Your guide to the 2023 Woodward Dream Cruise: What you need to know

Table Of Content

• Huntington is proud to present the 9th annual Cruise In Shoes 5K Run/Walk
• Huel Perkins, other Detroit icons cast their hands in cement
• GALLERY: Start your engines! It's time for the 2023 Woodward Dream Cruise
• How far will the car parade stretch? 📍
• Will there be construction during the Woodward Dream Cruise?
• Local man showcases restored 1972 Pontiac Firebird at the Woodward Dream Cruise

The first year brought in 250,000 people and has grown each year since then. Auto enthusiasts from all over the world, including New Zealand, Japan and Australia, flock to the cruise annually for a taste of car history in Michigan. Rest assured, traffic won't be an issue on Woodward during the Dream Cruise.

Huntington is proud to present the 9th annual Cruise In Shoes 5K Run/Walk

Street parking is another option but take note of time restrictions and costs to avoid tickets and/or towing. Busses will also run their normal routes, except for those on the parade route which will run on a detour. These busses will still pass by and stop in the communities along the parade route, but will avoid Woodward Avenue.

Huel Perkins, other Detroit icons cast their hands in cement

Over 1.5 million vintage enthusiasts from around the world attend the annual procession as cars honk and drive down Woodward Ave. The Cruise brings about 1.5 million people and 40,000 classic cars to the area each summer. Starting as early as Thursday, car enthusiasts will crowd Woodward and surrounding communities to showcase their wheels. Parking will be very limited in communities along the parade route, so allow for some extra time and patience. Parking can be found at lots and structures in Ferndale, Royal Oak, Birmingham and Pontiac, space permitting.

GALLERY: Start your engines! It's time for the 2023 Woodward Dream Cruise

We're revving our engines, getting ready for the cruise. In addition to the photo galleries, videos, and news you'll find here, watch for live coverage Dream Cruise week on 7 Action News. In the more populated areas, especially in Royal Oak, there are porta johns along Woodward Avenue.

At M1 Concourse, over 600 cars in 13 classes including  hot rods, race cars, muscle cars and cruisers will be on display and compete in exhibition competitions. This year, kids will get in free, live music is expected and there will be shaded seating for 1,000 guests. In addition, there will be a live reveal about noon of Mobsteel's Lincoln Coupe. Mobsteel is a design company that focuses on manufacturing automotive aftermarket products. We just spent the entire day in and around the Motor City enjoying the automotive sights and sounds of the Woodward Dream Cruise. And if you couldn't be there this year in person, perhaps our galleries from this year's festivities are the next best thing.

The Dream Cruise is one of the largest outdoor automotive events in the world, drawing more than 1.5 million people and 40,000 classic cars from around the world. It links together nine cities on America’s oldest highway. We kicked things off up above with muscle cars, classics and hot rods, since those make up the largest part of the collection. Everything from pre-war American cars to 1960s fire-breathers and custom-built street machines are included in the gallery up top. Many of the communities along the route will also have their own city-specific events for residents to attend.

Woodward Dream Cruise 2023 roars through town - Detroit Free Press

Woodward Dream Cruise 2023 roars through town.

Posted: Sat, 19 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

The cruise runs along a 16-mile route through Berkley, Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Bloomfield Township, Ferndale, Huntington Woods, Royal Oak, Pleasant Ridge and Pontiac in Oakland County. At WDIV, we are committed to informing and delighting our audience. In our commitment to covering our communities with innovation and excellence, we incorporate Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies to enhance our news gathering, reporting, and presentation processes. Read our article to see how we are using Artificial Intelligence. Police departments from each community patrol on foot, horseback and vehicles during the Cruise to ensure a safe and family-friendly environment for everyone.

Despite road construction in the area during the summer, the event will not be affected. Experience Race Speed Track Experience (RSTEs) where you can can take a lap with a professional driver on the M1 Concourse Circuit. The Woodward Dream Parade is an escorted parade of 200 invited cars that will be cruising on Woodward Avenue and in downtown Pontiac.

WXYZ-TV (Channel 7) and WOMC-FM  (104.3) will be broadcasting live from Birmingham. On Friday and Saturday at West 12 Mile, official Woodward Dream Cruise merchandise will be available for purchase all day. Ride shares like Lyft and Uber are another option for spectators looking to avoid driving and parking. Fans can also hop on a MoGo bike with MoGo stations available throughout Woodward Avenue from Downtown Detroit to Berkley.

Hot rod, custom, cruiser, and muscle car show displayed around the M1 Circuit. Featured classes include the 70th anniversary of Corvette, MOPAR, and Ramchargers 65th anniversary. There are no fees to cruise in the event or to watch. Anyone can participate although, those not driving a classic car are asked to stay out of the two right lanes nearest to the curb. Attendees can hop on a free SMART dream cruise shuttle from 8 Mile to Pontiac.

A team of amateur radio operators also serve as additional “eyes and ears” of law enforcement officials along the Cruise route. The Woodward Dream Cruise is an alcohol-free, family-oriented event. As public safety is paramount, cruisers are asked to obey all rules of the road.

The parade runs northbound along the entire course of Woodward Ave. from Ferndale to Pontiac. Those not participating in the parade are asked to avoid the right two lanes near the curbs. They come out to cruise Woodward every year for the Dream Cruise with this '46 Chevy truck. We love to see all the great family moments happening along the avenue today. During the Woodward Dream Cruise, the SMART Shuttle will be free for everyone who wants to ride. People can catch a ride at any of the SMART RED or FAST bus stops from Eight Mile Road to Pontiac.

Because of the parade’s central route on Woodward, many of the communities that the parade passes through will also be holding their own events in addition to the parade. While the entire parade runs for 12 hours, guests can come and go on their own time. We recommend bringing law chairs, sunblock, water and snacks. Classic cars can get very loud, so anyone sensitive to extreme noises should also pack ear plugs. The event takes place on Woodward Avenue, which spans nine cities and is revered as the "Main Street of America" for car enthusiasts.

The Performance Park Classic Car Show will continue from 8 a.m. Mustang Alley will take place with Ford Motor Co. from 10 a.m. With the entrance starting at Hilton Road at  East Nine Mile Road. Pre-registration is closed but vehicles not pre-registered can enter at about 10 a.m.

The construction on Woodward Avenue from Eight Mile Road to Oakridge Street will pause for the event. To view the official map for the event, visit here. The Woodward Dream Cruise was founded in 1995 and goes through nine Oakland County communities along 16 miles of Woodward Avenue. The event will happen on Saturday, Aug. 19, from 9 a.m. Learn more about the Woodward Dream Cruise at the official event website.