Events in Monterey today

The Monterey Pre-Reunion presents two days of on-track action with more than 300 race cars competing in a relaxed, less crowded setting ahead of the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. The paddock is open to explore, where visitors can stroll through the pits, watch teams prepare their cars, and see entries heading to pre-grid up close. On Sunday, the Corkscrew Hillclimb competition returns along with Community Day, adding extra excitement to the historic racing atmosphere.

Enjoy a scenic ride with the Kruz3r Mob along the Monterey Peninsula, traveling from Seaside Beach to Lovers Point with a lunch break on Cannery Row. The route includes additional stops for refreshments and photos, and it is suitable for families. Friends are welcome. Pack sunscreen and bring a lock.

Join The Quail and Olive for a two-hour Paella Party featuring a live demo by resident epicurean Camilla Mann. You’ll learn how to make the perfect paella using fresh, in-house ingredients, including regional variations and key flavor-building techniques like sofrito, plus tips for getting the rice-to-liquid ratio just right with saffron. The event includes live music, tapas, local wines, and a generous serving of paella to enjoy throughout the demo.

PULSE brings a live set of throwback favorites from the 1970s and 1980s to California Coffee in Aptos. Admission is free. Expect upbeat, dance-friendly tunes throughout the performance.

At WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, the fifth annual hillclimb sends drivers up the Corkscrew in the opposite direction. Over a 90-minute session, a mix of specialty cars and race cars tackles the climb while chasing the benchmark, with each run aimed at surpassing the world record time of 29.535 seconds set in 2025.

The Brotherhood Tour, featuring Los Lobos and Los Loney Boys, makes a stop at the Golden State Theatre.

Los Lobos performs live at Golden State Theatre in Monterey. Tickets are available for this show.

The lounge features a cozy fireplace setting for live piano by Dave Conley. Performances take place on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, with additional music on Fridays and Saturdays.

The Rockafellas return to Sly McFly's with free live music and a special guest appearance by Mr Joe Birtola. The crowd at Sly's is known for having fun, with dancing, cocktails, and tasty food creating a lively setting for the performance.

Tri-Valley Dive Club is arranging an advanced fun dive at Monastery Beach, a shore-access site on the Monterey Peninsula near the Carmel Submarine Canyon. When conditions cooperate, divers can explore distinctive underwater terrain, rocky reefs, and kelp, with opportunities to encounter Central California marine life. This site is recommended for experienced divers only, as the steep coarse sand, unstable footing, shore break, and surge make entries and exits physically demanding. Participants should be comfortable with cold-water shore diving and managing equipment in active surf. Arrive with enough time to unload, set up your gear, and be ready for the briefing. Bring complete cold-water equipment and suitable exposure protection. Plans will depend on weather, swell, and waves, with safety guiding the decision to dive here, and the group may relocate to an alternative site if conditions are not favorable, so please watch for updates before traveling. For RSVP and questions, contact Dive N Trips at 925-462-7234 or info@diventrips.com, and a PADI professional guide can be arranged in advance.

The Moose Sunday Market showcases a mix of food, shopping, and treats, creating a friendly place to browse, taste, and discover something new. Vendor inquiries and space bookings are handled only by Jenn at mtymoosevendors@gmail.com. To prevent scams, use that email as the sole method for reserving a spot.

Part of the Sunday Blues Concert Series, this live blues performance takes place at Laguna Grand Park.

Stop by the McIntyre Family Wines Tasting Room patio for the Summer Music Series on Sunday afternoons. You can enjoy a wine flight, Frosé, or a glass of red, and there will be local artists performing. For this date, the featured artist is Tamas Marius. Seating can be arranged by calling ahead.

Raise a glass to the sea with a shucking social at Estéban’s featuring one dollar West Coast oysters, freshly opened by the team. Add a squeeze of lemon or a dash of Chef Steven’s house-made spiced hot sauce and enjoy a relaxed, oyster-forward experience. Reservations are highly recommended, and one dollar oysters are offered on a first come, first served basis. To reserve a table, call 831-375-0176.

Monterey Car Week gets underway with a three day celebration of automobilia at Embassy Suites by Hilton Monterey Bay Seaside. Exhibitors and collectors from across the United States and Europe gather to showcase and discover automotive art, literature, vintage signs, scale models, collectibles, and memorabilia. The event features the ACE Speaking Series Forum and a Live Automobilia Auction. It is designed for both longtime collectors and enthusiasts of automotive history.

The ACE Forum gathers respected voices from the automotive community for engaging conversations held during the Automobilia Collectors Expo and Monterey Car Week. Guided by moderator Nic Waller, Donald Osborne and Wayne Carini share insights on automotive history, collecting, restoration, market trends, and the stories behind notable automobiles. Following his session, Wayne Carini will be available for a special book signing. Seating is limited, and tickets are available online.

This class clarifies how anger differs from assertiveness, stress, and aggression. Participants learn to better understand their own anger, develop skills for managing it, and learn ways to remain calm during times of stress.

Concours for a Cause returns as an early highlight of Monterey Car Week, presenting a standout showcase of vintage, classic, and collectible automobiles in a charming village atmosphere. In addition to the cars, the event features local artists, community exhibits, boutique shopping, dining, and other cultural experiences, all in support of charitable initiatives. Admission is free.

