There is just something about the sunshine state that makes cars shine a little brighter. Or, perhaps it is the major collection and showing off many rare collector cars, new cars that haven’t hit the market yet, or exotic cars that don’t have to be kept in for the winter months that gives car shows here an extra edge. There is also one car show that is held annually that garners attention from car enthusiasts and connoisseurs everywhere: the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. This yearly car show is held every spring and can feature everything from the rarest collector cars, such as the McLaren F1, and if that piques your interest, it’s definitely an event worth adding to your bucket list.

Where is the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance?

As the name suggests, the annual Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance is held on Amelia Island, but that is only a portion of the puzzle. Amelia Island is a small key off of the coast of Florida outside of Jacksonville, the most northeast major city in the state. The small island itself become a car show all of its own, with many visitors and enthusiasts staying on the island with their own exciting vehicles, some of which can be seen parked in front of Air BnBs and restaurants from the top of the island, called Fernandina Beach, to the hotel where the event is held. The event itself is officially held at the Ritz Carlton Amelia Island.

How long is the show?

The official event with the highest value, rarest cars is held on the Sunday of the event weekend, but there is still plenty to see on Friday and Saturday, too, and you can even participate in some of the events. The event is typically a long weekend, but preparations begin to surface at the Ritz weeks before. It is held on the beautifully maintained golf greens and the entryway to the Ritz itself. Over the first few days, visitors can enjoy speaking with manufacturer representatives and even take some for a test drive. Saturday usually features a Cars and Coffee event which is more lenient on participants and can feature a wide variety of vehicles worth checking out.

Awards, celebrities, and celebrations

As any car show, the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance offers awards from a very experienced judging panel, and these awards work as a form of pedigree, sometimes even enhancing the value of higher-end collector vehicles. Along with the judging, showing off the vehicles, and speeches, you can often find many celebrities of the car community walking around the event grounds. This year, the first episode of the YouTube series CarTrek, hosted by Ed Bolian (VinWiki), Freddy Hernandez (Tavarish), and Tyler Hoover (Hoovies Garage), as well as many icons in the automotive industry.