Big-finned Caddies, classic Corvettes, scaled-down dragsters and even the venerable 1997 Honda Civic Type R, which turns 25 this year, will line up bumper to bumper Saturday for the 27th annual Woodward Dream Cruise.
Auto enthusiasts from around the world, including New Zealand, Japan and Australia, flock to the cruise annually for a taste of Michigan’s automotive history.
The cruise started in 1995 and is always held on the third Saturday in August.
It started as an effort by Nelson House and a group of volunteers looking to raise money for a soccer field in Ferndale. They also wanted to recreate the nostalgic era of the 1950s and 1960s, with music and cars roaming Woodward. It welcomed 250,000 people in its first year and has grown every year since.
Nine cities in Oakland County participate within a 16-mile radius of Woodward.
Starting Thursday, car enthusiasts will flock to Woodward and surrounding communities to show off their wheels.
Woodward Dream Cruise Schedule
The cruise starts in Pontiac and extends down Woodward to Ferndale.
Berkley
Friday: CruiseFest Classic Car Parade
The parade begins at 6:30 p.m. and travels west 12 miles from Woodward to Greenfield. There will be food, entertainment and spaces for families to watch the parade. Around 7:30 p.m., Detroit blues group Denise Davis and the Motor City Sensations will perform on Robina Avenue, north of 12 Mile Road.
Friday and Saturday at West 12 Mile, official Woodward Dream Cruise merchandise will be available for purchase throughout the day.
Birmingham
Saturday: Birmingham Cruise Classic Car Show
From 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, this car show will take place on the Walgreens lot at 34300 Woodward Ave. and surrounding streets such as Haynes to Adams Road, Worth Street to Woodward and Webster Street to Adams Road. Birmingham stores will be open and there will be sponsor displays for spectators to enjoy.
Parking for this event can be found in one of Birmingham’s six parking structures; There will also be metered parking.
The Peabody Street structure is located just off Woodward at 222 Peabody. The first two hours are free.
Other parking structures include the following:
Chester Street Structure: 180 S. Chester St. North Old Woodward structure: 333 N. Old WoodwardPark Street structure: 333 Park St. Pierce Street Structure: 333 Pierce St. Public Parking Lot 6: 660 N. Old Woodward
WXYZ-TV (Channel 7) and WOMC-FM (104.3) will broadcast live from Birmingham.
Ferndale
Friday: Ferndale Dream Cruise Events
Ferndale Emergency Vehicle Show and Ford Motor Co. is scheduled from 1-7 pm with the official Woodward Dream Cruise ribbon cutting ceremony at 5 pm near East Nine Mile Road in Woodward. The lights and sirens cruise will begin at 5:30 p.m. The Kids Car Club will also be present, for children to enjoy rides in mini electric cars, games and bounce houses.
Detroit’s Thanksgiving Day Parade’s “A Storyland of Floats” will be on display west of Woodward from 1 to 8 p.m.
From 1 to 9:30 p.m., musical guests will perform on the Rock’n Live Entertainment Stage near West Nine Mile Road in downtown Ferndale.
Programming of performances
Friday
1:00 p.m.: M-1 Jazz Collective 3:00 p.m.: American Ages Band 5:00 p.m.: The Favorites 7:30 p.m.: Billy Mack and the Juke Joint Johnnies
Saturday
11:00 a.m.: Bad Mojo Band 1:00 p.m.: Surf Zip 3:00 p.m.: Look’in Back, A Bob Seger Tribute Band 5:00 p.m.: City Beat, A Motown Sound 7:30 p.m.: Infinity & Beyond, A Journey Tribute Band
Saturday: Ferndale Dream Cruise Events
Mustang Alley will take place with Ford Motor Co. from 10 am to 6 pm and entry will begin on Hilton Road at East Nine Mile Road. Admission is $20, cash only accepted. Pre-registration is closed, but non-pre-registered vehicles can enter around 10am
The Kids Car Club and children’s play area will also be held from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. There will also be more performances from 11 to 21.30 on the Rock’n Live Entertainment stage.
Visitors will be able to purchase official Woodward Dream Cruise food and merchandise throughout the day.
Royal Oak
Friday: Performance Park classic car show
Car fans can enjoy some classic cars before the main event from noon to 7pm. at Memorial Park at 31050 Woodward.
Saturday: Royal Oak Dream Cruise Events
Cruise in Shoes 5k Run & Walk it will start at 8 and will last until 9:30, on Yorba Linda Boulevard. Participants will be able to run along Woodward and several streets in the Royal Oak neighborhood before finishing at Shrine Catholic High School.
Pre-registration is available online or on the day of, registration will be available at Shrine Catholic High School. Registration is $40 through Wednesday and will be $45 on race day.
