Calendar of Events on the Monterey Peninsula | Carmel Luxury and Estates Properties

The Monterey Peninsula & surrounding areas offer
a variety of activities & events for all ages.

Scroll down for major events or select one of the links below:

* Old Monterey/Downtown

*Pacific Grove

- YEAR ROUND EVENTS -

Certified Organic Farmer's Markets

Monterey Peninsula College

Del Monte Center

Carmel in the Barnyard

Central & Grand Ave., Pacific Grove

Oldtown Monterey Farmer's Market

,Alvarado Street in Downtown Monterey
Tuesdays - Rain or Shine
Apr-Oct 4-8 pm
Oct-Mar 4-7 pm
Info: 831-655-8070

EVENTS BY MONTH

January 2013

Summer 2012 into 2013

The Secret Lives of Seahorses

Monterey Bay Aquarium

886 Cannery Row, Monterey

831 648-4800 for more info, or tickets by phone 866-963-9645

Special Exhibition: The aquarium’s most popular special exhibition to date, “The Secret Lives of Seahorses” continues to get rave reviews and will remain open into 2013. The exhibition showcases more than 15 species of seahorses and their kin—one of the largest and most diverse exhibits of seahorses and their family in the nation. As visitors explore the elusive world of seahorses in four multimedia galleries, they learn about the surprising ways that these fascinating fishes grow up, choose mates and give birth. The exhibition highlights the fragile habitats that seahorses call home, and conservation stations provide visitors with tools to help protect these mythical animals and the precious coastal environments where they live.

Dec 28 - Jan 6

Twist and Shout Tribute Concert
Golden Bough Playhouse, Directed by Stephen Moorerly, 7 Shows plus New Year's Eve! Musical Direction by Don Dal

PacRep announces its annual New Years Eve Party and exclusive limited run of the 2012 Twist and Shout Tribute Concert – with all your favorites! Audiences will be encouraged to “dance in the aisles” at the Golden Bough Playhouse with performances that will shake, rattle and roll with “Jerry Lee Lewis”, “Elvis”, “Leslie Gore” “Ritchie Valens”, “Sam Cooke’, “Dusty Springfield”, “Bob Dylan”, and more – created live on stage by PacRep favorites singing crowd-pleasing hits of yester-year!

Jan 1

23rd Annual Rio Grill Resolution Run

Carmel

831-645-4777

Rio Resolution Run, hosted by Rio Grill is a 6.5 mile footrace and a 3 mile family fun run, held annually on January 1st each year over a breathtaking, cross country course in and around Carmel-By-The-Sea. Proceeds from the event benefit Community Partnership for Youth. CPY provides consistent support in a safe environment for young people to develop boundaries and learn to build on their individual strengths. Community Partnership of Youth - Building a Better Community, One Child at a Time.

Jan 4

First Friday's Art Walk (Oldtown Main St)

Salinas

758-9126

Stroll through historic Oldtown with over 40 venues featuring art exhibitions , live music, dance and theater performances, taste tidbits from the various restaurants and wine tasting the first Friday of every month. Open to the public, free admission. The National Steinbeck Center is excited to welcome its January 2013 guest speaker, Sheila Dundon, on First Friday, January 4, 2013. First Friday is a community free evening of art and cultural events at the National Steinbeck Center from 5-8 PM.

Jan 5

Wharf Walks at Monterey’s Old Fisherman’s Wharf

Walking Tours With Historian Tim Thomas

Monterey

831 521-3304

email timsardine@yahoo.com

The Monterey Old Fisherman’s Wharf Association is pleased to team up with noted Monterey Bay Fisheries Historian and author, Tim Thomas, who will offer monthly “Wharf Walks” Walking Tours at Fisherman’s Wharf in Monterey (http://www.montereywharf.com/) on the first Saturday of every month from 10:00 AM – Noon, beginning Saturday, March 3, 2012. Tours will meet at the head of Old Fisherman’s Wharf (near the pink “Harbor House” store, #1 Old Fisherman’s Wharf, Monterey. Advance reservations are required. The tour is for ages 10–adult only and the cost is $30 for adults and kids are $15 (10-15 years) Group Rates are also available.

Jan 6

Ice Skating By The Bay

Sunday, January 6, 2013 - Enjoy the fun of Ice Skating by the Bay.

Jan 6, 13, 20, 27

Library Sunday

Carmel-By-The-Sea

A unique opportunity to taste older wines from Morgan Winery's cellar!

Jan 6, 13, 20, 27

Marina Certified Farmers' Market

Marina

Marina's Farmers Market is every Sunday from 10am to 2pm at 215 Reservation Road in the Marina Village Shopping Center (near Grocery Outlet and in front of Lee’s Garden.

Jan 11

Violinist Tim Fain at the Sunset Center

San Carlos Street at Ninth Avenue - Sunset Center

Violinist Tim Fain's innovative multimedia production centers around Philip Glass' Partita for Solo Violin, and interweaves films by Kate Hackett, dance films by Black Swan's Benjamin Millepied, and the words of Leonard Cohen.

"Stepping Out with Chamber Music Monterey Bay" includes works by Glass, Puts, Kernis, Zurbin, Muhly, Bolcom.

Jan 12

Join the Monterey Monthly Beach Cleanup

Monterey Municipal Beach at Wharf #2 (Del Monte), Monterey

RAIN OR SHINE! Join Save Our Shores at our first monthly beach cleanup of 2013. Check-in will be on the beach near the restrooms at the parking lot for Wharf #2. 10am-12pm with Save Our Shores. Come lend a hand for pollution prevention at the Monterey monthly beach cleanup taking place this month at Monterey State Beach. Hosted by Save Our Shores, all cleanup materials will be provided. Volunteers are encouraged to bring their own gloves, reusable bags and/or buckets to help decrease trash. Monterey Monthly Beach Cleanups take place at alternating locations on every 2nd Saturday of the month. Locations can always be found at http://www.saveourshores.org/ Cost: 100% Free of Charge

Jan 12

Opening Reception for 2013 Center for Photographic Art Juried Exhibition

(Exhibition runs January 12, 2013 – March 2, 2013)

831-625-5181

Time: 4-6pm Center for Photographic Art, San Carlos & 9th, Carmel CA

Exhibition of 49 contemporary photographic works selected as winners of CPA’s annual nationwide photographic competition. Free.

Jan 13

San Juan Bautista Gallery Walk (2nd Saturday of each month)

831-623-2454

San Juan Bautista Gallery Walk (1pm-7pm.) Wear your walking shoes and visit the many galleries featuring original fine art including, but not limited to oils, acrylics, photography, pottery, watercolor, etchings and mixed media. You will be greeted by artists and enjoy refreshments, music and affordable art in the “City of History”. Look for the Gallery Walk signs along Third Street. The local shops and restaurants will be open for your enjoyment as well. Call for more details.

Jan 13

Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra

San Carlos Street at Ninth Avenue

Sunset Center

The Carmel Music Society presents "Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra" this afternoon at the Sunset Center. The world-class orchestra plays Vivaldi's Four Seasons and more on period instruments!

Jan 14, 21, 28

Everyone's Harvest – Pacific Grove Certified Farmer's Market

Lighthouse Ave. from Forest Ave. to 17th St., Pacific Grove

831-384-6961

4 p.m. - 8 p.m. (summer), 3 p.m. - 7 p.m. (winter)

Shop for organic fruits and vegetables and homemade arts, crafts and knits among the charming storefronts of historic Pacific Grove.

Jan 17

Winemaker Series First Winemakers Dinner For 2013

Hyatt Carmel Highlands, Carmel

831 620-1234

An Evening with Doug Margerum and the Wines of Margerum Wine Company Learn, Swirl, Sip and Enjoy! Meet the Winemakers and enjoy a four course dinner with wine paired to each course.

Jan 17 - 23

Monterey Swingfest

Monterey

805-937-1574

Dance workshops feature past and present world and national champions, plus open dancing. Presented by Central Coast Swing Dance at the Monterey Hyatt Regency.

