Toddler Gymnastics
2026-07-08 10:15 - 10:45, 2026-07-15 10:15 - 10:45 (America/Los_Angeles) | MY Museum, 425 Washington Street, Monterey, CA, 93940, United States
Join us on Wednesdays as we partner with Shea’s Gymnastics
Toddlers will learn about the basics of gymnastics through games and movement in this fun and engaging Caregiver & Me program.
Recommended for children ages 2-5.
Fee: Included with daily admission.

Carmel Bach Festival | PRE-FEST: Classical Cabaret
2026-07-08 19:30 - 21:00 | Sunset Center, San Carlos St at Ninth Ave, Carmel by the Sea, CA, 93921
Classical Cabaret is an intimate, cabaret-inspired evening hosted by longtime Festival orchestra member, Jesse Barrett, in Studio 105. With an open bar and a relaxed, nightclub-style atmosphere, guests will enjoy classical favorites presented in fresh, full-of-personality ways.

Make & Take Crafts
2026-07-09 10:15 - 10:45, 2026-07-16 10:15 - 10:45 | MY Museum, 425 Washington Street, Monterey, CA, 93940, United States
Get crafty with us on Thursday mornings!
Art making plays a central role in cognitive, motor, language, and social-emotional development. Enjoy creative exploration and make something fun to take home, too.
Recommended for children ages 2 and older.
Fee: Included with daily admission. free admission for members.

BARKLEY COVE WITH OTTER OPRY AT MONTEREY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
2026-07-09 19:00 - 21:00 | Monterey United Methodist Church, 1 Soledad Drive, Monterey, CA, 93940, United States
Otter Opry *loves* to break new ground in the Monterey bluegrass scene, and here we go again: On Thursday, July 9th at Monterey United Methodist Church, East Coast student band Barkley Cove will be demonstrating in no uncertain terms what “new blood” in our favorite genre is all about.
Barkley Cove is a folk/bluegrass band known for its rich harmonies, with Jillian Dolan (guitar, vocals), Silas Gross (guitar, banjo, vocals), Yusuf Miller (mandolin, bass, vocals), and Robert Myers (bass) creating a sound that blends folk, rock, country, and bluegrass with imaginative songwriting. A quick search on the internet turns up praise and excitement for the group – like, “These youngsters are killing it!”
Robert explains the remarkable group dynamics of the band: “We love playing with each other because we write all our songs collectively and have a strong personal connection to one another, which makes each performance like playing music with friends while also connecting with each other and the audience on a deeply emotional level. Our goal is to take the listener on a journey that evokes the indescribable collective relationship that music forms between listeners.
Barkley Cove has never set foot in California, and some of them have never even been to the American West. They are excited to visit and learn more about the people and culture of the area, while also forming a connection with a part of the country that is known for innovative music and stunning nature. Let’s welcome them with open arms and see if we can “grass them up” a little bit more when they come to see us. And, how about some BBQ ribs before the show? Dinner at 5pm ($15 before July 4th, $20 after that).
7pm. Monterey United Methodist Church, 1 Soledad Drive, Monterey. $35/show (CBA members $30; 15 and under free). Online sales will end at 11am on the day of the show. Tickets will be available at the door. www.otteropry.org

Miss Sarah Sunshine
2026-07-10 10:15 - 11:00, 2026-07-17 10:15 - 11:00 | MY Museum, 425 Washington Street, Monterey, CA, 93940, United States
Please join our very own local celebrity, Miss Sarah Sunshine from It’s Circle Time, every Friday from 10:15 to 11:00 at MY Museum.
This educational and fun program will include singing, dancing, stories, and much more.
It’s Circle Time is a playful learning space where songs, stories, and meaningful connections come together. Designed for young children and the adults who love them, their content supports early literacy, emotional growth, and joyful learning—one circle at a time.
Fee: Included with daily admission, free admission for members.

