Santa Monica is a great base if you love anything to do with cars. The Los Angeles car culture is within easy reach, and when you couple that with the ocean roads, canyon drives, and sunny weekends, you’ll be spoilt for choice.
Here are some of the most popular car shows and automotive events in and around Santa Monica, CA.
Malibu Cars and Coffee
Malibu Cars and Coffee is one of the easiest and most scenic events to reach from Santa Monica. The drive up Pacific Coast Highway is part of the fun, especially early in the morning before the weekend traffic builds.
This event is held in conjunction with Armando Petretti Classic Cars and is held on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of every month from 7.00 AM – 9.00 AM. Some of Southern California’s top car enthusiasts gather at Malibu Bluffs Park. People come for the cars, but also for the coffee, the conversations, and the coastal backdrop.
For Santa Monica locals, it’s a solid choice when you want a quick Sunday morning car meet without turning the whole day into a road trip.
Petersen Automotive Museum Events
The Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles is one of the biggest landmarks near Santa Monica. It’s more than a museum, too. The Petersen regularly holds special exhibitions, cruise-ins, themed events, and classic car show enthusiast gatherings.
Events here can focus on anything from Italian cars and supercars to vintage race cars, European classics, custom builds, and important vehicles from automotive history. The setting gives everything a more polished feel than a casual parking lot meet, but it still has that Southern California enthusiasm.
It’s a great option if you want to see rare vehicles and then head inside to explore one of the best automotive museums in the country.
Bob’s Big Boy Classic Cars Shows in Burbank
Bob’s Big Boy in Burbank is a classic Southern California car night. It has the diner, the neon, the burgers, the chrome, and the kind of old-school atmosphere that makes car culture feel properly alive.
The weekly Friday night show is especially popular with fans of hot rods, American classics, customs, muscle cars, and vintage cruisers. It has a very different mood from an early morning Cars and Coffee event. This is more about evening lights, polished paint, and people leaning against fenders, talking about engines.
Burbank is a longer drive from Santa Monica, but it’s worth considering if you want a more nostalgic car show experience.
Kanan Cars and Coffee
Kanan Cars and Coffee sits closer to the Malibu and Agoura Hills side of the local car scene. It’s not right in Santa Monica, but it’s close enough to be part of the wider weekend car circuit.
Hosted by Malibu Autobahn and set at the base of Kanan Road in the foothills of the Malibu mountains, it gathers together people who enjoy the road as much as the show itself. Expect a mix of sports cars, classics, European models, modified vehicles, and weekend toys that look like they’ve just come off a spirited morning drive.
For Santa Monica drivers, it makes a nice change from the beachside meets and adds a little mountain-road energy to the day.
Pacific Palisades Motor Classic
Pacific Palisades is right next door to Santa Monica, so any major car event there deserves attention. The Pacific Palisades Motor Classic has extra local importance because it brings cars and community together in a neighborhood setting.
A show like this can attract a broad mix of vehicles, including classic cars, luxury models, Ferraris, Porsches, hot rods, and collector vehicles. It also has the advantage of being close enough that Santa Monica residents can visit without a long drive.
What makes this type of event stand out is the local feel. It isn’t just about looking at cars. It’s also about neighbors, businesses, families, and enthusiasts gathering in one place.
SoCal Car Culture Events Calendar
Don’t spend too much time heading for the huge headline events near Santa Monica. Some of the best weekends come from smaller cruise-ins, charity shows, dealership gatherings, and niche enthusiast meets across Los Angeles.
That’s why local event calendars are useful. They can help you find shows in West LA, Culver City, Beverly Hills, Malibu, Pasadena, Burbank, the South Bay, and beyond. One weekend might feature lowriders. Another might focus on JDM builds, off-road trucks, European classics, air-cooled Porsches, or vintage motorcycles.
If you’re based in Santa Monica, it’s worth checking what’s happening before the weekend. Southern California’s car scene moves quickly, and smaller events can be just as memorable as the big ones.
Benedict Castle Concours
Known as “The Car Guy’s Car Show,” The Benedict Castle Concours is unique because it brings together all elements of the car hobby. It has become a notable Southern California event, especially for fans of curated shows rather than casual meets.
This event usually brings together classics, customs, collector cars, supercars, and specialty vehicles in a more formal setting. It also has a charity angle, which gives the day more purpose than simply parking impressive events on a lawn.
For serious car fans, it’s the kind of show that feels more like a destination event.
Tips for Visiting Car Shows Near Santa Monica
- Plan around traffic: Weekend traffic around Santa Monica, Malibu, and Los Angeles can build quickly, so leave earlier than you think you need to.
- Check event details first: Car show times, locations, and parking rules can change, especially for outdoor and city-permitted events.
- Consider car shipping: If you want to enter your own vehicle but prefer to fly into Santa Monica or Los Angeles, compare car shipping quotes early so you can plan transport, timing, and budget.
- Arrive early: The best cars often show up near the start, especially at Cars and Coffee events.
- Talk to the owners: Many collectors love sharing the story behind their vehicle, especially if it’s restored, modified, or kept in the family.
Final Thoughts
Santa Monica puts you close to some of Southern California’s best car culture. Malibu Cars and Coffee brings the coastal views. The Petersen offers museum-level automotive history. Bob’s Big Boy delivers the classic Friday night feel. Pacific Palisades, Kanan, and wider LA events add even more variety.
That’s what makes the area so good for enthusiasts. Around Santa Monica, you can find everything from polished hot rods and rare classics to supercars, canyon drivers, and community shows by the beach.
