Arts Council for Monterey County

Avenue Q
2026-07-11 20:00 - 22:00, 2026-07-10 20:00 - 22:00, 2026-07-04 20:00 - 22:00, 2026-07-03 20:00 - 22:00, 2026-06-27 20:00 - 22:00, 2026-06-26 20:00 - 22:00, 2026-06-20 20:00 - 22:00, 2026-06-19 20:00 - 22:00 (America/Los_Angeles) and 4 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
2026-07-11 17:30 - 18:30, 2026-06-13 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
2026-07-11 16:00 - 19:00, 2026-06-13 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.

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!

Night Market 831
2026-07-03 17:00 - 21:00, 2026-06-05 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
2026-07-03 17:00 - 20:00, 2026-06-05 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
2026-07-03 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: 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!

Level Up Your iPhoneography Summer Camp: 2026 Summer Camps at the Lyceum
2026-06-08 09:30 - 2026-06-12 14:30, 2026-06-08 08:00 - 17:00 | The Lyceum of Monterey County, 1073 Sixth Street, Monterey, CA, 93940, United States
This 1-week camp will cover the fundamentals of taking a great photo, special effects apps, lighting techniques, and editing and post production that can be applied to a full range of subject matter: portraits, action, landscapes, close-up/macro, architecture, abstract, etc.
• Take better photos with your iPhone than most people take with a DSLR.
• Go beyond simple snapshots and start taking outstanding photos.
• Learn from an international award-winning photographer and iPhotographer.
• Get in on the fastest growing field of photography.
• Get new ideas and inspiration to take your iPhoneography to new levels.
• Monday: Environmental portraits, selfies and group photos.
• Tuesday: Landscape, nature, and close-up/macro.
• Wednesday: Studio portraits and still life.
• Thursday: Architecture, street and candid.
• Friday: Gallery exhibit and critique, and photo scavenger hunt.
Required equipment: Smart phone camera (iPhone 10 minimum or equivalent)
Suggested equipment: tripod with phone holder, selfie stick, flashlight or light cube
Ages: 11 – 15
Dates: June 8 – 12, 2026
Hours: 9:30am – 2:30pm
Location: Lyceum
Instructor: Steve Zmak
Class Size: Limited to 10 Students
Fee: $365

Summer Art Camp: From Caves to Canvases Ages 8–10
2026-06-08 09:00 - 2026-06-12 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.
From Caves to Canvases
Become an Art Time Traveler! Jump into the world of creativity from long ago to today! Each day, campers visit a new era of art, make fun hands-on projects, and collect “passport stamps” as they explore how art has changed over time. Perfect for curious campers who want to create, discover, and go on art adventures!

The Big Weekend: Members' Morning MMA Member Benefit
2026-06-07 10:00 - 11:00 | Monterey Museum of Art, 559 Pacific Street, Monterey, CA 93940, 559 Pacific Street, Monterey, 93940
The Big Weekend
Join the Museum for a weekend-long celebration of the Winter 2026 Exhibition Season! FREE admission all weekend, beginning Friday at 5 PM.
Members’ Morning
Enjoy The Art of Place Exhibition Season during exclusive member access hours! All membership levels are welcome to explore the galleries before the Museum is open to the public. This event is open to Museum members only. For more membership information, visit our Membership page.

For the Love of DANCE
2026-06-06 16:00 - 18:00 | CA
Join Carmel Dance Festival for an intimate evening of wine, art, and dance at acclaimed artist Simon Bull’s new private painting studio. (Address disclosed to ticket holders.)
The evening will feature a curated auction of fine paintings by Simon Bull, Jennifer Perlmutter, Elizabeth Murray, and other distinguished artists, alongside bronzed sculptures by Tom Bennett. Guests will also have the opportunity to bid on exceptional experiences, including vacation getaways, fine dining at Chez Noir, and restorative spa packages.
Enjoy thoughtfully selected wines, artisanal fare, and a special live dance presentation — all within an inspiring creative space that is rarely open to the public. The highlight of the evening will be the opportunity to mingle with the artists themselves.
Most importantly, this gathering supports the future of Carmel Dance Festival.
Guests will learn about our upcoming productions and two full-scholarship initiatives that expand access to the arts in meaningful ways. The Terpsichore Project brings aspiring dancers into hospitals, residential care facilities, and community centers to perform and uplift patients, families, and staff. The Dance & Choreography Fellowship Program provides full scholarships to emerging dancers and production support to choreographers shaping the future of dance.
Your presence directly sustains artistic excellence, broadens opportunity, and brings dance into spaces where it has the power to inspire and heal.
We look forward to welcoming you for an unforgettable evening of connection, creativity, and purpose.

The Big Weekend: Free Family Fun Day
2026-06-06 11:00 - 15:00 | Monterey Museum of Art, 559 Pacific Street, Monterey, CA 93940, 559 Pacific Street, Monterey, 93940
The Big Weekend
Join the Museum for a weekend-long celebration of the Winter 2026 Exhibition Season! FREE admission all weekend, beginning Friday at 5 PM.
Free Family Fun Day
Join the Museum for an afternoon of art and creativity for the whole family!
