their advertising and signs with permission.

Those who have questions about the use should call the Cruisin’ The Coast office at 385-3847.

This story was originally published July 14, 2016 at 6:27 PM with the headline "20th Cruisin’ The Coast could be biggest one yet."