|
Monterey
Events: Monterey
Events Calendar
Theres
always something to do in Monterey. Below is a list of the best events in Monterey. Be
sure to call ahead to confirm dates, times and other important information. January
2004 10. Whalefest 2004.
Whale watching, special exhibits and museum tours, plus food and fun, make
this festival an educational treat. Free admission, on Fisherman's Wharf. 21.
Valley of the World WineFest. An annual wine tasting and auction to benefit
a range of Monterey County charities. February
2004 13. Wine Passport
Weekend. Explore the Monterey County Wine Trails and enjoy a unique Valentine's
weekend celebration.
18.
18th Annual Masters of Food and Wine. The world's leading international summit
of the best food and wines. Rare wine tasting and food prepared by the best chefs
in the world, with cooking demonstrations, great meals and more. 22.
15th Annual Great Taste of Pacific Grove. Sample food and wine presented by
the area's finest restaurants and wineries at this gala event to benefit Pacific
Grove schools. 28.
Steinbeck's Birthday Celebrations. Join a hometown celebration as Salinas
remembers the life and works of native son and Pulitzer Prize-winning author John
Steinbeck. 29. Oscar
Night Gala. A glamorous evening celebrating the Academy Awards. Dinner plus
big screen telecast. March
2004 6. Monterey Wine
Competition. A competition of fine wines from throughout the County. Medal
winners will be available for tasting at the Salinas Valley Fair in May.
21. Clam Chowder Festival. Soup's
on! at Fisherman's Wharf, as all ten waterside restaurants and fish markets offer
samplings of their finest. April
2004 3. 45th Annual
Good Old Days Celebration. Celebrate a bygone era with a parade, more than
225 arts and food vendors, a Victorian fashion show, numerous contests, street
dance and firefighters' muster. 15.
Annual Sea Otter Classic. 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. Camping
available. 16. 43rd
Annual Wildflower Show. Prepared with the collaborative efforts of the Monterey
Bay Chapter of the California Native Plant Society, presenting over 600 species
and varieties of Central California wildflowers at PG's Museum of Natural History.
18. Wine and Art Festival.
Local artists display their most treasured works, from ceramics to oils, throughout
the cobblestone garden courtyard. 29.
Monterey Wine Festival. Enjoy some of California's finest wines at the 28th
annual festival. Variety of tastings, educational seminars, and cooking demonstrations
at various sites in Monterey.
May
2004 1. Wildflower Triathalon
Festival. One of the premier triathlons nationally and internationally, this
course will test the skills of the professional triathlete and the first-time
long course competitor. 8.
Third Annual Paraiso Airshow. Great wines, fantastic cuisine, and a flying
circus? Enjoy an airshow over Paraiso Vineyards while enjoying lunch and wine-tasting.
Reservations essential. 13.
Monterey Wine Competition Grand Wine Tasting. Taste the medal winners at the
2004 Monterey Wine Competition. Located at the Salinas Valley Fairgrounds in King
City. 13. Carmel Art
Festival. Gallery events, lectures, receptions and demonstrations at 43 art
galleries and a Plein Air Painting competition. Outdoor art show at Devendorf
Park featuring bronze, glass, stone, marbles and acrylic sculpture. 15.
Steinbeck Wine Country Spring Open House. Salinas Valley tasting rooms open
their doors and welcome the public to get a taste of Monterey Wine Country. Complimentary
wine tasting, light appetizers, hospitality, and music. 15.
Castroville Artichoke Festival. Sample the many unique flavors of the artichoke
in an atmosphere of pleasure, tasteful treats, musical entertainment, arts and
crafts. Enter the AGRO-Art competition, too! Costs are $6/adults and $3/children.
16. Calamari Fest.
Discover the delectable and delicate taste of Monterey Bay squid in their
Italian disguise: calamari. A 'Best Choice' seafood in the Monterey Bay Aquarium's
Seafood Watch guide. June
2004 19. 15th Annual
Art and Wine Festival. Taste the wines of local wineries, stroll the gardens
and visit exhibiting local artists, listen to live music and sample food. 25.
Monterey Bay Blues Festival. Three stages of matchless blues and R&B,
presented by a festival dedicated to preserving this unique American art form.
The Festival includes 56 acts during three days of music on three stages. 26.
