BreakingNHTSA recalls 1.2M vehicles over airbag sensor defect — check if yours is affectedAverage used car prices drop 4.3% in March 2026 as inventory normalizesEPA finalizes 2027 emissions standards — what it means for your next purchaseAAA reports national gas average falls to $2.89, lowest in 14 monthsBreakingNHTSA recalls 1.2M vehicles over airbag sensor defect — check if yours is affectedAverage used car prices drop 4.3% in March 2026 as inventory normalizesEPA finalizes 2027 emissions standards — what it means for your next purchaseAAA reports national gas average falls to $2.89, lowest in 14 months
Queen City Redline

Charlotte Car Events

The complete calendar for CLT's car scene — meets, shows, track days, and more.

15 events

Swap Meet$13 general admission

Charlotte AutoFair — Spring

Thu, April 16, 2026
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Charlotte Motor Speedway

5555 Concord Pkwy S, Concord, NC 28027

Biannual (April & September)

The nation's largest automotive event — over 50 acres of cars, parts, and memorabilia. Thousands of vendor spaces with classic cars, muscle cars, and hard-to-find parts spread across the CMS infield and beyond.

Event website
Car Show$10 registration / Free spectator

Mustangs Unlimited CLT Meet

Sat, April 25, 2026
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Carowinds Blvd Parking Area

14523 Carowinds Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28273

Charlotte's biggest all-Mustang gathering — from classic Fox Bodies to new Dark Horses. Awards, raffles, and vendor booths. Open to all Mustang and Ford Performance owners.

MotorsportFrom $55

Coca-Cola 600

Sun, May 24, 2026
6:00 PM

Charlotte Motor Speedway

5555 Concord Pkwy S, Concord, NC 28027

NASCAR's longest race at 600 miles, held every Memorial Day weekend. Charlotte's crown jewel motorsport event draws over 100,000 fans. The CMS campus comes alive for an entire week of racing festivities.

Event website
Car Show$25 spectator / $45 show car

Import Alliance Charlotte

Sat, June 13, 2026
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Charlotte Motor Speedway

5555 Concord Pkwy S, Concord, NC 28027

The Southeast's premier import and tuner car show. Hundreds of show cars compete for awards while vendors, sponsors, and food trucks line the venue. JDM, Euro, and K-car builds all represented.

Event website
Swap Meet$13 general admission

Charlotte AutoFair — Fall

Thu, September 17, 2026
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Charlotte Motor Speedway

5555 Concord Pkwy S, Concord, NC 28027

Biannual (April & September)

The fall edition of the nation's largest automotive event. Four days of classic cars for sale, vendor spaces, car corral, and an enormous swap meet at the Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Event website
MotorsportFrom $49

Bank of America ROVAL 400

Sun, October 11, 2026
2:00 PM

Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL

5555 Concord Pkwy S, Concord, NC 28027

NASCAR's only road course-oval hybrid (ROVAL) race — tight corners, high speeds, and playoff drama. One of the most unpredictable and exciting races on the Cup Series calendar.

Event website
MeetFree

Caffeine and Octane Charlotte

Recurring
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Charlotte Premium Outlets

5404 New Fashion Way, Charlotte, NC 28278

First Sunday monthly

One of the Southeast's biggest monthly car meets. Hundreds of vehicles from daily drivers to six-figure exotics roll in every month. Free to attend, free to show — just show up and park.

Event website
MeetFree

Cars and Bars CLT

Recurring
5:00 PM - 9:00 PM

South End / Various Breweries

South End, Charlotte, NC 28203

Last Friday monthly

Charlotte's after-work car meet scene. Park your ride at a rotating selection of South End breweries, grab a cold one, and cruise the lot. All makes welcome — the vibe is chill and the crowd is solid.

MeetFree

Cars and Coffee Charlotte

Recurring
8:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Foxcroft East Shopping Center

7814 Fairview Rd, Charlotte, NC 28226

First Saturday monthly

Charlotte's original Cars and Coffee gathering. All makes and models welcome — from JDM to muscle to exotics. Grab a coffee and talk cars with fellow enthusiasts every first Saturday.

Event website
MeetFree

Concord Mills Cars and Coffee

Recurring
8:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Concord Mills Mall (Lot near Bass Pro)

8111 Concord Mills Blvd, Concord, NC 28027

Second Saturday monthly

A big open-lot morning meet at Concord Mills. Close to CMS so the crowd skews muscle cars and track-day builds, but all vehicles are welcome. Easy parking and plenty of room to spread out.

Cruise-InFree

Cookout Cruise-In CLT

Recurring
7:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Various Cookout & Sonic locations

South Blvd & Independence Blvd, Charlotte, NC

Friday & Saturday nights

The grassroots Charlotte car scene — parking lot meets at Cookout and Sonic spots around the city. No registration, no rules beyond common sense. Pull up, park, and hang. Check local CLT car groups on Instagram for weekly location drops.

Track Day$20 to race / $10 spectator

Friday Night Drags at zMAX

Recurring
7:00 PM - 11:00 PM

zMAX Dragway

6570 Bruton Smith Blvd, Concord, NC 28027

Friday nights (seasonal, April - October)

Bring your street car and run the quarter mile at zMAX Dragway. Open to all — from stock daily drivers to built drag cars. Spectators welcome. The best cheap thrill in Charlotte motorsport.

Event website
MeetFree

Queen City Cars and Coffee

Recurring
8:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Waverly Shopping Center

7601 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC 28277

Third Saturday monthly

A family-friendly Saturday morning cars and coffee in South Charlotte. Great turnout of trucks, sports cars, and classics. Donut and coffee vendors on site.

MeetFree

University Area Weekly Meet

Recurring
8:00 PM - 11:00 PM

University Pointe Shopping Center

8936 J M Keynes Dr, Charlotte, NC 28262

Every Saturday night

The UNCC-area weekly car meet that pulls a younger, mod-heavy crowd. Imports, stance builds, and boosted hatchbacks dominate the lot. Respectful meetups — no burnouts, no revving.

Track Day$30 to race / $10 spectator

zMAX Dragway Test & Tune

Recurring
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

zMAX Dragway

6570 Bruton Smith Blvd, Concord, NC 28027

Select Saturdays (seasonal)

Daytime open track sessions for serious tuning. Get unlimited passes down the strip at the only four-lane dragway in the country. Perfect for dialing in your setup before race day.

Event website

Know an event we're missing?

Charlotte's car scene moves fast. If you're hosting a meet, show, or cruise-in, let us know and we'll get it listed.

Submit an Event