Jan 19

Champions of the Arts

Portola Hotel and Spa, Monterey

831-622-9060

Join the staff and supporters of the Arts Council for Monterey County for a great evening including dinner, entertainment and dancing, silent auction, and to honor our Lifetime Achievement Award winner. 5p to 10p

Jan19

Lily Tomlin at the Sunset Center

San Carlos at Ninth - Sunset Cultural Center, Inc.

Admission: $69-$99

Get together with Lily Tomlin for an unforgettable night of fun and sidesplitting laughter. The critics have no end of nice things to say about her: 'Tomlin is amazing' and 'as always a revelation.' This unique comic artist takes her audience on a 'wise and howlingly funny trip' with more than a dozen of her timeless characters from Ernestine to Sister Boogie Woman; Mrs. Beasley to Edith Ann. 'With astounding skill and energy, Tomlin zaps through the channels like a human remote control. Using a fantastic range of voices, gestures and movements, she conjures up the cast of characters with all the apparent ease of a magician pulling a whole menagerie of animals from a single hat.' Don't miss this warm and uniquely affecting experience filled with comical insights and wildly, witty observations about the human condition.

Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm through Jan 19!

"Avenue Q"

Monterey

(831) 905-5684

8 Shows Only!

Winner of the TONY® “TRIPLE CROWN” for BEST MUSICAL, BEST SCORE and BEST BOOK, AVENUE Q is part flesh, part felt and packed with heart. Don't miss out on this chance to save big on this long-running Broadway hit! AVENUE Q is a laugh-out-loud musical that tells the timeless story of a recent college grad named PRINCETON who moves into a shabby New York apartment all the way out on Avenue Q. There, he meets KATE (the girl next door), ROD (the Republican), TREKKIE (the internet "expert"), LUCY THE SLUT (need we say more?), and other colorful types who help PRINCETON finally discover his purpose in life! Paper Wing Theatre - 320 Hoffman Ave, Monterey, CA, 93940, (831) 905-5684, http://www.paperwing.com/

Jan 25 - Feb 9

The Last Five Years - 6 SHOWS ONLY!

Presented in the intimate Gallerie Theatre. Limited seating, Monterey

Phone reservations STRONGLY suggested 831-905-5684

The story explores a five-year relationship between Jamie Wellerstein, a rising novelist, and Cathy Hyatt, a struggling actress. The show uses a form of storytelling in which Cathy's story is told in reverse chronological order (beginning the show at the end of the marriage), and Jamie's is told in chronological order (starting just after the couple have first met). The characters do not directly interact except for a wedding song in the middle as their timelines intersect. Blending powerful singing with intimate emotion and style. An actors favorite! Paper Wing Theatre Company, 320 Hoffman Avenue, Monterey, CA

Jan 26

Science Saturday: Amazing Migrations

Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History, Pacific Grove

831 648-5716

Science Saturdays are held on the last Saturday of most months. They feature hands-on activities and opportunities for scientific exploration and investigation. Admission is free. Could you travel hundreds, even thousands of miles by only using your memory, or your sense of smell? Come see how well you can migrate! Try matching scents as salmon do when they try to find their home river, create a hummingbird feeder, and try other fun activities as you learn just what makes these migrations so amazing! Drop by the Museum anytime between 11:00am and 3:00pm. 11:00am

Jan 26 - 27

Monterey Symphony - Introspection

Steinbeck Institute for Arts and Culture, Salinas

In Toldrá and Turina, we find flower covered hills, shimmering seas and a Bullfighter’s Prayer with all its contemplation and courage evoked in lush and pure strings. Max Bragado-Darman conducts this all-strings program—reflective and authentic of his native Spain, the noble concert halls of Vienna and the satisfaction of Bohemian life as conveyed in Dvorák’s Serenade for Strings. In her Monterey Symphony debut, Bulgarian born Anna Petrova performs Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 13 in C Major, an introspective work imbued with Mozart’s gift for beauty and elegance. Friday at 7:30pm, Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 3pm

Jan 26 & 27

Whalefest Monterey 2013

Old Fisherman’s Wharf, #1 Old Fisherman’s Wharf, Monterey

831 649-6544

9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

During the migration of the Gray Whale, Old Fisherman's Wharf Association, BLUE Ocean Film Festival, and Monterey Academy of Oceanographic Science sponsor a fundraising event to bring public awareness to the marine nonprofits that influence the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. We believe the sustainability of our oceans is through education, formal and informal, of this generation and the next.

Jan 28

Clint Black at the Sunset Center

San Carlos at Ninth - Sunset Cultural Center, Inc.

Admission: $69-$99

Clint Black has long been heralded as one of Country music's brightest stars. His many talents have taken him even further, and Black has transcended genres to become one of the most successful artists in the music industry. Black took the country music charts by storm in the 90's with his premiere album, 'Killin' Time.' Wearing his trademark black cowboy hat, Black and his smooth good looks and regular-guy voice ushered in the era of the country megastar. Clint's first sentimental love song 'A Better Man' made him the first male country singer with a No. 1 debut hit in a decade and a half. Black is still going strong after 20 years in the business and has no plans of slowing down now.

February 2013

Feb (Mondays)

The Pacific Grove Certified Farmers' Market

The Pacific Grove Certified Farmers' Market with an ocean view has fresh fruits and vegetables (many certified organic), beautiful flowers and plants, organic eggs, from small-scale family farmers, and prepared food and unique gifts from local Monterey County businesses. Mondays from 4:00pm to 7:00pm at Central and Grand Ave in front of Jewell Park, the PG Library, and Natural History Museum.

Feb (2nd Saturday of each month)

San Juan Bautista Gallery Walk

831-623-2454

Jan 12 - Mar 2

Center for Photographic Art Juried Exhibition

831-625-5181

Time: 4-6pm Center for Photographic Art, San Carlos & 9th, Carmel CA

Exhibition of 49 contemporary photographic works selected as winners of CPA’s annual nationwide photographic competition. Free.

FEB 2013

Feb 1

First Friday's Art Walk (Oldtown Main St)

Salinas

Feb 1

Opening of Johnny Apodaca, Henri Matisse and Beth van Hosen exhibit

Monterey Museum of Art

831.372.5477 x 109

Includes an open wine reception that night from 5-7 pm. 559 Pacific Street, Monterey Ca 93940

Feb 2

Family Day at the Monterey Museum of Art

Monterey

831 372.5477

The Monterey Museum of Art (MMA) invites families to explore, create and play in the galleries while discovering the world of art. Admission is free on Saturday, Feb 2, 11 am to 4 pm, at the Monterey Museum of Art - 559 Pacific Street, Monterey Ca 93940

Feb 2

Wharf Walks at Monterey’s Old Fisherman’s Wharf

Walking Tours With Historian Tim Thomas

Monterey

831 521-3304

email timsardine@yahoo.com

Feb 2

Monterey County Business Council's 17TH Anniversary Gala & Annual Economic Vitality Awards

Monterey

831 582-3235

The Monterey County Business Council, an alliance of business executives and professionals providing collaborative leadership to help people from business, government, education, and the community work together on countywide issues. The event will honor the organizations that have contributed to the economic vitality, growth and preservation of Monterey County through our six key industry clusters.

Feb 3

Marina Certified Farmers' Market

Marina

Marina's Farmers Market is every Sunday from 10am to 2pm at 215 Reservation Road in the Marina Village Shopping Center (near Grocery Outlet and in front of Lee’s Garden.

Feb 3

"A Day to Remember" Bridal Show

Monterey Conference Center, 1 Portola Plaza, Monterey, CA

Meet over 100 of the areas finest wedding professionals at the 15th annual, A to Remember Bridal Show. Only the finest wedding professionals from the area are invited to be vendors. Register to win fabulous prizes and sample delicious wedding cakes. 11:00am - 4pm. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the door.

Feb 3

Library Sunday

Carmel-By-The-Sea

A unique opportunity to taste older wines from Morgan Winery's cellar!

