December 2025 Automotive Events in Southern California: A Collector’s Guide
The final month of the year tends to slow the pace of large-scale concours and auctions, yet Southern California still produces a series of smaller, well-established gatherings that attract owners of classic, collectible, and exotic vehicles. These events combine holiday themes with displays of automotive history, offering opportunities to see vehicles in seasonal context while maintaining the standards expected by serious collectors.
The Community Ho Ho Parade in San Bernardino on December 13 remains one of the region’s most visible holiday motoring traditions. Starting at 6 p.m., the route along E Street features more than 100 entries, many of them pre-1975 American classics and lowriders decorated with controlled lighting and period-correct accessories. Participation is by invitation only, ensuring a curated lineup that respects originality. Spectators line the sidewalks for free, while owners often spend weeks planning installations that do not compromise paint or chrome.
From December 17 to 21, the Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade draws a different segment of the collector community. The harbor spectacle itself is nautical, but the surrounding streets and parking areas fill with exotics and classics brought in for the evening. Owners of Ferraris, Porsches, and vintage convertibles frequently use the occasion to exercise vehicles that have been in winter storage, taking advantage of mild coastal temperatures and short drives from private garages in Corona del Mar or Laguna Beach.
Garden Grove’s Main Street Classic Car Show continues its Friday-night tradition on December 19 and 26 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. The longest-running weekly cruise in Orange County, it typically hosts 50 to 70 vehicles ranging from brass-era Fords to late-model supercars. December editions see restrained holiday touches – small wreaths on grilles and subtle roof lighting – applied in ways that preserve concours-level finishes. The downtown setting keeps the event compact and manageable, ideal for owners who prefer predictable routes and easy egress.
Earlier in the month, the Classic Car Club of Southern California held its annual holiday lunch on December 6 at the Tam O’Shanter Inn in Los Angeles. Members arriving in pre-war Packards, 1950s Ferraris, and early 911s, parking on the grounds for a static display before the meal. Attendance each year is limited, with the guest list vetted, creating an environment where discussions focus on provenance and market movements rather than casual spectatorship.
The Brea Holiday Car Show on December 7 and the Covina Christmas Car Show & Toy Drive on the same day followed similar patterns: downtown streets closed to traffic, 100-150 vehicles on display, and toy donations as the price of entry. Both events supporting local children’s charities and attract a mix of pre-1975 American iron and European classics. Owners who trailer vehicles in often use the opportunity to air out collections that have been idle since the summer show season.
Winter in Southern California rarely brings freezing temperatures, the winters season sees many keeping their prized automotive possessions in storage until spring events roll around in the new year. Poor storage can affect paint, leather, and mechanical components. For this reason, many collectors keep their vehicles in climate-controlled storage year-round. Facilities operated by Auto Concierge maintain optimal temperatures and humidity at levels that prevent condensation on cold metal surfaces and slow the degradation of rubber seals and interior materials. Battery tenders, tire cradles, and regular exercise cycles are standard, meaning a car can be retrieved, warmed, and driven to any of these or future events with minimal advance notice.
Taken together, the month’s calendar favors measured participation over spectacle. The events are close enough to major population centers to make short-notice attendance practical, yet selective enough to maintain the standards that collectors expect. For those managing significant holdings, December becomes less about adding to the collection and more about ensuring the existing fleet remains exercised and protected until the spring season begins.
From all of us at AutoConcierge, we wish you all the very best for the Holiday Season, and a prosperous 2026.