Ready, set, let’s roll! Jeepin the Cost is just around the corner, with on-site registration pick-up set for Wednesday, May 31, from 3 to 7 p.m. at Jeep Central, located in the heart of downtown Long Beach at 506 Jeff Davis Avenue.
This marks the fifth year for Jeepin the Coast (JTC), which will roll on until Sunday, June 4. During the five-day event, thousands of Jeep owners and enthusiasts from across the nation will be cruising the streets and beaches of South Mississippi. While this year’s JTC events are spread out among several coast cities, including Pass Christian, Bay St. Louis and Gulfport, most of the action and main events will take place in Long Beach.
Registered Jeepers will pick up their swag bags, including their cards for the JTC Scavenger Hunt, on Wednesday, May 31, at Jeep Central. A kick-off party will follow at 5 p.m. in Pass Christian at 200 Davis Avenue, where live entertainment will be provided by Aaron Foret until 8 p.m.
Registration continues Thursday, June 1, from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Jeep Central, as the Scavenger Hunt continues. There will also be a silent auction and the sale of Jeep raffle tickets for a drawing on Saturday, June 3, at 6 p.m. Thursday’s events will wrap up with live music by Ryan Foret & Foret Traditions from 6 to 9 p.m. at Sully’s, located at 1316 30th Avenue in Gulfport. At 8:30 p.m., a light and sound competition called “Lightin the Night” and “Shakin the Streets” will be on display at Sully’s. An after party with live entertainment will follow at 10 p.m. at Tripletails on Beach Boulevard in Bay St. Louis.
Registration and swag bag pickups will continue on Friday, June 2, at Jeep Central. Vendor Village will be open for shoppers and souvenir seekers from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Jeep Central on Jeff Davis Avenue in Long Beach.
The Poker Run begins Friday at 10:30 a.m. as the JTC Beach Crawl rolls out from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jeepers who wish to cruise the sandy beaches of Long Beach during the Beach Crawl can find entry signs for the event at the intersection of Trautman Avenue and Highway 90 in Long Beach.
Also on Friday, the Show & Shine Jeep Show will take place in downtown Long Beach, near Vendor Village, from 2 to 4 p.m. The 3C Band will put on a concert from 7 to 11 p.m. Friday night at Jeep Central. There will be a fireworks show on the beach near Jeep Central at 8:30 p.m. in Long Beach, followed by an after party with live entertainment at Tripletails in Bay St. Louis at 10 p.m.
Registration and swag bag pick up will continue from 8:30 a.m. to noon on Saturday, June 3, which is day four of the event. Vendor Village will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Jeep Central as the Scavenger Hunt continues. Saturday’s Beach Crawl will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Participating Jeepers should look for entry signs at Trautman Avenue and Highway 90 in Long Beach for the JTC Beach Crawl.
Poker Run cards must be turned in on Saturday at Jeep Central’s registration tent between 2 and 4 p.m. on Saturday afternoon. Winners will be called on their cell phones to report back to the registration tent.
One of the main highlights of the five-day event, the JTC Parade, will roll out at 6 p.m. on Saturday. Participants are reminded to bring beads, as this is a Mardi Gras-style parade that will roll down the streets of the Friendly City. Jeepers who want to take part in the parade must be lined up no later than 5:15 p.m. behind the Harper McCaughan Town Green. Parade Jeeps must be registered as a JTC Jeep and must be pre-registered for the parade.
A Concert in the Streets featuring the Todd O’Neill & Cat Daddy Band will take center stage Friday night from 7:30 to 10 p.m. at Jeep Central in Long Beach. Concert-goers are asked to bring their own chairs.
On the last day of JTC, Jeepers will meet up in Bay St. Louis at Anita’s Bar, located at 828 Highway 90, from 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. on Sunday, June 4. Jeepers will roll out at 9 a.m. Sunday to cruise Highway 90 together to a “See Ya Later Sunday” party, which will be held at Coastal Daiquiri on Jeff Davis Avenue in Long Beach from 9:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Scavenger Hunt cards will be turned in at the “See Ya Later Sunday” party. Drawings for door prizes begins at 11 a.m. No cards will be accepted after 10:45 a.m.
A non-denominational church service will also be held on Sunday, June 4, at 9:30 a.m. under the oaks at the Harper McCaughan Town Green, located at 301 Jeff Davis Avenue in Long Beach.
JTC brings thousands of people to South Mississippi each year and provides a substantial economic boost to local businesses. It also provides the opportunity for visitors to sample the area’s trademark hospitality and coast cuisine.
A group of friends from South Mississippi, Jennifer Moran, Julie Bradley and Kim Favre, are the driving force behind JTC. Avid Jeepers, they wanted to create a family-friendly event for the area, and have done just that, as the popular event continues to grow each year.
To register for JTC, or for more information, visit the website at JeepinTheCoast.com.