Woodward Dream Cruise - Birmingham, Michigan - Festivals on Waymarking.com

The WDC Event spans much of the avenue, from Pontiac through Ferndale in Oakland County, Michigan.

Starting in 1848, when the roadway was converted from logs to planks, young carriage drivers would race along Woodward Avenue. By 1958, the roadway was used for unofficial street racing with cars. The wide width, median and sections lacking a large commercial presence attracted a reputation for the competition. The numerous drive-ins, each with its dedicated local teenaged clientele, were also popular. Woodward also had numerous car dealerships and automobile accessory shops in the age of the muscle car which completed the formula for young adults to cruise, race and hang out along the road.

The Woodward Dream Cruise is the world's largest one-day automotive event, drawing about 1.5 million people and 40,000 classic cars each year from around the globe. Spectators can see muscle cars, street rods, custom, collector and special interest vehicles dating across several decades.

Nelson House, a plumber from Ferndale, came up with the idea for the cruise in 1994 to help raise money for a children's soccer field in his community. Organizers initially expected 30,000 or 40,000 people to come to the August 19, 1995, inaugural cruise on Woodward Avenue in Ferndale, Pleasant Ridge, Berkley, Huntington Woods, Royal Oak and Birmingham. About 250,000 actually showed up. It is now the largest single-day classic car event in the world, and brings in over $56 million annually to the Metro Detroit economy.

Although the cruise officially takes place on only one day, each year the celebration starts early in the summer with these classic vehicles brought out onto the streets in preparation, and ancillary events are scheduled in the sponsoring communities of Ferndale, Pleasant Ridge, Royal Oak, Huntington Woods, Berkley, Bloomfield Township, Bloomfield Hills, and Pontiac.

How many days does the festival last?: 1 Admission Price: 0.00 (listed in local currency) National, County, or City Festival?: County Coordinates Location:: Woodward Avenue in Birmignham, Michigan Website:: [Web Link]

Visit Instructions:
You must visit the festival at the time of the event. You must post a picture of the festival as it is going on, or a picture of a sign or banner promoting the festival.

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