Low-Key, High-Octane Car Meet Rolling for Over a Decade
Cars and Coffee Longmont is Where the Community Rolls In
On the second Saturday of every month, just as the sun reflects off Longs Peak and Mount Meeker, engines begin to purr and tires crunch into the parking lot outside Einstein Bros. Bagels in Longmont.
From vintage muscle to modern imports, trucks, motorcycles, and daily drivers with personality, Cars and Coffee Longmont is the kind of gathering that feels as much like a community coffee chat as it does a car show or a short cruise.
“We get all kinds of things,” said Chris Jaworski, who’s one of two unofficial organizers. “Four-door Mercedes, lowriders, muscle cars. You see something new every month.”
The event is free and open to all, from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. It’s not officially organized—there’s no registration, no judges, no trophies, just locals and visitors rolling in to connect, swap stories, and show off what they’ve been wrenching on.
“One month it’s huge, the next a little quieter. But it always rotates,” said Jaworski.
That ebb and flow is part of the charm. Last month, by their estimate, nearly 150 cars showed up. This time on May 10? Fewer, but still solid and just as passionate.
“Everybody just came out,” Jaworski recalled. “It was a nice day, and everybody was itching to go.”
Though “Cars and Coffee” events have popped up across the country, Longmont’s version keeps things intimate.
“This one’s kind of low-key. It’s not huge like others—some pull in hundreds, and they have to have security,” said Jaworski. “We don’t want it to be out of control. We’re happy with 100 to 150 cars.”
The parking lot, donated for the morning by Einstein Bros. Bagels, starts clearing by 10:30 to make room for other businesses opening up. That brief window—just a couple of hours—is intentional.
“It’s a morning thing,” said Jaworski. “People roll in, grab a coffee, talk cars, then they’re on with their day… You get out, show off your car, and network a bit. People talk about cars, share tips, even find help for projects.”
Though the meet-up is casual, there are unspoken rules everyone follows: No burnouts, no trash, and abide by all laws. And above all: have fun. The vibe is respectful, relaxed, and welcoming, and early enough that the general public hasn’t fully woken up.
This community-mindedness echoes a time when car culture in Longmont was booming. Jaworski remembers the cruising scene of the 1980s and ‘90s well.
“It was huge when I was in high school. People would come from Denver for it. Then it got shut down,” said Jaworski. “That’s part of why we do this—to keep the car culture alive, but in a way that’s sustainable.”
What started as a casual meetup has grown into an automotive tradition, and it’s showing no signs of slowing down. This monthly informal gathering blends the laid-back vibes of a car show with the spirit of cruising Main Street, a beloved pastime from a bygone era.
“It’s kind of like cruising in a parking lot,” said Jaworski.
Beyond the chrome and horsepower, Cars and Coffee Longmont is really about community—a recurring excuse to get together, talk shop, and admire what rolls in. Some regulars are there every month, always parked in the same shady spot by the trees. Others swing by for the first time, lured in by the sound of engines or the smell of breakfast sandwiches.
Even Stephen Tebo, a local real estate mogul known for his massive private car collection, sometimes drops by.
“He’s got something like 300 cars in a warehouse here,” said Jaworski. “He’ll bring something different every time.”
There’s a certain freedom in the informality of Cars and Coffee. No one’s in charge, but somehow it all works.
“I just help with the Facebook page,” Jaworski explained. “I put out an event and share it to a couple of car shows. That’s it…. It’s autonomous. It just happens. If we took the Facebook page down tomorrow, people would still show up.”
And they do.
“There’s a guy with a woody back there,” Jaworski pointed out. “He’s here every month, same spot. Shows up at like 6:30 a.m. with his buddies. Unless it’s snowing, someone will be here.”
It’s a ritual for many. A new kind of Main Street.
“I remember a car craft magazine listing Longmont as one of the top 10 cruising towns in the country,” said Jaworski. “People came from Denver and Cheyenne. Every Friday night was a blast.”
Now, this is more about community than anything.
“Exactly,” said Jaworski. “It’s not about partying. It’s about cars, hanging out, and sharing ideas. You’ll see guys talking shop —‘How’d you fit that engine in there?’—that kind of thing.”
If you’ve got a cool car, this is the place to make the rounds. Cruise the aisles. Let that exhaust note speak for itself.
“I’d show off a little,” Jaworski smiled.
There’s no flashy advertising campaign. There’s barely a website. And yet, the cars come. So do the people.
“It’s been the second Saturday every month, for, I’m guessing, 10 to 12 years,” said Charlie Bigsby, a long-time regular and informal organizer. “Since the very inception of it.”
The event started with a modest vision from a man who simply wanted to create a local car gathering in his own backyard.
“Bill wasn’t very internet savvy,” recalled Bigsby. “He started a Facebook page, but it got completely overrun with spam. I told him, ‘Why don’t you just make me an admin on that page, and I’ll go in there and fix it for you.’ So I did.”
The group never relied heavily on promotion. What began with maybe 20 or 25 cars now regularly draws close to 100.
“It’s definitely gotten way bigger,” said Bigsby.
Still, the community remains tight. Bigsby’s recent kidney transplant in January brought out a wave of support.
“A good friend of mine put on a bagel and coffee feed in honor of me getting my kidney transplant,” Bigsby shared.
Even local businesses got involved.
“Sandy, who runs the Einstein Bros. Bagels over here, had flyers up on the wall,” said Bigsby. “People know you, and they want to help.”
For Bigsby, who’s owned a variety of rare and vintage vehicles, the event is as much about the people as the cars.
“You get to see cool cars and talk to interesting people. You find out stories about where they got their car, why they like it, what they’ve done to it, or if they even have a clue how it works,” said Bigsby. “Some just bought one because they thought it was cool. And that’s fine. If you’re into cars, you’re into cars. I like you.”
Bigsby estimates 90 percent of the attendees are hands-on car enthusiasts.
“They build or work on their own cars. The other 10 percent? They just love being around it. And that’s enough,” said Bigsby.
What keeps it going isn’t hype or trends, but the steady thrum of community. Bigsby and Jaworski see familiar faces each month, though there are always a few new ones.
Whether it’s a new Porsche, a restored ‘74 Celica, or an old Model T rolling in, mutual respect is the unspoken rule of the lot.
“Everybody respects everybody else’s rides and interest,” Jaworski added.
And so, the event rolls on—fueled not by algorithms or sponsorships, but by stories, support, and the shared joy of a well-built machine.
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awesome article. i have never seen any info on this before.