Courtesy of Legends Car Club.

The arrival of cars more than a century ago was quickly followed by the growth of a community around them. Auto enthusiasts love to swap stories about their pride and joy, show them, shine them, drive, socialize, check out the latest models and parts — or just relax in the company of like-minded owners.

Car shows, car and coffee gatherings, and cruise nights enable car fans to do just that. Venues can include local dealerships, repair shops, city parks and main streets, while aftermarket specialists can help modify or upgrade vehicles.

Courtesy of Legends Car Club.

Interested in joining the fun? Here are some of the major shows and auto events in Ontario to check out. For a comprehensive list of upcoming local cruises, shows and other events, check out the Cruise Nightly website.

Racing at CTMP

Whether you’re competing or spectating, motorsports are a huge part of car culture. The historic road course at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (CTMP), near Bowmanville, hosted the F1 Grand Prix in the 1960s and ’70s when it was known as Mosport. Today, it holds five major race meetings each year, including the CTMP Labour Day Weekend Sprints in early September. The weekend is headlined by NASCAR Canada stock cars and Trans Am sports cars, but there’s a packed schedule of supporting races, family fun, live music and a fireworks display. Advance ticket prices start at $40 for race day.

Toronto Motorama

Canada’s largest indoor hot rod and motorsports expo is a mid-March fixture at The International Centre, right next to Toronto Pearson International Airport. Unlike the Canadian International Auto Show, which showcases the latest cars to hit the market, the focus in Motorama’s halls is on hot rods, custom cars and trucks, motorsports and classics. The show also features car clubs, the tuner/modified car scene (where enthusiasts customize and upgrade their vehicles), trucks, racing and more. Tickets cost $30 per adult, with discounts for seniors, youth and children.

Courtesy of MSRA member.

Driven Aftermarket Car Show

Driven takes place in major centres across Canada through the spring and early summer, including May stops in London and Toronto. It bills itself as Canada’s largest automotive show dedicated to car culture and aftermarket parts and services. Driven is a fun show with an emphasis on the contemporary tuning scene. It features modified Japanese, European and other vehicles, plus vendors with aftermarket parts, accessories, clothing and more. Ticket prices at the 2026 show were approximately $25 for adults and half that for seniors and children.

British Car Day

Hosted by the Toronto Triumph Club, North America’s largest one-day, all-British car event takes place on the third Sunday in September, in Oakville’s Bronte Creek Provincial Park. The event is huge, featuring around 900 classic and modern British vehicles and drawing about 9,000 spectators. Owners bring cars from all over Ontario, but also from out of province, including from the northeastern United States. There are also vendors offering new and used goods for sale. It costs $25 to enter your British car in the show; spectators pay the regular per-car park entry fee or can use a Parks Ontario season pass to enter.

Start driving. Discover the people, communities and events keeping car culture thriving across Canada. Click here to explore the latest issue of CAA Magazine to learn more about the car enthusiasts in your area bringing their passion for the road to life.