Get ready to rumble, Oakland County! The world’s largest one-day automotive celebration, The Woodward Dream Cruise, is rolling back into town Saturday, August 18th. Travel along the 16-mile stretch of Woodward Avenue from Pontiac to Ferndale, and cruise through nine Oakland County communities: Berkley, Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Bloomfield Township, Ferndale, Huntington Woods, Pleasant Ridge, Pontiac and Royal Oak.
Check out our video from past Dream Cruises for a sneak peek at what’s to come:
The Dream Cruise is a free family-friendly event that has plenty to offer car owners, auto enthusiasts, and fans of all ages. Spectators can line up along the cruising route or even cruise with the classics, although those not driving a classic car are asked to stay out of the two right lanes to keep a clear view for the spectators. There will also be many restaurants and pop-up events scattered across the cruising route. In addition, bands and musicians will perform on the Rock’n Live Entertainment Stage all three days of the cruise in Ferndale and a Kid’s Inflatable Zone will be available in Berkley.
A Brief History
In August 1995, the Woodward Dream Cruise started as a small fundraiser to raise money for a soccer field in Ferndale, Michigan, but has expanded into the world’s largest one-day classic car celebration! Volunteers expected around 25,000 attendees the first year, but over 250,000 people participated! Today, the Dream Cruise brings in over 1.5 million people and 40,000 classic cars from around the world to Oakland County.
Cruising Dates
The Woodward Dream Cruise is technically a one day event that takes place annually on the third Saturday in August from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. This year, the cruise is planned for Saturday, August 18th, although you’ll find the celebration of classic cars spans the entire weekend and even includes the days leading up to it.
Thursday, August 16th
- Classic & Cruis’n Legends Vehicle Show: 1:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Friday, August 17th
- Berkley Cruisefest: 6:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
- Pontiac Car Show: 11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
- Royal Oak Performance Park Classic Car Show: 12:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, August 18th
- Birmingham Cruise Event: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
- Bloomfield Township Classic Car Show & Bill Wells Car Club Classic: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
- 20th Annual Mustang Alley Show: 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
- Pontiac Car Show: 11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
- Performance Park Classic Car Show: 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
- Royal Oak Classic Car Show at Northwood Shopping Center: 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
For a list of all the activities and events present at the Woodward Dream Cruise, visit their master list of events here.
Visit the Dream Cruise on their website, like them on Facebook, or follow them on Twitter.
Interested in more car shows and cruises? Check out our master list of Oakland County car events.
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This is a spectacular event! I just bought a vintage car and I still need a lot of fixing to do and be able to use it for this kind of events. Do they accept non-Oakland residents? It would take me 3hours to travel from where I live. Is this a yearly event? I hope I can catch up next year.
Hi Tristan, we agree, it is spectacular! Car enthusiasts come from all over the world for this event – everyone is welcome. The Woodward Dream Cruise takes place each year on the third Saturday in August. Take a look at their website for more details: http://www.woodwarddreamcruise.com. Good luck restoring your vintage car!