Family Activities

The Monterey Yacht Club presents Brighten the Harbor , a lighted boat parade. Watch boats beautifully decorated for the holidays cruise along the Monterey Coast.

A community celebration of the arts, First Night Monterey is an affordable, alcohol-free family celebration held on New Year’s Eve, 3pm-midnight, in the heart of Downtown Old Monterey. Join us as we dance, play, act, perform, create and sing our way into 2025! Featuring multiple performance venues. Purchase your admission button here.

Enjoy a free classical piano concert in Downtown Old Monterey! The Concert Truck is coming to the Farmers Market at Old Monterey Marketplace (on the 300 block of Alvarado Street) on Tuesday, October 8, 4pm-7pm. Bring the whole family.

Impassioned by their love for music, pianists Nick Luby and Susan Zhang converted a 16-foot box truck into a fully functioning mobile concert hall, complete with lights, sound system, and piano.

Christmas in the Adobes on December 13 & 14 is Monterey's signature holiday event! Stroll the streets of Monterey and stop in at any one of the many decorated adobes with soft holiday lights and entertainment. The event supports Monterey State Historic Park's K-12 educational history program.

Tickets are $30 per night for adults and free for children and youth age 17 and under. A 2-night Gold Pass is $45. Reserve tickets online.

Attention, artists and storytellers! "Zines and Scenes:Your Voice, Your Art" is a fun-filled day of zine making, animation, & creative writing this Saturday, 10am-4pm.

Enjoy a day of free workshops, art projects, and special guest talks, culminating in a finished take-home zine presented by Youth Arts Collective, Monterey Museum of Art, Monterey Public Library, and California State Parks. View the schedule here.

Monterey Firefighters Community Foundation presents a free screening of the film Shrek on the lawn of Colton Hall at 5:30pm. See fire engines up close, meet your local Monterey firefighters, and enjoy complimentary popcorn and cotton candy. Don't forget to bring chairs or a blanket to sit on!

Monterey Public Library Friends and Foundation is holding a Used Book Sale on Saturday, September 28, 10am-2pm, in the foyer of the Library. You'll find gently used books across all genres. Proceeds will benefit Monterey Public Library.

Join the City of Monterey in celebrating the opening of the Pat Hathaway Memorial Exhibition on Thursday, August 29, 5pm-7pm at Colton Hall Museum. Free and open to the public.

This exhibit celebrates the life and photo collection of the late Pat Hathaway, featuring historical images of Monterey, c.1870-1950, collected and preserved by Pat over the course of 50 years. The exhibit will run through Sept 29.

All are welcome to the Annual Turkish Arts and Culture Festival for a weekend of free family fun, August 24 and 25, 11am-7pm, at Custom House Plaza. We'll have live music and folk dancing performances, Turkish food and drinks, and special activities for children.

Monterey Public Library Friends and Foundation is holding a Used Book Sale on July 27, 10am-2pm, in the foyer of the Library. You'll find gently used books across all genres. Proceeds will benefit Monterey Public Library.

Monterey Public Library presents Oakland children's musician Mr. Elephant on Wednesday, June 26, 1pm-2pm in the Community Room. This event is free but registration is required .

Mr. Elephant sings original, family-friendly songs in styles ranging from rock to reggae, from beats to bossa nova. They're educational, diverse and - most of all - FUN!

Monterey State Historic Park is hosting a free community craft day for all ages on Saturday, 11am-3pm. Learn about candle making in early California and take home your own beeswax candle. Registration is recommended (search by date). Check in at Pacific House.