Lets Cowboy Up, and get to some poetry. The folk-art of Cowboy poetry and music is coming back to Monterey for this 11th annual event. Artists from around the country gather in Monterey so share their passion, and the history that fuels it.

Ever wonder what Christmas was like in Old Monterey? Then Christmas in the Adobes is for you. And tickets go on sale October 15. For twonights only – December 10 & 12 – twenty of Monterey’s historic buildings will be lit by candlelight as part of the 24th annual Christmas in the Adobes celebration. This is the only time of the year that many of these nineteenth century buildings are open to the public and open in the evening.

The much anticipated Holiday tradition, Miniatures returns to the Monterey Museum of Art. To celebrate, Hotel Pacific has put together a ‘Mini-Me’ package; a deluxe suite with fireplace, two admissions to the Museum, two raffle tickets for the auction, continental breakfast buffet, and hardcover catalogue.

Come join us for 25 feet of brightly lit, Christmas cheer! It’s the 15th annual Cannery Row Holiday Tree Lighting, on November 27th.

Prairie Home Companion’s Garrison Keillor comes to Monterey’s Golden State Theatre for one evening – Sunday, October 25. This beloved monologist is the host and writer of A Prairie Home Companion and The Writer’s Almanac heard on public radio stations nationwide. He is also the author of more than a dozen books, including Lake Wobegon Days, The Book of Guys, Love Me and Homegrown Democrat.

Calm down - In this case, it’s okay. That’s because the painter is renowned Los Angeles-based artist Mark Licari and the walls are at the Monterey Museum of Art’s beautiful La Mirada location. In the inaugural work of a new program called In Process, Licari is painting directly on the Museum’s huge Dart gallery walls, creating a site-specific mural. For the next two weeks, Mark will use La Mirada as his vibrant laboratory where he will create an exhibition consisting of paintings, drawings, sculptures and his ephemeral mural that will weave together a fantastic, elaborate narrative. Keep up-to-date on Mark’s exciting installation on www.montereyart.org
Friday, October 9, 6-8pm is the preview. Licari will lecture and sign exhibit catalogues on Saturday, October 10 at 11:30am. Tickets are on sale at www.monteryart.org.

Make your reservations now for the 52nd annual Monterey Jazz Festival, September 18-30. This three day jazzathon celebrates the best in jazz, with legendary artists Chick Corea, Dave Brubeck, Stanley Clarke, Wynton Marsalis, Susan Tedeschi, Pete Seeger and hundreds more. More than 500 artists appear on nine stages spread throughout the Festival’s 20 acres of magnificent grounds.

It’s official. Four hundred fifty entries have been accepted for the 36th Rolex Monterey Historic Automobile Races, one of vintage motorsport’s most revered racing traditions, set for August 14-16 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Of those, 145 are Porsche cars, helping to celebrate Porsche as this year’s featured marque and lending live-action perspective on the company’s storied racing heritage, which includes remarkable cars made famous by legendary drivers.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the iconic Porsche 917, and fittingly, four 917Ks will take to the track. Three of those are re-uniting from the Gulf Wyer Team, and their former Executive Director John Horsman will be watching them race along with Brian Redman and Vic Elford, both of whom claimed victories at 24 Hours of Daytona and 12 Hours of Sebring and are former Porsche factory drivers who raced the 917 at Le Mans. (Elford also was behind the wheel of the 917 for the high speed scenes in the Steve McQueen film “Le Mans.”)

The 6th Annual Cannery Row Block Party kicks off a season of summer fun Sunday, June 7, from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Community members as well as visitors are invited to Cannery Row in Monterey, California, for a free day of fun and entertainment for all ages. Highlights include live music, a Family Fun Stage with live animals, a magician, and ice cream and rib eatin’ contests. The event will include a food drive for the Food Bank for Monterey County, so bring a canned good or donation to help support the cause!

Beginning at 11:00 AM, three bands perform live all day on the Steinbeck Stage in Steinbeck Plaza offering a lively mix of sound. The local’s favorite reggae and world music group, Jonah and the Whalewatchers, fuse Caribbean and African beats with American jazz, blues and soul. San Jose-based Zebop will follow, offering seven energetic and talented musicians performing the music of Santana with passion, dedication and originality. Finally the sultry voice of Lara Price and her blues band will complete the show.

A Family Fun Stage in the Plaza in front of Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. presents exciting and educational events for the whole family throughout the day, featuring Wild Things Animal Shows and Live Monkey Shows. Children especially can delight in primate tricks while also learning many interesting facts about the animals’ origins, what they like to eat, and how they live in the wild.

More family fun can be found on Cannery Row with Mr. Miraculous the magician and a Balloon Artist. The afternoon will be deliciously filled with a Ghirardelli Ice Cream Sundae Eating Contest at 2:00 PM and, for adults, the Willy’s Smokehouse Rib-Eatin’ Contest at 2:30 PM.

The 6th Annual Cannery Row Block Party is free to the public.

Join the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s celebration of the ocean, the amazing ecosystem that covers 70% of our planet. June 6-7 you’ll learn about the treasures of the ocean, the threats it faces and what we can do to keep it healthy.
World Ocean Day is an international observance that’s recognized by the United Nations and celebrated at aquariums, zoos, schools and conservation organizations across the globe.
Throughout the weekend you’ll enjoy music, crafts and great speakers as part of your regular Aquarium admission, including:
• Family musical performances
• Author Joel Harper will read from his book “All the Way to the Ocean,” followed by a book signing (Saturday only)
• Author Brad Herzog will read from his book “S is for Save the Planet,” followed by a book signing (Sunday only)
• Family craft room presented by the Monterey County Youth Museum (MY Museum) in the Discovery Lab from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
• Face painting for kids
• Information booths from ocean conservation organizations
• Bilingual (English and Spanish) programs including sea otter feeding and training session, kelp forest feeding and penguin training and feeding (Sunday only)
Visit the World Ocean Days event booth near the Aquarium’s main entrance for a full schedule of programs and presentations.