The Monterey Peninsula enjoys a plunderous cache of outdoor opportunities, from scuba diving to redwood forest hikes to mountain biking to surfing to sea kayaking, with possibilities for skydiving and rock climbing tucked in there for good measure.
That localized adventure gets a visual jolt of extreme inspiration with the annual return of Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour, a seat-belt-worthy collection of flicks featuring daring racers, skiers and explorers.
That’s but one of a number of high-grade shows at top venues Golden State Theatre and Sunset Center, which come flanked by multiple jazz festivals, pro soccer and a healthy dose of natural history.
Here they appear among a collection of Monterey Peninsula’s top events for the month, ready to be complemented by some self-determined adventure in the wild.
Featured Photo: Courtesy of Jazz Bash by the Bay Monterey
Jerry Seinfeld Live Show
Date TBD
The guy who changed both the observational comedy game and sitcoms can boil down his craft a number of ways. Ahead of his double bill in March, here are three of his thoughts to consider: 1) “A lot of stuff I do out of pure obsessiveness”; 2) “To a guy like me, a laugh is full of information”; 3) “Crankiness is at the essence of all comedy. My wife and I were discussing the different types of cranky. There’s entertaining cranky, annoying cranky, angry cranky.”
More info: goldenstatetheatre.com/shows
Jazz Bash by the Bay
Dates TBD
The self-described premier West Coast classic jazz festival unlocks its 45th installment across Portola Hotel & Spa expansive ballrooms in the heart of historic Old Monterey Bay. Nearly 30 bands play on a range of stages, all steps from downtown and Fisherman’s Wharf. The performers include Banjo Bash, Blue Street and Bye Bye Blues Boys Band; the Desert Stompers and the Sierra Stompers; the Chicago Cellar Boys and El Dorado Jazz Band: Sweet & Hot and Ivory & Gold.
More info: jazzbashmonterey.com
Dinosaurs and Wild Monterey at Pacific Grove Art Center
Dates TBD
History is many things at The Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History, including alive and well. March packs in a range of draws, including but not limited to Free First Friday: Wild Monterey Bay Author Talk & Book Signing (March 7), Sunset Bird Walk with ornithologist Amanda Preece (March 8), Science on Tap: Raptor Conservation (March 27), and Free Science Saturday: Dinosaurs! (March 29). That all comes in concert with a refresh of its Main Gallery to provide more focus on local cultural histories, an expanded area for the popular Beyond Illustrating Nature exhibit, and special access to a new exhibit: From the Unreal to the Real featuring artwork and stories by Inuit artists out of the West Baskin Eskimo Cooperative.
More info: pgmuseum.org
Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour
Date TBD
Bring on all the outlandish action—climbing, biking, skating, flying, sailing, skiing, exploring. This year’s slate of riveting wow features A Team Sport and the trials of ultramarathons, Dropping Molly with adrenaline merchant and legendary climber Molly Mitchell, Farming Turns and its world class freeride skier-turned-farmer Chris Rubens and Going East, wherein a group of gifted freeriders travels through Eastern Europe, seeking the best descents while using only public transport.
More info: etix.com
Oysters & Albariño at I. Brand & Family Wines
Date TBD
One of the most inspired area winemakers gathers its following for a spring release party on the first day of daylight savings. The vino includes several fresh vintages, the storied Kristy Vineyard Albariño, live music from The Willow Street Bluegrass Band and shucked-on-the-spot oysters from new Monterey shellfish destination Oystertown, plus other bites.
More info: www.exploretock.com
Santa Cruz Jazz Festival
Dates TBD
The 39th annual SCJF follows a familiar format, hosting master classes, competitions and an opening concert on Friday. Singcopation—the 11-member vocal jazz group who routinely earns standing ovations at destinations like the International Association of Jazz Educators Conventions in New York City, Toronto, and Long Beach—headlines that with jazz and fusion saxophone and keyboard artist Gary Meek. Then the festival crescendos further as the festival’s top talents, as judged by music educators, collaborate on Saturday’s closing show.
More info: santacruzjazzfestival.org
Monterey Bay Football Club v. Oakland Roots
Date TBD
A budding rivalry finds renewal on a glowing field with views of the ocean. The relatively new phenomenon of professional soccer in the area involves a lot of spirited high-level play, but there is a lot more afoot here, so to speak, from a loaded food-and-craft-beer-and-wine pavilion to post-game player interactions, all priced in a reasonable way in a striking setting.
More info: montereybayfc.com
Beethoven Violin Concerto at Sunset Center
Dates TBD
The Monterey Symphony organizers behind the concerto describe a program about “suppressed voices struggling to break free.” That wraps in a number of expressions: Contemporary composer Jesse Montgomery pits a solo horn and serene strings against raucous percussion in a sonic drama inspired by the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (“We must respond to physical force with soul force”). Sweden’s Edvard Grieg explores the character of fairy-tale adventurer Peer Gynt in his inventive music that pairs with Henrick Ibsen’s pioneering play. Finland’s Jean Sibelius cracks open his patriotic tone poem Finlandia in anticipation of his country’s fight for independence. And—nodding to the year 1806, when one Ludwig van Beethoven confronted several health crises and ruthless physical pain and still produced an astonishing array of works now considered masterpieces—the symphony revisits his spic Violin Concerto in D Major.
More info: montereysymphony.org
Margaret Cho: Live & Livid
Date TBD
Cho has chops. The comedian, actor, musician, advocate and entrepreneur has picked up five Grammy and Emmy nominees while breaking barriers for the planet and earning best female comedian cred from Vogue alongside the likes of Joan Rivers, Gilda Radner and Wanda Sykes,. “When hasn’t Margaret Cho’s strong voice been part of our consciousness?” Sunset Center promotional copy reads. “It feels like she has always been here, like a friend you can always count on, lighting the path for other women, other members of underrepresented groups, other performers, to follow.” And she seems to be more comfortable than ever on stage. “I think comedians in general, we get better as we get older,” she says, “and we kind of get more observant, and more astute in those observations.”
More info: sunsetcenter.org
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!
