So Cal Car Culture – Show Listings
It’s probably no surprise to anyone that Southern California is the mecca of car shows. No matter what kind of cars you’re into, you can find car shows on almost every weekend, and even on almost any weeknight.
There’s a website that lists hot rod, custom car and custom truck shows from Simi Valley to San Diego and from Huntington Beach to Hesperia.
The website is called So Cal Car Culture. As of this writing, the website lists every show through the remainder of 2021. While the website isn’t fancy, it’s easy to use and will direct you to the event flyer (can you believe we’re still printing car show flyers?)
Car shows keep the car culture alive. They pass along the passion for these vehicles to younger generations. Most of us remember that first time we sat in a car or a truck that made us smile with sheer with pure joy.
A young girl checks out a hot rod.
There are at least 50 car shows a month just for hot rods and custom trucks. While some of these events also host newer cars, let us remember that no matter what a person drives, we all share the same passion.
Here in California, we’re spoiled with our 280+ days of sunshine per annum, so there’s almost no excuse for not showing off your ride. The So Cal Car Culture lives on with seasoned veterans sharing their passion and wisdom with the younger generations. Positivity and support is something that is pervasive in the So Cal Car Culture.
Here are some tips for attending Car Shows:
Most of us are seasoned veterans, having attended shows for decades. We all know to bring snacks, water, a hat, and a comfortable chair;
We also know to respect the rules of the event. Leave the burnouts and revving to the immature attendees and lead by example;
Sunscreen is a good idea and so is an umbrella;
Detailing products: towels, quick detailer, tire dressing and other paint care products – are a must;
Cell phone charger: for some of the longer shows, you can’t leave home without one;
Jumper pack: I always bring one. My car doesn’t have battery issues, but there seems to be at least one at every show that does. I like coming to the rescue of fellow hot rodders;
Comfortable shoes: I quite wearing sandals to shows because whether I’m walking or standing, my dogs get tired without comfortable shoes.
Arrive early: Getting there early is always a good idea – it gives you options as to where you will park. Getting there late means that you get what’s leftover.
Be quiet coming and going: Many of these shows start early in the morning. Residents near the venues have been very vocal about loud cars. When you get off the freeway and head toward the event, do your best to be quiet. Several car shows have been permanently canceled because of noise problems. Cars and Coffee in Newport Beach has been permanently canceled twice. When it moved to the Ford and Mazda campus in Irvine, it was canceled again because of people driving loudly on the ingress-egress streets. Cars in Coffee in San Clemente is also on thin ice as of this writing.
So Cal Car Culture Website
Here’s an example of the listings from the So Cal Car Culture website for just one day of May, 2021
| 1 | Anaheim – Gardenwalk Cars-Coffee-Culture – 400 Disney Way – 8AM – 1PM – Info |
| 1 | Carlsbad* – Cbad Cars – 7130 Avenida Encinas – 7AM – 9AM – Info |
| 1 | Corona* – Cars & Coffee Corona – IHOP 2450 Wardlow Rd. – 7AM – 9AM – Flyer |
| 1 | Cypress* – Kimmie’s – 9935 Walker Ave. – 8AM – 2PM – Flyer |
| 1 | Diamond Bar – Weinerschnitzel – 23300 Sunset Crossing Rd. – 11AM – 1PM – Flyer |
| 1 | El Segundo – Grand Re-Opening Cruise-In @ Automobile Driving Museum 610 Lairport St. – 10AM – 4PM – Flyer |
| 1 | Huntington Beach* – Donut Derelicts – Magnolia & Adams – 6AM – 9AM |
| 1 | La Cañada* – Early Rodder’s – United Artists Theatre 1919 Verdugo Blvd. – 6:30AM – 8:30AM – e-mail |
| 1 | La Puente* – Gas & Glaze – 560 Workman Mill Rd. – 6AM – 8AM – Flyer |
| 1 | La Quinta* – Coffee & Cars @ Aspen Mills Bakery 46-520 Washington St. – 7AM – 9:45AM – Flyer |
| 1 | Los Alamitos – Free Oil Filter @ Auto Zone 11282 Los Alamitos Blvd – 8AM – 2PM – Flyer |
| 1 | Orange* – Good Times Block Party @ Cambra Speed Shop 726 W. Angus Ave. – 9AM – 1PM – Flyer |
| 1 | Palm Desert* – Silver Scorpions Cars & Breakfast – 44491 Town Center Way – 5AM – 8AM – Flyer |
| 1 | Perris – 36th Annual Antique Truck Show – 2201 S. A St. – 9AM – 3PM – Flyer – V |
| 1 | Placentia* – Donuts & Dipsticks – 2001 E. Orangethorpe Ave. – 7AM – 9AM – Flyer |
| 1 | Poway* – In-N-Out-Burger – 12890 Gregg Court – 11AM – 2PM – Info |
| 1 | San Clemente* – South OC Cars & Coffee – Outlets at San Clemente SW Corner – 9AM – 11AM – Info |
| 1 | Simi Valley* – Cars & Coffee @ Dundee Donuts 2458 Stearns St. – 7AM – 9AM – Flyer |
| 1 | Simi Valley* – The Coachmen Cruise Night – 2196 Tapo St. – 4PM – 8PM – Flyer |
| 1 | Torrance* – Caffeine Cruisers – Artesia & Hawthorne Blvd. – 7AM – 10AM – Flyer – Info |
| 1 | Valencia* – Coffee N’ Cars – 23222 Valencia Blvd. – 7AM – 8:30AM – Flyer |
| 1 | Valencia* – Brunch of Cars – 24025 Newhall Ranch Rd. – 9AM – 11AM – Flyer |
| 1 | Westlake Village* – Conejo Valley Cars & Coffee – 2360 Townsgate – 8AM – 11AM – Info – Flyer |
| 1 | Yorba Linda* – Car Show on the Hill – 22699 Oakcrest Circle – 3PM – 5PM – Flyer |