Ferndale Woodward Dream Cruise Weekend

The Woodward Dream Cruise History

Beginning in 1994, Ferndale resident, Nelson House, reflected back into time, looking for a creative way to raise funds for a children’s soccer field. He remembered the summer nights, during the ‘50s and ‘60s, when young adults would be driving their American-made cars eager to be scene cruising along Woodward Avenue.”

With a determination to make a difference, Mr. House and a group of volunteers created the Woodward Dream Cruise Car Show in the summer of 1995. They estimated a number of 30,000 to 40,000 spectators and car enthusiasts would attend, but to their surprise an estimated 250,000 strong appeared.

Since then, the phenomenon of the Woodward Dream Cruise has grown into a sixteen mile radius of Oakland County, involving nine suburban communities— Ferndale, Pleasant Ridge, Royal Oak, Huntington Woods, Berkley, Birmingham, Bloomfield Township, Bloomfield Hills, and Pontiac. It is now one enormous car show, plus live classic rock ‘n’ roll and fun festivities for the entire family.

The reputation of the Woodward Dream Cruise has spread beyond the Detroit metropolitan area and the state of Michigan, when news of an increasing amount of inquiries comes from across the United States and abroad. Growing numbers of visitors to the Woodward Dream Cruise web site spark postings from countries around the globe.

What began as a fundraiser for a field of dreams is now an automotive institution. The Woodward Dream Cruise has grown from a car buffs’ dream to the biggest car cruise event in the world. It attracts over 1 million people and 40,000 classic cars. It remains a family-friendly, grand celebration of the car culture of the ‘50s and ‘60s.

As the founding city, Ferndale is proud to host plenty of festive atmospheric fun for all to enjoy: The Emergency Vehicle Show, Lights & Sirens Cruise, Classic Car Show, Mustang Alley and the official Woodward Dream Cruise Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. Within all of this, we will also have the Kids Play Zone, the Cruiz’n Food Court­­, the Beehive Contest and live entertainment— all this throughout the third weekend in August.

For continuous updates, go on-line: www.FerndaleDreamCruise.com

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The City of Ferndale, Michigan
300 East Nine Mile Road
Ferndale, Michigan  48220
(248) 546-2525
City Hall Hours:
Monday - Thursday 8:00am - 5:30pm
Closed Fridays