Monterey Symphony Announces 2026-2027 Season at Sunset Center and Love Letter to New York at the Forest Theater Performances at Sunset Center, Carmel, San Carlos and 9th Ave. Carmel/Monterey CA – Monterey Symphony announces its 81st season with two Love Letter to New York performances at the Forest Theater and six concert sets at the […]
Welcome to our arts event calendar! This calendar supports arts programs and events in Monterey County. Find your next creative adventure, or submit your event to be added here upon approval.
Events
Calendar of Events
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Monday
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Tuesday
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Wednesday
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Thursday
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Friday
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Saturday
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Sunday
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2 events,
$50 – $90
Art campers, we invite you to join mixed media artist and instructor Lisa Handley for 4 days of creative self-expression and fun with collage art! Each day we’ll explore and enjoy a variety of techniques and designs including cut and torn paper, monochromes, mosaics, surrealism and vision boards. We’ll play with shape, size, color, texture […]
$295
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3 events,
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.
Included with daily admission, free for members!
|
3 events,
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.
Included with daily admission, free for members!
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6 events,
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 […]
Free
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 […]
Included with daily admission, free for members!
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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!
Free
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 […]
Free
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It's time for our next First Friday... Celebrating Independent Businesses during Independence Weekend. The tourist season has officially started in downtown Pacific Grove. Many feet will be on the street on First Friday, enjoying Live Music, Gallery Openings, Celebrations, Open Houses, Great Food! Participants located on Lighthouse, Grand and Central Aves!
Free
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3 events,
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 […]
$275
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Counter-tenor Reginald Mobley appears in this special pre-festival recital. His acclaimed recent album, Because, has received wide attention for its exploration of spirituals, identity, and personal history, connecting this repertoire with Baroque performance practice. Mobley is recognized for his work in both early music and spirituals, and for his clear tone, musical intelligence, and strong […] |
3 events,
A welcoming series of summer art classes for all skill levels, featuring instruction in drawing, acrylic and oil painting, landscapes, flowers, and still life in a supportive creative environment. |
5 events,
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.
Included with daily admission, free for members!
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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. |
5 events,
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.
Included with daily admission, free for members!
-
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 […]
$15 – $35
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5 events,
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 […]
Included with daily admission, free for members!
-
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 […]
$25 – $1991816323241
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6 events,
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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 […]
$20
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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 […]
Free
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.
Free
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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 […] |
4 events,
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 […]
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. |
6 events,
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.
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.
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 […]
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 […] |
5 events,
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.
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 […]
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 […] |
4 events,
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.
Included with daily admission, free for members!
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. |
4 events,
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.
Included with daily admission, free for members!
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. |
8 events,
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 […]
Included with daily admission, free for members!
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.
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.
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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 […]
$15
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 […]
$35.00 – $79.00
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 […] |
6 events,
-
This summer’s epic adventure is for the birds and all about birds! At the urging of George, the Blue Jay, Leonard and Rasmus fly to an oak woodland, meet a dryad named Kaerin, explore the world of birds, and are enlisted to find and rescue Hawk. Leonard implores the creatures around them to set aside […]
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Mike Marshall and Caterina Lichtenberg are two of the most compelling voices in the world of mandolin. The two have redefined what the instrument can do and create music that is intricate yet playful, moving effortlessly between classical repertoire, folk traditions, and their own inventive arrangements. There may be no better place to experience it […]
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This summer, one of the Central Coast’s most beloved traditions opens its doors once more. The 32nd Annual Carmel House Tour will take place on Saturday, July 18, 2026, from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m., inviting guests into some of the most enchanting and architecturally distinctive homes in Carmel-by-the-Sea. This year’s self-guided tour, themed “Designing Women,” […]
$50 – $60
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 […]
$35.00 – $79.00
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8 events,
-
MY Museum is turning 29! We are so honored to have served our community for nearly 30 years, and hope to keep doing so for another 30. What do we do when we turn 29? We PARTY like a rock star! We are super excited to have It's Circle Time back at the museum to […]
Included with daily admission, Free for members!
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MY Museum is turning 29! What does that mean? It’s time to party!! We are super excited to have children’s entertainment group It's Circle Time back at the museum to help us celebrate with a live concert. We'll also have face-painting, crafts, and much more! ** Please note: we fully expect this event to sell […]
Included with daily admission, free for members!
-
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 screening of Julia Morgan, Architect of Dreams, a documentary on the life and work of pioneering architect Julia Morgan. Morgan’s work resonates […]
$15
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 […]
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.
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. |
6 events,
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.
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.
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 […]
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 […] |
5 events,
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.
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 […]
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 […] |
4 events,
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.
Included with daily admission, free for members!
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. |
6 events,
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.
Included with daily admission, free for members!
-
Curated by Angélica Negrón in line with the Festival’s theme, this program focuses on the nature of sound itself. The program unfolds as an immersive experience— blurring boundaries between acoustic and electronic sound, individual and collective voice, memory and environment. The use of strings, voices, and electronics reflects Negrón’s broader work, where sound is treated […]
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Experience the serene beauty of Twilight in the Cathedral, a concert that evokes the tranquility of a sacred evening in the historic San Carlos Cathedral. This annual concert highlights Baroque music for strings and organ.
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. |
8 events,
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 […]
Included with daily admission, free for members!
-
The Baroque & Classical Academy provides training from internationally acclaimed Bach Festival musicians and learning opportunities at the Carmel Bach Festival. BCA musicians have a full rehearsal schedule, including guided sessions with mentors, in preparation for the Baroque & Classical Academy Quartet Showcase Concert. Throughout July, BCA musicians learn how to curate programs, create socially […]
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.
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.
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 […]
$35.00 – $79.00
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 […] |
6 events,
-
In a typical season, the Virginia Best Adams (VBA) quartet comes to Carmel in July to train with Festival artists, and explore ways to communicate Baroque repertoire more vividly. In a light-hearted atmosphere of discovery, the VBA Masterclass participants experience a wealth of vocal music and examine all aspects of style, technique, communication, language, performance […]
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Counterpoint is a collaboration between pianist and composer Conrad Tao and choreographer and dancer Caleb Teicher. The duo explore the dichotomy of their different perspectives and artistic practices, expanding their individual expressive capacity through a collective experience. Harmonic, rhythmic, and theatrical counterpoint between the artists seeks to map out constellations linking their disparate traditions, driving […]
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 […]
$35.00 – $79.00
-
Favorite selections from the Festival are performed in this closing night concert that celebrates music, Carmel, the musicians of the Bach Festival, and the Festival’s loyal patrons. The program is a sampler of musician and audience favorites from throughout the two-week Festival. The concert is followed by a celebratory party on the Sunset Center Terrace […] |
3 events,
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 […]
$35.00 – $79.00
|
4 events,
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 […]
$250
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 […]
$250
|
4 events,
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.
Included with daily admission, free for members!
|
4 events,
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.
Included with daily admission, free for members!
|
4 events,
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 […]
Included with daily admission, free for members!
|
2 events,
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 […]
$35.00 – $79.00
|
2 events,
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 […]
$35.00 – $79.00
|