Controlled Chaos Improv at Carmel Valley Athletic Club's Mind & Body Studio!
2026-07-10 19:00 - 21:00 | Carmel Valley Athletic Club’s Mind & Body Studio, 27300 Rancho San Carlos Road, Carmel, 93923
Come out for a night of fun with Controlled Chaos Improv at the Carmel Valley Athletic Club’s Mind & Body Studio! Controlled Chaos Improv puts their own twist on traditional improvisational theatre. Quick wit and spontaneous energy are combined with truth in comedy to bring something fresh and fun to the stage! Fueled by audience suggestions, Controlled Chaos will create unpredictable and comedic scenes on the spot. So, grab your friends and join us for an evening you won’t soon forget! A good time is guaranteed for all. You may pay for a whole seat, but watch as these improvisers keep you on the edge of it! 16+

Afternoon with the Curator: Cydney Payton
2026-07-11 14:00 - 15:30 | Monterey Museum of Art, 559 Pacific Street, Monterey, CA 93940, 559 Pacific Street, Monterey, 93940
Join MMA in the galleries for an inspiring afternoon with guest curator Cydney Payton and artist Jane Olin as they share their insights into Jane Olin: Some Trees.
Advance purchase is required. Seating is limited, so we recommend reserving your tickets early.
$5 MMA Members, Students, Military, Under 18, and SNAP Participants with EBT
$20 General Admission. Includes an admission pass to MMA – Pacific Street.
About the Curator
Cydney Payton is an independent curator and writer, and former CEO and Chief Curator of the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver and the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art. At MCA Denver, she led the architectural process and campaign to build the first Gold LEED-certified museum in the US. Her leadership in the arts has been acknowledged by The New York Times, The Denver Post, Artforum, and Art in America. She has served as a nominator for the MacArthur Fellowship and as a juror for the Taishin Art Awards Taiwan and Creative Capital. As a co-juror with Spike Lee, she selected Shepherd Fairey’s HOPE to represent the 2008 Obama Campaign. Since the late 1980s, Payton has curated groundbreaking exhibitions by such artists as David Altmejd, Morley Baer, Lynda Benglis, Yu-Chen Chou, Brad Kahlhamer, Susanne Kühn, Roberto Behar, and Rosario Marquardt, Wangechi Mutu, Arlene Shechet, Collier Schorr, and Fischli & Weiss, to name a few. Payton holds an MA in Curatorial Practice from California College of the Arts, with an emphasis on Architectural History and Theory.

Carmel Art Walk
2026-07-11 16:00 - 19:00 | Throughout Carmel by the Sea, CA, 93921, United States
Founded and run by local artists, the Carmel Art Walk is a free and family-friendly event. Support our local artists and keep the HEART of Carmel beating strong! Carmel Art Walk is the second Saturday every month from 4pm-7pm and is open to the public. Tour artist-owned galleries and meet the artists who carry on the Carmel-by-the-Sea artist colony legacy. Follow the blue lanterns at each gallery.

Monterey Bay Poetry Consortium
2026-07-11 17:30 - 18:30 | Pacific Grove Public Library, 550 Central Ave, Pacific Grove, CA, 93950, United States
Pacific Grove Public Library hosts a monthly reading by poets from Central California and beyond, organized by the Monterey Bay Poetry Consortium. Enjoy all styles of poetry, created fresh by local poets. Sept. 13: Avery Burns and Lee Knight Jr.; Oct. 11: Chrissy Hernandez and Brandi Kary.

Carmel Bach Festival: Haydn The Seasons
2026-07-11 19:30 - 22:00 | Sunset Center, San Carlos St at Ninth Ave, Carmel by the Sea, CA, 93921
Celebrate Opening Night with us after this performance on Saturday, July 11! This post-concert party will happen on the Sunset Center Terrace, and is open to all ticket holders. Haydn’s The Seasons is a large-scale oratorio depicting Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. Combining chorus, soloists, and orchestra, it tells stories of nature, human labor, and rural life. The orchestra paints vivid scenes—flowing streams, birdsong, thunderstorms, icy winds, and harvest celebrations—while soloists bring human characters to life, from peasants at work to lovers strolling and farmers celebrating. Premiered in Vienna to wide acclaim, The Seasons quickly became one of Haydn’s most celebrated works.
Norwegian composer Nils Henrik Asheim explores the textures, silence, and rhythms of winter in Muohta – Language of Snow. Evoking snow-covered landscapes, his work blends contemplative atmospheres with subtle harmonic shifts. Audiences can expect an immersive, meditative experience where sound mirrors nature’s stillness and the quiet power of the frozen world.

