Carmel Events and Festivals
(Carmel - Carmel-by-the-Sea, Monterey County, California - CA, USA)
There is a surprisingly selection of annual festivals awaiting holiday makers arriving in Carmel. The biggest events are based both in Carmel and close by, within nearby Pebble Beach and also
Monterey.
With such a good selection of festivals, particularly during the summer months, this means that you should never be at a loss looking for things to do. The Sunset Center 9th Avenue / San Carlos Street plays host to some of the biggest musical events and concerts, regularly staging performances at the much celebrated Chamber Music of Monterey Bay evenings, which have taken place each spring and fall for more than 40 years, giving a clear indication of its popularity.
Carmel Calendar of Festivals and Events 2014 / 2015
For the latest listings, refer to the local weekly newspaper entitled the 'Carmel Pine Cone. Some of the area's biggest festivals are as following:
- Jazz Bash By The Bay - Dixieland Monterey - early-March, live acts and youth bands perform as revellers dance to jazz, swing and ragtime
- Pacific Repertory Theater Spring Festival - mid-March to mid-April, a season of theatrical events, including some major touring shows and musicals, heralding the arrival of spring
- Carmel Art Festival - mid-May, involving all of the town's innumerable art galleries, which number almost 100 in total. This is a real opportunity to enjoy demonstrations and lectures by some of California's most elite artists
- Films in the Forest - July / August, open-air screenings of a range of movies, at the Forest Theater, within a dense pine forest
- Carmel Bach Festival - mid-July to mid-August, lasting a total of three weeks and dating as far back as 1935. This is a leading classical music event at the Sunset Center Theater and various others venues, including the Carmel Mission, the Sunset Theater, and also the nearby Monterey Plaza Hotel
- Carmel Valley Fiesta Week - late July / early August, with fun activities for all ages, including everything from the golfing championships to a dog show, along with live music providing a good excuse to party in the Californian sunshine
- Jewish Food Festival and Crafts Fair - late August, with various gastronomical dishes to taste and handicraft to buy, created by the local Jewish community
- TomatoFest - mid-September at the Quail Lodge Resort in Carmel Valley, a popular celebration of the humble tomato, many tomato-related events, dishes and even desserts to sample
- Carmel-by-the-Sea Birthday Parade - mid-October, annual celebrations based in Devendorf Park, off Mission Street. Expect a colorful procession, live music, entertainment and barbecues
- Annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony - early December, Yuletide festivities based on the Ocean Avenue