Cruisin' the Coast Officially Begins Today
Parade through Long Beach Set to Begin at 5:30 p.m.

by Keith Burton - GCN 10/6/08
Photos: Keith Burton and Larry Walton-Editorial Services

Thousands of visitors from around the region and country are set to kick off the official opening of the 2008 Cruisin' the Coast today.

Cruiser's, along with their custom cars, hotrods and restored antique cars and trucks began arriving on the Coast Saturday and had gathered in mass at the event's headquarters Sunday at Jones Park in Gulfport. Cruser's also made a run Sunday to the parking lot behind the Choice Supermarket on Courthouse Road.

 Cruisin' officials tell GCN that more than 3,500 vehicles were pre-registered for the event but many more are expected when registration opens today. the official opening of this year's Cruisn'. Event officials are hoping Cruisin' registration will surpass 2004 numbers, when 5,300 cars registered.

The area around Jones Park is mostly a parking lot, even on roads near the park along the beach and U.S. 90.

The annual event also draws thousands of visitors that just want to see the cars. People set up tents all along U.S. 90 in Gulfport and especially Biloxi to watch the cars drive by and party.

Among today's key events is a parade through Long Beach that begins at 5:30 p.m. Here are some photos of Cruisers Sunday afternoon as they arrived at Jones Park. To see a schedule of events, Click Here.

Photo Credit - Larry Walton-Editorial Services	Photo Credit - Larry Walton-Editorial Services