Monterey Car Week’s Friday schedule has become increasingly busy and exclusive in recent times, with single-marque gatherings and Historic racing at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, Laguna Seca – as well as The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, long sold out at over $1000 per ticket. However, a new event is now poised to offer a more accessible alternative from 2025.
Called The Paddock, Car Week’s latest event will debut on on August 15, 2025. It will showcase an eclectic range of vehicles, spanning everything from vintage and classic cars to competition machines and exotics. The event will be staged at the Bayonet Black Horse in Seaside, California.
For Car Week regulars, the venue is a familiar one; it has long served as the home of Concorso Italiano, which will return on Saturday, August 16.
“For years, Concorso Italiano has offered a non-Italian marque display,” explained The Paddock chairman Tanya Kosta. “And now our parent company, International Car Week, is offering an expanded version through The Paddock, where owners of European, Japanese, American and other automotive pedigrees can display their prized vehicles.”
Not only does The Paddock afford the opportunity to showcase a wider range of vehicles than Concorso Italiano, it also makes strategic use of the infrastructure already in place for the Saturday event. More importantly, however, it provides enthusiasts with an alternative to the more exclusive events on Friday’s timetable.
Among the highlights is a celebration dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the Saleen S7 supercar, with dozens of examples expected to convene on the showfield. RADwood, meanwhile, will inject 1980s and ’90s nostalgia with a line-up of iconic vehicles complemented by period music and fashion.
Visitors can also enjoy live entertainment, browse a curated vendor village and sample food from local stands. Those looking for a more luxurious experience can relax in VIP cabanas that offer private seating, bar service and catered hospitality.
Ticket prices are positioned at the more accessible end of Car Week, starting from $75 each, while children under 13 get free entry as part of The Paddock’s Take a Kid to a Car Show initiative that aims to inspire the next generation of enthusiasts.
“We’re on the brink of announcing several speciality displays and activations that will really elevate the experience,” teased business development director Larence Habovstak. “There’s much more to come, and we’re excited to share it in the coming weeks.”
The event takes place from 3:00pm to 8:00pm on Friday, August 15, 2025. For tickets and further information, click here.
