Slogan Contest Lets Woodward Neighbors Blow Off Dream Cruise Steam

Participants in the annual Woodward Dream Cruise slogan contest at in Ferndale have until noon Wednesday to submit their best snarky saying about the classic car parade for a chance to see their words on the venue's marquee and win a ticket prize pack.

The contest is intended to give residents and business owners along the route a way to voice their frustrations with the Saturday event that is expected to attract 1.5 million visitors to a 16-mile stretch of Woodward Avenue including Ferndale, Royal Oak, Huntington Woods, Berkley, Birmingham and Bloomfield Hills.

Magic Bag owner Jeremy Haberman said that, over the years, the venue has tried a variety of ways to capitalize on the event – including booking Bo Diddley; renting out the space; and offering free movies, rockabilly shows and Beatles tribute concerts – without success.

"We realize that many residents and business owners located near the Dream Cruise are forced to flee the area, so the Magic Bag slogan contest has become a chance for them to have their voices heard," the press release says. "After many years of failing to make the best of a bad situation ... the Magic Bag decided to go in a different direction and have a little fun with it."

According to the press release, winning slogans from the past eight years have included:    

• “Redneck Traffic Jam”
• “Now filming: Teeth Gone Wild”
• “Deliverance On Wheels”
• “Well, You Can’t Hang Out At Wal-Mart All The Time”
• “For Sale – The General Lee”
• “Make Love, Not Traffic”
• “Gnats, Boils, Locusts … Dream Cruise: Exodus 8:15”
• “Auditions For Before And After Soap Commercial”

Last year's contest had more than 600 submissions Magic Bag publicist Willy Wilson said.

The contest is open to everyone; entries can be submitted via The Magic Bag’s Facebook page, Twitter account or by email at info@themagicbag.com. The winning slogan will be posted on the marquee Friday and stay up through the weekend.