The Performance Park Classic Car Show will continue Saturday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Vendors will also be selling official Dream Cruise food and merchandise.
Nice ridge
Saturday: Ford Bronco Show
Ford Bronco and the Bronco Corral will be present from 10 am to 6 pm at Woodward and Oakland Park Boulevard.
Official cruise merchandise will also be available for purchase.
Pontiac
Friday: Woodward Dream Show
From 10am to 10pm on the M1 Concourse, over 600 cars in 13 classes including hot rods, race cars, muscle cars and cruisers will be on display and competing in exhibition competitions. This year, kids get in free, live music is expected, and there will be shaded seating for 1,000 guests. Also, there will be a live reveal at noon of Mobsteel’s Lincoln Coupe. Mobsteel is a design company that focuses on manufacturing automotive aftermarket products.
The show will feature more than 50 Fords dating back to 1932, nearly 30 Lincolns and Firebirds, more than 100 Corvettes and more than 50 classic American hot rods.
Judges will award Best in Class, in addition to Best in Show and People’s Choice Awards. Guests will be able to vote using a QR code. The winners will be announced at 5 pm
Ticket prices
18 and over: $50 13 to 17: $2512 and under: free
Buying a ticket includes free parking and transportation, and a better view to see the cars up close.
Activities for ticket holders
Metro Detroit rock band Vavoom will act from 15.00 to 21.00 hours. Walk with a professional through the North Loop. The M1 Concourse Paddock gives guests access to craft beers, wine and spirits and other beverages, and live music. Pit Stop Alley allows attendees to grab a bite from a variety of food trucks. It also includes seating for guests to get comfortable and enjoy the featured cars. R/C Off-Road Course allows guests to race one of 20 R/C remote control EV race cars.
Rules
Events happen rain or shine. Minors must be accompanied by an adult. Tickets are non-refundable. No outside food or drinks.
M1 Concourse is located at 1 Motorsports Drive, Pontiac.
Also on Friday, Pontiac will host a classic car show on Saginaw Street from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Saturday: Woodward Dream Parade
Car club members and guests will meet again at the M1 Concourse for the parade which starts at 8am. From 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., about 200 vehicles will cruise Woodward and downtown Pontiac. The event will open to the public around 11am in the Woodward Paddock and arena area with food trucks. The M1 Kid Zone will feature R/C cars, pedal cars and slot cars.
From noon to 7 p.m. there will be live music in the arena next to the biergarten. These events end at 8 p.m
Food and drinks can be bought on site; no outside food or drink will be allowed.
Parking for Woodward Dream Show events
A shuttle service will be provided for pick-ups and drop-offs between the Williams International car park and the M1 Concourse. Off-site parking is located at 2000 S. Opdyke Road, Pontiac.
Nearby hotels
Royal Oak Hotel: 811 E. 11 Mile Road, Royal OakDoubletree by Hilton: 39475 Woodward Ave., Bloomfield HillsEmbassy Suites by Hilton Detroit Troy, Auburn Hills: 850 Tower Drive, TroyCambria Hotel Detroit-Shelby Township: 50741 Corporateship Drive, Shelby Hotel: 298 S. Old Woodward Ave., Birmingham
Nearby restaurants
Detroit Taco Co.: 2199 Crooks Road, Troy Crispelli’s Bakery & Pizzeria: 28939 Woodward Ave., BerkleyGus’s World Famous Fried Chicken: 31105 Woodward Ave., Royal Oak Como’s: 22812 Woodward Ave., FerndaleChurward Ave., Old Woodward Ave., S .Birmingham
SMART bus and bypass options
Attendees can board a free SMART Dream Cruise from 8 Mile to Pontiac. The shuttles will operate on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Passengers can board at any RED SMART or FAST bus stop along Woodward. Masks are recommended but not mandatory.
A Snapchat filter presented by Ford will also be available.
Bus bypasses
Routes: 450, 460, FAST routes 461 and 462 will start at 8am and run until 11pm and will end and start at their usual locations.
If passengers are traveling between the State Fair Transit Center and Troy P&R, they may board or disembark at any SMART or FAST stop as long as they signal the driver.
There will be no pickup or drop off between Troy P&R and Pontiac.
The referral transfer points are:
State Fair Transit CenterRoyal Oak Transit Center 13 Mile and CoolidgeSomerset Collection- SouthDowntown PontiacAuburn Hills Meijer
The following bus lines will operate regularly: 415/420 Greenfield/Southfield, 730 10 miles, 740 12 miles, 760 13 miles, 14 miles and 780 15 miles.
INTELLIGENT The bus encourages passengers to plan ahead for their trips due to potential delays prior to the cruise and on the day of the event.
