GULFPORT, Miss. (WLOX) - Ahead of the 29th annual Cruisin’ the Coast 2025, which runs from October 5 through October 12, car enthusiasts will see some changes to this year’s event.
2024 RECAP: In the Rear View: The Sounds of Cruisin’ the Coast 2024
One of the biggest changes will be the location of Cruise Central. The site, which will serve as the hub for registration packet pickup, live music, and vendors, will move from Centennial Plaza to Jones Park in Gulfport.
Jones Park was the home of 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.”
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The Long Beach Parade will run on October 6, with line-up starting at 1 p.m. before the parade starts at 5:30 p.m. Bailey says there will be some 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.”
Autocross, which is usually held at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum, is relocating to the Scarlet Pearl Casino Resort in D’Iberville due to construction work for the Popp’s Ferry Road extension.
A new event will debut on Thursday, October 9, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., with the Buffett & Bumpers Block Party in downtown Pascagoula, paying tribute to native Jimmy Buffett and featuring the Buffett Beach Band.
With just weeks left until the annual event, organizers say there are 8,453 cruisers pre-registered for this year’s event, more than 200 pre-registered cruisers than last year. That number is made up of cruisers from 41 states, Canada, England, and even Australia.
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Here’s where each city’s Cruisin’ the Coast site will be:
- Registration Desk: Jones Park in Gulfport, the home of Cruise Central
- Mississippi Coast Coliseum, where the Swap Meet is held (not a stamping site)
- Downtown Ocean Springs
- D’Iberville Civic Center
- Edgewater Mall (west side of the mall)
- Downtown Bay St. Louis
- Downtown Pass Christian
- Pascagoula at Beach Park
This year’s Raffle Car, which will be given away during the Finale Ceremonies at Cruise Central from 9 to 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, October 12, is a ’72 Chevrolet Super Cheyenne.
For a full breakdown of Cruisin’ the Coast 2025 events, visit their website.
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