Cruisin' The Coast® has become a major tourism boom for the Mississippi Gulf Coast and the biggest special event in the state of Mississippi. Car enthusiasts from over 35 states and Canada drive to the Mississippi Gulf Coast once a year to showcase and to cruise a variety of antique, classic and hot rod automobiles at designated stops along the Coast in Ocean Springs, Biloxi, D'Iberville, Gulfport, Long Beach, and Bay St. Louis.

Cruisin' The Coast® began back in 1996, when the Mississippi Gulf Coast Gaming Association decided to host an event that would attract more visitors to the area - and has it ever! In its inaugural year, the event drew only 374 registered vehicles from neighboring states. But since then, the event has grown exponentially. Last year, Cruisin' The Coast® drew in an impressive 4026 registered cars and shows no signs of slowing down.

As the number of participants has grown over the years, so has the economic impact. The economic growth of the event has grown from $1 million to $7 million during the first five years and is now estimated at $12-15 million.

And as Cruisin' The Coast® continues to grow, the honors and awards have followed suit. Cruisin' The Coast® received the Governor's Excellence in Tourism Award as Festival/Event of the Year in the State of Mississippi. Cruisin' The Coast® was also named the recipient of the "Shining Example Award" for Best Festival/Event of the year by the Southeast Tourism Society, one of the "100 Events for the Year of 2001" by the American Bus Association and was also named a Southern Travel Treasure by AAA's magazine, AAA Southern Traveler.