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American Collectors Insurance has gathered a list of great enthusiast-run websites that car communities throughout the country aggregate listings for car shows, events, and cruise listings in your local community.

Exploring car events on these websites will provide fantastic suggestions whether you are looking for collector and classic car shows near you this weekend or finding places to go if you are planning a future vacation in a different city. Even if you don’t own your dream car (yet), these sites provide collector and classic car show information for great venues and events to go check out the vehicle of your dreams.

Use the links below to find a great collector and classic car event near you!

Calendar Events and Resources for Collector and Classic Car Shows

American Collectors Insurance’s Collector and Classic Car Show Events Calendar

Since 1976, American Collectors Insurance has been committed to promoting and supporting local car clubs and events to strengthen car communities and fuel our mutual love for classic cars.

If you are a car show organizer, you can list your upcoming car show on our Add a New Car Show/Event page to promote it. Also, you can request swag for your event goodie bags at the “Goodie-Bag Swag Request” section below.

Hemmings Motor News

Since 1976, American Collectors Insurance has been committed to promoting and supporting local car clubs and events to strengthen car communities and fuel our mutual love for classic cars.

If you are a car show organizer, you can list your upcoming car show on our Add a New Car Show/Event page to promote it. Also, you can request swag for your event goodie bags at the “Goodie-Bag Swag Request” section below.

Hemmings Motor News is considered by many to be a pillar of the collector car hobby.  From classifieds to magazines and everything in between, Hemmings supports the collector-car hobby by attending over 100 car shows and related automotive events each year.

Hemmings is recognizable with their specially designed trailers, adorned with images of distinctive old cars, are popular destinations for enthusiasts at car shows and cars & coffees across the country. Check out the Hemmings Events Calendar for upcoming collector and classic car shows near you!

CarShowSafari.com

CarShowSafari.com is a well-established website providing complete, comprehensive, and up-to-date nationwide listings of car shows and motorsport events. Visit CarShowSafari.com to find car shows near you.

CarCruiseFinder.com

CarCruiseFinder.com is a car-enthusiast website with an event search tool featuring a good list of car shows. It’s a great resource to find some lesser-known car shows for hobbyists planning to attend car events each weekend. Visit CarCruiseFinder.com for more information.

CarShowRadar.com

CarShowRadar.com is a hobbyist resource website that lists fun local car events in smaller communities. It’s a great website to explore if you want to aggregate a list of potential events where you can get together with other car aficionados to experience and celebrate American classic car culture. Check out CarShowRadar.com for event listings.

Local Cars & Coffee Events

Every Saturday and Sunday, there is a Cars & Coffee event happening somewhere in the United States. Thousands of automotive enthusiasts wake up at the crack of dawn to secure the best parking spots for their pride and joy and “talk cars” with other like-minded individuals. Find your local Cars & Coffee event locations here.

Goodie-Bag Swag Requests for Car Show Organizers

If you are a car show/event organizer, you can request free swag for the goodie bags at your upcoming car show by:

• Step 1:  List your club/organization on the Submit a Club page, so others can learn more about your club (e.g., values, mission, meeting times).
• Step 2:  List your car event on the Add Car Show / Event page, with details of about your event (e.g., schedule, location, charity supported, website).
• Step 3:  Filling out your Goodie Bag/Swag Request on the Community Swag Request page.

Event Swag requests are fulfilled on a first-come, first-served basis and may be subject to inventory limitations.

Differences between Types of Collector / Classic Car Shows and Events

There are many types of car enthusiast shows and events. Knowing what to expect can help you choose the right one for your weekend plans. Here are the main types:

Car Cruises

• What They Are: Driving events where car lovers drive their classic, vintage, or custom cars along a planned route.
• Key Features: Like a fun parade of cool cars. Ends at a social spot like a park or restaurant where people can hang out, talk about their cars, and show them off.
• What to Expect: Great for meeting other car fans, seeing amazing vehicles, and having fun.