Carmel Bach Festival: Bach & Rebel
2026-07-12 15:00 - 17:30 | Sunset Center, San Carlos St at Ninth Ave, Carmel by the Sea, CA, 93921
This program traces how composers use music to explore our deepest responses to the world — grief and wonder, chaos and order, sorrow and joy.
The journey begins in darkness and disorder: Purcell’s Music for the Funeral of Queen Mary confronts mortality, while Rebel’s Les Élémens erupts from a single “Chaos” chord, giving form to Earth, Air, Fire, and Water — elemental forces whose turbulent beginnings echo the disorder and beauty of human life.
At the program’s center, Kaija Saariaho’s Nuits, Adieu evokes transformation, impermanence, and reflection through whispering voices and shifting harmonies. Sandström’s expansion of Purcell’s Hear My Prayer, O Lord gradually intensifies, layering voices and harmonies to convey human hope and resilience. The program culminates in Bach’s festive Cantata No. 214, a joyful celebration of life, energy, and the enduring human spirit.

Carmel Bach Festival: Music of Earth and Elysium – Candlelight Concert
2026-07-12 20:00 - 21:00 | CA
This candlelit string quartet concert explores musical depictions of nature, from sunrise and weather to birdsong and the infinite, with works by Dittersdorf, Fanny Mendelssohn, Angélica Negrón, and Haydn.

Carmel Bach Festival: All Bach Organ Recital
2026-07-13 11:00 - 12:00 | Carmel Mission Basilica, 3080 Rio Road, Carmel-by-the-Sea, 93921
Enjoy a morning of organ music in the historic Carmel Mission Basilica. Performed by Andrew Arthur, the Festival’s Principal Organist and a member of the Artistic Leadership Team, this recital highlights the beauty of Bach’s works as well as works by Heinrich Scheidemann & Georg Böhm.

Carmel Bach Festival | Meet the Composer: John Dowland
2026-07-13 13:30 - 14:30 | Sunset Center, San Carlos St at Ninth Ave, Carmel by the Sea, CA, 93921
This program features music by John Dowland, one of the most influential composers of the English Renaissance, marking 400 years since his death. Focusing on his celebrated lute songs, the concert explores themes of love, loss, time, and nature that made Dowland famous throughout Europe.

Carmel Bach Festival: July in Paris
2026-07-13 15:00 - 16:00 | All Saints’ Episcopal Church, Doroles St & 9th Ave, Carmel-by-the-Sea, 93921
Step into Paris at the turn of the 18th century, when candlelit salons and royal courts were filled with elegant, expressive music. Works by François Couperin and Jean-Féry Rebel capture the refined beauty, rich harmonies, and vivid character of the French Baroque, offering a glimpse into the sound world of the city alive with new musical ideas.

Carmel Bach Festival: Vivaldi Four Seasons & Handel Water Music
2026-07-13 19:30 - 22:00 | Sunset Center, San Carlos St at Ninth Ave, Carmel by the Sea, CA, 93921
Vivaldi’s Four Seasons is a set of four violin concertos paired with short poems that describe the scenes each movement depicts: birds singing, dogs barking, storms breaking, and people celebrating. Vivaldi brings these images to life with musical details such as trills for birds, a repeating viola line for a dog, droning lines for Summer’s heat, and chattering teeth in Winter. The solo violin leads the story in each concerto, acting almost like a narrator. These concertos have captivated listeners for centuries and appear frequently in films, including The Four Seasons (1981) and Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019).
Handel’s Water Music was composed in 1717 for a royal barge trip on the Thames, performed outdoors for King George I as the boats traveled along the river. The suites include a series of dance movements for strings, horns, oboes, and bassoons, designed to carry across the water. Its lively rhythms and bright orchestration have made it one of Handel’s best-known works, and it has appeared in films such as Dead Poets Society (1989).

Carmel Bach Festival: 19th Century Guitar
2026-07-14 13:30 - 14:30 | Sunset Center, San Carlos St at Ninth Ave, Carmel by the Sea, CA, 93921
This concert features 19th-century works for fortepiano and mandolino by Beethoven, Hummel, Giuliani, and Carulli. The program highlights the interplay between the two instruments and the elegance of early Romantic chamber music.