Feb 3

Super Bowl Sunday 2:30 PM

Knuckles Sports Bar at the Hyatt Regency Monterey can seat over 500 football with ample TV's. The party also includes appearances from the Bud Light Girls and drink and appetizer specials.

Feb 3

Best-selling author and social scientist Dr. Riane Eisler on the roadmap to a better economic future.

Unitarian Universalist Church of Monterey Peninsula, 490 Aguajito Road, Carmel, CA 93923. ($20. Call 624-7404 for tickets) 3 p.m. Sunday, February 3. Renowned author of The Real Wealth of Nations, Riane Eisler will launch the new year for the Unitarian Universalist church’s new Cultural Event series 3 p.m, Sunday, February 3. Dr. Eisler is an internationally acclaimed speaker, with platforms ranging from the United Nations General Assembly to major conferences and universities worldwide.

Feb 4 - 10

2012 AT&T Pebble Beach Nat’l ProAm

Pebble Beach

831-649-1533

The AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am is a 72-hole PGA TOUR golf championship dating back to the 1930's when Bing Crosby gathered a few friends to raise money for charity... and have a little fun. Top TOUR professionals team with Hollywood celebrities, world renowned musicians and the captains of industry as they compete for a multi-million dollar purse.

Feb 6

UCSC's Kinetic Poetics Festival

Santa Cruz

UC Porter Dining Hall (Located in Porter College - 8 on the Westside of the UCSC campus)

Payment required - $5 to $10 sliding scale, yet no one will be turned away due to lack of funds. 7pm. The Whirlwind Company is a unique spoken word heart charge party experience with: Brian S Ellis, Mike McGee, Mindy Nettifee, Jon Sands. Kinetic Poetics Project is the official UC Santa Cruz organization that facilitates the monthly on-campus poetry slam and its annual festival of spoken word.

Deadline: Feb 7

Save Our Shores Seeks Community Leaders for the Ocean

Sanctuary Steward Docent Program Starts Soon

831.462.5660 x 1 or email volunteer@saveourshores.org

Community members passionate about the ocean are encouraged to apply. Sanctuary Steward Docent Program is accepting new volunteers. The exclusive lecture and field trip series will prepare you to become a high impact marine educator and resident expert on issues affecting the Monterey Bay. Stewards help to raise community awareness on issues such as pollution prevention, marine debris, habitat conservation and marine fisheries. By joining the SOS team, you will meet like minded people and together we will ensure our local beaches have a voice in 2013. Save Our Shores 345 Lake Avenue, Suite A, Santa Cruz, CA 95062 Free

Feb 8

Monterey Contemporaries Love Mixer

Monterey Museum of Art

831.372.5477 x 109

A chance for people of different backgrounds to get together in a cultural environment. Includes drinks, food and DJ. 559 Pacific Street, Monterey Ca 93940

Feb 9

River Road Wine Trail Valentine's Passport

River Road Wine Trail

Join us for the sweetheart of all wine tastings! 11am - 4pm The fourteen artisan vintners along Monterey's River Road Wine Trail want to share the love! Make your plans for this special day of rare vintages, fun, food, and celebration all things amour.

Feb 9

Join the Monterey State Beach Cleanup

Monterey State Beach, North of Best Western

Volunteer for the Monterey Monthly Beach Cleanup with Save Our Shores. Monterey State Beach, North of Best Western. Check-in on in the parking lot to the north of Best Western Hotel on the beach in Seaside. 10am-12pm with Save Our Shores. Come lend a hand for pollution prevention at the Monterey monthly beach cleanup taking place this month at Monterey State Beach. Hosted by Save Our Shores, all cleanup materials will be provided. Volunteers are encouraged to bring their own gloves, reusable bags and/or buckets to help decrease trash. Monterey Monthly Beach Cleanups take place at alternating locations on every 2nd Saturday of the month. Locations can always be found at http://www.saveourshores.org/ Cost: 100% Free of Charge

Feb 13

Twilight Bicycle Ride

Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Hwy 68, Monterey CA

Cyclists can take to the track on their own bikes to experience the thrill of pedaling Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, including the challenging 300-foot climb and awe-inspiring descent down the world-famous Corkscrew. The rides/races are always informal and the 11 turn 2.238 mile course is open to all levels of cyclists. Helmets are required and the cost is $10 per rider.

Feb 15

Chocolate & Wine Tasting Benefit

Monterey

831 646-3949

The Friends of the Monterey Public Library will hold their annual Chocolate & Wine Tasting Benefit at the Monterey Public Library. Sample a wide variety of local wines, as well as Prosecco and Port, and enjoy a dazzling array of chocolate delights including cakes, candies, petit fours, ice cream, cookies, brownies, fondue, mole and more! The event features a silent auction and live music. All proceeds go to purchase books and other resources for the Monterey Public Library. Tickets are $25 in advance at the Library Help Desk or $30 at the door. Must be 21-up to attend. The Library is located at 625 Pacific Street, Monterey.

Feb 15

The Second City: Laughing Matters

San Carlos at Ninth - Sunset Cultural Center, Inc.

Admission: $29-$49

With economic uncertainty, political gridlock, and a dearth of Kardashians clogging up our televisions, laughing has never mattered more. The Second City is here to bring some well needed silliness and hilarious spontaneity to a world in need of comic relief! The Second City: Laughing Matters puts comedy first in wickedly funny sketches, songs, and improvisations ripped straight from the headlines or pulled from their 52-year archive. This Chicago comedy institution has produced alumni like John Belushi, Martin Short, Steve Carrell, Tina Fey and many more. With scripted and improvisational elements, audiences always enjoy being a part of the show and playing along with the next generation of comic legends!

Feb 17

“Through Strength to Transformation”

Sunset Center, San Carlos & 9th Ave., Carmel

831.375.1992

Youth Music Monterey County presents “Through Strength to Transformation” featuring the 2012-2013 Concerto Competition Winner Peter Mellinger, violinist and special vocal guests Rebecca Davis, soprano & Ben Gulley, tenor. Musical highlights include scenes from Swan Lake, Verdi’s Nabucco Overture, Beethoven’s Lenore Overture and the third movement from Max Bruch’s exciting Violin Concerto in g minor. Special guest vocalists will join the stage for Puccini’s La Boheme, Verdi’s Ave Maria, and Donizetti’s famous Una Furtiva Lagrima from the opera L’Elisir d’Amore, just in time to celebrate love for the Valentine holiday! Tickets: $5 student musicians, $10 seniors, $20 general admission, $30 Dress Circle

…Building the Next Generation of Musicians and Music Lovers

Feb 21

Pilobolus at the Sunset Center

San Carlos at Ninth - Sunset Cultural Center, Inc.

Admission: $49-$69

Pilobolus is a Sunset Center audience favorite for a reason. Back in Carmel with a brand new mix of repertoire, this incredibly inventive dance troupe just keeps getting better. Over its 41-year history, the company has continued to grow, expanding and refining its unusual collaborative methods to produce a body of over 100 choreographic works, and while it has become a stable and influential force in the world of dance, Pilobolus remains as protean and surprising as ever. Dynamic, accessible, and startlingly unique, this is a company for dance lovers and newcomers alike.

Feb 22

Wine, Art and Music Walk

Pacific Grove

831 373-3304

Enjoy wine and a variety of live music as you take this always popular walking tour of Pacific Grove's finest art venues. The event is complimentary and open to the public. The hours are from 6:00-9:00 pm. Locations to be announced...584 Central Avenue - Pacific Grove, CA 93950

Feb 23

32nd Annual Clam Chowder Cook-Off

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

831-420-5273

ATTENTION CHOWDER CHEFS! Dig out your favorite Boston and/or Manhattan clam chowder recipes for the 32nd Annual Clam Chowder Cook-Off, at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. The two divisions are Individual and Professional. Winners will have a chance to win round-trip tickets courtesy of Continental Airlines and cash prizes. Trophies are awarded to first place winners in each division as well as for “Most Original” and “Most Tasted.” Entry forms are available in the Parks and Recreation Office, 323 Church Street and online. Entry fees include two T-shirts per team if registered by Friday, January 20

Feb 23 & 24

Shark Days

Monterey Bay Aquarium, 886 Cannery Row, Monterey, CA 93940

Angela Hains, (831) 647-6804; ahains@mbayaq.org

Mika Yoshida, (831) 644-7522; myoshida@mbayaq.org

Explore the mysterious world of sharks and rays, shake the hands of aquarists who hand feed the ocean’s most misunderstood predators, enjoy special animal feeding shows and presentations, and revel in the beauty and power that is the ocean.

