Long Beach ready to host Cruisin’ the Coast festivities
By Toni Miles
USM Cruisin’ event at Gulf Park (Photo credit: Special to Long Beach Breeze)
South Mississippi is revving up as the 29th Annual Cruisin’ the Coast (CTC) event gets ready to roll out October 5 through 12 this year.
“Cruisin’ the Coast always brings incredible energy to Long Beach,” says Long Beach Community Affairs Director Courtney Cuevas-Welch. “From the classic cars to the live music at the harbor, it’s a highlight of the fall season. We’re thrilled to welcome visitors downtown and showcase everything that makes the Friendly City special.”
Long Beach is playing host to several major events this year, with several of them scheduled to take place on Monday, October 6.
“This year, we’re also adding a brand-new event, the Show and Shine at the Harper McCaughan Town Green from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday, October 6,” said Cuevas-Welch. “It’s a free event where participants can show off their cars for the chance to win award,s while visitors enjoy delicious offerings from our food trucks.”
Also on Monday, October 6, from 3 until 5 p.m., USM’s Gulf Park Campus in Long Beach will hold a Southern Miss Cruisin’ event that will include a family-friendly car show and social gathering, with lawn games and a bounce house. A tailgating tent with light refreshments will be set up on the South Lawn of the USM Gulf Park campus. No pre-registration is necessary, and the event is free and open to the public.
The Cruisin’ parade rolls at 5 p.m. (Photo credit Toni Miles)
The Annual Cruisin’ the Coast (CTC) Parade is set to take place in Long Beach that same evening, rolling at 5 p.m. The first six hundred registered CTC vehicles to arrive at the Long Beach High School parking lot next to the football field will be able to roll in this year’s parade. Line up begins at 1 p.m. A concert by the Tip Tops will be held at the Long Beach Harbor after the parade from 6 to 9 p.m.
The relatively new truck show, Trucks ‘N’ Tacos, will host its 3rd Annual Truckin’ the Coast Cruise-In on Thursday, October 9, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. at the Long Beach Town Green off Jeff Davis Avenue. Pared down to just a one-day-long event, truck models 1998 and older will be on full display at the Trucks ‘N’ Tacos event. There will also be food trucks, merchandise vendors and music.
Several other related events, though unaffiliated with CTC, are planned, as well. The weekend ahead of CTC, the Carnival Association of Long Beach Team McMahon-Seal will host its annual Open Car/Truck/Jeep Show at the southwest corner of Jeff Davis Avenue and 5th street on Saturday, September 27. Registration, which is $25 and on-site only, will be open from 8 a.m. to noon, and the show will run from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Awards will be announced at 2 p.m. The day will also include raffles and music, and spectators are welcome.
October 3 brings the Long Beach Live – Finally First Friday free concert featuring Shea Michael’s Duo. The concert will be at the Harper McCaughan pavilion off Jeff Davis Avenue at 7 p.m.
Also on Monday, October 6, the Long Beach Public Library will host a “Car”dboard Cruise In for kids. Young ones are encouraged to customize a wearable cardboard box into a car, then cruise into the library for a move and snacks ahead of the parade. Award certificates and/or prizes will be given to customized cars. For more details, call the library at 228-863-0711. The library has a limited number of boxes available for car builds, if needed.
Now heading into its 29th year, Cruisin’ the Coast is viewed by many as the launch of the fall tourism season in South Mississippi and is a welcome, much-needed boost for local businesses, restaurants and other venues that reap the economic benefits of this world-renowned event each year.
Cruisin’ the Coast began back in 1996 with 374 vehicles. Last year, 9, 961 CTC vehicles were officially registered for the event, featuring drivers from forty-four states, Canada, England and New Zealand.
For more information about this year’s CTC event, check out their website at CruisinTheCoast.com or the Cruisin’ the Coast Facebook page.
