Family Activities

First Night Monterey 2024

 
12/31/23
 
 
Old Monterey District

A community celebration of the arts, First Night Monterey is an affordable, alcohol-free family celebration held on New Year’s Eve, 3pm-midnight, in the heart of Downtown Old Monterey. Join us as we dance, play, act, perform, create and sing our way into 2024! Featuring multiple performance venues. Purchase your admission button here.

Ice Skating by the Bay 2025

 
11/21/25
 
$15/$13
 
Custom House Plaza

Celebrate the holidays at Ice Skating by the Bay's seasonal ice skating rink, open daily November 21 - January 4 . At Custom House Plaza, located behind Portola Hotel & Spa in Old Monterey, skaters can spend the day in a winter wonderland by the Bay.

Admission is $15 for adults, $13 for children 12 & under. Skate rental fee is $5.

Monterey 4th of July Parade 2026

 
7/4/26
 
free
 
Old Monterey District

Monterey's annual 4th of July Parade is a must-attend celebration that draws approximately 20,000 people of all ages to line the streets in and around Old Monterey. We invite you to join us and revel in the festive floats, patriotic displays, entertaining costumes, and musical bands. The parade begins at 10am sharp.

Fleet Feet Monterey: The Big Run 5k 2025

 
6/7/25
 
$45
 
Fleet Feet Monterey

Fleet Feet Monterey invites all runners and walkers to join us on June 7 for the Big Run 5k in celebration of Global Running Day! We're offering both an in-person and a virtual option. Register online. Fee is $45. Course is stroller-friendly.

Monterey County Pops! Free Memorial Day Concert 2025

 
5/26/25
 
free
 
Colton Hall Lawn

Enjoy a free Memorial Day Concert for all ages on the lawn in front of Colton Hall and Monterey City Hall on Monday, May 26. Bring your lawn chairs and picnic snacks!

At 12:45pm, Heartstrings will start the show. At 1:15pm, the Soquel High School Jazz Singers will perform. At 2pm, the full 40-piece Monterey County Pops! orchestra , conducted and hosted by Dr. Carl Christensen, will play a selection of popular and patriotic music.

Red Engine Rides at MY Museum

 
11/16/24
 
$25
 
MY Museum (Monterey County Youth Museum)

MY Museum invites you and your children ages 3+ to join us on Saturday, Nov. 16 as we partner with Red Engine Rides for a cruise around town. We're offering 15 minute rides in an open-air fire engine for $25 per person. Kids must be accompanied by an adult. Rides depart every half hour, 10am-11:30am. Advance reservations required.

Whalefest Monterey 2026

 
4/11/26
 
free
 
Custom House Plaza

Whalefest is an educational and entertaining family-friendly event held at and around Custom House Plaza and Old Fisherman's Wharf on April 11 & 12, 10am-5pm, rain or shine.

It includes fun activities for all ages, live music, tours of research and rescue vessels, lots of interactive exhibits, and a symposium at Stanton Center .

Fleet Feet Monterey: The Big Run 5k 2026

 
6/6/26
 
$54
 
Fleet Feet Monterey

Fleet Feet Monterey invites all runners and walkers to join us on June 6 for the Big Run 5k in celebration of Global Running Day! Register online. Fee is $54. Military and student-athlete discounts available.

Celebrate Mother's Day at Cooper-Molera Adobe

 
5/10/26
 
 
Cooper-Molera Adobe - A Historic Site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation

Celebrate Mother's Day at Cooper-Molera Adobe, 10am-2pm on Sunday, May 10, with a beautiful Sunday focused on flowers, plants and handmade treasures.

Flower Bouquet Bar

Back by popular demand, our Flower Bouquet Bar invites you to create and wrap...

Flowers for Mom at Rosebuds Kids Co.

 
5/10/26
 
 
Rosebuds Kids Co.

Stop by Rosebuds Kids Co. with your little ones on Mother's Day, 11am-2pm, and make your own bouquet of fresh flowers for just $10.

WeatherTech Raceway Throwback Block Party on Alvarado Street

 
4/29/26
 
Free
 
Old Monterey

WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca is kicking off race weekend with a free Throwback Block Party for all ages on Alvarado Street between Franklin and Del Monte on Wednesday, 5pm-7pm.

Get up close with IMSA cars, meet drivers, and enjoy a preview of the action before it hits the track this weekend for the StubHub Monterey Sports Car Championship.

Japanese American Citizens League Hall Centennial Celebration!

 
5/2/26
 
Free
 
Japanese American Citizens League Hall

The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) of the Monterey Peninsula presents the JACL Hall Centennial Celebration on Saturday, May 2. This event is free and all are welcome!

Enjoy a day of Japanese cultural activities for all ages, 10am-3pm, followed by a swing dance with live music, 7pm-9pm. See the full schedule.

