Halloween is coming and people are asking if we're going to be doing our annual Trick or Treating event in Downtown Campbell. We don't want to disappoint, but it's still too soon for that. We'd love nothing more than to return to being one of the most festive Halloween street events in the Bay Area again, but it can wait for one more year.

We hope you get all of the good scares you crave this Halloween, but please err on the side of safety so that we can all get together next year and make up for lost time and roll the clock back to 2019.

The annual Carol of Lights festivities will also take another year off, but that too should be back with gusto in 2022.

This is news that a lot of people have been waiting for. The Campbell Farmers' Market will be returning to its usual location in Downtown Campbell starting on Sunday, October 24th. Until then, the Farmers' Market will continue to operate in its normal Sunday hours at its temporary location at the Campbell Community Center.

Welcome back!

The Campbell Farmers' Market was suspended due to Covid-19 safety concerns in early March 2020. It remained suspended until arrangements could be made to temporarily relocate it to the Campbell Community Center in November of the same year. It has remained at the Community Center since then.

When the Campbell Farmers' Market returns to its traditional home in Downtown Campbell, it'll be after over 19 months since it was last in Downtown Campbell and with 11 of those months operating in exile at the Community Center.

The Farmers' Market will co-exist with parklets in Downtown Campbell for the rest of 2021, but after the new year, it should have the street all to itself again or mostly to itself. The Parklets Program will be ending on January 3rd, 2022, but it's not yet known if there will be a modified parklets program that will replace it.

Earlier in the month, the Campbell City Council voted to extend the Parklets Program in Downtown Campbell out to January 3rd, 2022. The program was scheduled to end on September 30th unless extended.

This is expected to be the final extension of the Parklets Program in Downtown Campbell, but it doesn't necessarily mean that the parklets or some version of expanded outdoor seating is going away entirely. The Campbell City Council will be considering permanent options for a more limited parklet program to replace the current one instituted in 2020 as a Covid-19 pandemic measure.

Poppleton's Fine Furniture & Interior Design, located at 299 Lighthouse Avenue in Monterey, announces our Fall Stickley Sale October 6-24, 2021. Receive 35% off the manufacturer's suggested retail price of any one Stickley item. (Some exclusions may apply. Please contact Poppleton's for details.)

Origins by Stickley includes three bedroom groups designed with timeless style and outstanding value in mind. It’s an attractive option for those furnishing a first home or redecorating a guest suite. Each piece is handcrafted with time-honored Stickley construction features and impeccable attention to detail.

Beginning on November 1, 2021, Monterey Bay Aquarium will require all visitors 12 and older to provide proof of vaccination or a negative Covid-19 test within 72 hours of their scheduled visit.

At entry, visitors must present their proof of vaccination record or proof of negative Covid-19 test, along with a valid photo ID for guests ages 18 years and older.

At this time, valid forms of vaccination records include: the original, copy, or digital photo of the CDC vaccination card or similar document from another state, local, or foreign government OR the California SMART Health Card, available online here.

Acceptable negative COVID-19 results must be taken within 72 hours of the visit; include name, date, and type of test, and indication that the result was negative for COVID-19; come from lab-run PCR or rapid antigen tests. We will not accept at-home test results. View a full list of Covid testing sites in Monterey County here.

Staff, volunteers, and guests ages three and older are still required to wear a mask when inside at the Aquarium. Timed tickets remain available for purchase exclusively through our website.

These policies are subject to change as the Aquarium continues to evaluate its operations in order to minimize the spread of COVID-19. Aquarium staff will continuously evaluate COVID safety policies, always keeping public health and safety as the top priority.

Have you ever thought that you aren't creative enough? You don't need to feel that way! Creativity comes in different forms and is useful for people of all ages not only in art, but also in everyday life.

Mai Ryuno, an experienced artist, art teacher, and owner of Play Full Ground, has found many creative qualities that she uses both as an artist and in everyday life. In Play Full Ground's Creativity Learning Program, Mai assesses, applies, and practices creativity with her students by going through a simple, three-step process of Think, Do, Share.

In her Creativity Learning Program, Mai offers her skills, knowledge, and experience as an artist, serving as a supporter, mentor, and cheerleader throughout your journey to discover your unique self and to gain ownership of your everyday life with your creative skills. Let Mai help you make your everyday life more creative in this four-week program!

Please visit the Play Full Ground website for more details and email Mai to start a conversation about how she might be able to help you bring greater creativity to your life. You can also view her latest video, "Creativity is You!" on YouTube.

Did someone say Ohana Pie? This delicious dessert from Hula's Island Grill now features a new flavor of Marianne’s ice cream: 1020. It's caramel ice cream with fudge and Oreo cookie crumbles. (Yum!) Ohana Pie is available daily after 4pm. Come and get it at 622 Lighthouse Avenue in Monterey.

Are you looking to start a new career in hair? Are you just out of beauty school? Oya Salon is now hiring assistants. Come join us - please phone 831-656-0570 for more information.

Oya Salon is located at 201 Lighthouse Avenue in Monterey

Please note: as of April 2023, Portola Hotel & Spa is no longer offering free Covid testing.

Portola Hotel & Spa in Old Monterey is proud to announce a new partnership with Virus Geeks, Inc. to provide no-cost COVID-19 testing to hotel guests and to the public, Tuesday - Saturday, 7am-4pm.

Walk-in testing services provided by Virus Geeks are available at the Peet’s Coffee shop at Portola Hotel, 220 Alvarado Street in Downtown Old Monterey. COVID-19 PCR testing at this location is free. (Please note: Peet's Coffee at Portola Hotel is temporarily closed for business. It is currently used only as a testing site.)

The opening of this new testing location in Downtown Old Monterey aligns with Portola Hotel’s continued efforts to create a safe working environment. All non-vaccinated Portola Hotel employees will be tested twice a week, and testing services will be available for all staff, guests, and community members.

"The successful fight against this pandemic includes the support and action of every community member and visitor to our destination. Opening up a testing center in Portola's central location will benefit visitors and locals alike," said Janine Chicourrat, Managing Director at the Portola Hotel & Spa.

Venture Gallery presents the work of local watercolor artist Tamara Selyangina, our featured artist for October.

A gifted, self-taught artist, Tamara Selyangina started exhibiting her work in 2009 after moving to Monterey. The beauty of our area continues to provide endless inspiration for her work which often captures breathtaking coastal scenery, local street scenes, the wharf, and fishing boats.

Venture Gallery is now open daily, 10am-6pm. Tamara Selyangina's artwork will be featured through October 2021. Venture Gallery is located at 260 Alvarado Street in Downtown Old Monterey. Visit our website to shop online for work by our local artists.