Sarasota Cars and Coffee is a monthly Saturday-morning meet in Lot 5 at The Mall at University Town Center, on the east side of Dillard’s near PopStroke. The UTC district’s own events page lists it as presented by OMNI Energy and “powered by UTC, OMNI Energy, PT Media, Gettel Automotive,” with safety support from the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office.
The usual date is the second Saturday of the month, 8am to 10am, per that page and a November 2025 report in the East County Observer. November 2026 is the exception. UTC moves the meet to Saturday 7 November, “one week earlier than usual to make way for Santa’s Grand Arrival Parade on Nov. 14.”
When to arrive
The UTC listing gives the hours as 8am to 10am and says show car entry gates open at 6:30am. Parking is first come, first served, and no advance registration is required. Paid VIP spots, sold through TheFOAT.com, come with a private entrance and a guaranteed space, and the VIP gate opens at 7am.
The Observer reported that each month spectators line the exit lane from around 9:30am to watch the cars leave. That is the part of the morning the organizers are trying to calm down.
Where to park
Show cars park in Lot 5 for $10 cash. Motorcycles pay $5 cash. Spectators park free in Lots 6 and 7 and on the grass area north of PopStroke, per UTC. The mall’s address is 140 University Town Center Drive.
The coffee
For November, UTC promises complimentary coffee from Mademoiselle Paris and Chick-fil-A, energy drinks from OMNI Energy and bottled water from Detailers of Sarasota. PopStroke opens at 9am and Ford’s Garage at 10am for brunch. Ford’s Garage gives 15% of sales from 10am to noon on Cars and Coffee Saturdays to the month’s charity partner, which in November is Meals on Wheels of Sarasota.
Where the money goes
The car fees go to a different nonprofit each month, collected at the entrance by that charity’s volunteers, per the Observer. Julie Fanning, marketing director for Benderson Development Company, told the paper the event had raised more than $35,000 for nonprofits in each of the previous four years.
Before you go
At the November 2025 meet, sheriff’s deputies stopped drivers who revved on the way out and warned them. No citations were issued, a sheriff’s office spokesperson told the Observer. The event’s Facebook page then posted: “We cannot allow this event to get shut down because of a few who can’t control themselves.” The paper reported that rules would be posted at the entrance and exit and that staff would ask law enforcement to remove and ban offenders. Leave the lot quietly.
When is the next Sarasota Cars and Coffee?
Saturday 7 November 2026, 8am to 10am, in Lot 5 at The Mall at UTC, per the UTC events page. It is a week early because of the Santa parade on 14 November.
What day does it usually meet?
The second Saturday of the month, 8am to 10am, per UTC and the East County Observer. Dates can move, as November’s has, so check the UTC events page before the drive.
Is Sarasota Cars and Coffee free?
For spectators, yes. Spectator parking is free. Show cars pay $10 cash and motorcycles $5 cash in Lot 5, per UTC.
Do I need to register my car?
No. UTC says parking is first come, first served, and no advance registration is required. Paid VIP spots are sold through TheFOAT.com.
Can I bring any car?
UTC says all makes, models and vintages are welcome.
Where do I park?
Show cars in Lot 5, on the east side of Dillard’s near PopStroke. Spectators park free in Lots 6 and 7 or on the grass north of PopStroke.
- Source: University Town Center (Benderson Development), event page: Sarasota Cars & Coffee, 7 November 2026, read 1 November 2026
- Source: University Town Center, events calendar, read 1 November 2026
- Source: East County Observer, "Cars & Coffee cuts the gas on revving engines," Lesley Dwyer, 19 November 2025, read 1 November 2026
Run this meet? Put its next date on your own site.
This badge shows the next date from this page, and updates when the page does. Paste the code into your site, your link-in-bio page or your club's page.
