See the Cruisin’ the Coast website
Cruisin’ the Coast events in downtown Biloxi are expanding to two days this year and involving a new location, MGM Park, for a salute to veterans.
Crusin’, the Coastwide auto show that is expected to attract a record 7,500 participants to south Mississippi, takes place Oct. 4 through 11, and will focus on downtown Biloxi on Tuesday and Wednesday, Oct. 6 and 7. Previous years have been limited to a one-day block party in downtown Biloxi.
The “Salute to Our Veterans” will take place Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at MGM Park and vehicles will be limited to registered Cruisers.
Then on Wednesday, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., it’s the annual downtown Biloxi Block Party, which will have a few changes of its own: This year, cars will again be throughout downtown Biloxi, except those that had been on MLK Boulevard will instead be on Main Street.
“We’re working with the Cruisin’ folks and making sure that we get the most out of this huge event,” said Mayor Andrew “FoFo” Gilich. “We’ve enjoyed immense success since the Biloxi Block Party made its debut in 2002, and this year it’s going to be even more special with two days of events and using the premier entertainment venue on the Gulf Coast, MGM Park.”
Cruisin’ vehicles will line the warning track that rings American Start field inside MGM Park, and hundreds more will be positioned in the southbound lanes of Caillavet Street. Two-way traffic will be allowed on Caillavet’s two northbound lanes.
On Wednesday, visitors to downtown will find hundreds of automobiles, thousands of automobile enthusiasts, live entertainment and discounts for downtown restaurants.
The city will cordon off a number of public parking lots for cruisers and a number of downtown streets, including Lameuse, Main, Jackson and Water will be closed to vehicles and dedicated to pedestrian traffic. (See a map.)
“We think this is going to be a great experience for our visitors and residents,” Gilich said, adding with a smile: “We’re asking people to come out and have a wheel good time.”
See a two-sided downtown Cruisin’ poster
See Mayor Gilich’s postcard to downtown businesses
