Overview Cruisin' The Coast bills itself as America's Largest Block Party: a week of classic cars, hot rods and oldies music along the beachfront highway of the Mississippi Gulf Coast every October. Cruisers from across the country and overseas register their vehicles, then roam between cruise-ins in Gulfport, Biloxi, Ocean Springs, Bay St. Louis, Pascagoula and other coast towns. It is the biggest special event in Mississippi. On site Cruise Central at Jones Park in Gulfport is the registration hub and daily stage, and each host town runs its own mini festival with bands, vendors and reserved cruiser parking. The week includes a kickoff parade, autocross and a drifting exhibition, a flame-throwing contest, a swap meet and car corral, the CTC/Vicari Auto Auction, a Salute to Our Veterans and a Saturday concert with fireworks. Sponsors can take the title or presenting slot, name a venue with a 10x10 tent, set up at Cruise Central during registration, go on signage at every stamping site and in the program, or put inserts in every registration packet. Audience Classic car owners and their families, mostly from the South and Midwest, plus visitors from dozens of states and a handful of countries, who stay on the coast for most of the week. Locals and tourists line Highway 90 and the host towns to watch. Registered cars must be 1989 or older, so owners skew toward established, older enthusiasts. Talent and Influencers Car TV personalities headline the week, including Courtney Hansen, Cristy Lee, Chris Jacobs and Dennis Gage, with custom builder Dave Kindig and Kevin "KevDogg" Schiele of Kindig-it Design joining for meet-and-greets and autographs. Bands such as Bag of Donuts, The Tip Tops and Garry "Elvis" Wesley play the stages and casino after-parties. Track record The event began as a small fall tourism booster and now registers more than ten thousand vehicles a year. USA Today 10Best readers have voted it the best car show in the nation seven years running. An independent study put its economic impact on Mississippi above $36 million, driven by visitors who stay close to a week. About 600 volunteers from a dozen host car clubs run it. Brand presence Mississippi Gulf Fresh Seafood is the presenting sponsor and hands out free seafood samples all week. Michelob Ultra, Coca-Cola, Visit Mississippi, Coastal Mississippi, O'Reilly Auto Parts, Circle K, JPMorgan Chase and Waste Management back the event, along with Beau Rivage, Scarlet Pearl, Harrah's, Hollywood Casino, IP Casino, Golden Nugget, Treasure Bay and Margaritaville. Vicari is the official auction company.