A wonderful outdoor theater experience. Nestled just a few blocks from the sleepy town of Carmel…read moreby the Sea. This event space livens up for a few hours to local performances to movie nights. Though, parking is a challenge if you don't get there early. I recommend parking near downtown and stretch those legs for a short hike to the venue. There is on-site concessions that serves snacks and soft drinks, wine and beer. Check out Pacific Repertory for a schedule of performances or the Forest Theater website for this own list of events. NOTE: Some shows sell out so buy them online to insure you will get in the door.

Wonderful family friendly place! The out door environment is also great the show was so amazing.read more

If you like jazz, this is L.A.'s best kept secret! I've been to Mr. Music Head on multiple…read moreWednesday nights and never been disappointed. An unbelievable treasure for lovers of fine music.

Blues in the Park is a summer tradition for hundreds of area residents. It's a great way to spend…read morean hour or two (or more), listening, dancing, socializing, picnicking...This summer, they have five weekly concerts, each featuring a local or area opening act, followed by a regional or national act. Some top notch blues and related music. Vendors sell everything from prepared food to t-shirts to tchotchkes. The park itself is pleasant, though shade near the stage is limited, and the area Canada geese can be quite messy (watch where you sit!). Sound quality isn't always perfect, but hey, it's a nice day in the park, close to "civilization" but pleasant. Food and other things sold by the vendors are of mixed quality. Free parking on street or in nearby public lots. FREE. Music runs from 1:00 to 4:30 PM.--check it out (it's a short season)!

Great music and exhibits. Food.... is another story I think three vendors and only one of them was…read moreworth eating

My bf and I spent our last night of the year at First Night Monterey, and it was the perfect way to…read morering in 2026. This annual event is a celebration of music and the arts, a full day of musical ensembles performing at several different venues in downtown Monterey. There was a bit of rain earlier in the afternoon, so several performances were cancelled, such as the twilight procession, fire show, and drum circle. However, by 6pm the rain had subsided, and the festival atmosphere turned out to be an amazing experience. There was so much live entertainment to choose from, with bands playing a wonderful variety of musical genres. We enjoyed indie folk-rock by Grumbling Ginger, sounds of jazz by the Stu Reynold Saxtet on the guitar, bass, sax, and oboe, a lively set filled with rock tunes by Bad Machine, great country songs by SouthBound 101, awesome celtic music by Black Irish (my fave of the evening), an exciting performance of party hits by Everyday People, and our finale band of choice, Wrockinfoose, playing mostly rock and original pieces as they entertained the crowd till just after midnight. FNM also featured karaoke, light-up merchandise (we purchased twinkling "happy new year" crown headbands), a small food court with vendors selling tacos, hot dogs, wood-fired pizza, and beignets, along with some venues selling snacks like peanut butter cookies and pastries. We were also able to take advantage of the free shuttle bus from Del Monte mall where our hotel was located. Overall, we had a good time and appreciated how well-organized this event was, allowing attendees to have a positive and memorable experience.

This was our first time to attend this event, so I have nothing to compare it to. It did rain most…read moreof the evening, which I'm sure impacted the event due to some cancellations of the parade and participating vendors. Pros.: great variety of music, plenty of parking, festive environment, family friendly, indoor venues if you purchased the button and medium size crowd of all ages.. cons: ran by volunteers who were not able to answer basic questions, felt a little disorganized, not very many food options and not very many of the downtown vendors participating. Overall, we had a great time and would attend again next year if we're in the area.

