event
Celtic Thunder
Emmet Cahill, Neil Byrne, Damian McGinty and Ronan Scolard, backed by the Celtic Thunder band, perform songs celebrating their Irish and Scottish heritage on the group's 18th North American tour.
- Dates
- Oct 24, 2026
- Hours
- 7pm
- Cost
- $55-$99. Online and phone orders add a $4.50 convenience fee.
- Where
- Sunset Center, San Carlos St at Ninth Ave, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
Checked 2026-10-21event
Lyle Lovett and his Small Large Band
The Texas singer, composer and actor, a four-time GRAMMY winner, performs with his Small Large Band, drawing on country, swing, jazz, folk, gospel and blues.
- Dates
- Oct 30, 2026
- Hours
- 7pm
- Cost
- $96-$181. Online and phone orders add a $4.50 convenience fee.
- Where
- Sunset Center, San Carlos St at Ninth Ave, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
Checked 2026-10-21event
Perla Batalla: A Letter to Leonard Cohen
GRAMMY-nominated singer-songwriter Perla Batalla performs her tribute to her longtime friend and mentor Leonard Cohen, with small-table cabaret seating in Sunset Center's Studio 105.
- Dates
- Nov 12, 2026
- Hours
- 7pm
- Cost
- $75 general admission. Online and phone orders add a $4.50 convenience fee.
- Where
- Sunset Center, San Carlos St at Ninth Ave, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
Checked 2026-10-21event
An Evening with David Sedaris
The humorist and author of Me Talk Pretty One Day and other essay collections, whose new book The Land and Its People came out in May.
- Dates
- Nov 13, 2026
- Hours
- 7pm
- Cost
- $55-$115. Online and phone orders add a $4.50 convenience fee.
- Where
- Sunset Center, San Carlos St at Ninth Ave, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
Checked 2026-10-21event
Come From Away
PacRep Theatre's production of the musical based on the true story of Gander, Newfoundland, hosting stranded travelers after September 11. Runs 2 hours 30 minutes with one intermission; recommended for ages 10 and up. The Dec 5 show is ASL interpreted.
- Dates
- Nov 19 - Dec 20
- Hours
- Thu-Sat 7:30pm (no Thu Nov 26); Sun 2pm
- Cost
- $46 general, $36 seniors 65+, $26 teachers/military, $13 students, $8 under 12 ($5-$22 at Nov 19-20 previews), plus $3 facility fee and up to $3 box office fee
- Where
- Founders Theatre, Golden Bough Playhouse, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
Checked 2026-10-21event
Monterey Symphony: Slavonic Dances + Two Pianos
Music Director Jayce Ogren leads Schubert's Symphony No. 5, the world premiere of Chen Yi's Toward the Future with pianists Ran Dank and Soyeon Kate Lee, and selections from Dvorak's Slavonic Dances. 95 minutes with a 20-minute intermission.
- Dates
- Nov 21-22
- Hours
- Sat 7:30pm; Sun 3pm
- Cost
- $50-$90; $12 students, teachers and military (Tier 3 only)
- Where
- Sunset Center, San Carlos St at Ninth Ave, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
Checked 2026-10-21event
Miro Quartet
Chamber Music Monterey Bay presents the GRAMMY-nominated string quartet in Haydn, Kevin Puts, Puccini and Ginastera, with a pre-concert talk at 6:30pm.
- Dates
- Dec 5, 2026
- Hours
- 7:30pm
- Cost
- Ticketed; prices not published online
- Where
- Sunset Center, San Carlos St at Ninth Ave, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
Checked 2026-10-21event
Christmas in the Adobes
Historic adobes in Old Monterey open for two evenings with luminarias, holiday decor, music and refreshments. Pick up wristbands and maps at will-call (Stanton Center, Casa Gutierrez or Stevenson House) from 4pm. Rain or shine; no refunds.
