BSL Depot Hosts MOPAR Annual Picnic

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 The already packed Cruisin’ the Coast schedule includes a new major event for Bay St. Louis this year, on the grounds of the historic depot.
 
- story by Lisa Monti

The MOPAR-only event brings together some of the South's finest Chrysler, Dodge and Plymouth cars and trucks, plus obsolete brands like DeSoto and Imperial.

MOPAR Day in Da Bay will bring MOPAR enthusiasts from all over the country to the Depot District on Oct. 8 for their 10th annual picnic and festival.
 
Mopar is short for “motor parts” – Chrysler motor parts, to be exact –and Dodge, Chrysler and Plymouth muscle car owners and enthusiasts have formed MOPAR clubs around the country. The MOPAR on the Coast club based in Hahnville, La., is the main host for the Bay gathering, along with the Big Easy MOPAR Association.
 
After holding their Cruisin’ celebration in Long Beach for the past nine years, the host clubs were looking to change their location.

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Photo courtesy MOPAR Day in Da Bay Facebook page

 Lonnie Falgout, executive director of the Alice Moseley Museum located in the historic depot, was instrumental in getting the MOPAR clubs to consider moving to the depot grounds. The museum, along with Hancock Tourism, the City of Bay St. Louis and the Hollywood Casino will be jointly hosting the picnic.

​ Falgout said they’ve been working for a year to bring the event here with the goal of keeping Cruisers around longer to enjoy what the Bay has to offer. They’ve committed to the Depot location through 2025. “This is great news for all Hancock County businesses and tourist attractions,” Falgout said.
 
To sweeten the deal, the Hollywood Casino hotel blocked 145 rooms and offered them at a special rate for MOPAR participants. Falgout said that in the end, 154 rooms were actually booked, each for multiple nights, as well as ten RV spots.
 
The event is free and will run from 10am to 8:30pm. The MOPAR clubs will be cooking jambalaya to feed Hancock County’s first responders and medical personnel. Local vendors will be selling food and drinks from 1 to 7pm.

 
At 4:30pm, an old-fashioned rock ‘n’ roll concert will feature local favorites the Dave Mayley Band, Joni Compretta & Baytown Groove, plus American Idol finalist Faith Becnel.
 
Organizers are asking local businesses to donate items and gift certificates as door prizes to give away every 45 minutes. Donations can be dropped off at the Mardi Gras Museum Monday through Saturday from 10am to 4pm. The deadline is Oct. 7.

The depot grounds have hosted several large and successful car events in the past, like Big Easy in the Bay, 2013