LONG BEACH, Miss. (WLOX) — The roar of classic cars, the shine of chrome and a whole lot of horsepower rolled through the streets of Long Beach.
For some cruisers like Tim Langdon, it’s the classics that keep him coming back, this year, with his ’69 Mustang Convertible for the first time.
“I wanted a classic car; I got my classic car,” Langdon said. “And Cruisin’ the Coast was a good connection to it. Eight days of people just getting together. It’s just lots of fun.”
Cruisin’ through South Mississippi since 2019, Langdon says every city brings something different to the table.
“I started when it was around 8,000 people,” Langdon said. “Now, it’s almost 11,000 people when everything was done. And they spread it out a little bit. You go to almost every town, and it has something for you to do.”
ADVERTISEMENT
30 YEARS OF CRUISIN’: Cruisin’ the Coast celebrates 30th anniversary: See the full schedule
Lyman resident and first-time cruiser Carol Gatewood came to the parade, drawn by the classics and the camaraderie.
“I was amazed. Amazed at the cars, the different types of cars, how well-maintained they were, and the people,” Gatewood said. “Just the camaraderie and the activities that were going on for young and old.”
She’s taking on her first Cruisin’ year with a 1969 Cougar XR7, a car with a deep, personal connection.
“My father was the original owner,” Gatewood said. “So, it’s very near and dear to my heart, and I knew I wanted to bring it out here and share it with everyone.”
ADVERTISEMENT
The parade ended, but the celebration didn’t — Long Beach Harbor carried the week-long party forward.
“We go nowhere but get bigger and bigger and bigger, and I welcome everyone to come down here to the Coast,” Gatewood said. “It is an incredible experience. If you’re a car enthusiast or if you just want to come and see, come.”
Whether you came for the classics or the camaraderie, Long Beach showed that Cruisin’ the Coast has plenty left in the tank.
See a spelling or grammar error in this story? Report it to our team HERE.
Copyright 2026 WLOX. All rights reserved.