Sunset Cliffs Auto Show: Classic Cars and Coastal Vibes in Ocean Beach

Overview

Few car shows have a backdrop like this one. The Sunset Cliffs Auto Show — presented by Hodad's and put on by the Ocean Beach community — rolls onto Point Loma Avenue near Sunset Cliffs Boulevard, filling the coastal street with 100-plus classic and custom cars, trucks, and motorcycles, just a stone's throw from the ocean. It happens Saturday, September 12, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (the weekend after Labor Day), it's free, and it's about as family-friendly and quintessentially Ocean Beach as an event gets.

The setting is half the draw: vintage classics, hot rods, and custom builds get an extra layer of character against that easygoing, salt-air OB atmosphere. Add live music, food trucks, a big kids' zone, and after-parties throughout the neighborhood, and it's a full day by the coast — whether you're a die-hard gearhead or just want a laid-back Saturday in one of San Diego's most beloved beach towns.

What You Actually Need to Know

• Event: Sunset Cliffs Auto Show, presented by Hodad's (by the Ocean Beach community)
• Date & time: Saturday, September 12, 2026, 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
• Where: Point Loma Avenue at Sunset Cliffs Blvd, Ocean Beach, San Diego, CA 92107 (street closure along the 4700 block; info booth at St. Peter's By The Sea)
• Admission: Free for spectators, all ages
• Showing a vehicle? $30 entry fee (accepted entries), includes a T-shirt; a fire extinguisher is required per vehicle
• Info & registration: oceanbeachsandiego.com

What to Expect

Cars with a coastal backdrop. Expect 100-plus show-quality vehicles — classic cars, hot rods, custom builds, trucks, and motorcycles — lining the street by the cliffs, with a $1,000 cash prize for Best Vehicle in Show and an awards ceremony to close things out.

A full community day. Around the cars, there's plenty to do:

• Live music from local bands
• Food trucks, merchandise, and local vendors
• A Kids' Zone with Power Wheels Races, a Hot Wheels Derby, a 3-Point Competition, and more (some activities are for local youth in ZIP codes 92107–92110)
• Raffles with prize baskets valued at $700+
• Dog adoptions on-site
• The OB Pancake Breakfast to kick off the morning, and Ocean Beach after-parties to wrap it up

It's got that unmistakable OB spirit — welcoming, a little quirky, and all about community.

Good to Know

• Free to spectate — you only pay if you're registering a vehicle, or for food and vendors
• It's family-friendly — the Kids' Zone makes it a great all-ages outing
• Showing a car? Register early (space is limited), budget the $30 entry, and remember the required fire extinguisher
• Plan for parking and street closures — Point Loma Avenue closes for the show, so arrive early or park in the neighborhood and walk in
• Make a day of it in OB — pair it with the pier, the beach, and the after-parties, and swing by the famous Ocean Beach dog beach while you're there
• Bring sunscreen and water — it's a coastal daytime event

However you cruise it, the Sunset Cliffs Auto Show is a free, feel-good OB tradition — great cars, ocean air, and community all day. For more happening around town, browse our full event calendar, or explore more of Point Loma and Ocean Beach.