Feb 23 - 24

East of Eden Cat Show

831 375-0801

Open to the public! All children must be accompanied by an adult. Location: Gate 3, Salinas Room. Hours: 10 AM - 4 PM. Admission: Adults $5, Senior & Children 12 & under $4, Children 2 and under FREE!

Feb 23, 24

Anticipation

Sunset Center, Carmel

Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 3pm

A piano can be an orchestra itself in the hands of a master, so like a seventh inning stretch, we give the orchestra a break while the piano plays on. In all its magnificence, the Symphony’s Hamburg Steinway sits centerstage and alone in this feature performance with Spanish pianist Josu de Solaun. One of classical music’s fast rising stars, De Solaun wowed audiences with his Monterey Symphony debut (Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3) in January 2011. He returns with a program of varied and challenging works for solo piano, three by Robert Schumann and the original piano version of Modest Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition. Don’t miss this opportunity of a lifetime, to hear De Solaun’s interpretation of this challenging piano masterpiece as well as Ravel’s magificent orchestration during our May program.

Feb 24

Steinbeck’s Birthday Celebration!

Salinas

The National Steinbeck Center

831 775-4721

Sunday, February 24th, 2013, from 10am to 5pm the National Steinbeck Center hosts a Community Free Day. Steinbeck Birthday Celebration is in recognition of John Steinbeck and the inspiration he continues to provide through his legacy. For Monterey County residents, museum admission and all of the Birthday Celebration activities on February 24 are free.

Feb 25

Monterey County Fair Heritage Foundation's "Brickathon"

831 372-5863

Help the Monterey County Fair Heritage Foundation complete our new capital improvement project. We have started a campaign to brick a path from the Gate 5 entrance up to the Monterey Bay Race Place entrance. The new path will be laid with bricks, engraved with the names of our community members. New - You now have the option of 4 inch by 8 inch brick $100.00 which may contain up to 3 lines of copy, 21 characters per line or an 8 inch by 8 inch brick for $200 which may contain up to 6 lines of copy with 18 characters per line. All text is centered. This is a beautiful and everlasting way to show your support of the Monterey County Fairgrounds. Donations to Brick-AThon 2004 Fairground Road, Monterey CA 93940 or visit our website at www.montereycountyfair.com/heritage to complete a form and pay electronically. If you have questions or require additional forms, please call (831) 372-5863. All donations are tax deductible, Tax ID # 77-0402426

Feb 27

Out of Thin Air

San Carlos at Ninth - Sunset Center

Authentic Wonders Never-before-seen! The Levitation of a Living Princess! Dividing a Lady in Three! The Vanishing Yogi! Virtuoso magician, Bradley Fields, re-creates a poetic dreamscape from a by-gone era: a mythical midway, the din of the ballyhoo, side show hucksters and fairground fakirs. Reality is transformed. Bird cages disappear, handkerchiefs come to life, and eye-popping miracles appear 'Out of Thin Air!' Fields has been compared to Marcel Marceau, Charlie Chaplin, and Harpo Marx. This delightful, quixotic show is sure to delight audience members of all ages. This show also appears as part of Sunset Center's Classroom Connections Program. Rarely have I seen magic with such grace and wit. - The Chicago Tribune

March 2013

Mar 1 - 3

Dixieland Monterey

Since 1980, the Dixieland Monterey festival has been a wall-to-wall weekend of traditional jazz and swing. Eight performance stages operate simultaneously for three days, offering big band swing, traditional jazz, Gypsy jazz, Cowboy jazz, barbershop quartets, ragtime and more for the true jazz connoisseur.

Mar 2

Wharf Walks at Monterey’s Old Fisherman’s Wharf

Walking Tours With Historian Tim Thomas

Monterey

831 521-3304

email timsardine@yahoo.com

Mar 2

Day of Shopping

The Carmel-by-the-Sea Garden Club is hosting a day of shopping with two outstanding lectures, all in support of Carmel’s public gardens. Proceeds from this event will be dedicated to the Founders Endowment Fund, created in 2007 to provide a permanent source of income to maintain Piccadilly Park, Harrison Memorial Library Garden and the North Del Mar Dunes native plant and dunes restoration.

Jan 12 - Mar 2

Center for Photographic Art Juried Exhibition

831-625-5181

Time: 4-6pm Center for Photographic Art, San Carlos & 9th, Carmel CA

Exhibition of 49 contemporary photographic works selected as winners of CPA’s annual nationwide photographic competition. Free.

Mar 5, 12, 19, 26 [Tuesdays]

The Old Monterey Farmers Market

Monterey

Established in 1991, comprises of 3 ½ city blocks and runs year-round rain or shine. You can travel the world in just three blocks, finding arts and crafts, handmade jewelry, furniture, clothing, international food, organic produce, flowers, and pastries. Market runs 4pm-8pm.

Mar 8

Smuin Ballet WINTER PROGRAM

Fresh from its New York premiere and back by popular demand, Smuin Ballet presents 'Oh, Inverted World' set to music by the popular indie-rock band The Shins. Plus the West Coast Premiere by rising star Adam Hougland; Cold Virtues is set to music by Philip Glass. Also three stunning short works by Michael Smuin: Starshadows, set Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G; Homeless, to the music of Paul Simon, and No Viviré set to the Gipsy Kings. A “don’t miss” evening of dance! 8:00pm Level I-$68.00 - Level II-$55.00

Mar 9

San Juan Bautista Gallery Walk (2nd Saturday of each month)

831-623-2454

Mar 9

Volunteer for the Monterey Monthly Beach Cleanup with Save Our Shores

Pacific Grove

831.462.5660 ext.2

media@saveourshores.org

Join the Lover’s Point Cleanup on March 9, Saturday, 10am-12pm with Save Our Shores at Lover’s Point in Pacific Grove. Check-in at the parking area off Ocean View Blvd. Come lend a hand for pollution prevention at the Monterey Monthly Beach Cleanup at Lover’s Point in Pacific Grove. Hosted by Save Our Shores, all cleanup materials provided. Volunteers are encouraged to bring their own gloves, reusable bags and/or buckets to help decrease trash. Monterey Monthly Beach Cleanups take place at alternating locations on every 2nd Saturday of the month. 100% Free of Charge.

Mar 9

Smuin Ballet WINTER PROGRAM

Mar 9 & 10

Monterey Home & Garden Expo

Monterey County Fairgrounds

831-222-0772

Featuring over 100 local home improvement and garden professionals, the Home & Garden Expo brings together all of the resources a home owner needs to make their home beautiful. Also attend our home improvement seminars to learn useful skills from local experts.

Mar 10

"Two Operas in Two Acts"

Carmel Music Society "Opera San Jose"

Sunset Center

San Carlos St at Ninth Ave - Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA

831.620.2048

Sunday, 3:00 pm

Classical at Sunset Series

"Two Operas in Two Acts" Costumed 'chamber' performances of Verdi's Il Trovatore and J. Strauss' Die Fledermaus sung in original languages with narration and two-piano accompaniment

Mar 11

Steinbeck Young Authors’ Day of Writing Celebrating 10 Years

Salinas, CA

831.775.4721

The National Steinbeck Center hosts a Day of Writing, a piece of The Steinbeck Young Authors (SYA) program created to provide students with the opportunity to explore the excitement of writing while enhancing their writing skills. Students discover the works of John Steinbeck, focusing on the novella The Red Pony. The event will be from 8:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. at 1 Main Street in Salinas, California; the museum closes to the public in order for the students to have full use of the facility.

