The Woodward Dream Cruise is upon us -- you have probably already seen people setting up lawn chairs along Woodward Ave to catch a glimpse of the occasional classic car driving down among the Focuses, Minis and Town & Countries. Whether the sight and sound of those cars gives you a thrill or a chill, we have your guide to The Woodward Dream Cruise right here!
If you're new to town, here is a brief background on The Woodward Dream Cruise (or just "the Dream Cruise"): back in "the day" (1950s/1960s), driving up and down Woodward Avenue was a classic pasttime, particularly for teens. They'd call out to one another, stop at drive-in diners, and just do some l-i-v-i-n', to borrow a phrase from Dazed and Confused. In 1995, according to the official Woodward Dream Cruise website:
Nelson House and a group of volunteers looked to relive and recreate the nostalgic heydays of the 50s and 60s, when youth, music and Motor City steel roamed Woodward Avenue, America’s first highway. That year, 250,000 people participated—nearly ten times the number expected. The rest, as they say, is history.
Today, the Woodward Dream Cruise is the world’s largest one-day automotive event, drawing 1.5 million people and 40,000 classic cars each year from around the globe—from as far away as New Zealand, Australia, Japan and the former Soviet Union. North American cruisers from California, Georgia, Canada and all points in between caravan to Metro Detroit to participate in what has become, for many, an annual rite of summer.
Note that we are only including events we think are of interest to families. There are a ton of other things going on at local bars and with local radio stations, so feel free to check out all of the official events at WoodwardDreamCruise.com!
Family Fun Events
- Friday, August 17:
- Berkley Cruisefest:
- Kids' Inflatable Zone at 12 Mile & Tyler from 6-9 p.m.
- Games, Prizes and Fun at 12 Mile & Griffith from 6-9 p.m. (sponsored by DTE)
- Food Court at 12 Mile & Robina and downtown Business District from 6-9 p.m.
- CruiseFest Classic Car Parade on 12 Mile between Coolidge and Greenfield at 6:30 p.m. (runs approx 1 hour)
- Ferndale Dream Cruise:
- Kids' Play Zone on Nine Mile Rd. West of Woodward from 12-8 p.m.
- 18th Annual Ferndale Emergency Vehicle Show on 9 Mile east of Woodward from 1-8 pm. An exhibit of classic, restored, custom and current ambulance, police and fire vehicles. Free aerial lifts on the Ferndale Fire Department's aerial platform truck all day.
- Lights & Sirens Cruise at 5:30 p.m. starting at E. Nine Mile at Woodward; runs to 11 Mile Rd and back
- Berkley Cruisefest:
- Saturday, August 18:
- Official Woodward Dream Cruise day. Hang out on Woodward and watch the cars drive by.
- Kids Play Zone at the Ferndale Dream Cruise (Nine Mile Rd) from 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. along with live music and downtown shopping.
- 104.3 WOMC Family Fun Zone at Pioneer Park in Royal Oak (Woodward and Balmoral, near 13 1/2 mile) from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Includes Ford Display, DJ, games, photo booth, Clowns & Face Painting and more for the kids!
- FREE shuttle service from SMART: see the Woodward Dream Cruise from one of SMART’s new, air-conditioned buses. Don’t worry about parking, gas or driving because SMART handles it all. Get on and off anywhere along the route. Here are the SMART facts:
- SMART Dream Cruise shuttle is FREE to all riders.
- Approximately 18 buses will operate along Woodward Avenue from 8 Mile to downtown Pontiac from 11:00 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Passengers can board at any RED SMART or FAST bus stop along Woodward Avenue.
- SMART buses shuttle will run through nine communities along 16 miles of Woodward Avenue.
- All buses are wheelchair accessible and equipped with bike racks.
Family Fun Alternatives
- Thursday, August 16:
- Recreation on the Move in Southfield
- Friday, August 17:
- Little Free Library Ribbon Cutting at Grant Park in Royal Oak
- Back to School Bash in Madison Heights
- Saturday, August 18:
- Stroller Workout in Ferndale
- All weekend:
Dream Cruise Parking
Park at Gunn Dyer park and a portion of your $10 fee will benefit the Royal Oak Nature Society. The park is located at the corner of Chester and Hampton, which is 1 block east of Woodward and just north of Memorial Park at Woodward and 13 Mile Rd.
More info and maps here.
Parks and Playgrounds Along the Route
Want to be near the action but still have some play fun? Check out these Woodward-adjacent options:
- Memorial Park in Royal Oak (13 and Woodward), which will also have a food court during the day on Saturday August 16.
- Poppleton Park (between Maple and Big Beaver off Woodward in Birmingham)
- Booth Park (off Old Woodward Ave in Birmingham)
Dream Cruise Info
Use #WoodwardDreamCruise or #WDC on social media
Follow @OfficialWDC on Twitter
Tips
- Don't forget that all vehicles with trailers are prohibited from driving on Woodward between 8 Mile to the Pontiac Loop from 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. on Saturday, August 18.
- If you go, keep an eye on the weather! A few storms have ripped through in the past. Be prepared!
- Make sure to stay hydrated if it ends up being a hot day. While there will be plenty of places purveying bottled water, save and be green by bringing your own water bottles along.
- Be safe! Traffic on Woodward gets a little weird during the day with a mix of slow, old cars and regular cars just looking to get to their destination. At night, some people like to try and race down the strip. Biking or walking are good options, but keep alert!
- Call ahead. Many businesses change their hours or close altogether during the Dream Cruise. For instance, Inn Season Cafe in Royal Oak schedules annual maintenance for this weekend.
- Enjoy! This has become one of the nation's largest events of its kind, and even the famous Mark Wahlberg has publicly stated his fondness for the Woodward Dream Cruise
- Make friends with people who live near the route and who host barbeques. ;) Sitting in the backyard with a soda or other beverage and a hot dog while the kids play is one of the best ways to enjoy this event!
If you find fun around town this weekend, let us know! Post a pic on our Facebook page, tag @mackidferndale on Instagram, or tweet us with what you recommend families check out -- or what you recommend families stay away from!
