For over two decades, the Tupelo Blue Suede Cruise (BSC) has been a haven for classic car enthusiasts in the South on the first weekend of May. Set in the picturesque birthplace of Elvis Presley, Tupelo, Mississippi, this event is a one-of-a-kind fusion of a laid-back car show and a community get-together. The heart of the show is the Cadence Bank Arena parking lot, boasting 1,100 parking spaces. In 2024, BSC saw an almost sellout of 1,090 registered cars, leaving a significant positive economic impact on the community.
BSC is the brainchild of local car guru Allen McDaniel, who attended Cruisin’ The Coast and thought North Mississippi needed something similar to what they had down south. A few phone calls later, they were off to the races. McDaniel’s goal for the first year was 300 vehicles, which they met and haven’t looked back since. BSC is an all-volunteer organization comprised of individuals and car clubs such as North Mississippi Cruisers, Gumtree Mustangs, and the North Mississippi Corvette Club.
A few things have made BSC a favorite for the past 21 years: a car show, car cruise, car corral, car parade, concert, games, and contests. Initially, the show included a swap meet, but the growth of the car show necessitated more space, so it unfortunately had to be discontinued.
Indeed, BSC is a celebration of all things classic, welcoming all cars from 1999 or older. However, the event also makes room for some modern muscle, including popular models like Corvettes, Camaros, T-Birds, Firebirds, Mustangs, Challengers, Chargers, Monte Carlo SS, Chevy SS454 pickups, Ford Lightning pickups, Vipers, and Prowlers. This inclusive approach ensures that the event caters to a diverse range of car enthusiasts.
The BSC Difference
Unlike most car shows, BSC is more like a Rod Run of the past or a cruise-in. Indeed, BSC is as much about the camaraderie between the people as it is about the cars themselves. Each participant pays either a $40 pre- or $50 on-site registration, which includes a welcome packet with their Blue Suede CARd, a dash plaque, and a windshield sticker with their registration number.
Vehicles are not judged; there are no trophies aside from one or two special awards. Participants are encouraged to drive their classics, and the incentive is cash. Instead of trophies, BSC gives away cash door prizes. Specifically, they gave away $12,500 in 2024 in $500 increments! To be eligible for the cash giveaways, participants had to drive their registered vehicle to get their Blue Suede CARd stamped at least five of six different sites around town. On Sunday morning, they put their card in the drawing barrel. It’s a great way to bring attention to the collector car hobby, as classics are all over town on Saturday.
Blue Suede Friday
After working a couple of hours, I headed down Highway 78 from the Edelbrock Group headquarters in Olive Branch. The weather forecast was not favorable, with the forecasters calling for rain throughout the weekend, starting around noon on Friday. The clouds and radar were telling the same story, and I wanted to beat the line of storms to Tupelo.
I arrived around 11:30 to register without a drop hitting the windshield for the 1.5-hour drive. The party had already started without me at 8:00 a.m. There were so many cars that I had difficulty finding a parking spot when I entered the lot. Despite the daunting skies above at times, it never rained the entire weekend. In fact, one couldn’t have asked for a more pleasant weekend with warm temps and a nice breeze.
KOTO was already cranked up, playing the greatest music hits from the ‘50s, ‘60s, and ‘70s. All day long, they sold 50/50 tickets, which can be a substantial windfall for the winner. At 4:00 p.m., there was a poker walk, during which registrants drew a card at five stations around the grounds to make their best poker hand. The winner is revealed on Sunday and receives one of the $500 prizes.
At 7:00 p.m., the 50/50 winner was revealed at the DJ trailer before everyone made their way inside the Cadence Arena for a concert. This year, the band was a terrific Eagles tribute band, playing the best from the band and other greats from the ‘70s.
BSC Saturday
I arrived early on Saturday to get a good spot near my friends’ tent to catch the cars coming in from the parade at 9:30. Alan and Amy Hutcheson donated their $500 winnings from the previous year to sponsor the parade down Gloucester Street, which started about three miles away. It’s always an excellent opportunity to take pictures as the cars return to the BSC grounds.
The event’s highlight started at 11:00 when the card stamping sites opened. Some left immediately, while others waited. The entire route took around an hour, and the sites closed at 3:00. I followed a few of my friends around, and we almost left it too late, finishing the route with just 15 minutes to spare, but we had a blast.
The stops included Elvis’s birthplace, the Natchez Trace Visitor’s Center, and sponsor businesses, including TAG Truck Center, Carlock Auto Toyota Dealership, Raising Canes Chicken Fingers, and BNA Bank. We received lots of thumbs-ups and toots of the horn.
The rest of the day was spent checking out all the fantastic cars and talking with friends. Again, at 7:00, the 50/50 winner for the day was announced before the band cranked up again to play some tunes from Creedence Clearwater Revival.
Sunday Finale
Sunday is a short day at BSC. I arrived to meet my friends while KOTO appropriately played gospel music from Elvis. The day’s first order was to make sure you put your CARd in the barrel. At 10:00, BSC chairman Allen McDaniel thanked everyone for coming, especially despite the weather forecast, which never came to fruition.
Before they started drawing names out of the barrel, BSC gave away the Carol Bryant Memorial Award; he was the go-to mechanic for many in the Tupelo area. The award went to a ‘55 Chevy. The second trophy was for Best in Show, given to Twin States Rod Shop for a gorgeous black ‘60s Corvette. They also received $1,000 for their efforts.
After the awards were given, they started pulling names one by one. Obviously, participants had to be on-site to receive the money. Twenty-five people, including two in my group, went home $500 richer. I’d say that was a good day!
If you are a car enthusiast, you should put the Blue Suede Cruise on your bucket list for next year. Mark the first weekend in May and head on down to Tupelo, Mississippi. You won’t be disappointed. Just make sure to preregister, as it’s sure to sell out in 2025!
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