Woodward Dream Cruise facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Woodward Dream Cruise |
|
|---|---|
A view of the 13th Annual Dream Cruise (2007) from atop a building located on Woodward Ave. near Maple Road (aka: 15 Mile Road) in Birmingham, MI
|
|
| Type | Event |
| Date | Third Saturday in August |
| 2024 date | August 17 |
| 2025 date | August 16 |
| 2026 date | August 15 |
| 2027 date | August 21 |
| Frequency | Annual |
The Woodward Dream Cruise is a huge car show that happens every year in the suburbs north of Detroit, Michigan. It takes place on the third Saturday of August. The event stretches along Woodward Avenue, a famous road, from the city of Ferndale all the way to Pontiac.
Contents
What is the Woodward Dream Cruise?
The Woodward Dream Cruise is the biggest one-day car event in the world. Each year, it attracts around 1.5 million people and 40,000 amazing vehicles. You can see cars, trucks, motorcycles, and supercars from all over the globe.
Many of the cars are classics from the 1950s, 60s, and early 70s. This was the era of powerful muscle cars and cool street rods. The event also features custom cars, collector vehicles, and other special cars. Owners who have kept their cars in perfect shape or customized them love to show them off here.
History of Cruising on Woodward Avenue
The tradition of driving along Woodward Avenue is very old. Back in 1848, the road was made of wooden planks, and people would race their horse-drawn carriages. By the early 1900s, Woodward Avenue was a major street with beautiful homes and churches.
In the 1950s and 60s, the street became a popular spot for young people to show off their cars. The road was wide and had many popular drive-in restaurants. It was the perfect place for car lovers. This was also the time when powerful muscle cars were popular, and many car dealerships were located on Woodward.
Before the official Dream Cruise began, this informal cruising sometimes caused traffic problems and unsafe driving. When the event became organized, it became a much safer and more enjoyable experience for everyone.
How the Official Event Started
The idea for the Dream Cruise came from Nelson House, a plumber from Ferndale, in 1994. He wanted to raise money for a kids' soccer field. The first official cruise was held on August 19, 1995. Organizers thought maybe 30,000 people would come.
To their surprise, about 250,000 people showed up! Today, the event is a massive success. It brings more than $56 million to the Detroit area's economy each year.
Even though the main event is on a Saturday, car lovers start cruising Woodward Avenue early in the summer. The communities along the road, like Birmingham, Ferndale, and Royal Oak, all host fun activities related to the cruise.
The Cruise in Recent Years
In 2020, the official Dream Cruise was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, many local car fans held their own unofficial cruise anyway. During that time, a political group tried to host its own car event. This caused some controversy because the Dream Cruise is meant to be a fun event for everyone, not a political one.
The official Woodward Dream Cruise returned in August 2021 and has continued to be a popular event.
See also
- 28th Street Metro Cruise – A similar car event in Grand Rapids, Michigan, held the weekend after the Dream Cruise.
- Back to the Bricks – A car show in Flint, Michigan, that often happens on the same weekend.
- Cruisin' Downriver – Another car event in the Detroit area that takes place in June.
- Cruising (driving)