Cars & Coffee

• What They Are: Informal car gatherings at spots like coffee shops or parking lots typically held in the morning.
• Key Features: Enthusiasts bring their classic, exotic, or unique cars to a designated spot, such as a coffee shop or parking lot, to show off their vehicles and chat with fellow car lovers over a cup of coffee.
• These events are relaxed and welcoming, with no entry fees, invitations, or formal schedules. You can arrive and leave whenever you like, making it a perfect way to start your day.
• What to Expect: Perfect way to start your day. Great opportunity to see an array of interesting cars, meet new people, and share your passion for automobiles in a laid-back setting.

Cruise-Ins

• What They Are: Casual car meet-ups/gatherings, often on weekends or evenings.
• Key Features: Can be evening gatherings at a local burger joint or spontaneous meet-up at a strip mall. Cruise-Ins are very social events where you can connect with other car enthusiasts without any strict schedule.
• You can come and go as you like, park wherever you want, and hang out with friends. No invitations, reservations, or entry fees are needed. There usually aren’t any judges or prizes either.
• What to Expect: Very social. No strict schedule, invitations, or entry fees. Fun and affordable way to connect with other car lovers.

Car Shows

• What They Are: More organized events often sponsored by car clubs or as fundraisers by community organizations.
• Key Features: Include class and best overall judging, sometimes with a “people’s choice” award. Participants need to register, pay an entrance fee, and check in. Due to their more organized nature, participants need to register in advance, pay an entrance fee, and check-in upon arrival. Cars are grouped by make or “class.” Thus, participants will be required to park as instructed by the event organizer rather than parking near friends.
• Entrance fees are often used to cover Car Show organizational costs, prizes and a portion of event proceed are often contributed to a local charity. Usually, the start/stop times are pre-determined, and there is an expectation that participants stay for the show’s duration. One way that organizers keep the attendees at the Car Show is to hold off the announcements and awards until the end!
• What to Expect: Cars grouped by make or class. Events usually have predetermined start/stop times. Entrance fees often support event costs and local charities. Awards are announced at the end to keep attendees engaged.

Concours (Concours d’Elegance)

• What They Are: High-end events featuring the best of the best cars, usually by invitation. Occasionally a participant will be required to have won another qualifier event to be invited a Concours.
• Key Features: Concours cars are organized by class and represent the very best examples of that style or period, often painstakingly (expensively) restored to period correct, like new, condition.
• Cars are subjected to hand-selected, trained Concours judges for each class and overall best in show prizes on a 100-point method of judging. In this format, cars start with 100 points, and then points are deducted for deficiencies in restoration quality, inaccuracies in vehicle detail, or presentation/cleanliness.
• Documentation about vehicle ownership, restoration process, detailed, historical about the specific vehicle or knowledge about the ownership provenance often help judges score and differentiate between immaculately examples of restored or preserved vehicles. Winning awards at Concours events can significantly impact the value of a vehicle (depending on the prestige/reputation of the specific Concours event in the collector community).
• What to Expect: See the finest examples of classic cars. Cars are often painstakingly restored to period-correct condition.

Car Tours

• What They Are: Planned routes for group or individual participation.
• Key Features: Organized car tours can either be single-day adventures or multi-day, including food and accommodations in the itinerary and or cost. Enthusiasts often like this because they’re traveling with like-minded individuals in almost a parade formation to visit prearranged destinations together. You have other enthusiasts on the tour that can and will help in the event of car trouble on a more extended trip.
• Many drives will even provide a support or “sweep” vehicle to assist anyone that ends up involuntarily taking in the scenery! On a multi-day event, entrance fees will likely include hotel and meal accommodations in the cost.
• What to Expect: Travel with other enthusiasts, with support available for car trouble. Multi-day car tours may include lodging accommodations and meals.

These descriptions should help you choose the best car event for your interests and schedule. Any gathering can be a great place to admire different types / interpretations of cars that you know and love; while getting introduced to new makes and models that you might not have appreciated in the past.

Regardless of your vehicle interests, these events are equally valuable for networking with other enthusiasts. As with many things in life, networking can make your experience in the collector car space more rewarding. Happy motoring!