Mar 15

Rhythm of the Dance

The quintessential Irish experience. - The Epoch Times

Level I- $69.00 - Level II- $59.00 - Economy- $49.00

Sunset Center

San Carlos St at Ninth Ave - Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA

831.620.2048

Friday, 8:00 pm

Rhythm of the Dance is a sensational cultural celebration of the Emerald Isle. This two-hour dance and music extravaganza contains a wealth of Irish talent and preserves the traditions of step dancing in a thrilling live show. The performance is an inspiring epic, reliving the journey of the Irish Celts throughout history. Rhythm of the Dance has heralded a new era in Irish entertainment, internationally rated as one of the most popular Irish step dance shows in the world. With a live band, three tenors and some 22 dancers, Rhythm of the Dance is the perfect way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day! Video: Rhythm of the Dance

Mar 13

Twilight Bicycle Ride

Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Hwy 68, Monterey CA

Mar 22, 2013,

1964...THE TRIBUTE

Sunset Center

San Carlos St at Ninth Ave - Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA

831.620.2048

Friday, 8:00 pm, dubbed "Best Beatles Tribute on earth" by Rolling Stone Magazine, has perfected the illusion of The Fab Four in concert. Like actors, these master musicians cast a spell as they step into the characters of the originals before your very eyes. Critics and fans internationally have hailed 1964...THE TRIBUTE as the most authentic Beatles tribute in the world. For over 23 years, this group of performers has successfully recreated every sensation of being at a Beatles concert circa 1964 through 1966 - from wardrobe to hairstyles, Liverpool accents and singing nuances, and vintage instruments. 1964 THE TRIBUTE is: Mark Benson as John Lennon, Graham Aexander as Paul McCartney, Tom Work as George Harrison, and Bobby Potter as Ringo Starr. Level I- $58.00 - Level II-$48.00

Mar 22, 23*, 24

Revolution

Steinbeck Institute for Arts and Culture, Salinas - Friday at 7:30pm

Sunset Center, Carmel - Saturday at 3pm* and Sunday at 3pm

Revolution takes many forms. Though a “modern” composer, Rodrigo had nostalgia for courtly music of days long past, which pervades Three Old Dance Airs (1928/29), a perfect introduction to two works by early-Romantic masters on the cusp of revolution. Jean Louis Steuerman performs Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 2, a display of technical and compositional bravado which showcases Beethoven’s own pianistic talents. Schubert’s Symphony No. 3, steeped in the past of Haydn and Mozart, chips away at Classical convention and hints at the Romanticism to come.

Mar 23

Ying Quartet - Chamber Music

Saturday, 8:00 pm

Sunset Center

San Carlos St at Ninth Ave - Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA

831.620.2048

The award-winning Ying Quartet combines brilliantly communicative performances with a fearlessly imaginative view of chamber music. The quartet will present the West Coast première of a work by Kenji Bunch, part of their ongoing LifeMusic commissioning project.

Mar 23

Big Sur Mud Run

Monterey, CA

Big Sur Marathon invites you to come get "down and dirty" at the 6th annual Mud Run on the last Saturday in March. The Mud Run is an approximate five mile loop course beginning and ending at Freeman Stadium on the CSUMB campus. The challenging but fun course includes hills, water, obstacles, drill sargeants, and yes, plenty of mud. The Run is a Big Sur Marathon event sponsored by the U.S. Army Garrison-Presidio of Monterey and California State University Monterey Bay. Registration is available online

Mar 29

Steve Tyrell with Special Guest Diane Schuur

Sunset Center

San Carlos St at Ninth Ave - Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA

831.620.2048

Friday, 8:00 pm

Grammy Award-winning vocalist Steve Tyrell is truly a renaissance man. In his nearly five decades in the music business, he has achieved great success as an artist, producer, songwriter, music supervisor, and performer. With his breakthrough performances in "Father of the Bride" and "Father of the Bride II," Tyrell reinvented and re-popularized classic pop standards for a modern-day audience and has gained a passionate following all over the world. Vocalist/pianist Diane Schuur is as eclectic as she is brilliant. A longtime disciple of Dinah Washington and other legendary jazz singers of the '40s and '50s, Schuur has built a stellar career by embracing not only the jazz of her parents' generation, but also the pop music of her own youth during the late 1950s and '60s. Together, these incredible musicians might just make you fall in love all over again. Video: Tyrell

Tyrell is impressive without trying to be. - Jazz Times - Schurr's voice is, to put it very mildly, beautiful. - Country Music Journal - Level I-$79.00 - Level II- $69.00 - Economy- $59.00

Mar 30

Breakfast with the Bunny

Downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea

Start Time: 8:30 AM in Devendorf Park - Free

April 2013

Apr 4 - 7

Pebble Beach Food and Wine

Pebble Beach

866-907-FOOD

Pebble Beach Food & Wine is the premier epicurean lifestyle event on the West Coast, bringing 6,000 national and international attendees to Del Monte Forest, one of the most picturesque strips of coastline in the world. Hosted primarily at Spanish Bay, the scope of the event encompasses every property in Pebble Beach and uses local and regional staff to create a hedonistic four-day event that matches 250 acclaimed wineries with 75 celebrity chefs, and includes wine and beverage tasting, cooking demonstrations, and some of the most exclusive, unique dining opportunities available in the world.

Apr 5 - 7

Next Generation Jazz Festival

The Monterey Jazz Festival turns the spotlight on the young up-and-coming musicians who will form the vanguard jazz music in the coming decades with a newly expanded event augmented by fresh performances and activities. Admission is free to the public!

Apr 6

Wharf Walks at Monterey’s Old Fisherman’s Wharf

Walking Tours With Historian Tim Thomas

Monterey

831 521-3304

email timsardine@yahoo.com

Apr 7. 14, 21, 28

Marina Certified Farmers' Market

Marina

Marina's Farmers' Market is every Sunday from 10am to 2pm at 215 Reservation Road in the Marina Village Shopping Center (near Grocery Outlet and in front of Lee’s Garden.

Apr 10

Twilight Bicycle Ride

Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Hwy 68, Monterey CA

Apr 12

Wine, Art and Music Walk

Pacific Grove

831 373-3304

Apr 13

San Juan Bautista Gallery Walk (2nd Saturday of each month)

831-623-2454

Apr 13 - 14

56th Annual Pacific Grove Good Ol' Days

Pacific Grove

831 373-3304

10:00am - 5:30pm

Celebrate a bygone era with a parade, Victorian fashion show, contests, street dance, and the California Police Motorcycle Competition. The event is also one of the county’s largest arts and crafts show with more than 225 arts and food vendors.

Apr 18 - 21

23rd Sea Otter Classic

Monterey, California, USA

800-218-8411

The iconic event returns to Laguna Seca Recreation Area surrounded by the newly created Fort Ord National Monument with racing, festival events and the industry's latest and greatest products.

Apr 19, 20, 21

Merriment

Performances in Salinas & Carmel

Friday at 7:30pm

Steinbeck Institute for Arts and Culture, Salinas

Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 3pm

Sunset Center, Carmel

Fauré, Satie and Ravel are quintessential French impressionists, composers who with a stroke of the pen create images, scenes and vignettes of emotion with the broad palate of the orchestra. Satie’s Gymnopédies shine serenely like the morning sun off a summer lake. French pianist, Philippe Bianconi performs Ravel’s Concerto in G, jazz inspired with one of the most beautiful middle movements of any concerto, and Fauré’s elegant Ballade. The orchestra completes this sonically stunning program with Hindemith’s Symphony “Mathis der Maler,” an evocative homage to painter Matthias Grünewald.

Apr 19 - 21

52nd Annual Wildflower Show

Pacific Grove

831-648-5716

Presented by the Museum and the Monterey Bay Chapter fo the California Native Plant Society, the Wildflower Show’s wide representation of wildflower species and varieties make it the largest wildflower show in the Northern and Western Hemispheres. Immerse yourself in a sea of more than 600 species and varieties of Central Coast wildflowers and learn about the diverse native plant habitats of Monterey County during this long weekend of botanical fun. Friday April 19 - Sunday April 21. 10am to 5pm. Free to Museum members and CNPS members. Requested donation of $5 for General Public.

