Join the Corvette 50th Anniversary Party in Nashville: Vintage Displays, Parade, Rock Concert with ZZ Top, and More!
Corvettes poured into Nashville’s Coliseum for the two official Corvette 50th Anniversary Celebration in June 2003. This article is a list of the activities.
![The Corvette 50th Anniversary Celebration got underway June 27-28, 2003 in Nashville, Tennessee. This is a look at the skyline at night. Photo Credits: Tabitha Kaylee Hawk from Nashville (Downtown Nashville Uploaded by Kaldari) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons.](https://vette-vues.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/1200px-Nashville_skyline_2009-1024x641.jpg "Nashville skyline - vette vues magazine")
We are looking at the 2003 Corvette Press Kit for the 50th-anniversary Celebration in Nashville. This is one of the press releases that was included in the media kit. The event took place in Nashville, Tennessee, on June 27 and 28, 2003. The kit included fourteen press releases. We will provide links at the bottom of the press releases for you to enjoy.
Two-Day Party to Celebrate America’s Performance Icon
NASHVILLE – The celebration of the century gets underway June 27-28 in Nashville to commemorate Chevrolet Corvette’s 50th Anniversary.
Thousands of Corvette owners and enthusiasts will gather in and around Nashville to participate in the weekend’s planned events.
“Corvette will take over the Nashville landscape. We’ve got a truly impressive number of activities planned in order to celebrate this landmark anniversary,” said Rick Baldick, Corvette marketing director.
ZZ TOP to perform
Activities over the weekend include vintage car displays, parades, technical seminars, restoration clinics, heritage displays, racing exhibits, historic memorabilia, elements from the Chevy Rock & Roll Tour, and to top off the weekend, the legendary rock band ZZ TOP will perform on Saturday night.
“The performance by ZZ TOP completes our already exciting list of activities and entertainment,” said Baldick. “We can’t think of a better way to celebrate 50 years of Corvette being an American automotive icon than by having an American rock icon such as ZZ TOP be our closing act.”
Admission to the ZZ TOP concert is included in the purchase of a ticket for the June 27-28 Corvette Celebration at The Coliseum.
National Corvette Caravan
In addition, the National Corvette Museum is organizing a caravan of approximately 5,000 Corvettes dating back to 1953 and coming from all corners of the U.S. to congregate in Bowling Green prior to the events in Nashville. The procession continues on into Nashville in the Nashville Cruize Caravan. The National Corvette Museum and the Corvette manufacturing facility are in Bowling Green, Ky. – about 60 miles from Nashville.
Friday, June 27 Corvette 50th Anniversary Celebration Events
The weekend’s festivities kick-off when the first group of Nashville Cruize participants arrived at The Coliseum around 9 a.m. Event hours for ticket holders are 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Ticket holders will enjoy various activities, including:
- Corvette Heritage Tour
- Corvette Pin Trading Village
- Chevrolet’s current and future product display
- Chevrolet Powertrain and Engineering Experience
- Chevrolet SS Vehicle Showcase
- Chevrolet Rock and Roll Tour
- Chevrolet Racing Tour
- Chevrolet Truck Towing Tour
- Chevrolet Soccer Festival exhibit
- Chevy R.O.C.K. display
- GM Performance Parts Tour
- GM Accessories Tour
- National Council of Corvette Clubs displays
- National Corvette Restorers Society restoration clinics
- National Corvette Museum tent
- Bob Bondurant School of High-Performance Driving
- Justin Bell GT Racing School
- XM Radio Tour
- OnStar demonstrations
- Bose Theater display
- Mobil 1 exhibit
- Goodyear tire display
- QUADRASTEER by Delphi Driving Experience
- Collins & Aikman exhibit
- Activities sponsored by magazine partners Corvette Quarterly, Car and Driver, Road & Track, Cigar Aficionado, SKI Magazine, Esquire, Sports Illustrated, Corvette Enthusiast Magazine, Southern Living, and Golf Magazine
The general public can enjoy the Corvette Parade starting from the Coliseum grounds and heading to downtown Nashville beginning at 6 p.m. The parade will feature one Corvette from every model year, with the fabulous ‘50s Corvettes leading the way. In addition to this long line of Corvette lineage, the parade will feature the Tennessee Army Color Guard, 100th Army Marching Band, Lehigh Drum and Bugle Corps, Dixieland Marching Band, Scottish pipe band, jugglers, street performers, and much more.
The public can also enjoy the Chevy Rockin’ on the Riverfront Concert in downtown Nashville from 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. A host of local Nashville talent and musicians will perform on the famous floating stage located at Riverfront Park on the corner of 1st and Broadway.
Saturday, June 28 Corvette 50th Anniversary Celebration Events
On Saturday, June 28, the Nashville Cruize participants will again arrive at approximately 9 a.m. as the grounds open. Friday’s events at the Coliseum will be offered again on Saturday. Event hours for ticket holders are 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. The activities and grounds will close at 7 p.m. in preparation for the ZZ TOP concert that begins at 8 p.m.
ZZ TOP, a/k/a “That Little Ol’ Band From Texas,” have performed together for a remarkable 34 years – the band lays undisputed claim to being the longest-running major American rock band with original personnel intact. Founded in Houston in the waning days of 1969, ZZ TOP formed from the core of two rival bands. ZZ TOP’s first release came out in 1970. “Tres Hombres,” the band’s third album and its first platinum release, debuted in 1973 and catapulted the band into national attention with the hit “La Grange,” still one of the band’s signature pieces.
ZZ TOP’s breakthrough album “Eliminator,” released in 1983, was one of the first albums to receive the Recording Industry Association of America’s Diamond Award in recognition of domestic sales in excess of 10 million copies. Fueled by a series of memorable videos, the album provided several international hit singles, including “Gimme All Your Lovin,” “Sharp Dressed Man,” and “Legs.” The band is currently in the midst of their 2003 nationwide tour.
Parking
No public parking is available at The Coliseum. The general public is encouraged to park downtown and take one of the shuttles to the Coliseum. Shuttles are available on Friday from 8 a.m. – 11 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. – 11:30 p.m. at the following Corvette 50th hotels: the Sheraton Nashville, corner of 7th Ave. and Union; the Renaissance Hotel, main entrance across Commerce; Doubletree Hotel, Motor Lobby entrance on 4th Ave.; Hilton Suites, curbside on 5th Ave.; and the Courtyard Marriott, corner of Church and 4th Ave. Event passes are required to ride on the event shuttles.
Tickets for the Corvette 50th Anniversary Celebration can be purchased at www.corvette50th.com, by calling 866-526-7838, or at The Coliseum on June 27 and 28. Additional information can be found at www.corvette50th.com. Caravan information can be found at www.nationalcorvettecaravan.com.
For a look at the 2003 Corvette Press Kit, CLICK HERE
Here are the links to the press releases included in the 2003 Corvette 50th Anniversary Celebration (there were 14 press releases in all)
Corvette 50th Anniversary Celebration in 2003
Racer Andy Pilgrim Lead’s Corvette’s 50th Anniversary in 2003
C5-R Corvette Ready for 24 Hours of Le Mans (2003)
2004 Corvette Product Information
History of Corvette Design Engineering – 50s-90s
Corvette Powertrain History 50-Years of Development
Every month, Vette Vues Magazine covers Corvette owners and Corvette events. Subscriptions are mailed right to your home or office. Stay up to date with all the latest Corvette news by signing up today. SUBSCRIBE TODAY!
While you are here, check out our great selection of Corvette T-shirts, Corvette Hats / Caps for Sale, and assorted Corvette Totes, Coolers, and Bags for Sale, all offering Free United States Shipping.
