Send ideas to calendar@montereycountynow.com 28 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JULY 24-30, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com HOT RODS The only thing hotter than the weather in the Salinas Valley are the cars that are about to roll into Soledad. The annual Hot Summer Days car show makes its return. Expect many lowriders, motorcycles, bikes, import luxury vehicles, off-roaders and more. And while you’re admiring the four- and two-wheeled marvels, check out the variety of food trucks, live music and other entertainment. [EC] 11am-4pm Saturday, July 26. Cesar Chavez Park, 555 Front St., Soledad. Free. cityofsoledad.com. INTO THE WEB BiG SuRCuS returns with a magical and mysterious spectacle. It’s an entertaining show with a cabaret extravaganza. The array of acts takes audience members into a spiral of feminine empowerment, nature and mysticism. Expect a mix of poetry, spider webs, belly dance, fire, aerial and more—this group is always full of surprises. [CJ] 7:30-10pm Saturday, July 26. Henry Miller Memorial Library, 48603 Highway 1, Big Sur. $45-$215. 667-2574, bigsurcus.com. HAVE TO LAUGH Willie Barcena took the usual route to a standup comic career. Yep, you guessed it—preparatory internships as a security guard, plumber, roofer and limo driver, just like Jay Leno and the others…OK, OK. That was just Barcena, but the series of thankless blue collar jobs inform his humor. He is funny enough to have appeared on the Tonight Show (with said Leno) 10 times, have a Comedy Central special, an acclaimed one-man show and more. This is one funny guy. [DF] 8pm Saturday, July 26. Fox Theater, 241 Main St., Salinas. $25-$40. 758-8459, foxtheatersalinas.com. Saturday, July 26-Sunday, July 27 LONG LIVE ABALONE Have you had a chance to try abalone yet? This Pacific Ocean delicacy holds a special place in Monterey’s heart and culinary history. Come to the first-ever Abalone Festival: All Things Abalone to explore this heritage. The two-day lineup includes expert speakers, documentary films, live performances, cultural demonstrations, a walking tour, abalone races and more. (See story, p. 36.) [AP] 10am-5pm Saturday-Sunday, July 26-27. Monterey Japanese American Citizens League Hall, 424 Adams St., Monterey. Free. 5213304, jaclmonterey.org. Sunday, July 27 CRITICAL HIT Monterey County is home to some stunning locales for biking. Fort Ord National Monument, the Rec Trail and Sand City’s warehouse district come to mind. The latter is not just any warehouse district—it’s full of massive colorful murals and equally fascinating people who have set up shop. The Sand City Criterium takes advantage of this unique location with a more than halfmile, 10-corner loop throughout the tiny city, with bicyclists of all ages competing in various heats. [EC] Races begin 8am with staggered start times through 4:35pm Sunday, July 27. 625 Ortiz Ave., Sand City. Free. mbrt.bike/sand-city-crit. FINDERS KEEPERS A local adventure is waiting in North County. Moss Landing is already a lovely destination to go for a walk— people can enjoy a cup of coffee, stroll on the beach or come across eccentric and charming facades on the streets. This Sunday is extra special, as the HOT PICKS MOTOR IT Metalheads can speak in a language only they can understand. On the website of Heirloom Pizza’s Salinas restaurant, these are the words describing the sound of Bay Area-based heavy metal band Worship: “a blend of Post-Metal, Doom & Metalcore.” Those who know what that means should probably head to Oldtown Salinas on Friday night for some mosh pit shenanigans. San Francisco-based Alcatraz and Salinas’ Cruel Idols & Bitter Days will also be in the mix. Pizza. Beer. Metal. For some— the very elixir of life. [DS] 8-11pm Friday, July 25. Heirloom Pizza, 344 Main St., Salinas. $10/advance, $15/door (21+). 998-8824, heirloompizzapie.com/ salinas. Friday, July 25-Saturday, July 26 LIGHT BRIGHT The Summer Lights Festival is back in Pacific Grove for more family-oriented fun, organized by the Youth Ambassadors of Pacific Grove. The Pet Parade, a long-time town tradition, kicks off at 2pm on Friday. Saturday’s festival begins with a Kiwanis pancake breakfast followed by a day full of music, dancing, games and food at Lovers Point, ending with a nighttime light show. With school starting just a few days later, it’s a bright way to end summer vacation. [PM] Pet Parade: 1:30pm line-up, 2pm parade Friday, July 25, starts at Caledonia Park, 141 Caledonia Ave., route follows Lighthouse Avenue, Pacific Grove, free; Pancake Breakfast: 9-11am Saturday, July 26, Lovers Point Park, 17th Street and Ocean View Avenue, $10; Summer Lights: 11am-10pm Saturday, July 26, Lovers Point Beach, Park and Pier, free. yaopg.org. Saturday, July 26 PUT A BIRD ON IT Bird enthusiasts of all kinds—especially lovers of exotic birds like toucans, parrots, macaws and finches—come to buy, sell or simply admire the feathered aves of the show. Visitors can learn about different species, proper care for captive birds, monitoring avian health and even watch behavior and training demonstrations. It’s a chance to dive into the world of aviculture, meet bird owners, pet store operators, veterinarians and more. [KR] 10am-3pm Saturday, July 26. Monterey County Fair & Event Center, 2004 Fairground Road, Monterey. $10/children ages 2-20; $15/adults, seniors. (916) 601-9666, exoticbirdmart.com. RAVE AT THE LIBRARY Maybe you’re a new parent who was up all night with a baby or a toddler who couldn’t stop wiggling. Did you (or they) find yourselves wishing you had some glow sticks and some music and there was a good old-fashioned rave happening, instead of soothing lullabies? Here’s a midmorning opportunity for a baby rave, welcoming all ages from 0 on up to get your wiggles out to top hits. [SR] 10:30am Saturday, July 26. Monterey Public Library community room, 625 Pacific St., Monterey. Free. 646-3933, monterey.gov/ library. It’s not every day you get to see a rainbow lorikeet in person. Learn about birds of all colors at the Exotic Bird Mart and Expo in Monterey. @EDMONDLAFOTO Carolyn Wonderland, who performs in Seaside, has been the lead guitarist in John Mayall’s Blues Breakers, a spot previously filled by the likes of Eric Clapton, Mick Taylor and Peter Green. MARY BRUTON
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