By Andy Kanengiser
Thousands of Jeepin' the Coast fans will hit the road for the region June 3-6. The COVID-19 pandemic cancelled the event in 2020, but that's not happening this year. Let the fun begin!
JTC President and Founder Jennifer Moran expects 3,000 Jeeps will show up in Gulf Coast cities like Long Beach, Biloxi, Gulfport, Pass Christian and Bay St. Louis. The Friendly City will be Jeep Central at 503 Jeff Davis Avenue, set up for Jeepers to pick up registration packets June 4-5. Pass Christian will kick things off with a live concert on Thursday, June 3.
Moran says the 10th annual event triggers a nice economic boost to the area. Jeepin' will deliver "millions of dollars'' - and that sounds great after a challenging year due to the worldwide health emergency.
The Saucier resident notes the strong support from Long Beach Mayor George Bass, the aldermen, all department heads and community affairs director Jenny Levens.
"They've rolled out the red carpet,” said Moran.
Making the South Mississippi scene, Jeep owners are coming from as far away as Rhode Island, Pennsylvania and Illinois.
Jeep owners in Mississippi will also converge - like Ivana K. Williams, who plans to take her 2014 Jeep Sahara to the Coast event. She will go with friends from a metro Jackson Jeep owners’ group.
What makes a Jeep such a terrific vehicle?
"It's better than a car. I can tow things, and the vehicle is just fun to drive around,'' Williams says. Her vehicle seats five passengers, including the Brandon resident's four kids.
Southern Bagel Company owner Anne Marie Guille will make the JTC scene, too, with her kids. The family enjoys seeing the vintage vehicles as well as Jeeps just off the assembly line. The Long Beach resident remembers when the event began a decade ago. It was just a few people motoring their Jeeps on the beach.
It's grown tremendously ever since.
"It's a big activity with merchandise, vendors and designated cruising events.'' Guille sees the positives for her small business in Harrison County with the thousands of people Jeepin’ brings to the Coast. She says would love to own a Jeep someday and bring it to the festival.
Jeeps have a long history, dating back to the 1940s, when they were popular with Allied soldiers during World War II. Today, the Jeep Wrangler, Grand Cherokee and Cherokee rank in the top ten of the most popular U.S. vehicles.
"It's better than a car,'' Williams says. "It's got all the features I need.'' Jeeps are famous for their power, durability and ability to handle difficult terrain off-road. Their rugged good looks are appealing, too.
The JTC leader, Jennifer Moran, wants to make the 2021 Mississippi Gulf Coast event the best one yet.
There's a similar Southern event in Panama City, Florida, for Jeep enthusiasts. It is called the Florida Jeep Jam and happened May 12-15, with more than 2,000 Jeeps hitting PC beaches. But Moran believes the South Mississippi event tops what Florida is doing.
She said it's a fun weekend event that delivers so much excitement for four days in early June. It will generate "millions of dollars'' for the Mississippi Gulf Coast, she says. "People want to have a good time.''
For additional details, visit www.JeepinTheCoast.com.
Jeepin’ the Coast 2021 events include:
Thursday, June 3
3-8 p.m.
Registration, 200 Davis Avenue, Pass Christian
5-8 p.m.
Kick-off party with live music, 200 Davis Avenue, Pass Christian
10 p.m.
After party with live entertainment, Tripletails, Beach Boulevard, Bay St. Louis
Friday, June 4
8:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Registration, Jeep Central, 503 Jeff Davis Avenue, Long Beach
9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Jeepin’ the Coast Vendor Village, Jeep Central, Long Beach
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Beach Crawl, Bay St. Louis
6-9 p.m.
Concert in the Bay with Live Entertainment, across from Tripletails, Beach Boulevard, Bay St. Louis
9 p.m.
After party with live entertainment, Tripletails, Bay St. Louis
Saturday, June 5
8:30 a.m. – noon
Registration, Jeep Central, 503 Jeff Davis Avenue, Long Beach
8:30-9:30 a.m.
Jeep Cruise to Long Beach, meet at Edgewater Village parking lot
10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Jeepin’ the Coast Vendor Village, Jeep Central, Long Beach
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Beach Crawl, Long Beach
3 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Show & Shine Jeep Show, be in parking area by 2:45, Downtown Long Beach
6 p.m.
Jeep-Only Parade, line up by 5 p.m., Downtown Long Beach, Jeff Davis Avenue
7:30 – 10 p.m.
Concert in the Park and Block Party with Category 6, Long Beach
Sunday, June 6
9:30 - 10 a.m.
“See Ya Later Sunday” Party, meet at Anita’s Bar in Bay St. Louis, cruise to Coastal Daquiri, Long Beach
