Best Arizona Car Shows: A Month-by-Month Guide

Arizona has one of the densest car show calendars in the country. The dry climate means outdoor events run year-round, and the state draws national-level shows that most regions never see. Whether you are into classics, muscle cars, imports, or trucks, there is something on the schedule every single month.

This is the rundown of the best car shows across the state, organized by month so you can plan ahead. Some of these sell out or require early registration, so do not wait until the week before.

January

Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale

The biggest automotive event in Arizona, period. Barrett-Jackson takes over WestWorld of Scottsdale for an entire week in mid-January. It is technically an auction, but there is a massive car show component with hundreds of vehicles on display, vendor rows, rides, and live entertainment. Even if you never bid on a car, the spectator experience alone is worth the trip. General admission gets you access to the auction floor, the display lots, and the vendor area. Plan for a full day minimum. Check our collector car auctions guide for details on Barrett-Jackson and the other January auctions.

Scottsdale Car Week Events

Barrett-Jackson is the anchor, but Scottsdale Car Week includes a dozen other events happening simultaneously across the city. There are Cars and Coffee gatherings, manufacturer displays, driving experiences, and private parties scattered from Old Town to the McDowell Mountain area. Our Scottsdale Car Week guide covers everything happening beyond the auction block.

Copperstate 1000 Rally

A four-day, thousand-mile road rally through the Arizona countryside for pre-1974 cars. This is not a race. It is a touring event that winds through some of the most scenic roads in the state. The field typically includes vintage Ferraris, Porsches, Jaguars, and prewar cars worth millions. Spectators can catch the start and finish in Scottsdale, and the route passes through small towns where locals line up to watch. Entry is invitation-only for participants, but watching the start is free and genuinely spectacular.

February

Arizona Concours d'Elegance

Held at the Arizona Biltmore Resort in Phoenix, this is the state's premier judged show for significant collector cars. The field is small and carefully curated, usually around 80 to 100 cars. If you appreciate coachbuilt classics, prewar machines, and historically significant vehicles, this is the show to attend. It is a more refined atmosphere than a typical car show, with a manicured lawn setting and knowledgeable judges who can tell you the history of every car on the field.

Parada del Sol

Scottsdale's annual parade and car show that has been running for decades. The car show portion brings out a wide mix of classics, hot rods, and muscle cars. The parade itself rolls through downtown Scottsdale with equestrian entries mixed in. It is a family-friendly event with free admission and a genuinely local feel that the bigger shows sometimes lack.

March

Goodguys Spring Nationals (Scottsdale)

Goodguys runs two events a year in the Phoenix area, and the Spring Nationals at WestWorld of Scottsdale is the bigger one. Expect 2,000-plus vehicles, with a strong emphasis on hot rods, customs, muscle cars, and trucks through 1987. There is an autocross course, a swap meet, a vendor midway, and a model car show. Goodguys events have a particular energy. They are well-organized, draw serious builds, and the swap meet alone is worth the drive. Registration fills up fast, so if you want to show your car, get in early.

Scottsdale Motorsports Gathering

A more casual, free-to-attend gathering in downtown Scottsdale that draws a nice mix of exotics, sports cars, and interesting daily drivers. It runs on Saturday mornings and picks up significantly in the spring months when the weather is perfect. Think of it as a large-scale Cars and Coffee with a Scottsdale flavor.

April

Thunderbird Classic Car Show (Glendale)

One of the bigger charity car shows on the west side of the Valley. The Thunderbird show regularly draws 400-plus entries and benefits local charities. There are classes for everything from stock originals to full custom builds. The judging is fair, the trophies are solid, and the atmosphere is laid-back. This is the kind of show where you can park your car, set up a chair, and spend the whole day talking to other enthusiasts without any pretense.

Prescott Antique Auto Club Spring Show

If you want to escape the Valley heat that starts creeping in by late April, head up to Prescott. The antique auto club puts on a quality show at Watson Lake Park, and the setting is hard to beat. The field skews toward prewar and early postwar cars, but there are classes for later models too. Prescott is a two-hour drive from Phoenix and the town itself is worth exploring.

May

Wheels of Time Car Show (Payson)

Another excuse to head to the higher elevations. The Payson show happens in May before the summer heat makes Valley events miserable. The Payson car community is surprisingly active, and this show draws solid entries from across the state. It is a smaller show, usually 100 to 200 cars, but the quality is consistently good.

June through August

The summer months are lean for outdoor car shows in the Phoenix metro area. When it is 115 degrees, nobody wants to stand on asphalt staring at chrome. The car show calendar shifts to the high country and to evening or indoor events.

Flagstaff Route 66 Days (June)

Flagstaff's annual car show along historic Route 66 is one of the better summer events in the state. At 7,000 feet, the weather is comfortable, the downtown setting has real character, and the Route 66 connection brings out some interesting themed builds. It draws participants from across Arizona who are happy to make the drive for bearable temperatures.

Show Low Car Show (July)

The White Mountains car community puts on shows through the summer that are well worth the drive from the Valley. Show Low and Pinetop-Lakeside both host events that draw regulars who either live up there or haul their cars up for the weekend.

September

Relics and Rods Run to the Sun (Lake Havasu City)

One of the largest car shows in western Arizona. Lake Havasu City's event has been running for years and consistently draws 700-plus entries. There are cruises, a poker run, a swap meet, and the main show. The setting along the lake with the London Bridge nearby makes for great photos. September is still hot in Havasu, but the car community there does not seem to mind.

October

Tucson Classics Car Show

Tucson has its own car culture that is distinct from Phoenix, and the fall show season down there is strong. The Tucson Classics show brings out the southern Arizona car community in force. There is also a growing regular meet scene in the Tucson area that feeds into these bigger annual events.

Wickenburg Fall Festival Car Show

Small-town Arizona at its best. Wickenburg's fall car show is charming, well-run, and free to spectators. The town is an hour northwest of Phoenix and the drive out there in October, when the desert starts cooling down, is part of the experience.

November

Goodguys Southwest Nationals (Scottsdale)

The second Goodguys event of the year in the Valley, held at WestWorld. This one closes out the Arizona show season with a bang. The format mirrors the spring event with the autocross, swap meet, and hundreds of show vehicles. November weather in Scottsdale is perfect, which means the crowds are big. Get there early on Saturday if you want to see the show without fighting for parking.

Fountain Hills Thanksgiving Weekend Car Show

Fountain Hills puts on a solid show over Thanksgiving weekend that has become a tradition for a lot of Valley car people. The town's famous fountain provides a unique backdrop, and the show draws a good mix of classics, hot rods, and newer performance cars.

December

AZ Fords and Friends Annual Toy Drive Show

Several clubs in the Valley run charity shows in December, and the toy drive format is popular. These are smaller events, usually 50 to 150 cars, but the community aspect is strong. Bring an unwrapped toy, show your car, and enjoy the cooler weather before the cycle starts over in January.

Tips for Getting the Most Out of Arizona Car Shows

Bring water. Even in the cooler months, standing in the Arizona sun for hours will dehydrate you faster than you expect. Sunscreen is not optional.

If you are showing your car, arrive early. The best spots go fast at the popular shows, and morning light is better for photos anyway. Most shows open their gates to participants well before spectators arrive.

Check our Arizona car show calendar for specific dates and registration links. If you are new to the scene, the Phoenix cruise night guide is a good way to ease into the community before committing to a full show. And if you are looking for regular weekly gatherings, the best weekly cruise nights page stays updated through the season.

Arizona's car show season never truly stops. It just moves around with the weather. That is one of the things that makes this state a genuine car culture destination, not just a place where car people happen to live.