Carmel Bach Festival: Roaring 20’s
2026-07-14 15:00 - 16:00 | All Saints’ Episcopal Church, Doroles St & 9th Ave, Carmel-by-the-Sea, 93921
The 1920s marked a decade of bold reinvention as composers responded to a rapidly changing world with wit, clarity, and new musical languages. Works by Poulenc, Martinů, and Stravinsky capture the energy of the era—from Parisian surrealism and jazz-inflected dance to the crisp lines of neoclassicism—revealing three distinct voices shaped by the same moment in history.

Carmel Bach Festival: Bach at Sunset
2026-07-14 19:30 - 22:00 | Sunset Center, San Carlos St at Ninth Ave, Carmel by the Sea, CA, 93921
Baroque music forms the foundation of the Carmel Bach Festival, and this program honors that tradition. J.S. Bach’s Cantata No. 39, Brich dem Hungrigen dein Brot, and Cantata No. 105, Herr, gehe nicht ins Gericht, showcase his mastery of choruses, arias, and recitatives, blending intricate musical craft with profound spiritual and moral themes. Antonio Lotti’s Missa Sapientiae, a Venetian mass setting, pairs elegant polyphonic choruses with lyrical solo lines, exemplifying the devotional clarity and refinement of early 18th-century sacred music. Together, these works highlight the artistry and historical significance of the Baroque era.
Through these performances, we celebrate the composers and musical traditions that have shaped and continue to inspire the Carmel Bach Festival.

Carmel Bach Festival: Forest Quartets
2026-07-15 17:00 - 18:00 | Church in the Forest, 3152 Forest Lake Rd, Pebble Beach, 93953
Held at Church in the Forest, a striking venue nestled among the cypress and pine trees of Pebble Beach, this concert features two landmark string quartets: Beethoven’s String Quartet No. 10, the “Harp,” and Mendelssohn’s String Quartet No. 1, a work that balances classical structure with Romantic intensity.

Carmel Bach Festival: Bach, Brazilian, and Bluegrass
2026-07-16 19:30 - 22:00 | Sunset Center, San Carlos St at Ninth Ave, Carmel by the Sea, CA, 93921
This program brings musical worlds together in one exhilarating evening. Festival favorites Fire & Grace—Edwin Huizinga and William Coulter—are joined by mandolin luminaries Mike Marshall, long celebrated for his Brazilian collaborations, and Caterina Lichtenberg. Experience Bach’s brilliance as it meets bluegrass drive and the rhythmic warmth of Brazil.

Carmel Bach Festival: Sounds of the Seasons
2026-07-17 13:30 - 14:30 | Sunset Center, San Carlos St at Ninth Ave, Carmel by the Sea, CA, 93921
This concert features French composer Joseph Bodin de Boismortier’s cantatas inspired by the seasons, written around the same time as Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. Scored for voice, obbligato instrument, and continuo, they explore music’s ability to depict the changing seasons and the natural world.

Carmel Bach Festival: Bach Cantatas
2026-07-17 15:00 - 16:00 | All Saints’ Episcopal Church, Doroles St & 9th Ave, Carmel-by-the-Sea, 93921
Bach Cantatas features two expressive works by J.S. Bach—Christ unser Herr zum Jordan kam, BWV 7, and Cantata BWV 187. Rich in theological depth and musical invention, these cantatas showcase Bach’s gift for illuminating text through vibrant choral writing and nuanced instrumental color.

Lecture: Carmel’s Designing Women
2026-07-17 18:00 - 19:00 | Carmel Foundation, Southeast Corner of 8th and Dolores St, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
As part of this year’s celebration of the women who shaped Carmel’s architectural legacy, the Carmel Heritage Society and the American Institute of Architects Monterey Bay Chapter invite the community to a special lecture presentation by Alissandra Dramov. Dramov will focus on the various and eclectic female architects, designers, and builders who constructed houses and buildings in the town from the 1880s to the 1940s. Their accomplishments and achievements will be highlighted.
This lecture is presented as a companion event to the 32nd Annual Carmel House Tour, themed “Designing Women,” which takes place Saturday, July 18, from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. Tickets may be purchased at carmelheritage.org for $50 presale and $60 on the day of the Tour. House docent volunteers are still needed and will receive a free ticket. Contact executivedirector@aiamontereybay.org to sign-up.

