From 374 Cars to a Coastwide Tradition: Cruisin’ The Coast Celebrates 30 Years

In 1996, 374 classic cars gathered on the Mississippi Gulf Coast for the first Cruisin’ The Coast. Thirty years later, the event has grown into an eight-day celebration attracting more than 10,000 registered vehicles and visitors from across the United States and around the world. But Cruisin’ The Coast was not originally created simply to hold another car show. It began as an effort to solve a problem that once affected businesses across the Coast: tourism largely disappeared after Labor Day.

“There were a group of us who had gotten together to determine why tourism stops after Labor Day,” Cruisin’ The Coast Executive Director Woody Bailey told me during our recent interview. “We were trying to figure out what we could do to extend the tourism season.”
The group included casino representatives, business owners and automotive enthusiasts. During those early conversations in 1995, a general manager shared how a car show in Reno called Hot August Nights attracted visitors to the area.

“We all decided, ‘Okay, let’s try a car show,’” Bailey recalled. “We came up with the name Cruisin’ The Coast, and so here we go in 1996 and we had 374 cars.”
Bailey has served on the organization’s board since the beginning and was among the original group of approximately six to eight people who helped create the event. Today, he serves as its executive director, although he still affectionately calls Cruisin’ The Coast his “little car show.”
That little car show recorded 10,334 vehicles in 2025. At the time of our interview, more than 8,200 vehicles had already registered for the 2026 event, representing 41 states, Australia, Canada, England, Germany and New Zealand.

Cruisin’ The Coast has survived hurricanes, storms and a pandemic while continuing to grow. It has also been selected as the best car show in the country by voters in the USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards for seven consecutive years.

More Than a Car Show

Cruisin’ The Coast will celebrate its 30th anniversary October 4–11, 2026, with events held throughout the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
“One of the things I like about it the most is the fact that all 12 cities along the Mississippi Gulf Coast all three counties are involved in one way or another,” Bailey said.
That Coastwide participation is central to the event’s purpose. Cruisers stay in local hotels, dine at restaurants, shop at small businesses and attend activities in cities from one end of the Coast to the other.
“Everybody is coming here, spending money and having fun,” Bailey said. “If we can do that and help the economy out, that’s a pretty good way to do it.”
Cruisin’ The Coast conducts an economic-impact study every five years and will complete a new study during the 2026 event. Its previous study, conducted in 2021, estimated an economic impact of $33.1 million across the three coastal counties and $36.1 million statewide. With the event continuing to grow since then, organizers are eager to see what this year’s study reveals. Registered participants will receive survey forms in their packets, while researchers will also interview spectators to understand spending and participation from both perspectives.

Celebrating 30 Years and America’s 250th

This year’s anniversary will include familiar Cruisin’ traditions along with new entertainment and activities. Cruisin’ will also recognize America’s 250th anniversary during its Salute to Our Veterans program Tuesday, October 6, at Cruise Central in Jones Park. The Victory Belles from the National WWII Museum in New Orleans will make their Cruisin’ The Coast debut, joining Garry “Elvis” Wesley for a patriotic performance. The celebration will continue through the final weekend with a free Super Saturday concert featuring Bag of Donuts at Hollywood Casino Resort in Bay St. Louis, followed by a patriotic fireworks show. Dave Kindig and Kevin “KevDogg” Schiele of Kindig-It Design will make their first Cruisin’ The Coast appearance. Returning automotive personalities include Dennis Gage, Chris Jacobs, Courtney Hansen and Cristy Lee. Jay Leno will also perform at the Beau Rivage on Saturday night. Bailey said organizers hope they may be able to bring Leno to one of the official Cruisin’ venues during his visit, as they did when he visited
Ocean Springs in 2022. However, any such appearance would depend on his schedule and may not be confirmed until the last minute.

New Events and Returning Favorites

The flame-throwing competition has moved from Island View Casino to IP Casino Resort Spa in Biloxi. The competition will take place Tuesday evening, with registration beginning at 5 p.m. and the action starting at dusk. Autocross returns to the north parking area of Scarlet Pearl Casino in D’Iberville Monday through Wednesday. During autocross, drivers race individually against the clock while navigating a designated course. A new drifting exhibition will be added Wednesday evening from 6–8 p.m. Spectators will be able to watch from around the barricaded course. Other returning favorites include the Long Beach Parade, Biloxi Block Party, Ocean Springs Sock Hop and Street Party, Burn ’Em Up in the Pass, Gulf Coast Nationals at Gulfport Dragway and live entertainment at official Cruisin’ locations.

