Bowties by the Beach
By Chuck Vranas – Images by the Author
For diehard Chevy owners there’s nothing finer than rolling open the garage door after a long winter of wrenching on your ride to welcome another season of amazing weather and the opportunity to burn plenty of high-octane fuel. To take it up yet another notch, add in the promise of plenty of sun and surf combined with the opportunity to hang out with an endless stream of high-horsepower rides for a fun-filled weekend and you’re destined for muscle car nirvana. If you dig hopped-up Bowties packing everything from huffed big-blocks to turbocharged LS engines and everything in between, then the 33rd Annual Cruisin’ Ocean City in Maryland is your promised land. This picturesque little seaside community was the place to be May 16-19, 2024, along with well-over 3,000 registered car and truck owners rolling into town to cruise the 10-mile strip and check out just what makes this event so very cool.
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Picture the sight of miles of manicured beaches with the echoing sounds of surf complemented by plenty of old-school amusement rides and arcades while the hypnotic scent of numerous food vendors brings you back to days gone by. After picking up your credentials at the convention center, it’s a short drive down the strip to the “Inlet” which serves as the epicenter for the weekend’s festivities. With the ability to accommodate up to 1,500 vehicles, it’s the perfect place to check out many of the region’s most-wicked muscle cars, hot rods, customs, and classic trucks packed with all the right goods, making them truly stand out under the sun. With a jam-packed event schedule, you’ll find plenty of exciting mini events happening across the strip throughout the weekend, so parking turns over regularly, allowing everyone a chance to stop in and visit. One of the most coveted tickets of the weekend is getting a chance to participate in the early morning cruise down the historic boardwalk while being cheered on by legions of enthusiasts lining the route.
But wait, there’s even more to check out, like the numerous mini events in the area at a number of venues, including ones at the convention center, Grand Prix, Seacrets, Northside Pit & Pub, Green Turtle, Jay’s Café, Gold Coast Mall, and Papi’s Tacos, to name but a few. The team at Cruisin’ always strives to bring plenty of great entertainment and celebrities to the party and this year it was an amazing get-together starting with comedian and true automotive enthusiast, Jay Leno, performing live on stage. There was also a 50th anniversary of Happy Days with Anson Williams and Donny Most as well as custom car builder Chuck Miller showcasing both the Red Baron and Bugs Buggy iconic show cars for visitors to enjoy.
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While most events call it quits by the end of the day, at Cruisin’ it’s time to top off your tank, grab a bite, and head out on the ’strip while endless crowds line the sidewalks to check it all out well into the night. The promoters generate even more excitement with numerous trophy award ceremonies and scheduled entertainment. This is one show that always reaches capacity well in advance, so plan ahead for next year!
You can check it all out at specialeventpro.com.
