Destination Guides: Monterey, United States - Events & Entertainment

December 31-Jan. 1
First Night Monterey
Downtown Monterey Tel: 831-373-4778 Celebration of New Year's Eve through the arts. Music, dances, poetry, special installations and exhibits from 2pm to midnight indoors and out throughout historic downtown Monterey. Alcohol-free event for the entire family

Mid-January
Monterey SwingFest
Monterey
Tel: 805-937-1574
Dance workshops feature past and present world and national champions, plus open dancing until 5am. Presented by Central Coast Swing Dance.

Early March
Dixieland Monterey
Monterey
Tel: 831-633-5053
Hotline: 888-349-6879
Three days of top-notch Dixieland and Swing in various venues in downtown Monterey. Featuring top national jazz bands, local youth bands, the Diva Show, gospel Sunday morning, and more.

March
National Marine Sanctuary Annual Symposium
Monterey
Tel: 831-647-4255
Special annual symposium features speakers from MBARI, Moss Landing Research Station, and more. This year’s event focuses on health of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

April
Annual Sea Otter Classic
Laguna Seca, Monterey
Tel: 650-364-7612
The unabashed celebration of all things cycling, the Sea Otter Classic is a four-day bicycle circus. This massive event features fun rides, road racing, mountain bike racing, BMX, kids events, and a large expo that showcases the latest in cycling hardware, clothing and goods. Racers range from first timers to Olympic champions. All kids events are free of charge.

April
Monterey Wine Festival
Monterey
Tel: 800-656-4282 or 831-656-WINE
Enjoy some of California's finest wines at the 29th annual festival. Variety of tastings, educational seminars, and cooking demonstrations at various sites in Monterey.

May-September
Historic Garden Tours
Monterey
Tel: 831-647-6204
Take a fascinating tour of Monterey's best-kept secret. Learn about plant lore, identification, and uses. Tours begin in the Cooper-Molera Adobe courtyard and then proceed to the Stevenson House and (if time) Larkin House gardens. Tuesdays at 1pm.

May
Month of Sundays at La Mirada
Tel: 831-649-7118
A month-long series of lighthearted social events at the Monterey Museum of Art’s La Mirada Gallery.

May
Red, White and a Little Blues - Some Rock and Latin, Too!
Monterey
Tel: 831-655-8070
A Memorial Day red-white-and-blue festival, with live blues, rock and Latin music from 11am-4pm, arts, crafts, and more, all filling Monterey's Alvarado Street. 

May 15
Ed "Doc" Ricketts Birthday Party
Monterey
Tel: 831-372-8512
An evening celebration of the life and times of Ed Ricketts, held on his birthday at Kalisa's La Ida Cafe on Cannery Row.

May 15
Ed "Doc" Ricketts Lab Tours
Monterey
Tel: 831-372-8512
Once a year opportunity to tour the lab of Ed "Doc" Ricketts, revolutionary marine biologist and friend of John Steinbeck, on Cannery Row. Reservations strongly recommended for hourly tours (10am-4pm), donation.

May 19-21
Cooking for Solutions
Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey
Tel: 831-644-7561
Notable chefs gather in a three-day extravaganza dedicated to sustainable seafood. Events include a reception, tasting gala, cooking demonstrations, and farm and vineyard tours.

June-July
Aquarium Adventures
Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey
Aquarium Adventures introduce kids and their families to the fascinating world below the sea surface, including a chance to surface SCUBA dive in the Great Tide Pool of the Aquarium. Reservations are essential; check the website for details.

Late June
Monterey Bay Blues Festival
Monterey Fairgrounds
Tel: 831-394-2652
Three stages of matchless blues and R-and-B, presented by a festival dedicated to preserving this unique American art form. The Festival includes 56 acts during three days of music

Saturdays in July
Historical Walking Tours
Monterey
Tel: 831-372-2608, ext 11
Learn about Monterey's fishing heritage during a free one hour guided walk, starting at the Monterey Maritime Museum at 1:00pm.

Sundays in July
Summer Sunday Lecture Series
Monterey
Tel: 831-372-2608, ext 11
Drop by Monterey's Maritime Museum at 1:00pm for a free one-hour talk on an aspect of Historic Monterey, from architecture to the economy to the city's myriad cultures.

July 3
The Great Race
Monterey
Cheer at the finish line as the country's oldest and longest vintage car race runs from Jacksonville, Florida, to Monterey over 15 days. The classic cars will travel along Cannery Row and Alvarado Street before the race ends at Custom House Plaza.

July Saturdays
Summer Nights Celebration
Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey
The Monterey Bay Aquarium takes on a different mood after dark, and Saturday visitors in July are invited to experience it

July 4
Community Fourth of July Parade
Monterey
Tel: 831-646-3866
The day starts at 10am with a gala parade down Alvarado Street, followed by a BBQ picnic and live music on the lawn before historic Colton Hall, and fireworks over Monterey Bay at 9:15pm.

July 4
Living History Day in Old Monterey
Monterey
Tel: 831-647-6204
Travel back in time and find out what life was like in the 1840s. At the historic Cooper-Molera Adobe you will meet a gardener, cook, rancher, soldier and more.  Activities and fun for all ages.

