New year, new hope, new energy, new you — and new events.
A number of the latter await in January, and appear below.
That said, don’t sleep on the time-honored, not-so-new events, like the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and Big Sur Foragers Festival — or, for that matter, the perennial attractions that are an event unto themselves every time.
That latter category includes the Monterey Bay Aquarium, whale watching trips, beach combing adventures, food tours, wine tasting scuba diving and more.
So, yes, there’s a lot in store around the Monterey Peninsula in January — while crowds are essentially absent — and at any given time of year.
Now to our top recommendations for the first month of a new trip around the sun:
Feature Photo: Andrew Ridley
January 1-5
How can something so hard, cold and unforgiving as ice be so fun, memorable and nostalgic? Call it holiday magic, extending for five days into January, as the Custom House Plaza behind Portola Hotel & Spa in Monterey plays host to a full-blown rink plopped in the middle of a historic setting.
January 11
Chamber Music Monterey Bay delves deeper into its 58th season with the celebrated ISQ conjuring two masterworks and two lesser-known — but no less enthralling — compositions. If the quartet’s victory at the Banff International String Quartet Competition in 2022 and recognition with an Avery Fisher Career Grant in 2023 aren’t street cred enough, let Chicago Classical Review seal the deal: “A polished sonority and well-balanced, tightly synchronized ensemble with nearly faultless intonation . . . it is heartening to know that chamber music is in good hands with such gifted young ensembles as the Isidore Quartet.”
January 9
Exposed to the interdimensional univers of music from an early age — maybe you’ve head of his dad Frank? — Dweezil developed a gift for playing the guitar, and producing music, before most kids dress themselves. Zappa (born Ian Donald Calvin Euclid Zappa) has since evolved into a full-blown American rock guitarist and occasional actor who studied directly with the likes of decent guitarists including Eddie Van Halen, who produced Zappa’s first single at the age of 12. This is show the real ones will not miss.
January 15-20
To get in the swing, no expertise is needed. This nationally known summit invites learners as well as experts with several days of programming. The rundown includes free basic classes, open dancing times to practice, intensives and numerous contests on the daily. Plus there are nightly dances that are both social and kinetic, followed by yoga classes given each morning to keep everyone lithe and limber. It’s an all ages Swingfest, Saturday’s beer tasting notwithstanding.
January 17
Golden State’s G League development team plays great team basketball, but that’s only part of the draw here. The crowd-centric activities are constant and family friendly, ball tosses before the fourth quarter are a highlight, everyone gets free ice cream if the Dubs score 100, ticket prices are reasonable, and there’s not a bad seat in the house. Other January games include tilts versus the Stockton Kings (Jan. 20) and Salt Lake City Stars (Jan. 24-25).
January 22-25
Dozens of skill-building workshops dovetail with a loaded expo pavilion, pre-conference events, farm tours and inspiring keynotes work as the mind fertilizer at the oldest organic farming gathering in the country, if not the planet. Seed swaps, wine and beer tastings, and sumptuous all-natural and well-sourced EcoFarm-specific meals too. This is where good growing blooms.
January 19
Carmel Music Society presents Steinnway International Artist Hans Boepple, now a half century into his piano odyssey — distinguished by technical command and rich musicality — which started with his breakout debut with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra at age 10. German newspaper Badische Zeitung sums up what to expect in five notes: “The peak of pianistic perfection.”
January 23
Never trust an atom… they make up everything. Parallel lines have so much in common. It’s a shame they’ll never meet. Teacher: “Name two pronouns.” Student: “Who, me?” The good news here is the Bored Teachers blow these kindergarten grade school jokes out of the classroom. If the group’s working experience doesn’t inspire attendance, maybe you’ve never hung out with an educator who’s unafraid to keep it real.
January 24-26
Shroom melt with brown butter-black trumpet bechamel, truffle pecorino and electric orange candy cap-fermented hot sauce. Black sage financiers, topped with a turret of duck mousse, Big Sur chanterelle and wild watercress. Mushroom “parfait” with Big Sur porcini confit, celery root, bay laurel foam, pickled Big Sur chanterelles and crispy bits of black trumpet mushroom “soil.” And that’s but the beginning of flavors from last year’s Fungus Faceoff, which in 2025 pairs with hikes, teachings and wine tasting.
January 24-26
Not every weekend involves 80 life-sized dinosaurs, replicated in collaboration with leading paleontologists, including a 60-foot-long Spinosaurus, an 80-foot-long Apatosaurus, and — oh dang — a life-size T. rex. Then there are the raptor training sessions, dinosaur rides, fossil excavations and baby dinosaur encounters. Monterey Bay Fairgrounds is about to get prehistoric.
January 21
The haunting “Hotel California,” the breezy “Take It Easy,” the heartfelt “Desperado,” the storytelling “Lyin’ Eyes,” the soulful “One of These Nights,” the bittersweet “New Kid in Town,” the hard-rocking “Life in the Fast Lane,” the laid-back “Peaceful Easy Feeling,” the funky introspection of “The Long Run,” the wistful beauty of “Tequila Sunrise.” Yes, the classic rock shall be taken to the limit.
January 29 - February 2
The renowned Professional Golf Association Tour event swings through two of the planet’s most prestigious golf courses, namely Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill Golf Course, and includes amateurs through the first half of play. Some updates, courtesy of the PGA: The tourney has been elevated to a Signature Event, which means prize money and 700 FedExCup points to the winner, attracting a more elite field of players; the professional field will be limited to 80 players, a significant reduction from previous years, to enhance the quality of play and spectator experience; and, unlike traditional tournaments, there will be no cut after 36 holes, ensuring all professionals compete through the final round, which adds consistency for fans and sponsors.
Event Venues
Looking to see what’s happening right now on the Monterey Peninsula? Our comprehensive list of venues across the city below will help you find what you need to know what’s going on.
Looking for more things to do in the area?
Visit our What to Do in Northern California page!
