Beach Boys, Art Garfunkel and more to perform during Cruisin’ The Coast
Those who prefer cars with chrome will be humming tunes from entertainers of the ’50s and ’60s during the 20th Cruisin’ The Coast on Oct. 2-9.
The casinos — which started the antique and classic car event that has grown into the biggest in Mississippi — will add star power, bringing big-name entertainers both weekends of Cruisin’ The Coast.
The Beach Boys return to Beau Rivage Resort & Casino their brand of “fun, fun, fun” and Chubby Checker will add his twist. The Monkees Good Times Anniversary Tour rolls into Hard Rock Casino Biloxi, and Brandon Bennett brings Elvis with his “Aloha from Biloxi” show. Peter Noone and the Herman’s Hermits invade Golden Nugget Casino Biloxi and Art Garfunkel will add “the Sound of Silence” to the celebration at IP Casino Resort. Cheech and Chong will pack IP Casino with laughs.
Harrah’s Gulf Coast will host the 20 years of Cruisin’ birthday bash on Oct. 8, when The Great Lawn at Harrah’s will be open for a free concert by Big Bad Voo Doo Daddy, followed by fireworks.
What’s new on this year’s schedule of events is the Car Corral will open a day earlier on Oct. 5 and Salute to Our Veterans will move to Oct. 7, and return to the American Star Field at MGM Park in Biloxi.
Mississippi Automotive Manufacturer’s Association, one of the event’s sponsors, is holding its annual conference across the street at the Beau Rivage. Registered cruisers are invited to check out products on the conference floor.
Gautier’s popular Mullet Festival also will coincide with Cruisin’. Most people have never seen a mullet or participated in a mullet toss, which is a highlight of the festival, said Woody Bailey, executive director of Cruisin’ The Coast. “It’s a unique thing to expose cruisers to.”
Car show celebrities Dennis Gage with “My Classic Car,” and Courtney Hansen return, and Bailey said his committee is working on other special events.
“A lot of what you enjoy remains the same for CTC 2016,” Bailey said in his July newsletter.
Cruise Central will again be at Centennial Plaza in Gulfport — we do truly love the shade of the oak trees and breezes off the Gulf.”
Woody Bailey
Pre-registration closes Aug. 15 and registration doesn’t open until the second day of Cruisin’ on Oct. 3 at Cruise Central. By mid-July, more than 4,000 vehicles were registered, more than half of the 7,639 that registered in 2015 and on record pace.
“The newsletter went out last week so registration has really picked up,” Bailey said.
Highlights of this year’s Cruisin’ are:
Saturday, Oct 1: Chubby Checker/War at Beau Rivage, Monkees Good Times Anniversary Tour at Hard Rock, Art Garfunkel at IP Casino, Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone at Golden Nugget
Sunday, Oct. 2: Cruise In at Hardy Court Shopping Center in Gulfport; View the Cruise in downtown Gulfport; ’Goula Cruise in Pascagoula
Monday, Oct. 3: Registration opens; Autocross presented by Golden Nugget and Racing Redneck at the Coast Coliseum; Long Beach Parade
Tuesday, Oct. 4: Autocross at Coast Coliseum; Flame-throwing competition at Island View Casino in Gulfport
Wednesday, Oct. 5: Biloxi Block Party; Autocross at Coast Coliseum; Diamondhead Blessing of the Classics; Car Corral opens; Bowzer’s Rock n’ Roll Party at Beau Rivage pool
Thursday, Oct. 6: Cruisin’ venues open with bands at Bay St. Louis, Pass Christian, Gulfport Cruise Central, Edgewater Mall, D’Iberville, Ocean Springs; Country Cruisin’ Breakfast at Long Beach Yacht Club; Vicari Auto Auction at Coast Convention Center,;Swap Meet/Manufacturers Midway at Coast Coliseum; Car Corral
Friday, Oct. 7: Cruisin’ venues open; Country Cruisin’ Breakfast at Long Beach Yacht Club; Vicari Auto Auction; Swap Meet/Manufacturers Midway; Car Corral; Salute To Our Veterans at MGM Park; Ocean Springs Sock Hop & Street Party featuring The Platters; “Pass In The Night” at Pass Christian; Beach Boys at Beau Rivage; Brandon Bennett’s Aloha from Biloxi at Hard Rock; Cheech and Chong at IP Casino; Al “Lil’ Fats” Jackson at Silver Slipper Casino
Saturday, Oct. 8: Cruisin’ venues open; Country Cruisin’ Breakfast at Long Beach Yacht Club; Vicari Auto Auction; Swap Meet/Manufacturers Midway; Car Corral; Gautier Mullet & Music Fest; Beach Boys at Beau Rivage; CTC 20th Anniversary Celebration on The Great Lawn at Harrah’s; Brandon Bennett at Hard Rock; Al “Lil’ Fats” Jackson at Silver Slipper Casino
Sunday, Oct. 9: Non-denominational prayer service; Gene Oswalt Volunteer of the Year Award; Make-A-Wish Raffle Car Giveaway and unveiling of new 2017 Raffle Car
Mary Perez: 228-896-2354, @MaryPerezSH
This story was originally published July 25, 2016 at 5:11 PM with the headline "Beach Boys, Art Garfunkel and more to perform during Cruisin’ The Coast."