July
Race Night on the Row
Cannery Row, Monterey
Cannery Row hosts live entertainment and the street becomes a cruise for hundreds of top-line motorcycles. Street closure, except for cruising and parking motorcycles, from 6-10 pm. Free.

July
Sloat Landing Ceremony
Monterey
Tel: 831-372-2608, ext 13
Annual commemoration of Commodore John Drake Sloat's landing in Monterey in 1846. He claimed California for the United States, joining the nation "from sea to shining sea." Ceremony in Custom House Plaza at 1:00pm.

July
Rock and Art Festival
Monterey Fairgrounds
Tel: 831-899-1007
A day around the Garden Stage in the Monterey County Fairgrounds, celebrating rock-n-roll through music and artworks.

Late July
Turkish Festival
Custom House Plaza, Monterey
Tel: 831-655-7509
A celebration of Turkish culture and arts, featuring live music and folk dances, dance workshops, belly dancing, crafts, and delicious food.

July - August (Wednesdays only)
Musical Marketplace
Monterey: 831-373-2705
Wednesday evenings through high summer, enjoy live music and benefit food-and-wine tastings at Monterey's Del Monte Center, 5:30-8pm.

Early August
Annual Steinbeck Festival National Steinbeck Center
Salinas Tel: 831-775-4737 Four days of films, speakers, panels, theater, and bus or walking tours, all celebrating John Steinbeck.

August 
Annual Scottish Games and Celtic Festival Toro Park
Monterey-Salinas Hwy Tel: 831-647-6311 A festival celebrating Scottish and Irish traditions and culture. Featuring a Celtic concert, clans, food, entertainment and competitions in dancing, bagpipe bands and athletics.

Mid-August
Annual Monterey Sports Car Auction
Monterey Tel: 800-211-4371 One of the world's largest sports car auctions, featuring 180 classic sports and race cars. Viewing available over three days.

Mid-August
Annual Rolex Monterey Historic Automobile Races Presented by Chrysler

August
Monterey County Fair
Monterey County Fairgrounds Tel: 831-372-5863 The County Fair is always fun for all, with livestock exhibitions, a wine-tasting booth, amusement midway and delicious foods, plus great live entertainment.

August
Annual Winemaker's Celebration
Monterey Tel: 831-375-9400 Nearly 40 Monterey County wineries pour new releases and special wines in Monterey's Custom House Plaza. Also featuring educational exhibits (grapevine pruning, barrel building, cork display), live music and silent auction.

Early September
Annual Greek Festival
Monterey Tel: 831-424-4434 An ethnic festival featuring authentic Greek food, live music, traditional dancing, a taverna and crafts.

Mid-September
Festa Italia-Santa Rosalia Festival
Monterey Tel: 831-649-6544 Italian music, bocce competitions, arts and crafts, delicious Italian food.

Mid-September
Monterey Jazz Festival Monterey County Fairgrounds
Monterey Tel: 925-275-9255 Nonstop jazz at the oldest continuous jazz festival in the world. Top names in jazz, plus colorful gifts, food, jazz photo/art exhibits, jazz clinics/seminars and more.

October 13
California Constitution Day
Monterey Tel: 831-646-5640 Re-enactment of California's first Constitutional Convention on the original site where it was drafted in 1849.

Mid-October
Big Sur Half Marathon & 5K Run
Monterey Tel: 831-625-6226 Two fun-filled events for runners at all levels. The Big Sur Half Marathon begins and ends in downtown Monterey, taking in Cannery Row and Pacific Grove along the way. The "Run Forrest Run 5K" is sponsored by Bubba Gump's restaurant, complete with entertainment along the course.

Mid-November
8th Great Wine Escape Weekend
Monterey Tel: 831-375-9400 Celebrate the vendange at Monterey County wineries and restaurants as they roll out the red carpet for a weekend of self-guided and narrated bus tours, open houses, winemaker dinners Friday and Saturday nights, and live entertainment.

Late November
10th Annual Cannery Row Christmas Tree Lighting
Monterey Tel: 831-649-6690 "Snow on the Row." Annual tree lighting, caroling and arrival of Santa Claus.

December  

 

Monterey Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony
Monterey Tel: 831-646-5640 Gather on the lawn outside Town Hall to watch the lighting of the town's tree: caroling and good cheer abound!

December
Annual Monterey Cowboy Poetry and Music Festival
Monterey Tel: 1-800-722-9652 The best cowboy poets and balladeers are featured in a 3-day weekend event also showcasing western artists and gear makers.

December
Annual Christmas in the Adobes
Monterey Tel: 831-649-7118 Experience Monterey's beautiful historic buildings illuminated by candlelight and enhanced with period decorations, musical entertainment, costumed volunteers and refreshments.

December  
Brighten The Harbor
Monterey Tel: 831-657-0855 Boats decorated with Christmas lights parade from the Coast Guard Pier to Lover's Point and back. A judging of boats will follow at the Yacht Club.

December
La Posada
Monterey Tel: 831-646-3866 A traditional Christmas candlelight parade led by Joseph and Mary with participants singing Spanish and English Christmas carols. A pinata party with refreshments follows.

December 31-Jan. 1
First Night Monterey
Downtown Monterey Tel: 831-373-4778 Celebration of New Year's Eve through the arts. Music, dances, poetry, special installations and exhibits from 2pm to midnight indoors and out throughout historic downtown Monterey. Alcohol-free event for the entire family.