Jeep lovers, just like Nick and Mariah Stewart of Biloxi, were in heaven as they converged on the Mississippi Gulf Coast to be a part of the Fifth Annual Jeepin’ The Coast.
     “It’s a great thing for the Coast to do and for the out-of-towners,” said Mariah, who, along with her husband, Nick, has attended the event every year. “This is the biggest turnout with great weather.”
     A signature line up of events happening June 1-5 attracted the couple and thousands of others from all over to take part in this year’s 2022 Jeepin’ The Coast festivities that started with a kick-off party at Champion Jeep in Gulfport, where folks gathered in the parking lot to hear music, eat food, and take part in giveaways galore.
     Jeep Central, along Jeff Davis Avenue, in Long Beach was a hot spot, where vendors made up a Vendor Village, and a Scavenger Hunt took place. A Party in the Pass, along Davis Avenue, in Pass Christian featured music by Ryan Foret & Foret Traditions. A “Lightin’ The Night” light and sound competition sponsored by Oracle Lighting, and “Shakin’ the Streets” sponsored by DS18, were part of the evening festivities. And an After Party with live entertainment followed at Tripletails in Bay St. Louis.

     Other Jeepin’ The Coast events included a Poker Run, a Beach Crawl sponsored by 228 Customs where hundreds of jeeps cruised the sandy beaches of Bay St. Louis and Long Beach, as well as a Friday Night concert with entertainment from 3C Band, and yet another After Party at Tripletails in Bay St. Louis, along with a  Block Party held at Jeep Central which included a Jeep Only Mardi Gras style parade, a Show & Shine Jeep Show, and a Concert in the Streets featuring Category 6.
     Jeepers concluded the event in Bay St. Louis, at Anita’s Bar, where they celebrated a “See Ya Later Sunday” party and cruised Highway 90 together, following up and ending the excitement at Coastal Daquiri in Long Beach.

     If you are a Jeep lover, this was an event you did not want to miss. Jeeps were everywhere on the beautiful Mississippi Gulf Coast as it was taken over by the Jeep Community which includes locals, as well as those who traveled out of state from neighboring Louisiana, Texas, Tennessee, Alabama, and Florida. Other Jeep owners came from Missouri and Indiana, just to name a few. Jeepin’ The Coast was canceled in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, however, in 2021, the event tripled in growth.
     This year, the entire five-day event brought 10,000 or more people. A portion of the proceeds goes to C4AC, Costumes For A Cause, which is a local charity to help families affected by cancer.
     Staci Montana, from Flowood, Miss., and Faith Uebler, from Saucier, were busy selling official Jeepin’ The Coast merchandise in support of the cause in which sales reflected growth in just one year, according to Staci.
     President of Jeepin’ The Coast is Jennifer Moran. Staci said, “Jennifer’s goal for Jeepin’ The Coast is that the Mississippi Gulf Coast is highlighted and brings in people which does great things for the Gulf Coast. “Jennifer has the biggest heart, and her goal is to help local entrepreneurs and business owners thrive. “People from neighboring states inject into the local economy and is doing best to spread to Coastal counties by holding events in most of the Coastal cities.”

     Jared Knight, from Lafayette, who moved from Alaska, was spotted in the Jeep Crawl in his jeep as a “first-timer.” He was among hundreds of jeepers, near and far, who lined up for the procession along Highway 90 to excite onlookers and fellow jeep enthusiasts.
     Shelli Chiasson, from Bay St. Louis, bought her 2021 Jeep Gladiator only a month prior to the event and was super excited to join in the fun. It was also her first time at Jeepin’ the Coast.
     “I love the event,” Chiasson said. “It brings in a lot of people from neighboring states to our hometown which helps us show the hospitality of our state.”
     Event organizer Kim Farve, from Saucier, said, “A lot of people came from all over including Wisconsin, Louisiana, and even Illinois. It helps with tourism and local businesses are a great support.
“Vendor Village is unbelievable this year. There are over 50 vendors from all over the country.”
     Vendor Village was held in Jeep Central which included vendors with a variety of services, including locally owned businesses. Among those vendors included Kona Ice, Scuba Steve, Amplified Designs, Patriot Customz, and General Tire.

     There were plenty of smiles on faces as people walked around the kid-friendly, family-oriented, and even pet-friendly event, and enjoyed seeing all varieties of jeeps, in all different colors and styles.
     Michael and Hannah Doyle, along with their children, Eli and Hayden, all from Hattiesburg, were one of the families spotted at the event. When Hannah was asked what she thought of the event she stated that it was “family-friendly.”
     CC Allen, and Ella Bourland, both of Long Beach, were enjoying the event with their dogs, “Bouy and Kali,” proving that even pets are welcome.
     And what better way to cool off than having a snow cone from Kona Ice, as Gigi and Marius Tent, from Pass Christian, enjoyed as they walked around Vendor Village. “This is my second time at Jeepin’ The Coast, and it’s nice with a lot of people having a good time,” said Marius.

     Local business owner of Scuba Steve Clothing Company, Steve Johnson, said, “This is one of the biggest events and is growing each year. The atmosphere is amazing, and I am glad to be a part of it.” Steve goes on to say, “I came in 2019 and now it’s like, wow! It’s like Disneyworld for Jeeps.”
     At the General Motors tent, Angie McCreary, St. James, Mo., said, “This is a great event. People are friendly and the event is very well put together.”
     Another vendor in Village Vendor was Amplified Designs and owner, Kyle Wardwell, of Slidell, said, “This is my first time at the event, and I love how it brings a lot to the community in a positive way.”
     Patriot Customz, a Veteran-owned and family-operated business, was yet another vendor participating in this year’s Jeepin’ The Coast. “This is our first year, and we will be back if they will have us,” said Sabrina Anderson, owner of Patriot Customz, along with her husband, Jason Anderson, both from Lynchburg, Tenn. Sabrina goes on to say, “This is an amazing event. I love seeing the jeep people come out and show support for one another. I also love seeing everyone happy and having a good time.”
     Shelli and Kristie Bobinger, from Madison, Miss., were also seen enjoying the event. “We come every year, and we love it,” Shelli said.
     Volunteer Karla Pope, from Saucier, said of the event, “Jeepin’ is a great sense of community.”
     For more information about Jeepin’ The Coast or to register to participate in next year’s event planned for May 31-June 4, 2023, visit www.jeepinthecoast.com.

On the cover: Karla Pope and Kim Farve, both of Saucier, participate in this year’s Fifth Annual Jeepin’ The Coast.

Ashley Prima

Author, Public Speaker, Multimedia Journalist, Publisher, Writing Consultant, Blogger, and Podcast Host.