THE DRAGGING THE GUT   FESTIVAL

Join us for the ninth year of re-living the old days of cruising like "American Graffiti" on McMinnville's famous Main Street during the big nights of cruising, Friday & Saturday, August 24-25, 2018,  5 p.m. to Midnight.  

 

An unofficial night on Thursday for a no-host, no-frills Kick-off Cruise suggested start at 7 p.m. Don't expect much on Thursday, just warming up the street if you want. No music, no festival programs, no food drive. Nothing but cars like the old days. It's just an extra night g you want, might just be local car guys.

 

It's all an open street with ALL NORMAL LAWS ON IN FORCE. Please drive carefully, thanks!



Dragging the Gut ended as a regular activity when it was banned in 1988 by the McMinnville City Council.  

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In 2010 Dragging the Gut made a comeback starting with the creation of the Facebook group "I Dragged the Gut in Downtown McMinnville." The page was created to reminisce about the old cruising days, but soon took off and soon one thousand people joined the group. The first festival took place on October 9, 2010 with a huge flashmob style crowd showing up in downtown almost entirely due to social media. The Facebook group had grown to nearly two thousand by the first event date. Nobody could believe their eyes how huge the crowd was that showed up that first evening. Dragging the Gut was back and in a bigger way than ever before!  

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That first festival night people came to the Gut armed with bags of groceries to give to the local YCAP food bank. That night another tradition started with Coach Gina Regalado & her McMinnville High School Dance team coming to help out and ending up working with the YCAP Food Bank to collect nine barrels of food in just a few hours. 



The Dragging the Gut Festival has grown by leaps and bounds since then, becoming the Yamhill Valley's signature summer event. We're now getting large crowds watching the classic and daily drivers pass by on the Gut in historic Downtown McMinnville.

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So many people are coming that we're asking people to "Share the Gut." It gets pretty busy down there and to keep us within the city cruising ordinance. That applies only to 3rd St., from 8 p.m. on, we're asking people to drive as much as you want before 8 p.m. but within each two hours 8-10 p.m. and 10 p.m.-Midnight time periods, drive three times and rest your car. So in other words to stay within the city ordinance you can cruise any point three times within a two hour period after 8 p.m., so by sharing the gut others get to cruise and we stay within the law. 



SAFETY NOTICE: All motor, pedestrian, and bicycle laws apply during the entire day and night and throughout the Dragging the Gut Festival. The Festival welcomes the McMinnville Police Department's enforcement and police will ticket those who break the law just like normal. No 'burn-out' tire peeling out will be allowed. All unsafe demonstrations are banned; these can be dangerous especially near people and other cars, plus they create unnecessary smoke in a confined area.

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It's important that you be a good citizen and obey the laws. Pedestrians stay out of the street unless parking or crossing, and bicyclist no weaving in and out of traffic. Please obey the law as if an officer was following you.
There will be no problem if you simply obey the laws, be a good citizen, drive safely, and help make this a quality family friendly event.
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Thank you for your cooperation. Please pass this message on to others and do your part in helping make sure everyone stays safe! :) Signs will be located on "the gut"with a safety notice.