Apr 20

Earth Day Beach Cleanup at Cowell/ Main Beach in Downtown Santa Cruz

Sat, 10am – 12pm

Cowell/ Main Beach in Downtown Santa Cruz

Come out and join Save Our Shores for the Earth Day beach cleanup at Cowell and Main Beach. Check-in will be at the entrance to Cowell Beach between the Wharf and the Dream Inn. Individual and small group volunteers are welcome. Save Our Shores provides all necessary supplies, and we encourage volunteers to bring their own reusable buckets, gloves, and water bottles. For more information, contact cleanup@saveourshores.org. Happy Earth Day!

Apr 21

Día del Niño

Monterey Bay Aquarium, 886 Cannery Row, Monterey, CA 93940

Angela Hains, (831) 647-6804; ahains@mbayaq.org

Mika Yoshida, (831) 644-7522; myoshida@mbayaq.org

Celebrate children and families with live Latin performances, bilingual feeding shows, a craft room, prize drawings and more. Children 12 and under will be admitted free all day.

Apr 28

Big Sur International Marathon Expo

Monterey Conference Center, Monterey

WHAT'S NEW FOR 2013?

Runner's World Challenge is partnering with the Big Sur Marathon for the third consecutive year. This all inclusive package provides training and advice by the RW editors and VIP treatment over the course of the race weekend.

May 2013

May 3 - 5

Wildflower Triathlons Festival

Bradley, CA (Monterey County)

831-373-0678

The 31st Annual Wildflower Triathlon will take place May 3-5, 2013 at Lake San Antonio in Bradley, CA. This three day weekend event will feature Long Course, Olympic Distance, and Mountain Bike Sprint Triathlon races. In addition, athletes and spectators can enjoy a Health and Fitness Expo, lakeside camping, and live entertainment.

May 3 - 6

33rd Annual Steinbeck Festival

National Steinbeck Center, Salinas

831-775-4721

This annual festival consists of four days of films, speakers, panels, theater, and bus or walking tours. The National Steinbeck Center honors the great 20th-century writer John Steinbeck (1902-1968) and is situated in Salinas, Monterey, the town where the author was born.

May 4

Annual The Quail Motorcycle Gathering

Carmel, CA

831 620-8887 | Toll-free: 877 734-4628

The Quail Motorcycle Gathering celebrates the finest sports and racing bikes from around the world. There will be displays by leading motorcycle manufacturers, dealerships and accessory and lifestyle vendors. Start Time: 10:30 AM, End Time: 3:00 PM

May 4

Wharf Walks at Monterey’s Old Fisherman’s Wharf

Walking Tours With Historian Tim Thomas

Monterey

831 521-3304

email timsardine@yahoo.com

May 5, 12, 19, 26

Farmers' Market at Del Monte Center

Monterey

May - October (Sunday mornings)

Join the Del Monte Center for Farmers' Market! This weekly market occurs every Sunday from 8am-12pm. Over 25 farmers and vendors will offer a bountiful array of locally grown produce and specialty items including farm fresh organic eggs, honey, fresh seafood, cut flowers, potted plants, seedlings, and fresh baked goods.

May 11

San Juan Bautista Gallery Walk (2nd Saturday of each month)

831-623-2454

May 5, 12, 19, 26

Marina Certified Farmers' Market

Marina

Marina's Farmers' Market is every Sunday from 10am to 2pm at 215 Reservation Road in the Marina Village Shopping Center (near Grocery Outlet and in front of Lee’s Garden.

May 16 - 19

Carmel Art Festival & Sculpture in the Park

831 642-2503

20th Annual Carmel Carmel Art Festival! The Carmel Art Festival is a public benefit event held to educate and inspire people of all ages about the visual arts. In 2013, the Festival will once again included the Plein Air and Sculpture-in-the-Park events, as well as a Quick Draw by the winning artists, and Kids Art Day. Free

May 17-19

Cooking for Solutions

Monterey Bay Aquarium, 886 Cannery Row, Monterey, CA 93940

Angela Hains, (831) 647-6804; ahains@mbayaq.org

Mika Yoshida, (831) 644-7522; myoshida@mbayaq.org

Celebrity chefs from around the country gather for a celebration of sustainable seafood. Events include the signature gala, food and wine adventures, cooking demonstrations and more. On Saturday and Sunday, all visitors enjoy the Sustainable Foods Celebration featuring special food event, celebrity chefs and book signings.

May 17, 18, 19

Ecstasy

Performances in Salinas & Carmel

Friday at 7:30pm Steinbeck Institute for Arts and Culture, Salinas

Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 3pm Sunset Center, Carmel

Dubravka Tomsic is an invaluable asset to Monterey Symphony, a frequent guest artist, a confidant to the late Joan De Visser and the one to whom was entrusted the selection of Monterey Symphony’s Hamburg Steinway. As an artist, she dazzles audiences with the ease and brilliance of her playing. On this program she conveys the ecstasy of Rachmaninoff’s Second Piano Concerto, a piece so perfect in its construction that it was said to have rescued the composer from years of depression. A promenade through Modest Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition honors the piano as inspiration to the infinite possibilities of the orchestra in the hands of master composer/orchestrator Maurice Ravel.

May 27

Memorial Day Ceremony

Devendorf Park, Carmel-by-the-Sea

831 625-9941

American Legion Post 512 in conjunction with the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea invites you to join us on Monday, May 27, 2013 to commemorate Memorial Day. The ringing of the WWI Memorial Bell located at Ocean and San Carlos will commence at 11:00 A.M. with the actual ceremony being held in Devendorf Park.

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May 2012

May Get’s Jazzy!

Monterey

831 372-1234

The Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa located at 1 Old Golf Course Road in Monterey offers music stylings during May, at the Fireplace Lounge! Jazz is in the air. Join us for local favorites such as Gennady and Gary Meek. And don't forget to mark your calendars for Mother's Day, May 13th, with the David Morwood Jazz Band!

Mar 24 - July 22

Monterey Museum of Art Presents Arline Fisch: Sea Jellies

Monterey

831 372-5477 x 101 press contact: Mary DeGroat

Multi-media and sensory exhibition complements new Monterey Bay Aquarium Jellies Experience The Monterey Museum of Art (MMA) presents an artist’s interpretation of sea jellies during an “underwater” multimedia exhibition opening March 24 in conjunction with the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s new jellies exhibit, The Jellies Experience. Arline Fisch: Sea Jellies, opens March 24 - July 22, 2012 at the Monterey Museum of Art- La Mirada, 720 Via Mirada, in downtown Monterey.

May 4

Cinco de Mayo Dinner

Monterey

Casa Serrano

412 Pacific St., Monterey

831 372-2608.

Dinner ala Puebla - Tequila Tasting by Don Elias. Los Amigos de Monterey History and Art Association invite you to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Puebla, a critical point in Mexico’s Struggle for Independence. A victory crucial to the Union’s defeat of the Confederacy. Come and join us as we celebrate our Hispanic heritage and raise a toast to General Ignacio Zaragosa Seguin, who, though celebrated as a Mexican war hero, is often overlooked when Americans celebrate their Civil War heroes. All proceeds of this benefit will be used to support Casa Serrano and other MHAA programs.

May 5

Wharf Walks at Monterey’s Old Fisherman’s Wharf

Walking Tours With Historian Tim Thomas

Monterey

831 521-3304

email timsardine@yahoo.com

May 4 - 9:00 AM

Relay for Life of the Monterey Peninsula

Monterey Fairgrounds

We have all been touched by cancer. Get involved.

May 5

138th Annual Kentucky Derby

Monterey Bay Race Place - Monterey

832 372-3047

138th Annual Kentucky Derby Broadcasted live via satellite at the Monterey Bay Race Place. Call today to reserve your table! The Kentucky Derby is America's original, extravagant springtime sports party. While a horse race is at the heart of the spectacle, there are many intriguing aspects of the Derby Experience.

