Carmel-by-the-Sea, City Events

Events Calendar

Some of the biggest events in Carmel are during the summer and fall harvest, as Monterey County is the biggest producer of organic produce in the U.S. and there are farm-fresh markets in Carmel, Monterey and Seaside that help support the fine dining available on the Monterey peninsula. The Pebble Beach A T & T has many of their celebrity affairs in Carmel's finest restaurants and at the host hotels; Inn at Spanish Bay and the Lodge at Pebble Beach. The Concourse d'Elegance event in August every year takes over Carmel's quaint streets to display their opulence and host the participants in the many restaurants around town, so be sure you book your special table during this time of the year. Hollywood celebrities, auto icons and sports stars alike walk the streets of Carmel & Monterey, enjoying the world-class celebrations, foods and beauty of this magical area of Northern California.

February 2007

Wine Passport Weekend February 16-18 1.831.375.9400 Explore Monterey County wineries equipped with a 'passport' valid for tastings, special offers and great prizes. The Monterey Wine Auction & Gala on Feb. 17 benefits local charities.

Masters of Food and Wine February 22-25 1.800.401.1009 Set in the scenic Carmel Highlands, this leading international summit food and wine includes rare wine tastings, cooking demonstrations and food prepared by the world's best chefs.

Oscar Night Gala February 25 1.831.646.0910 Celebrate the Academy Awards with a glamorous evening complete with a red carpet, dinner and big screen telecast.

International Flavors of Marina - Food, Wine & Beer Tasting Location TBA 1.831.883.1207 Taste fresh creations from local restaurants and Monterey County wineries and breweries, and enjoy live entertainment and silent and live auctions. The Marina Hospitality Association, Marina Chamber of Commerce and city of Marina sponsor this annual event.

April 2007

Intricacies of Taste April 2, Carmel Valley 1.831.624.2600 Enlighten your tastebuds with this afternoon class in wine-pairing, including cheese and chocolate, held at Chateau Julien.

Winemaker's Dinner: Heller Estate April 22, Monterey 1.831.659.6220 Winemaker Rich Tanguay and members of the Heller family conspire with the talented chefs of the Culinary Center of Monterey to present a delicious dinner that really shows off the winery's award-winning organic wines.

Vintage Affair April 23, Carmel Valley 1.831.624.2600 Chateau Julien's barrel room doors swing open for a full day of special wine-tasting opportunities, including vertical tastings, library wines, and much more.

3rd Annual Pinnacles Wine Festival April 29, Soledad 1.831.678.2400 Vineyards and winemakers from the Chalone Appellation present their finest wines - complemented by hors d'oeuvres and nibbles by nine of Monterey County's top restaurants - at the Inn at the Pinnacles, at the foot of Pinnacles National Monument.

May 2007

Spring Winemaker Dinner Carmel Valley 1.831.624.2600 Barrel samplings and new spring releases highlight this very special dinner, held in the Chateau Julien Wine Estate's Conservatory.

Monterey Wine Competition Grand Wine Tasting King City 1.831.385.3243 Taste the medal winners at the 2006 Monterey Wine Competition. Located at the Salinas Valley Fairgrounds in King City.

Cooking for Solutions Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey 1.831.644.7561 Notable chefs gather in a three-day extravaganza dedicated to sustainable seafood. This year's event honors Rick Bayless of Frontera Grill/Topolobampo in Chicago, and includes chefs from San Francisco, Vancouver, Mexico City, South Carolina and beyond.

Monterey Bay Spring Arts & Wine Festival Monterey 1.831.622.0700 Original hand-made arts and crafts exhibition and sale. All artists on-site, as well as food, drink and family entertainment, plus special wine-tasting opportunities.

Annual Zin-Q Celebration Carmel Valley 1.831.659.8100 Celebrate Carmel Valley's only Zinfandel, that rich robust red wine so perfect with Joullian Vineyard's fiesty barbecue. Vineyard and cellar tours, wine tastings, and a chance to contribute to the Food Bank for Monterey County.

Strawberry Day at The Farm Salinas Valley Is there anything more promising of summer's warmth and plenty than the first luscious strawberry? Learn all about strawberries from a local farmer while sampling home-made strawberry shortcake.

Artichoke Festival Castroville 1.831.633.2465 Sample the many unique flavors of the artichoke in an atmosphere of fun, tasteful treats, musical entertainment, and more. The arts and crafts section is led by the Agro-Art Competition, the best way to play with food!

Grapevine Express Carmel Valley-Monterey 1.888.678.2871 Back by popular demand: the Grapevine Express connects downtown Monterey with the wineries, restaurants and shopping opportunitie"s of Carmel Valley. The $4.50 all-day pass allows flexible travel aboard the 17-seat Grapevine Express Fridays through Sundays between 10am and 10pm.

July

SummerFest Arts and Wine Festival Custom House Plaza, Monterey 1.831.622.0700 This annual favorite fills Custom House Plaza with beautiful art, handsomely made crafts, and live entertainment for the family. Now with a special wine-tasting component, too.

"Blast from the Past" Monterey 1.831.646.1506 Sample the best of Pavona Wines' cellars while sashaying to hit songs from the 1950s and '60s at this open-air barbecue party.

Veggie Art at The Farm Salinas Valley 1.831.455.2575 Kids get creative with leaves, flowers and vegetables as they design their own t-shirts.

Summer Jamboree Carmel Valley 1.831.624.2600 Chateau Julien Wine Estate holds a festive day of wine, with barrel tastings, private reserve bottles, and delicious snacks.

Concert in the Vineyard Salinas Valley 1.831.455.2575 Scheid Vineyards serves up a summer party on their new patio, with their excellent wines complemented the music of Red Beans & Rice, voted best new blues band by the South Bay Blues Society.

101st Feast of Lanterns Pacific Grove 1.831.649.8737 A tradition as old as the city itself, this week-long community celebration features The Feast of Salads and the Feast of Chickens, PG's birthday cake, pet parade, Seniors Tennis Tourney, street dances, pageant, and live entertainment, culminating in fireworks on the final night.

Gilroy Garlic Festival Gilroy (San Benito County) 1.408.842.1625 Gourmet garlic food fair with arts and crafts, cooking demonstrations, children's area, three stages of musical entertainment and booths serving up foods laced with over two tons of garlic.

Little Sprouts at The Farm Salinas Valley 1.831.455.2575 Sing a song of sixpence: there are lots of songs with rye and cherries and cows in the corn, perfect for a sing-along with the family's youngest members.