Events & Festivals in Monterey

This indoor festival features dozens of craft breweries from California and beyond, offering samples of seasonal and specialty beers. The event includes live music, food from local vendors, and educational talks from brewers. It suits adults looking for a lively, social tasting experience during the cooler winter month. The focus is on discovery and conversation with fellow enthusiasts and industry professionals.

On the first Friday of each month, art galleries and studios in downtown Monterey stay open late, often hosting new exhibition openings. Visitors walk from venue to venue, meet local artists, and enjoy complimentary refreshments. The atmosphere is social and informal, attracting serious collectors and casual browsers alike. It is a regular opportunity to see current work from peninsula artists.

The Monterey Symphony presents a series of concerts featuring masterworks from the classical repertoire. Performances are held in a historic theater with excellent acoustics. The atmosphere is formal and focused, good for dedicated classical music listeners. Programs often include works by composers like Beethoven, Brahms, or Tchaikovsky, performed by the full orchestra and sometimes guest soloists.

This event celebrates the region's other famous fungal crop. Local chefs cook with various mushrooms. Guided foraging walks head into nearby forests. Educational talks cover mycology. Vendors sell fresh, dried, and specialty mushroom products. Foragers show up. Foodies too. The curious learn what grows in coastal woodlands.

A celebration of marine mammals and ocean conservation held on Old Fisherman's Wharf. The event features educational exhibits from research organizations, whale watching tour operators, and conservation groups. Kids can participate in hands-on activities, while adults attend lectures by marine biologists. The atmosphere is family-friendly and educational, with a strong focus on the ecology of Monterey Bay.

This event shows wines from the Monterey County American Viticultural Area. Attendees can taste current releases from dozens of local wineries, often paired with small bites from peninsula restaurants. It is held at a scenic outdoor venue, allowing for strolls between tasting tents. The event suits wine enthusiasts interested in exploring the specific terroir and varietals of the region.

This festival fills the wide, sandy stretch of Monterey State Beach with kite fliers of every skill level. The sky explodes with colorful single-line kites, intricate stunt kites, and massive show kites. Demonstrations run throughout. Beginners get lessons. Informal competitions spark up. The visuals stun. Families dominate. Kids fly kites by the ocean. Simple pleasures win.

This festival presents outdoor productions of Shakespeare's plays in a garden setting. Performances are accessible and engaging, often with modern twists or streamlined adaptations. Audiences bring blankets or low chairs for lawn seating. The casual, picnic-style atmosphere makes it a good choice for families and those new to theater, with the plays unfolding under the late afternoon and evening sky.

This major weekend of sports car racing at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca features multiple series. Fans watch prototype and GT cars compete on the challenging circuit known for its famous Corkscrew turn. The event includes paddock access, autograph sessions, and vendor displays. It draws knowledgeable motorsports enthusiasts who enjoy close-up access and thrilling on-track action.

A multi-day music festival featuring national and regional blues, soul, and R&B artists across several stages. The event draws a dedicated crowd of music fans to a fairgrounds setting. Alongside the main performances, there are vendor booths selling food, crafts, and festival merchandise. The vibe is relaxed and communal, with people dancing and enjoying the summer sounds.

This large, weekly farmers market on Alvarado Street features produce from Monterey County farms, artisanal foods, fresh flowers, and prepared meals. The street is closed to traffic, creating a busy pedestrian lane. Shoppers find everything from organic strawberries to local honey and handmade pasta. It is a community gathering spot where locals do weekly shopping and visitors sample regional flavors.

One of the largest professional rodeos in the West, held just inland from Monterey. The event includes bull riding, steer wrestling, barrel racing, and team roping competitions, alongside a carnival and live country music concerts. It attracts both serious rodeo fans and families looking for a classic American West experience. The atmosphere is energetic and patriotic.

This weekend celebration of Greek culture is hosted by the local Orthodox church. The event features authentic food like gyros, souvlaki, spanakopita, and baklava, along with Greek wines and beers. Live music and traditional dancing performances occur throughout the day. The atmosphere is joyful and welcoming, offering a taste of Hellenic hospitality and community on the Monterey Peninsula.

A world-well-known series of automotive events culminating in the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. The week includes historic car races at Laguna Seca, exclusive auctions, and numerous shows where rare classic and concept cars are displayed. The peninsula is filled with enthusiasts and spectacular vehicles. This is a premier event for collectors and admirers of automotive design and history.

The longest continuously running jazz festival in the world, held on the fairgrounds. It presents a mix of legendary performers, contemporary stars, and emerging artists across multiple stages, from a large arena to intimate gardens. The event has a storied, collaborative atmosphere. It appeals to serious jazz aficionados as well as casual listeners, with music lasting from afternoon into the night.

This festival celebrates the region's most famous crop in the 'Artichoke Center of the World' just north of Monterey. You'll find artichoke dishes of every kind, a farmers market, cooking demonstrations, live music, and artichoke-themed contests. The event is casual and family-oriented, rooted in local agriculture. The atmosphere is festive. Distinctly local.

Pacific Grove hosts this classic street fair with a parade, live music on multiple stages, a classic car show, and hundreds of vendor booths selling crafts and food. The event keeps a strong small-town feel. Local organizations and schools participate heavily. It's family-oriented. Kids get games and rides. The mood feels nostalgic. The community focus runs deep.

Bands and soloists from around the world compete and perform on the Great Highland Bagpipe and related instruments. The skirl of pipes fills the air at a waterfront park. Events include massed band performances, Highland dancing competitions, and individual piobaireachd contests. The gathering attracts participants and spectators with Scottish heritage or a fondness for Celtic music and pageantry.

This family-friendly cultural event honors the traditional Mexican holiday Dia de los Muertos. The celebration includes community altars, face painting, papel picado workshops, and storytelling. Local artists and families contribute offerings to the altars. The mood is reflective yet celebratory, focused on remembrance rather than mourning. It is educational and participatory for all ages.

This multi-day event screens independent films, documentaries, and shorts, often with environmental, social, or artistic themes tied to the California coast. Local theaters host the screenings. Filmmakers stick around for Q&A sessions afterward. The crowd is thoughtful. They want cinema beyond the mainstream. The atmosphere stays conversational. People engage.

This after-hours culinary event at the aquarium features sustainable seafood from Monterey Bay. Local chefs prepare tasting-sized dishes paired with regional wines and beers. Guests explore the exhibit halls without daytime crowds while enjoying the food. It is an upscale, adult-focused evening combining fine dining with the unique ambiance of the aquarium's underwater galleries.

Several historic adobe houses and inns in downtown Monterey open their doors for festive holiday tours. Each location is decorated according to a different theme or historical period, often with docents in period clothing. The event includes live music, craft demonstrations, and seasonal treats. It has a charming, low-key way to experience local history and embrace the holiday spirit.

This scenic road race starts in downtown Monterey and follows the coastal recreation trail past Cannery Row, the wharf, and along the bay. The event includes a half marathon, a 5K, and a 3K walk. The course is relatively flat, popular with runners aiming for personal records. The atmosphere is supportive, with spectators cheering along the oceanfront route.

This evening parade rolls through downtown Monterey with marching bands, equestrian units, classic cars, and floats wrapped in holiday lights. Families line the route, bundled up and watching. Santa Claus closes the show. It's traditional. All ages come. Many locals mark their holiday season from this night.

A seasonal outdoor ice rink sits on Cannery Row with bay views. Public sessions, skate rentals, and themed nights fill the calendar. Families come. Couples too. Friends gather. The wintery atmosphere contrasts with Monterey's mild climate. Nearby restaurants and shops hang holiday decorations. The ambiance builds.