- Dates
- Dec 11-12
- Hours
- 5-9pm
- Cost
- Adults $30 per night ($25 before Nov 1), $45 two-night pass; 17 and under free
- Where
- Custom House Plaza, Monterey, CA 93940
Checked 2026-10-21museum
Carmel Mission Basilica
An active parish founded in 1771 by St. Junípero Serra. Admission includes a self-guided visit to the Basilica, museums and grounds. Access to the Basilica may be limited during weddings, services and special events.
- Hours
- Wed-Thu 10am-4pm; Fri-Sat 10am-5pm; Sun 11:30am-5pm; closed Mon-Tue, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and Dec 26
- Cost
- $15 adults; $12 seniors 62+; $8 ages 7-17; 6 and under free
- Where
- 3080 Rio Road, Carmel, CA 93923
Checked 2026-10-21parkFree
Elkhorn Slough Reserve
Three loop trails covering about 5 miles through salt marsh, woodland and grassland, plus a visitor center. The slough is home to more than 100 southern sea otters and over 340 bird species.
- Hours
- Wed-Sun 9am-5pm; closed Mon-Tue
- Cost
- Free
- Where
- 1700 Elkhorn Road, Watsonville, CA 95076
Checked 2026-10-21attraction
Monterey Bay Aquarium
Daily sea otter, open sea, kelp forest and seabird feedings and short talks are free with admission; behind-the-scenes tours cost extra.
- Hours
- Hours vary by date; see the aquarium's daily schedule. Last entry one hour before closing.
- Cost
- $65 ages 18-69; $50 ages 5-17 and 70+; 4 and under free
- Where
- 886 Cannery Row, Monterey, CA 93940
Checked 2026-10-21museum
Monterey State Historic Park
Historic buildings in downtown Monterey, including the Custom House, the oldest government building in California, with museums and guided history walks that start at the Custom House.
- Hours
- Custom House, Pacific House and First Brick House Tue-Sun 10am-4pm; guided walks Thu-Sun 11am, 1pm and 3pm
- Where
- Custom House Plaza, Monterey, CA 93940
Checked 2026-10-21museum
National Steinbeck Center
A museum about John Steinbeck in Oldtown Salinas. Docents greet visitors; allow at least two hours.
- Hours
- Daily 10am-5pm; closed Thanksgiving Eve and Day, Christmas Eve and Day, New Year's Eve and Day, Easter and July 4
- Cost
- $15 adults; $13 seniors 62+, students, teachers, military, veterans and Monterey County residents; $7 ages 6-17; 5 and under free
- Where
- 1 Main St, Salinas, CA 93901
Checked 2026-10-21parkFree
Pacific Grove Monarch Sanctuary
An overwintering site for western monarch butterflies, which typically arrive in mid-October and leave in February; peak viewing is November through January. Museum docents are often there 11am-3pm, October through February, weather permitting. No pets.
- Hours
- Sunrise to sunset daily
- Cost
- Free
- Where
- 250 Ridge Road, Pacific Grove, CA 93950
Checked 2026-10-21museum
Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History
Natural history galleries with hands-on activities, a native plant garden with a fossil dig pit, and Sandy, a life-size gray whale model. Bring a same-day Monterey Bay Aquarium ticket for $2 off.
- Hours
- Wed-Sun 10am-4pm; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day
- Cost
- $12 adults; $8 ages 4-18, students, seniors and military; free for ages 3 and under and Monterey County residents
- Where
- 165 Forest Avenue, Pacific Grove, CA 93950
Checked 2026-10-21park
Point Lobos State Natural Reserve
Headlands, coves and meadows three miles south of Carmel on Highway 1. No dogs.
- Hours
- 8am-7pm; last entry 6:30pm
- Cost
- $10 per vehicle
- Where
- Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, Highway 1, Carmel, CA
Checked 2026-10-21museum
Point Pinos Lighthouse
The oldest continuously operating lighthouse on the West Coast, lit since 1855, with a third-order Fresnel lens made in France in the 1850s.
- Hours
- Thu 1-3pm; Fri-Sun 11am-3pm; closed Thanksgiving, Dec 25 and Jan 1
- Cost
- $7 over 17; $3 ages 7-17; under 7 free
- Where
- 80 Asilomar Ave, Pacific Grove, CA 93950
Checked 2026-10-21