Garden Art Walk at Cooper-Molera Adobe

 
5/2/26
 
$8 suggested donation
 
Cooper-Molera Adobe - A Historic Site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation

Join us in the Cooper-Molera Adobe gardens, 1pm-3pm, for our Garden Art Walk - an afternoon of creativity, community, and nature. Suggested donation is $8.

Stroll through our beautiful gardens and engage with hands-on art lessons for all ages by artist Kristen Burroughs, including color swatches of the garden, flower coloring pages, and drawing and painting of flowers.

Mother's Day High Tea at Casa Serrano Adobe 2026

 
5/10/26
 
$90
 
Casa Serrano

Celebrate Mother’s Day with timeless elegance as Rosemary & Thyme High Teas invites guests to a beautifully curated Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea on Sunday, May 10, 3pm-4:30pm.

This special event offers a refined escape filled with delicate flavors, thoughtful presentation, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere. Tickets are $90 - purchase here .

The Big Weekend: Free Family Fun Day

 
6/6/26
 
Free
 
Monterey Museum of Art

Join the Museum for a weekend-long celebration of the Winter 2026 Exhibition Season! Free admission all weekend, beginning Friday at 5pm.

Free Family Fun Day

Join the Museum for an afternoon of art and creativity for the whole family...

Monterey Peninsula LGBTQ+ Pride Parade and Celebration 2026

 
6/27/26
 
free
 
Custom House Plaza

Monterey's annual LGBTQ+ Pride Celebration and Parade returns on Saturday, June 27. The parade begins at 11am at Polk Street, continuing on toward Pearl Street and down Alvarado Street all the way to Custom House Plaza.

Afterwards, bring the whole family to Custom House Plaza, 12pm-3pm, to enjoy speakers and free entertainment for all ages, shopping and dining from local vendors, and info tables by local groups and agencies.

Tuesday Story Time at Rosebuds Kids Co.

 
5/19/26
 
Free
 
Rosebuds Kids Co.

Rosebuds Kids Co. invites you and your children to join us every Tuesday, 9am-10am, for our weekly story time at the shop. It's a cozy hour of books, connection, and getting out of the house with your littles. This is a free event. No RSVP required.

Cyanotype Garden Workshop at Cooper-Molera Adobe

 
4/11/26
 
Free
 
Cooper-Molera Adobe - A Historic Site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation

On Saturday, April 11 from 12pm-2pm , Cooper-Adobe Museum will participate in the Monterey Museum of Art's Block Party as a Historic Hotspot. Local Scientific Illustrator/Educator Kristen Burroughs will lead curious artists in a Cyanotype Garden Workshop using flowers...

Enjoy Six Different Art Activities at The Hot Spot!

Monterey, CA

The Hot Spot, Downtown Monterey's community art space, offers 6 different arts and crafts to enjoy with friends and family at 458 Alvarado Street.

Each person in your group can choose to paint pottery, paint a blank canvas, create a mosaic, make a candle, design a fairy garden, or mix slime (perfect for small children).

Walk-ins and reservations are welcome. Open Sun-Tue & Thu, 11am-7pm; Fri-Sat, 11am-8pm.

Spring Art and Wearable Art Sale at Venture Gallery

 
4/11/26
 
free
 
Venture Gallery

Venture Gallery invites you to a two-day Spring Art and Wearable Art Sale featuring the work of Venture Gallery artists on Saturday and Sunday, April 11 & 12, 10am-6pm. We'll have racks of art and wearable pieces at "Spring Cleaning" prices, and artist demonstrations out on Alvarado Mall.

Rosebuds Kids Co. Has Expanded!

Monterey, CA

Rosebuds Kids Co. has expanded! The space next door became available and we've extended our footprint to bring you even more resale clothing, books, and toys, plus a new baby and maternity section.

Now there's more floor space and we've got lots of fresh finds at 535 Foam Street. Open: Tue-Fri, 9am-4pm; Sat, 10am-4pm; and Sun, 11am-2pm.

March in Monterey's 4th of July Parade in 2026!

Monterey, CA

Join Monterey's 4th of July Parade! The Old Monterey Business Association is now accepting applications to participate in the 2026 4th of July Parade . Together as a community, we'll bring entertainment, excitement, and a whole lot of fun to Monterey on Independence Day. Entry deadline is Friday, May 29.

Entries are required to be entertaining, creative, and exciting. We welcome bands, floats, drill teams, dance groups, equestrians, comical groups, etc.. Get creative and think outside the box!

Miss Sarah Sunshine at MY Museum

 
5/22/26
 
 
MY Museum (Monterey County Youth Museum)

Every Friday. April 3 - May 29, Miss Sarah Sunshine of It's Circle Time will be at MY Museum, 10:15am-11am, with a fun and educational program for little ones including singing, dancing, stories, and more. Included with museum admission.