Arts Council for Monterey County

Avenue Q
2026-08-14 20:00 - 22:00, 2026-08-08 20:00 - 22:00, 2026-08-07 20:00 - 22:00, 2026-08-01 20:00 - 22:00, 2026-07-31 20:00 - 22:00, 2026-07-25 20:00 - 22:00, 2026-07-24 20:00 - 22:00, 2026-07-18 20:00 - 22:00 (America/Los_Angeles) and 7 more dates | Paper Wing Theatre 711 Cannery Row Suite I Monterey, Ca. 93940, 711 Canner Row Suite I, Monterey, CA, 93940, United States
Avenue Q is the outrageously funny, Tony Award–winning musical that’s part flesh, part felt, and packed with heart. Set on a down-on-its-luck New York block, this smart, adults-only comedy follows Princeton, a recent college grad who moves to Avenue Q in search of his purpose, only to find a hilarious mix of quirky neighbors, wisecracking puppets, and songs you’ll be humming for days.
With show-stopping numbers like “It Sucks to Be Me,” and “The Internet Is for Porn,” the show blends nostalgia, satire, and genuine warmth in a way that’s utterly unforgettable. Beneath the humor is a relatable story about growing up, finding your people, and embracing the chaos of adulthood.
If you love witty comedy, bold musical theatre, and puppets behaving badly, Avenue Q is the must-see show of the season. Grab your tickets now and get ready to laugh, cringe, and cheer your way through one of the most unique musicals ever to hit the stage!

Monterey Bay Poetry Consortium
2026-08-08 17:30 - 18:30, 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 Art Walk
2026-08-08 16:00 - 19:00, 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.

Night Market 831
2026-08-07 17:00 - 21:00, 2026-07-03 17:00 - 21:00 | sand city art park, 525 Ortiz Ave, Sand City, CA, 93955, United States
Inspired by the vibrant open-air street bazaars from around the world, Night Market 831 is a lively gathering where friends and families can sip, savor, socialize, dance, shop, and explore. Held in the colorful Sand City Art Park, surrounded by stunning murals, the market creates a unique and inviting atmosphere. We are committed to fostering a safe, fun, and inclusive community space, featuring a rotating lineup of local performers, creatives, and entrepreneurs who bring their talents to life each month.

First Friday Salinas
2026-08-07 17:00 - 20:00, 2026-07-03 17:00 - 20:00 | Downtown Salinas, 100-300 Blocks Main Street, Salinas, CA, 93901, United States
First Friday Salinas is a monthly tradition designed to transform Downtown into a consistent, positive space for community and culture to thrive.
Come and enjoy an evening of local art, live entertainment, delicious food, and shops open late. Bring your friends and family to Salinas City Center and discover something new every First Friday of the month — you won’t want to miss it!
When & Where:
Every First Friday of the Month
Starting at 5:00 PM
Location: Downtown Salinas in 100 – 300 Blocks of Main Street
Opening Ceremony: 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM, at the One Main Street Stage (in front of the Steinbeck Center).

First Friday Monterey Museum of Art
2026-08-07 17:00 - 19:00, 2026-07-03 17:00 - 19:00 | Monterey Museum of Art, 559 Pacific Street, Monterey, CA 93940, 559 Pacific Street, Monterey, 93940
FREE after-hours access to the Museum on the First Friday of the month. Join us for an evening of art, music, and community gathering!

Summer Art Camp: A Tabletop LEGO Minecraft Survival Game Ages 7–12
2026-07-27 09:00 - 2026-07-31 12:00 | Monterey Museum of Art, 559 Pacific Street, Monterey, CA 93940, 559 Pacific Street, Monterey, 93940
Monterey Museum of Art offers safe, creative experiences and tons of fun for children at our downtown Pacific Street location! Summer Camps are taught by professional educators, offering a wide range of skill-building and creative outlets for children ages five through fourteen.
Join MMA at the $175 Contributor Membership level to receive a 20% discount per class and MMA member benefits for one year. Visit our Membership Page for more information on membership options.
BrickCraft: A Tabletop LEGO® Minecraft Survival Game
Get ready to build, battle, and survive! In this exciting Minecraft-themed game, campers will explore a LEGO® world filled with challenges, mobs, and surprises. They’ll gather resources, design strong bases, and work together to protect their biomes. Every decision counts as they race to stop the Ender Dragon and become true Minecraft heroes!

Summer Art Camp: A Tabletop LEGO Minecraft Adventure Game Ages 5–7
2026-07-27 09:00 - 2026-07-31 12:00 | Monterey Museum of Art, 559 Pacific Street, Monterey, CA 93940, 559 Pacific Street, Monterey, 93940
Monterey Museum of Art offers safe, creative experiences and tons of fun for children at our downtown Pacific Street location! Summer Camps are taught by professional educators, offering a wide range of skill-building and creative outlets for children ages five through fourteen.
Join MMA at the $175 Contributor Membership level to receive a 20% discount per class and MMA member benefits for one year. Visit our Membership Page for more information on membership options.
BrickCraft: A Tabletop LEGO® Minecraft Adventure Game
Jump into a Minecraft-inspired world where you get to decide what happens next! Campers will team up in a tabletop adventure, rolling dice to collect resources, build awesome LEGO® creations, and craft tools to help them on their journey. With imagination, teamwork, and a little luck, they’ll go on an epic quest to defeat the Ender Dragon and save the Minecraft world!

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.

Summer Art Camp: Splash Into Watercolor! Ages 6–8
2026-07-06 09:00 - 2026-07-10 12:00 | Monterey Museum of Art, 559 Pacific Street, Monterey, CA 93940, 559 Pacific Street, Monterey, 93940
Monterey Museum of Art offers safe, creative experiences and tons of fun for children at our downtown Pacific Street location! Summer Camps are taught by professional educators, offering a wide range of skill-building and creative outlets for children ages five through fourteen.
Join MMA at the $175 Contributor Membership level to receive a 20% discount per class and MMA member benefits for one year. Visit our Membership Page for more information on membership options.
Splash Into Watercolor!
Dive into the vibrant world of watercolor painting! Campers will explore bright, flowing colors, experiment with fun techniques, and create their own masterpieces inspired by visits to our galleries, the wonders of nature, and their own imagination. Each day brings new discoveries as young artists learn creative tricks, build confidence, and watch their paintings come to life. Perfect for campers who love to paint, play, and express themselves through color!

Summer Art Camp: Anime Art Camp Ages 11–14
2026-06-22 09:00 - 2026-06-26 12:00 | Monterey Museum of Art, 559 Pacific Street, Monterey, CA 93940, 559 Pacific Street, Monterey, 93940
Monterey Museum of Art offers safe, creative experiences and tons of fun for children at our downtown Pacific Street location! Summer Camps are taught by professional educators, offering a wide range of skill-building and creative outlets for children ages five through fourteen.
Join MMA at the $175 Contributor Membership level to receive a 20% discount per class and MMA member benefits for one year. Visit our Membership Page for more information on membership options.
Anime Art Camp
Campers will jump into the colorful world of Japanese animation—exploring its roots and discovering what makes their favorite shows so magical. They’ll imagine and design their own characters, then create animation pages inspired by the styles they love. Perfect for campers who love to dream, draw, and bring their stories to life!