We attended "Best of the Fest" this past weekend, on the final day of the 2023 event (favorites…read moreselected by artistic director, Grete Pederson). At first, it felt like I was at church, with the cathedral-like interior architecture at the Sunset Center, and Bach's background and history of writing church music, unmistakable with the initial performances seemingly dominated by the magnificent choir on stage. But it grew into so much more. An abundance of talent on display showcasing their musical expertise on a plethora of instruments, including some I rarely see performed, like the theorbo (lute) and harp. The concert included the music of Bach, Mozart, George Frideric Handel (Concerto for Organ), Haydn (excerpts from The Creation), Karin Rehnqvist (moving performance of Breaking the Ice)... even a Beethoven teaser for next year's festival! But my fave was Fire and Grace, with Edwin Huizibga on the violin and William Coulter on the guitar, their version of "folk and baroque" (Irish Jig, Bach Gigue, Irish Reel). Tower music on the trumpets and trombones in the courtyard during intermission, with charming string lights to help set the mood. Easy access to the event, parking available within the neighborhood, and workers quick to scan tickets. Staff included 130 volunteers, which is amazing, as that kind of dedication makes this all possible. Though I've certainly been to better venues and music events, I enjoyed my experience here, listening to the extraordinary performances of various classical works of art organized beautifully into the program.

There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular,…read morebut he must take it because conscience tells him it is right.

Inviting small theater in downtown Carmel…read more On the maps it is called "Golden Bough Playhouse - Founders Theatre and Circle Theatre". However, sometimes it is called simply Circle Theater. It is a nice intimate theater with nary a bad seat in the house. I really enjoyed my experience watching a play here. The cast was a fun bunch and all the staff inside were helpful and friendly. A great community feel to it. So, buy a ticket online and support this special local theater. Enjoy a meal before a show ( get reservations because it can be busy). Do many good choices. Parking: Don't be afraid there is parking, but not always easy to find. Fear not! Make an offering to your preferred parking demi-god and a space should open. Don't lose your faith and pre plan you arrival to give yourself plenty of time to find a space.

Love this theater...as well as the small lower venue. I've never seen a poor production here and…read morethe actors...often local talent...are always worth watching. Simply a good venue to enjoy live performances!

My mom and I attended Fantasia last weekend with live accompaniment by the Monterey Symphony. Such…read morea treat! I forgot how wonderful the animation was on that film. It's so easy to take film scores for granted, so it was great to see it performed live to understand how many artists it actually takes (on paper and on instruments) to create this masterpiece. Truly a world-class group of musicians. A few tips: Parking at the Sunset Center gets full quickly, so leave some extra time and be prepared to park on the streets in surrounding Carmel and walk a few blocks. Online booking with the Symphony was easy but adding tickets to my original order was more complicated than necessary and required a phone call. Plan ahead when calling for tickets as their ticket office hours are limited.

Monterey Symphony Seeks Volunteers (Monterey and Salinas)…read more Volunteers needed for Monterey Symphony The Monterey Symphony is seeking volunteers. If you love music and want to be involved, please call 831-646-8511 or visit our website at www.montereysymphony.org for more information.

Plenty of vendors and things to see that may capture the imagination and attention of the attendees…read morethe food was a little lack luster for a carnival type of celebration. The music and vibe was rock music with splash of Tex Mexican band.the crowd was mellow and vendors seemed friendly and welcoming many wanted to answer questions and see if there was something they could help with from a venue of a good selling technique. There were 3 to 6 blocks in a rectangular walkway plaza that seem to be a backyard of a business industry park for the industrial business crowd.

We love the West End celebration with all the diverse artists and craftsmen. You can find all sorts…read moreof handmade items here. Great for early Christmas shopping. There were 3 bands playing some awesome music at 3 different locations. All at the same time so when your wondering around you'll walk into some funky music. I didn't see a lot of people in costumes this year which was a disappointment. But you can surely pick up items for that here. Lots of food and drink options too. Beer, wine and artisan root beer. Hand dipped ice cream, shaved ice. Things can be pretty pricey here but you can find some bargains. Found some nice t shirts for 5 bucks. Not alot of shade here, I'd bring an umbrella and a mister, it can get hot. And it's dog friendly, big plus! The only bad thing is parking. You either have to park on the street nearby if lucky enough to find a spot or far from the festival and hike in. They do offer a trolley shuttle from the Save Mart parking lot. This year I found a paid parking lot at 114 Ortiz Ave which is only a few feet from the festival. 10.00 a day and 5.00 for Seniors. I think it should be free for Seniors.