Welcome to America’s Largest Block Party. Cruisin’ The Coast® began in 1996 as a festival to celebrate antique, classic and hot rod vehicles, nostalgic music and related events. 374 vehicles registered that first year and in 2024 9,961 vehicles were registered. Car enthusiasts from nearly every state and internationally drive to the Mississippi Gulf Coast once a year in the beginning of October to showcase their rides and to cruise our beautiful 30-mile stretch of beachside highway with designated stops in Bay St. Louis, Biloxi, D’Iberville, Gulfport, Pass Christian and Ocean Springs.

Each venue is set up as a mini festival with a stage for live bands, reserved parking for registered cruisers, spectator parking, and vendors for food and event merchandise. This is an open cruise – events are scheduled and you decide which ones you are interested in attending. Spectators are welcome and will find that our cruisers love to talk “old cars.”

Cruisin’ The Coast® has numerous Host Car Clubs providing an abundance of volunteers who help with registering vehicles, directing cars at the venues, giving directions, and welcoming our guests. These are just the jobs cruisers see. There are hundreds of behind the scenes and pre-event activities that our volunteers help with all year long. If you get a chance you may want to say thank you to a volunteer during your visit. 

We want to thank all of our volunteers, sponsors, participating vendors, and you, the car enthusiasts, who have made Cruisin’ The Coast® the success story it is.

All photos taken by Richard A. Kopp