A special date night menu for two centers on Spanish flavors with four courses. It starts with chef's pintxos and a Caesar salad, continues with a choice of paella, and ends with churros for dessert. Two glasses of Estéban's Signature Sangria are included, all for $79. Paella options include Del Mar, La Granja, and Primavera. Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling 831-375-0176.

Part of Car Week, an after-hours celebration of California car culture unfolds in Asilomar’s underground garage, bringing together award winning lowriders and timeless classics. The display emphasizes craft and imagination, from meticulous paint and gleaming chrome to custom interiors that showcase the personality of each build. Rooted in Chicano style and lowrider traditions, the showcase honors creativity, pride, and self-expression. A live DJ with The Mothership Connection spins vintage vinyl while attendees explore artisan makers and specialty vendors and enjoy local food throughout the evening. Admission is $65 per person and includes entry plus two complimentary drinks. A voting contest invites participants to cast a ballot and spotlight the crowd favorites.

Settle in by the fireplace and listen to Dave Conley on piano in the lounge.

WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca springs to life for the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion with historic race cars on track and genuine paddock activity. Expect early engine start ups, practice laps through the famous Corkscrew turn, and crews fine tuning cars between sessions. Access puts you close to the workings of a true race meet rather than a staged display. It is a rare opportunity to experience motorsport history at speed and hear it at full intensity.

Experience a huge lineup of historic and modern race cars at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. The weekend highlights include events and races such as the Rennsport Reunion Cup and the Rennsport Reunion Classic, featuring cars from the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s alongside more modern competitors. The event runs from the morning through the afternoon each day, with the main date starting at 8:00 AM.

RM Sotheby’s flagship Monterey sale takes place during Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance week at the renovated Monterey Conference Center. It’s an auction focused on important collector cars, with public preview hours and auction sessions across multiple days. Preview admission is $60 for one person to attend all preview days, while the auction itself is limited to registered bidders, consignors, and qualified media only. Bidder registration is $400 and includes a bidder paddle, catalogue, and admission for the bidder plus one guest to attend the auction.

Kick off Woodies in the Woods at Grand Cypress Meadow in Asilomar with an island-style dinner, live music by Ho’omana Band, and dynamic hula and Tahitian dances by Halau Hula Hi’ilani ‘O Ke Kai led by Kumu Hula Marleen Lopez. Inspired by the tradition of a luau, the evening celebrates community, culture, and connection while setting the tone for Car Week. Admission is $70 per person and includes entry, dinner, and the show. Space is limited. For more information, call 831.372.8016.

Begin Monterey Car Week with Motorlux, an immersive celebration where rare cars and aircraft share the spotlight with elevated food and drink on the Monterey Jet Center tarmac. Explore global flavors inspired by the 2026 car classes, from bright Japanese cuisine and English pub favorites to coastal Italian specialties and pours of fine French wine. California culinary leaders present fresh, distinctive offerings alongside handcrafted cocktails, sparkling selections and award-winning wines. The night concludes with dancing under the stars, setting an upbeat tone for the week ahead.

Weekly trivia takes place at Tipsy Putt with Geeks Who Drink hosting. There is no cost to participate, and each session features fresh questions and lighthearted challenges. Attend solo or team up with two to six people, with opportunities to connect with a team on site. Winners receive prizes, and cold beer is available. A no-cost RSVP option lets you add it to a calendar.

Mecum Auctions Monterey 2026 is a live car auction event with daily spectator admission. Spectator tickets are for watching the auction action and do not include bidding privileges. Tickets are available for any single day (Aug 13 to Aug 15, 2026) or for three days during the same dates, and children 12 and under are admitted free. Tickets are non-refundable and non-exchangeable.

Legends of the Autobahn is a Concours d’Elegance devoted to German marques at Pacific Grove Golf Links in Pacific Grove, California. Organized by the BMW Car Club of America, the Mercedes-Benz Club of America, and the Audi Club of North America, this annual showcase features corral parking alongside formally judged displays. Awards are presented for BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Audi, and an open class highlights other German-built automobiles.

Experience the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, a classic car event at Pebble Beach Golf Links. Plan to spend the day there as car enthusiasts and collectors gather to celebrate classic automobiles.

RetroAuto brings together a curated selection of exhibitors in Concours Village, featuring rare collectibles, historic automobilia, art and literature, luxury items, technological tools, and official Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance merchandise. The retail spot is open to the public with free admission, and it runs Thursday through Concours Sunday.

Mecum Auctions, the largest collector car auction company, returns to Monterey at the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa. An estimated 600 classic and collector vehicles are expected to cross the auction block, with services available that include financing, auto transport for purchases, and assistance with transferring ownership. Information is available for vehicle consignment, bidder registration, spectator tickets, and the lineup of cars set to be offered. The auction is designed as a comprehensive destination for discovering and acquiring a dream car.

Classic wood‑paneled cars roll into a forested setting at Asilomar for this second annual gathering. Families and car fans can explore a showcase of beautiful woodies, with featured vehicles from the Santa Cruz Woodies club. Live music by Koastal Konnection sets the tone, and there will be food and a beer garden to enjoy. Admission is free. Parking is complimentary on the property in Lots B, C, E, and F, with overflow in Lots D and P. Street parking is also available. For more information, call 831.372.8016.

Settle by the fireplace in the lounge for live piano music with Dave Conley. Performances are scheduled on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, with additional dates on Fridays and Saturdays.