PASCAGOULA—What started 29 years ago to celebrate antique, classic and hot rod vehicles, nostalgic music and related events with only 374 registered participants in Biloxi. It has now spread from state line to state line with block parties all along the entire Gulf Coast. Cruisin’ the Coast 2025 is revving its engines for a week of vintage cars, music and parades from October 5 to 12 and expecting to surpass its 9,961 registered cars.
This is the seventh year for Pascagoula to be part of the weeklong agenda as an official stamp site with Cruisin’ the Coast. The joint event of Main Street Pascagoula and the City of Pascagoula has grown exponentially and a huge success for the community.
Susannah Northrop, Executive Director of Pascagoula Main Street, said that the cruisin’ events originally started in Downtown Pascagoula, but because of its growth, the event was moved to Beach Park on Beach Boulevard.
“This change completely transformed the experience, bringing tremendous traffic to the area and creating the perfect atmosphere for cruisers,” Mrs. Northrop said. “With plenty of parking, shade, food vendors, and live music, Beach Park has proven to be the ideal venue for the three-day event in Pascagoula.”
Goula Cruise this year will be Thursday, October 9, through Saturday, October 11, and this year will feature a new event—the Buffett & Bumpers Block Party! While most cruisin’ events will take place at the Beach Park, this added event will take place on October 9 in Downtown Pascagoula and will include live music from the Buffett Beach Band.
“We’re thrilled to introduce this brand-new downtown event,” Mrs. Northrop said. “Downtown Pascagoula will come alive with live music from Buffett Beach Band, our restaurants, bars, and retail shops will be open to celebrate our love for Jimmy Buffett, Cruisin’, and our historic downtown.”
Since 2018, ‘Goula Cruise has welcomed thousands of cruisers each day. Cruisin’ visitors hit record-breaking attendance in 2024 at Beach Park, with visitors arriving early to grab the best shady spots and staying all day to enjoy the Gulf breeze, food, and entertainment. Northrop said she expects the same excitement for this year’s new event and hopes it will bring a large crowd too! With such a packed schedule, she said Cruisers enjoy coming to Pascagoula for its beachy vibes and hospitality.
“Pascagoula offers a unique, laid-back vibe compared to other Cruisin’ locations” she said. “Visitors can relax under the shade at Beach Park, enjoy local food trucks, and listen to live music just steps from the beach. It truly feels like a hidden gem along the coast and has become a favorite among many Cruisers.
“We’re excited to showcase more of our city—from our beach to our downtown—and create new experiences that keep visitors coming back year after year,” she added.
All events are FREE and open to the public. Traffic maps and other information can be found on MainStreetPascagoula.com or on the Main Street Pascagoula Facebook page.
Nearby Moss Point will host Cruisin’ the River City on Tuesday, October 7, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on its Main Street and river park, and Jackson County will also have Cruisin’ events in Gautier and Ocean Springs as well. For a complete schedule of Cruisin’ events, click HERE.
