There’s only one way to kick off the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance’s 30-year anniversary this year. It’s “Reverie,” a new immersive experience, consisting of a night under the stars at The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island! This year’s Concours d’Elegance will be held March 6 -9, with its inaugural opening celebration on March 6. Reverie features exclusive, automotive-themed culinary pairings developed by Chef Zane Nesbit, The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island executive sous chef, as well as live entertainment, and of course, cars!
Guests will be welcomed with a cocktail reception on the resort’s beautiful oceanfront lawn, alongside roving performers, all flowing into the ballroom, where themed vignettes will feature automotive marques from the Broad Arrow Auction preview – all stationed with food and beverage pairings that capture the essence of each stunning car.
“With a spirit reminiscent of coastal charm, each setting combines automotive passion, sophisticated design, and an ambiance that invites guests to enjoy the evening with curated gourmet dishes and craft cocktails inspired by the classics on display,” says Matt Orendac, Concours Vice Chairman. “This is more than an opening event – it’s a celebration of the automotive community coming together for an evening of elegance, taste, and artistry.”
The Amelia has come a long way since its inception in 1996. When car lovers arrived for the first time 30 years ago, it was an impressive mix of everyday enthusiasts, legendary drivers, automotive designers, TV personalities, and industry executives who cruised through the gates. And it was all thanks to founder Bill Warner and his connections in the automotive world, built over the course of a long and storied career. Year after year, Warner and his dedicated group of volunteers brought this world-class event to life. And the hard work didn’t go unnoticed. In both 2013 and 2016, The Amelia won the coveted “Motoring Event of the Year” from the International Historic Motoring Awards.
Armed with decades of experience hosting car-centric events and a purpose to save driving and car culture for future generations, Hagerty took over as the host of The Amelia in 2021. The Amelia Island Concours staff joined the Hagerty team, providing their unmatched expertise and historic knowledge on how to run a successful, legendary automotive event.
“Since 1996, The Amelia has become a celebration of cars, driving, motorsports and community that car fans around the world look forward to, and we are very proud of that,” says McKeel Hagerty, Chairman of The Amelia. “Our goal is to keep on evolving and improving this annual showcase so that in another 30 years people are still enjoying and appreciating the very best examples of our shared automotive heritage.”
The Amelia’s economic impact to Florida is estimated to be close to $30 million a year. And that’s just the start. Since its beginning, The Amelia has donated over $4 million to charities. Today, the event is proud to annually support Community Hospice & Palliative Care, Spina Bifida of Jacksonville, and Shop with Cops.
INDYCAR LEGEND HELIO CASTRONEVES IS THE AMELIA’S 2025 HONOREE
Each year, The Amelia honors a star from the racing community. The year’s honoree is Hélio Castroneves, a Brazilian driver who competes in the IndyCar Series, driving the No. 06 Dallara-Honda for Meyer Shank Racing. He is one of four drivers to have won the Indianapolis 500 a record four times: 2001, 2002, 2009, and 2021, in addition to being a three-time winner of 24-Hours of Daytona.
“There’s clearly a synergy between people who love racing and those who love Concours, and The Amelia is the intersection of both those passions, each of which I hold dearly,” says Castroneves. “To be honoree of the event during its 30th year is also an honor and so special, and I look forward to celebrating with The Amelia community.”
“Hélio Castroneves changed the history of IndyCar and represents everything that automotive racing should be about,” said Hagerty Vice Chairman Matt Orendac. “No one is more passionate about racing than Hélio Castroneves, and he’s sure to bring that enthusiasm from the track to the showfield. The Amelia celebrates its 30th year in 2025 and is growing into a new era, while still retaining its roots as the Racer’s Concours. It’s in that spirit of youth-meeting-heritage that we announce Mr. Castroneves as our next honoree for 2025.”
Over the years, honorees have included motorsports’ most revolutionary drivers and team owners, such as Stirling Moss, Carroll Shelby, Phil Hill, Bobby Unser, Derek Bell, Roger Penske, Lyn St. James, Jeff Gordon, and many more.
BROAD ARROW AUCTION AND EIGHT FLAGS ROAD TOUR
On Thursday, March 6, the public is welcome to Broad Arrow Auctions’ preview of more than 100 exceptional collector cars ranging from pre-war American and European classics to motorsport icons and modern supercars. The preview will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island.
Thursday evening at 6:30 p.m., join the fun with Reverie, The Amelia’s inaugural celebration, featuring cars, live entertainment, and the peak of food and beverage craftsmanship. Guests will be treated to an open bar and food stations curated by the finest chefs. Reverie merges the glamour of the French Riviera with the effortless elegance of Amelia Island’s coastline. This oceanfront soirée transforms the setting into a celebration of creativity and style!