May 5 - 6

Springfest Arts & Crafts Faire

Custom House Plaza

831-622-0700

PacRep's Faires feature juried artisans and crafts-makers showing their original works including sculpture, painting, jewelry ceramics and much much more. Stage entertainment, food vendors, beverages and snacks.

May 5 - 6

The 28th Spring Rota & Psychic Fair

Monterey Fairgrounds in the Monterey Room

831 601-9005

For over 28 years Rota Productions has been bringing you the best of Body, Mind, Spirit events. Don't miss this one!

May 6

Robinson Jeffers Tor House Spring Garden Party

Robinson Jeffers Tor House, Carmel

831-624-1813

On May 6th, the annual Tor House Spring Garden Party will bring together admirers of poetry, architecture, the wild coast of Carmel, and of course, Robinson Jeffers. Reservations are not needed, just stop by between 2 and 5 p.m. and enjoy the sights, music, refreshments and poetry.

May 9

Twilight Bicycle Ride

Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Hwy 68, Monterey CA

May 11 & 12

American LeMans Monterey Series

Presented by Patrón

Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca

831 242-8201

The American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón returns for its 14th season and is the premier sports car racing championship in the world. As the Global Leader in Green Racing, its technology intensive race cars showcase tomorrow’s automotive advancements as the Series encourages automotive manufacturers to test their latest technical innovations on the race track. Featuring multiple classes of high-tech sports cars competing together in each race, the American Le Mans Series provides a dynamic that offers constant passing and on-track battles throughout. The six-hour endurance race takes competitors from daylight, to dusk and into the darkness, pushing drivers’ and crews’ mental and physical abilities.

May 12 - 13

Marina Festival of the Winds

Marina

Every Mothers' Day weekend, Marina State Beach and the Glorya Jean Tate Park in Marina become the brightest spots on the Monterey Bay with the annual Festival of the Winds, celebrating the air currents that make Marina a popular destination for hang gliders and kite flyers alike. Colorful kites are launched from sandy dunes by the hundreds, and families gather for two days of crafts and fun at this free celebration.

May 13

Carmel Heritage Society Annual House Tour

831-624-4447

A memorable stroll through a handful of unique homes in Carmel followed by a reception at the First Murphy House built in 1902 by Michael J Murphy.

May 17 - 20

Salinas Valley Fair

Salinas Valley Fairgrounds, King City

831-385-3243

Enjoy the atmosphere of an old-fashioned county fair, complete with carnival, bull-riding, craft and 4-H exhibit, music and more. Includes the Monterey Wine Competition Grand Wine Tasting.

May 18 - 20

Monterey Rock n' Rod Festival

831-649-0102

The annual festival was envisioned as a fun and entertaining way to raise much-needed funds for Gateway Center of Monterey County, Inc. Food and vendor arcades aplenty will be on-site for your eating, drinking, and shopping pleasure. Tickets are available on line or at the gate each day of the festival. Children 5 and under are admitted free of charge.

May 19 - 20

Castroville Artichoke Festival

831 633-2465

In 2012 the CAstroville Artichoke Festival will celebrate it's 53rd year. The fun includes: great entertainment, Artichoke Easting Contest, Argo-Art, Field Tours, Ca Wine Expo, Arts & Crafts, Food Vendors, Artichoke Food Demos, Farmers Market, Artichoke Food Booths, and much more!

May 20

Monster Truck Jam

Salinas

800-771-8807

Get your tickets early for this always sold out event. Gates open at Noon with food, beverage and souvenirs available. Don't miss out on the dirt-slinging, non-stop action of the Monster Truck Jam. Sunday May 15th 12-5pm. Get your tickets early for this annual sell out event. Don’t miss out on the dirt-slinging, non-stop action of the Monster Truck Jam. Tickets on sale April 2nd. A Pit Party will take place on Saturday, May 19th, from 2pm-5pm on the front parking area of the complex. Come and view all the trucks up close and get the driver’s autographs. Gates open at Noon the day of the show with food, beverage and souvenirs available. We suggest you arrive early for easier parking and entry. . Parking available off of Main Street and Maryal Drive. Come enjoy the Show! .12 pm - 5 pm

May 24, 25 & 26

3rd Annual California Roots Music & Arts Festival

Monterey County Fairgrounds

The California Roots Music & Arts Festival is put on for underground surf Roots music scene too be more noticed, for the youth, and keeping music & art alive. California Roots also strives to help the community, and this event is a great way to do so. Festival hours-11am-10pm. CAMPING – This year we will be allowing camping for 100 spots. Each spot is a 10×20 area. You are allowed to put as many tents up as you can fit in that area. Each spot comes with a parking spot for the weekend too.

May 26 - 28

Monterey Clam Chowder & Calimari Festival

Monterey, Custom House Plaza

831-649-6545

The Monterey-based Calamari Entertainment Group is pleased to announce the 1st Annual Great Monterey Clam Chowder & Calamari Festival. Don’t miss this free, family-friendly fun-filled event that will be held at the Custom House Plaza- Monterey State Historic Park, adjacent to Old Fisherman’s Wharf in Monterey. During this exciting Festival, Monterey’s waterfront will come alive on Memorial Day Weekend, Saturday through Monday, with a full weekend of food, live music and cooking demonstrations.

June 2013

Summer into 2013

The Secret Lives of Seahorses

Monterey Bay Aquarium

886 Cannery Row, Monterey

831 648-4800 for more info, or tickets by phone 866-963-9645

Jun – Jul

Films in the Forest

Carmel

831 626-1681

Weeknight screenings of favorite films for kids, families, and friends at the Outdoor Forest Theater. Bring a cushion and a cuddly throw—don’t forget the picnic basket and popcorn!

Jun 1

Wharf Walks at Monterey’s Old Fisherman’s Wharf

Walking Tours With Historian Tim Thomas

Monterey

831 521-3304

email timsardine@yahoo.com

Jun 1

82nd Annual La Merienda Celebration to Celebrate Monterey’s 243rd Birthday

Monterey

831 372-7788 Eric Sand or Annamarie Stanton at 831 241-2484

Viva La Merienda and Step Back in Time! The Monterey History & Art Association will again hold its popular historic annual La Merienda celebration. La Merienda (the Spanish term for afternoon picnic or mid-day meal) re-enacts an elegant 18th century fiesta. It celebrates the founding of the town of Monterey on June 3, 1770 when Padre Junípero Serra, father of the California missions, and Captain Gaspar de Portola, a Spanish military leader, joined forces to establish the pueblo of Monterey, California’s first Capital. La Merienda is held at the Memory Garden in the patio of the Old Pacific House, a State Historic Monument, 20 Custom House Plaza in downtown Monterey.

Jun 2, 9, 16, 23, 30

Farmer's Market at Del Monte Center

Monterey

May - October (Sunday mornings)

Jun 2

10th Annual Block Party

Cannery Row

10th Annual Block Party, Sunday, June 2nd - 11:00am-5:00pm

Jun 3, 10, 17, 24

Pacific Grove Certified Farmers' Market

Jun 7

Wine, Art & Music Walk

Pacific Grove

831 373-3304

A walking tour of Pacific Grove's finest art venues. The event is complimentary and open to the public. Art Walk maps will be available at any of the participating locations and at the Chamber. The hours are from 6:00-9:00 pm.