Arts and Crafts Festival of the Pacific Repertory Theatre. Opening weekend
of TheatreFest features Custom House Plaza filled with beautiful art and handsomely
made crafts. July
2004 17. 67th Carmel
Bach Festival. America's preeminent festival of Baroque music will celebrate
its 67th season with 100 musicians from around the world, performing in venues
including Sunset Center, Carmel Mission Basilica and the Church in the Forest,
Pebble Beach, and All Saints Church, Carmel.
23.
Gilroy Garlic Festival. Gourmet garlic food fair with arts and crafts, cooking
demonstrations, children's area, three stages of musical entertainment and 65
food booths. 31. Turkish
Festival. A celebration of Turkish culture and arts, featuring live music
and folk dances, dance workshops, belly dancing, crafts, delicious food, and activities
for children. August
2004 5. 24th Annual
Steinbeck Festival. Four days of films, speakers, panels, theater, and bus
or walking tours, all celebrating John Steinbeck. 7.
Annual Scottish Games and Celtic Festival. A festival celebrating Scottish
and Irish traditions and culture. Featuring a Celtic concert, clans, food, entertainment
and competitions in dancing, bagpipe bands and athletics. 22.
Jewish Food Festival. A celebration of Jewish foods like latkes and bialys,
strudel and kugelhopf, plus Jewish culture: Klezmer music, crafts, cooking demos,
folk dancing, art exhibits, more. 28.
16th Annual Greek Festival. An ethnic festival featuring authentic Greek food,
live music, traditional dancing, a taverna and crafts. September
2004 11. Festa Italia-Santa
Rosalia Festival. Italian music, bocce competitions, arts and crafts, delicious
Italian food.
12.
Carmel TomatoFest 2004. The largest tomato-tasting event in the nation features
300 varieties of tomatoes, tomato dishes created by 50 of the best chefs in the
region, tastings presented by 25 wineries, and an International Olive Oil Tasting.
17. Monterey Jazz Festival.
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. 26. 40th
Annual Carmel Mission Fiesta. Featuring a variety of international musical
entertainment, children's games, Farmer's Market, fabulous barbecue, and shopping
galore at local artisans booths.
October
2004 8. 13th
Annual Jade Festival. Of all the secrets of Big Sur, its rare and lovely jade
may be the best kept. Discover jade, gems, wood and stone at this weekend festival,
held at Pacific Valley School, 65 miles south of Monterey, 35 miles north of Hearst
Castle. 9. 11th Annual
Old Monterey Seafood and Music Festival. Fresh seafood including clam chowder,
salmon, shrimp and sushi, live music and crafts, all around Custom House Plaza
and Alvarado Street. 24.
Monterey Beer Festival. Lift a tankard at the Second Monterey Beer Festival!
There'll be dozens of ales and lagers from top mirco, major and international
breweries, interesting merchandise, and great nibbles. The setting: the boatyard
of Monterey Boat Works, next to the Coast Guard Pier. 30.
Carmel's 88th Birthday Party. Join Carmelites as they celebrate the city's
official birthday with a morning parade followed by a barbecue. (Unofficially,
Carmel is 100 years old, as its first developer laid out its streets in 1903!)
31. Halloween Bal Masque.
Come to dine and dance beneath the moon on the terrace of Nepenthe, one of
Big Sur's signature dining spots, at the annual masked costume party. Proceeds
benefit the Big Sur fire service. November
2004 11. 8th
Great Wine Escape Weekend. 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. December
2004
3. Monterey Christmas
Tree Lighting Ceremony. Gather on the lawn outside Town Hall to watch the
lighting of the town's tree: carolling and good cheer abound! 3.
Carmel Tree Lighting. Lighting of Carmel-by-the-Sea's official tree at Ocean
Avenue and Junipero at 5pm sharp. 3.
5th Annual Monterey Cowboy Poetry and Music Festival. The best cowboy poets
and balladeers are featured in a 3-day weekend event also showcasing western artists
and gear makers. 4.
Stillwell's Snow in the Park. Caledonia Park is covered in a blanket of glistening
snow surrounded by festive lights. Lots of fun for the young and the young at
heart. Special appearances by Santa, Frosty and the Snow Queen. 12.
Brighten The Harbor. 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. 31.
First Night Monterey. 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.
|