(WWJ) It's the world's best-looking traffic jam.
Hot rods and classic cars are flooding Woodward Avenue ahead of this weekend's Woodward Dream Cruise, which draws thousands of people from all over the U.S. and the world to metro Detroit.
The Motor City-area tradition is back this year, after a year-hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2021 Woodward Dream Cruise is sponsored by the Ford Motor Company, with WWJ's sister station WOMC — as usual — one of the media partners.
In what's billed as the world’s largest one-day auto event, an estimated 75,000 classic cars will roll down Woodward Ave. this Saturday, August 21 during the officials cruise from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
But plenty of people are lining the Avenue in lawn chairs as we speak to get a glimpse of the classics out for an early drive.
Among those already out there on Friday was Dennis Denyur of Lake Orion, who told WWJ's Charlie Langton it's like the best car show in the world.
"We sit here and the cars come to us! What more could you ask?" Denyur said. "...They're all fascinating."
The Cruise covers nine cities: Ferndale (home of Mustang Alley), Huntington Woods, Pleasant Ridge, Berkley, Royal Oak, Birmingham, Bloomfield Township, Bloomfield Hills and Pontiac.
Cruise organizers encourage visitors to download the Parkstash app, which allows you to book parking spots in advance—according to the website. It connects visitors with parking spots at churches, hotels, and even residences in the area. Municipal parking will also be available but is often hard to come by. More information on Parkstash and parking here.
FAQs about visiting the Dream Cruise here.
Related
Related
Something to keep in mind: The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office has been given temporary traffic control to restrict commercial traffic on Woodward on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The control prohibits commercial vehicles, vehicles with trailers and any vehicle weighing more than 10,000 lbs. from driving on Woodward from The Loop in Pontiac to Eight Mile Road in Ferndale during that time.
"The Dream Cruise is an iconic Oakland County tradition,” Sheriff Michael Bouchard said. “In an effort to keep the focus on classic cars and, most importantly to do all we can to keep the spectators safe, we have these temporary vehicle restrictions in place for the Woodward Dream Cruise. We look forward to the crowds joining us for another day of making classic memories.”
Signs will be placed along Woodward, and on freeway message boards, advising of the restrictions. Those who violate the order will be directed to leave Woodward and face a ticket.
The Dream Cruise started in 1995 as a fundraiser for a soccer field in Ferndale. The event drew in nearly a quarter million people in the first year, more than 10 times what they expected. More on the history here.
Happy Cruising!