GULFPORT, Miss. (WLOX) – Cruisin’ the Coast will see some new changes this year.
Cruise Central is moving from Centennial Plaza to Jones Park in Gulfport. The site will serve as the hub for registration packet pickup, live music, and vendors.
Jones Park previously housed Cruise Central before Hurricane Katrina.
“That’s where everything started back in 1996 at Jones Park,” said Cruisin’ the Coast Executive Director Woody Bailey.
“We’re happy to be back home. It’s kind of like a homecoming of sorts.”
The Long Beach Parade will still roll, but there will be changes to parking for spectators due to the construction at the Long Beach Harbor.
“We’re losing a little bit of parking on the west side, but we’ve got enough parking to make up the difference. So, the Long Beach Parade is going to be, hopefully, as good as ever,” said Bailey.
Rochelle Hicks, the Visit Mississippi Director, will be the grand marshal. The parade is on Monday, October 6.
Autocross will also be relocating to the Scarlet Pearl Casino in D’Iberville.
“We will be in their north parking lot, so we think that’ll be a great move for us too,” said Bailey.
In the past, the popular event was at the Coast Coliseum, but it had to move due to construction work for the Popp’s Ferry Road extension.
Autocross will run from Monday, October 6, through Wednesday, October 8.
The Diamondhead Blessing of the Classics is happening on October 8 from 4-7 p.m.
The parade will roll on the same route, but in the opposite direction from years past, meaning the parade lines up on Noma Drive, starts at Diamondhead City Hall, goes east and loops around 8 miles of Diamondhead Drive, ending at City Hall.
Musical guests include Razzoo from 1-4 p.m. and Beau King from 4-7 p.m.
The parade lineup begins at 12:30 p.m.
A new event is also on the lineup this year, the Buffett & Bumpers Block Party. The event is an ode to Jimmy Buffett.
“It is something everyone can enjoy,” said Bailey.
The event will be in downtown Pascagoula on Thursday, October 9, and feature the Buffett Beach Band, which is a Jimmy Buffett Tribute Band.
8,453 vintage vehicles from 41 states, Canada, England and Australia were already registered as of September 29. Early registration for Cruisin’ the Coast closed on August 15, but people will still be able to register on-site.
Cruisin’ the Coast runs from October 5 through October 12. See a full schedule of events HERE.
2025 will be the 29th annual Cruisin’ the Coast.
The popular event was voted the best car show in the U.S. through a USA Today vote.
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