Record-breaking year expected for 30th Anniversary of Cruisin’ the Coast

By Toni Miles and Melanie Buford

It’s already a record-breaking year, according to CTC organizers. As of press time, 9,257 cars were pre-registered for this year’s Cruisin’ the Coast, which is nearly 800 more cars that were registered at this time for last year’s event. (Photo credit Tonu Miles)

The 30th Anniversary edition of Cruisin’ the Coast (CTC) is set to roll out Sunday, October 4, through Sunday, October 11, and, as of press time, is breaking registration records from previous years.

“We’ve had record numbers for registration this year,” said Woody Bailey, CTC’s Vice Chairman and Executive Director. “We are looking forward to a big turnout.”

The final Early Bird registration number for CTC 2026 was reported to be 9,257, which is 785 more registrants than the event had during Early Bird registration in 2025. Additional on-site registration, available beginning Monday, October 5, and continuing through Saturday, October 10, is expected to push the total number of registrants for the event beyond last year’s previous record-breaking number. This year’s CTC registration is open to antique and classic vehicles from 1989 and older.

Dubbed “America’s Biggest Block Party,” the weeklong yearly event draws classic, antique and vintage cars and trucks from all over the United States, with some Cruisers even visiting from other countries.

All CTC venues, activities and events are held along the Mississippi Coastline and South Mississippi, from Bay St. Louis to Pascagoula.

Long Beach and Pass Christian have also grown as popular hot spots over the years.

Cruisin’ the Coast is set to roll October 4-11 this year. (Photo credit Toni Miles)

This year, distiller Matt Crittenden has crafted the official “Cruisin’ the Coast Bourbon,” which will only be available at Pass Christian Bottle Shoppe (PCBS). Like last year, PCBS will be selling one hundred bottles of the blended bourbon each day beginning Monday, October 5, at 10 a.m. and ending Friday, October 9.  Crittenden will be at PCBS on Monday to sign bottles, whose label features a 1956 Ford F-100 owned by longtime cruisers from Louisiana.

Last year, 10,334 vehicles officially registered for CTC, and that’s not counting all the thousands of antique and vintage vehicles that joined in but that did not officially register for last year’s event. This year’s CTC looks promising, with reports saying that preregistration included entrants from over forty states and five countries, including Australia, Canada and England. The very first CTC, held in 1996, had 374 registered vehicles.

Also, according to its online and social media pages, CTC is offering one-of-a-kind 30th Anniversary merchandise, including a limited-edition chrome garage sign that can be ordered from the official Cruisin’ the Coast merchandiser atError! Hyperlink reference not valid..  In the wake of several fake posts and offerings from unsanctioned entities, event officials have cautioned that there is only ONE official CTC merchandiser, ET Motorgear, who, in addition to its online store, will be on-site at the event with CTC items available for purchase during Cruisin’ Week. Some of the event sponsors also offer CTC items with the event’s permission.

While minor details are still being finalized for this year’s CTC celebrations and events in Long Beach and Pass Christian, Long Beach’s popular annual Cruisin’ the Coast Parade is set for Monday, October 5, in downtown Long Beach, beginning at 5:30 p.m. The parade is free and open to the public. Only registered CTC vehicles can participate in the parade procession. Parade-goers are encouraged to stake out a spot on the parade route early. Courtney Hansen, host of Ride of Your Life with Courtney Hansen, as well as a published author and automobile enthusiast, will serve as the Celebrity Guest for the parade.

Also on Monday, October 5, ahead of the parade, car enthusiasts can head over to the Harper McCaughan Town Green from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the Show & Shine Car Show and live entertainment.

Truckin’ the Coast, also known as Trucks ‘N’ Tacos, returns to Long Beach on October 8, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., at the Harper McCaughan Town Green on Jeff Davis Avenue. This is the fourth year the event has been held in tandem with Cruisin’ the Coast.

For more information about this year’s Cruisin’ the Coast, visit the Cruisin’ the Coast 2026 Facebook page or visit CruisinTheCoast.com.