Metro Detroit's biggest annual chrome-and-engine spectacle returns next Saturday, when the Woodward Dream Cruise takes over a 16-mile stretch from Ferndale to Pontiac. The all-day event is expected to bring more than 1 million spectators and upward of 40,000 classic cars, muscle cars, street rods and custom rides to Oakland County.
There is no admission charge for spectators, and the official Woodward Dream Cruise guide says the event runs from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. across nine communities: Ferndale, Pleasant Ridge, Huntington Woods, Royal Oak, Berkley, Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Bloomfield Township and Pontiac.
A preview from The Metro Detroit News shows that the main cruise is only part of the weekend, with community car shows, parades, food vendors, children's activities and live entertainment planned before and during Saturday's procession.
Friday Kickoff Brings Sirens, Parades And Movie Night
Ferndale gets the early jump next Friday with an emergency vehicle show, a ribbon-cutting ceremony and the Lights & Sirens Cruise Parade at 5:30 p.m., according to the Ferndale Dream Cruise schedule. The city's Nine Mile Road area will also feature food, vendors, a kids play zone and live music.
Berkley will roll out its own kickoff with the CruiseFest Classic Car Parade at 6:30 p.m. on 12 Mile Road, followed by live music and a screening of The Sandlot, the City of Berkley says. It is a slightly more neighborhood-block-party approach to the cruise, with fewer roaring engines and more reasons to claim a spot on the sidewalk early.
Royal Oak And Birmingham Offer Saturday Viewing Stops
Royal Oak's Car Show in the Park runs through Saturday at Memorial Park, while Birmingham's cruise event is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with classic cars, sponsor displays, retail vendors and food, according to the official event calendar. Ferndale's Mustang Alley and Bronco Corral will also run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. near Woodward and Nine Mile.
Parking is available in municipal lots and garages near downtown Ferndale, Birmingham, Royal Oak and Pontiac, but the official parking guide warns that spaces closest to the action can fill quickly. With the route cutting through nine cities, arriving early or choosing one viewing area instead of trying to conquer all 16 miles may save visitors from spending the day trapped in their own automotive maze.
Free SMART Shuttles Will Run From Ferndale To Pontiac
For visitors who would rather watch the cars than crawl alongside them, free SMART shuttle buses will operate next Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. along Woodward, according to the Dream Cruise transportation details.
Riders can board at any red SMART or FAST stop along the route and travel between Ferndale and downtown Pontiac without hunting for a parking space. The buses are wheelchair accessible and equipped with bike racks, making transit one of the few ways to move through the event without having to negotiate every lane of Woodward yourself.
A Ferndale Fundraiser Became A Metro Detroit Tradition
The Dream Cruise began in 1995 as a fundraiser for a Ferndale soccer field and grew into one of the world's largest one-day automotive gatherings. Organizers say official merchandise and refreshments also benefit more than 50 local charities each year, keeping the event tied to the communities that line Woodward.
That combination of spectacle and neighborhood programming is what brings the cruise back every August: a little automotive history, a lot of noise and enough chrome to make the entire corridor look freshly polished.
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