Paper Wing Theatre: Jagged Little Pill
2026-07-17 19:30 - 21:00 | Paper Wing Theatre 711 Cannery Row Suite I Monterey, Ca. 93940, 711 Canner Row Suite I, Monterey, CA, 93940, United States
Jagged Little Pill is a powerful and emotionally charged musical inspired by the iconic album by Alanis Morissette. With a compelling story by Academy Award–winning writer Diablo Cody and music that defined a generation, this groundbreaking show explores the complexities of modern life with raw honesty and unforgettable songs.
Set in a seemingly picture-perfect suburban home, the story follows the Healy family as they navigate love, secrets, and the pressures of keeping up appearances. Beneath the surface, each family member is struggling with their own challenges, addiction, identity, trauma, and the search for connection. As their carefully constructed world begins to unravel, they must confront uncomfortable truths and discover what it really means to heal.
Featuring electrifying performances of Morissette’s beloved hits, including “You Oughta Know,” “Hand in My Pocket,” and “Ironic”, Jagged Little Pill blends rock concert energy with deeply human storytelling. Bold, moving, and intensely relevant, this Tony and Grammy Award–winning musical shines a spotlight on resilience, empathy, and the power of community.
Recommended for mature audiences due to strong language and adult themes.

Jagged Little Pill
2026-07-17 19:30 - 21:30 | Paper Wing Theatre 711 Cannery Row Suite I Monterey, Ca. 93940, 711 Canner Row Suite I, Monterey, CA, 93940, United States
Jagged Little Pill is a powerful and emotionally charged musical inspired by the iconic album by Alanis Morissette. With a compelling story by Academy Award–winning writer Diablo Cody and music that defined a generation, this groundbreaking show explores the complexities of modern life with raw honesty and unforgettable songs.
Set in a seemingly picture-perfect suburban home, the story follows the Healy family as they navigate love, secrets, and the pressures of keeping up appearances. Beneath the surface, each family member is struggling with their own challenges—addiction, identity, trauma, and the search for connection. As their carefully constructed world begins to unravel, they must confront uncomfortable truths and discover what it really means to heal.
Featuring electrifying performances of Morissette’s beloved hits—including “You Oughta Know,” “Hand in My Pocket,” and “Ironic”, Jagged Little Pill blends rock concert energy with deeply human storytelling. Bold, moving, and intensely relevant, this Tony and Grammy Award–winning musical shines a spotlight on resilience, empathy, and the power of community.
Recommended for mature audiences due to strong language and adult themes.

Carmel Bach Festival: Beethoven 6 Symphony & Appalachian Spring
2026-07-17 19:30 - 22:00 | Sunset Center, San Carlos St at Ninth Ave, Carmel by the Sea, CA, 93921
Beethoven subtitled his Pastoral Symphony “Recollections of Country Life”. Each of its five movements depicts a countryside scene. The first movement conveys the calm joy of arriving in the countryside, with gentle, flowing melodies. The second evokes a babbling brook, while woodwinds mimic birdsong. In the third, people dance and celebrate with lively rhythms. The fourth depicts a sudden, dramatic thunderstorm, one of Beethoven’s earliest musical portrayals of nature’s power. The final movement offers a peaceful shepherd’s song and a sense of restored serenity. For fans of Disney, this piece will sound familiar, as it was featured in Fantasia (1940).
Appalachian Spring takes its title from a rural Pennsylvania farmhouse and evokes the optimism and spirit of pioneer life in early America. Featuring the iconic Shaker melody Simple Gifts, Copland’s work is one of his most celebrated, known for its open textures, folk-inspired melodies, and enduring association with the quintessential “American sound.”
Celebrating a different perspective on the America landscape, Puerto Rican composer Angélica Negrón is our featured composer this year. Her work, Marejada, captures the movement and energy of the sea through inventive textures and rhythmic drive. Negrón offers a fresh and compelling voice that complements Copland’s vision while reflecting her own cultural and musical soundscape.