Jun 8

27th Annual Japanese Cultural Fair

Mission Plaza

Mission Plaza overflows with the celebration of Japanese music, traditional dance, food and crafts at this popular annual festival. Powerful drummers, the San Francisco Taiko Dojo, thrill the audience, along with storytellers, martial arts demonstrations and healing arts vendors. Sushi, noodles and green tea ice cream are always favorites. Call Chieko Yoshikawa, 831-462-4589. Cost: 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. FREE

Jun 8 - 9

33st Annual Surf Contest - TENTATIVE EVENT DATE

Carmel Beach

831 375-5015

Free

Jun 16

Run in the Name of Love

Carmel

831 624-1385

Run in the Name of Love is an annual Father's Day 5K Run & 2K walk inspired by the memory of Brian J. Love Featuring: A fast, timed 5K Run with breath-taking views! Limited to 1,000 8:30am 5K Start and A 2K Walk 9:00am 2K Start which encourages four-legged friend friends to participate! Limited to 300. 10:00am Awards Ceremony and Celebration. Start Location: Carmel's sunset Center, San Carlos Street at Ninth Avenue. Finish Location: Del Mar Parking Lot at the base of Ocean Avenue. Run Along Beautiful Carmel-by-the-Sea Beach & Coastline!

Jun 22

Carmel House & Garden Tour - TENTATIVE DATE

831-624-4447

Visit some of the most iconic and eclectic homes and gardens in Carmel. All proceeds benefit the Carmel Heritage Society

Jun 22

19th Annual Woodies on the Wharf

Santa Cruz Wharf

831-420-5273

The scenic Santa Cruz Wharf is the perfect setting for a celebration of the surf spirit and classic surf wagons. More than 200 pre-1950s "woodies" line the wharf. Music, T-shirts, memorabilia and prize drawings will add to the fun. Presented by the Santa Cruz Woodies, Wharf Association and the City of Santa Cruz. Free bike valet. 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Cost: FREE

Jun 29 – Sep 1 Saturdays & Sundays

Evenings by the Bay

Monterey Bay Aquarium, 886 Cannery Row, Monterey, CA 93940

Angela Hains, (831) 647-6804; ahains@mbayaq.org

Mika Yoshida, (831) 644-7522; myoshida@mbayaq.org

Spend summer evenings on the bay with extended hours until 8 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays in the summer. Get a few more hours to commune with your favorite animals, enjoy special programs and live music.

Events dates above the line have been verified 2013

June 2012

May - Oct

Hot Cars/Cool Nites –Last Friday of Each Month

Seaside

831-899-6801

Experience an evening of award-winning antique cars, classic cars, and hot-rods, plus great music of the 50’s and 60’s.

Jun 1

Kiki's Courtyard Concerts in Carmel Valley featuring Goh Kurasawa & Sharp Three

7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Outrageously complicated and intricate guitar playing from world class guitarist Goh Kurasawa & his brother, Kai and drummer this time. It’s almost unimaginable!

Jun 2

Wharf Walks at Monterey’s Old Fisherman’s Wharf

Walking Tours With Historian Tim Thomas

Monterey

831 521-3304

email timsardine@yahoo.com

The Monterey Old Fisherman’s Wharf Association is pleased to team up with noted Monterey Bay Fisheries Historian and author, Tim Thomas, who will offer monthly “Wharf Walks” Walking Tours at Fisherman’s Wharf in Monterey on the first Saturday of every month from 10:00 AM – Tours will meet at the head of Old Fisherman’s Wharf (near the pink “Harbor House” store, #1 Old Fisherman’s Wharf, Monterey. Advance reservations are required. The tour is for ages 10–adult Group Rates are also available.

Jun 8 - 9

Monterey Wine Festival

Custom House Plaza, Monterey

Now in its 36th year The Monterey Wine Festival continues to evolve into a platform designed for the regional wine industry and the community of wine lovers. With over a thousand wines offered for tasting, wine lovers will find an embarrassment of riches awaiting them at the Monterey Wine Festival.

Jun 8 - 9

Aaa hhh! It’s a Chowdah Throw Down!

Monterey

Another successful addition to The Monterey Wine Festival this year is the 3nd Annual West Coast Chowder Competition. Professional chefs from the Western Coast will come to compete and chowder lovers will pay homage to their special creations. This year chefs from Seattle, San Francisco, Portland, and other chowder known destinations will be landing in Monterey to compete against the local titans of chowder. All competitors will be trying to slay the judge’s tongues with their creations, take home the prize money and boast of their achievement in what is expected to be one of the most impressive competitions around.

Jun 9

8th Annual Art & Wine Celebration

This celebration will highlight over 60 artists, local wines and live entertainment in two entertainment areas, restaurants and unique shopping is also available which is located throughout the Carmel Valley Village

Jun 9

Monterey Beer Festival

Monterey

831 373=2843

Over 70 breweries will offer their beers during the 2010 Monterey Beer Festival at the Monterey Fairgrounds. The Monterey Beer Festival includes live music, great food, and the first ever beer-themed short film festival. Tickets are $30 in advance and include all beer.

Jun 9 & 10 through Sep 2

World Oceans Day Celebration

Monterey Bay Aquarium

886 Cannery Row, Monterey

831 648-4800 for more info, or tickets by phone 866-963-9645

“World Oceans Day Celebration” on June 9-10 celebrates the ocean ecosystem in conjunction with the international observance of the world’s oceans with a full line-up of activities and performances. You'll learn about the treasures of the ocean, the threats it faces and what we can do to keep it healthy.

Jun 10

Mission San Antonio's Fiesta

Our annual Fiesta is always held on the second Sunday of June (in honor of St. Anthony's Feast Day.) This year the Fiesta will be on Sunday, June 10, 2012. It is a fun filled day for all beginning with our special Fiesta Mass at 11:00am ending with a procession from the church to the Fiesta grounds, signaling the beginning of the festivities that go until 4:00pm. A traditional oak-fired barbeque offers you a choice of half-chicken or tri-tip beef dinner for $12/plate. Dance to music provided by a lively variety of local bands. Purchase a homemade dessert, enjoy a glass of beer or wine, visit with local artisans whose wares will be on display and join in the fun of our games for kids. This is a real community-oriented family event that's not to be missed!

Jun 13

Twilight Bicycle Ride

Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Hwy 68, Monterey CA

Jun 16 through the summer

Summer Theatrical Programs

Monterey Bay Aquarium

886 Cannery Row, Monterey

831 648-4800 for more info, or tickets by phone 866-963-9645

Family friendly theatrical performances featuring a dynamic cast of talent will educate and entertain visitors. Returning on the Great Tide Pool Deck for a final year this summer is “Enough Stuff,” a short, clever and comedic musical which features charismatic animals that teach visitors about the importance of taking care of the world’s oceans. Back by popular demand is “Think Big,” an exciting musical production about the importance of working together to reach a common goal, featuring unique puppets made of recycled and repurposed materials. Additional live theatrical presentations – including a new performance on jellies – will be presented at various exhibits inside the aquarium daily. All programs begin June 16; included with aquarium admission.

Jun 16 - 17

Monterey Bay SummerFest Arts & Crafts Faire

Monterey

831 622-0700

For the past 24 years, PacRep Arts and Crafts Faires have run featuring typically more than 50 juried artisans and crafts-makers presenting their original works. A wide variety of styles and mediums are represented including sculpture, painting, textiles, jewelry, glass, ceramics, precious metals, and many more hand-crafted treasures. Artists are on hand to describe their work processes. Some take special orders for custom and individualized gifts. Our weekend faires include stage entertainment and international food vendors offering a variety of foods, beverages and snacks. PacRep Theatre staff representatives are on hand to share information about the theatre.

Jun 22 - 24

Monterey Bay Blues Festival

Monterey Fairgrounds

831-394-2652

Blues lovers will kick off the summer with talented Blues, R&B, Gospel, and Zydeco performances that should not be missed! The Monterey Bay Blues Festival has become a weekend destination for amazing music. The Monterey Marriott is the host hotel for the 2012 Festival. Make sure to reserve your room early to get the reduced rates while they last. Call Sabrina for reservations at 831-647-4055.

Jun 29

The Second Annual Herm Edwards Charity Golf Tournament

Monterey

831 649-0969

Pasadera Country Club at 100 Pasadera Drive in Monterey.

ESPN's Hunter Finnell and Herm Edwards will be your hosts The tournament will benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Monterey County. At the event play golf, meet Herm Edwards and learn about his passion for the Monterey Peninsula and The Boys & Girls Club of Monterey.