The Blessing of the Classics

One of the Coast’s most distinctive Cruisin’ traditions is the Blessing of the Classics in Diamondhead. Inspired by the Mississippi Gulf Coast’s traditional Blessing of the Fleet, the event gives classic-car owners the opportunity to have their vehicles blessed. The celebration begins with vehicles lining up for a parade from Diamondhead City Hall. As the classic cars travel through the community, clergy members stationed near one of the city’s roundabouts bless each vehicle and present its owner with a certificate. Participants then return to the City Hall area for live entertainment.
“It’s a pretty neat thing,” Bailey said. “All the things we do are a lot of fun.”
The 2026 Blessing of the Classics will take place Wednesday, October 7, from 4–7 p.m., with the parade lineup beginning at 1:30 p.m.

A Collector Bourbon with a Cruisin’ Connection

Cruisin’ The Coast has also found a unique way to combine classic cars with a locally produced collector’s bourbon.
Crittenden Distillery produces a limited-edition Cruisin’ The Coast bourbon sold through Pass Christian Bottle Shop. The 2026 release will be limited to 100 bottles per day from
Monday, October 5, through Friday, October 9. Purchasers will be entered into a drawing for the opportunity to have their car featured on the following year’s collector bottle. They will also have a chance to win the actual barrel in which the bourbon was aged. The selected vehicle owner even participates in the bourbon-sampling process to help determine the flavor used for that year’s release. This is the third year for the collector-bottle tradition. Bailey said similar bourbon promotions connected to major events inspired Cruisin’ The Coast to create a version of its own.

Free Mississippi Seafood Samples

The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources’ Mississippi Gulf Fresh Seafood program returns as Cruisin’ The Coast’s presenting sponsor. Visitors can sample complimentary wild-caught Mississippi Gulf seafood at Cruise Central in Jones Park on Monday, October 5, and Tuesday, October 6, from 9–11 a.m. and again from 1–4 p.m. Additional seafood sampling will be offered during the Biloxi Block Party on Wednesday, October 7, from 10 a.m.–1 p.m. The program celebrates an industry that has helped shape the culture, history and identity of the Mississippi Gulf Coast for generations.

More Chances to Win

The 30th anniversary will also mean more prize money for registered cruisers. In a typical year, Cruisin’ The Coast distributes $20,000 through its stamping-card drawings. Registered participants visit designated Cruisin’ venues, have their cards stamped and submit the completed cards for a chance to win. In honor of the 30th anniversary, the organization is increasing the total prize money to $30,000, awarded in $500 increments.

“If you go around to all the sites and get your card stamped, you’ll have more chances to win,” Bailey said.
Cruisin’ The Coast will also raffle a 1967 Pontiac GTO named “Goldie.” Tickets cost $10 each or three for $25, and the winner does not have to be present at the drawing on Sunday, October 11. Proceeds benefit the Make-A-Wish Mississippi Foundation and Cruisin’ The Coast.

How to Join the Celebration

Cruisin’ The Coast is open for registration to vehicles from 1989 and earlier. Although early online registration has ended, eligible vehicles may register on-site at Cruise Central in
Jones Park from October 5 through noon on October 10. On-site registration costs $100. Spectators do not need to register and can enjoy cruise-ins, live music, block parties and thousands of classic vehicles traveling along Highway 90.

Bailey recommends that out-of-town visitors review the maps, parking information and complete schedule before arriving. Event information is available at www.cruisinthecoast.com, while registered participants will receive a detailed program in their registration packets.
From an idea created to extend the Coast’s tourism season to an event now shared by communities across three counties, Cruisin’ The Coast has become part of the Mississippi Gulf Coast’s identity.
Thirty years, thousands of cars and millions of visitors later, it is safe to say that Bailey’s “little car show” is doing exactly what its original organizers hoped it would do.
Until next tide, this is your Shoreline Siren, bringing you the people, places and stories that make the Gulf Coast one of a kind.