Be sure to get up early on Friday, March 7 for the Eight Flags Road Tour, presented by Reliable Carriers. Concours d’Elegance entrants will travel through some of the most beautiful scenery and interesting driving roads of the Amelia Island area, from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. The tour, which is reserved for Concours entrants and special guests only, includes breakfast, a coffee stop, and lunch. Keep your eyes peeled for these cars and drivers – you never know where they’ll end up!
Again, at 9 a.m., the public is invited to check out Broad Arrow Auction’s preview at The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island. Next, you can set your course to Hagerty’s Ride & Drive event, held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Get behind the wheel of a cool car and cruise on a guided drive around the area. Its free and open to the public, first come, first served. You’ll find the Hagerty Ride & Drive booth at the entrance to The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island.
At 3 p.m. on Friday, you won’t want to miss The Amelia’s very special seminar, “Behind the Mic,” presented by Flatrock Motorclub. Listen in on an intimate chat among current and former racing legends as they discuss motorsports’ most thrilling topics. Join host Ray Evernham, NASCAR’s winningest crew chief of all time, as he makes light with those behind the mic who are among the best-loved TV racing commentators of the past 30-years. This Friday seminar will take place at the Talbot Ballroom at The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island.
At 4 p.m. on Friday, as well as on Saturday at 11 a.m., Broad Arrow will be hosting its legendary auction at the resort. As the official auction house of The Amelia, Broad Arrow is proud to be part of longest standing and most established Florida Concours event.
At 7 p.m. on Friday, check out a special film screening of Back on Track, a new docuseries from Mobil 1 and Hagerty, that follows legendary drivers as they try to win the Porsche Endurance Challenge North America in a Porsche 718 GT4 Clubsport. Seating is limited so be sure to reserve your spot early.
HAGERTY’S RIDE & DRIVE AND CARS & COMMUNITY ON SATURDAY MARCH 8
On Saturday, March 8, Hagerty’s Ride & Drive will again be featured, and from 10:30 a.m. to noon, an exclusive seminar will have you remembering some of the noteworthy Concours cars from years past. “Best of 30 Years of Amelia” features an all-star lineup of past honorees. This year, the panel includes racecar drivers David Hobbs, Derek Bell, Lun St. James, Chip Ganassi, and Bobby Rahal. Ray Evernham is hosting the seminar. If you’ve been to past seminars, you understand why this is one of the “not to be missed” events of The Amelia weekend.
Also on Saturday, enjoy over 300 vehicles and tons of car fun for The Amelia’s Cars & Community event. Highlights include RADwood, featuring over 200 awesome vehicles of the ‘80s and ‘90s, along with a costume contest for the coveted raddest-dressed award. Be sure to check out Cars & Caffeine, presented by Griots Garage, and its 300 curated vehicles from across the country.
Saturday evening at 6:30 p.m., enjoy an exclusive event, the Legends of Speed Dinner, hosted by 2025 Amelia Honoree Hélio Castroneves. This features an intimate multi-course dinner, inspired by award winning racetracks from around the world. And the best part, plenty of tales from Hélio’s historic career that brings the thrill of the race right to your table.
THE AMELIA CONCOURS D’ELEGANCE ON SUNDAY, MARCH 9
On Sunday, March 9, it’s the main event we’ve all been waiting for: The 30th Amelia Island Concourse d’Elegance! Held at The Golf Club of Amelia Island and featuring 35 car classes and 275 historically significant vehicles, Amelia entrants are all vying for various awards and accolades. Some of the featured vehicles include American classics from 1920 to 1948, horseless carriages, Rolls Royce Silver Ghost, Alfa Romeo pre-war, Ferrari coachbuilt, and super cars from 1980 to present.
Celebrate Porsche’s 50 years of Turbo, along with “critter cars,” cars named after animals, and motorcycles with car names. Safety cars tell the story of drivers’ and passengers’ well-being, and how safety features grew throughout the years. Celebrating 50 years of BMW 3-Series will take you back to the days when those vehicles inspired a rising generation of car aficionados. The 3-Series is BMW’s best-selling model, accounting for 30 percent of the BMW brand’s total car sales and has won numerous awards throughout its history.
“At The Amelia, we aim to educate, entertain, and engage our guests in the history of the automobile, and what it has meant to us,” states Orendac. “People will have the opportunity to chat with car owners, and share their own thoughts and memories. It’s going to be the best Concours event in the history of The Amelia. We can’t wait to see you there!”
Throughout the show on Saturday and Sunday, be sure to check out the Bavarian beer garden, live music, along with various cuisines and concessions. For more information and the complete schedule, and to purchase tickets for their events, visit The Amelia’s website at www.ameliaconcours.com. You’ll find the most up-to-date announcements about the 2025 show as well as what has happened over The Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance’s past 30 years. Since 1996, The Amelia has featured some very significant cars, drivers, and concepts!