Send ideas to calendar@montereycountynow.com 26 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JULY 31-AUGUST 6, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com conditions with Laura Murphy from the Resource Conservation District; and how to replace your lawn with natives from UC Master Gardener Barbara Rae-Venter, or when to water from UCMG’s Ramie Allard. There are also fun activities like willow wreath-making with master gardeners Kerith Koontz and Stephanie Campbell, and sage harvesting/bundling with master gardener Jazmin Lopez. [SR] 9:30am gates open; 10am-1pm workshops Saturday, Aug. 2. Rancho Cielo Youth Campus, 710 Old Stage Road, Salinas. Free. 759-7351, mbmg.ucanr.edu. TIME TO REMEMBER The atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki brought an end to World War II, the costliest of modern wars. On the other hand, the blasts killed hundreds of thousands of civilians and caused suffering in numbers far beyond. The events also ushered in the nuclear age and all the related problems of proliferation. These are things we must remember, and the Monterey County branch of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom hosts a moving ceremony in advance of the 80th anniversary of the bombings. Apart from the solemn remembrance, there are taiko drummers, music, speakers and the launching of peace lanterns. [DF] 7-9pm Saturday, Aug. 2. Lovers Point, Ocean View Boulevard and 17th Street, Pacific Grove. Free. 899-7322, peacecentral.wordpress.com/wilpf-monterey-county. DEFYING GRAVITY The soundtrack to Big Sur is dream pop. There’s no question about that. Clean synths and binaural beats are the only way to really experience the grandeur that is Highway 1 and the Big Sur coastline. As weird as Big Sur is, those synths and wavy sounds come from Sacramento in the form of the band Güero. They’re said to defy genre boundaries and embrace musical exploration. Their show at Fernwood will leave you wondering if you’re attending a concert or a sound bath. [SC] 9pm Saturday, Aug. 2. Fernwood Tavern Bar & Grill, 47200 Highway 1, Big Sur. Free. Ages 21+. 667-2129, fernwoodbigsur.com. PLAY PALS The joy that toys bring kids is impossible to overstate, and the value they provide is priceless—play is a critical building block for a young, developing mind, and toys are the tools to help kids build with. Even the anticipation of getting a new toy can bring excitement for weeks, as just thinking about playing with it becomes a real—and imagined—form of play in its own right. In that spirit, nonprofit Salinas Police Activities League (PAL) is hosting a two-day toy show with more than 40 vendors selling toys for kids and adults alike, from brand-new to vintage. Voice actor John Morris, who voiced Andy in the original Toy Story, is a special guest Saturday. [DS] 9am-5pm Saturday-Sunday, Aug. 2-3. 100 Howard St., Salinas. Free. info@salinaspal. org. Saturday, August 2 SERENITY NOW What does it mean to be in a state of zen? Zen meditation is a practice rooted in a 2,600-year-old Buddhist tradition, defined as a way to achieve enlightenment by direct intuition through meditation. On Saturdays throughout the month of August, the Monterey Zen Meditation Center is offering a free introductory class to learn how to be still, and in this silence build more inner stability, harmony and HOT PICKS Friday, August 1 NIGHT STROLL First Fridays offer a nice opportunity to get know your neighbors, enjoy live music and check out some local small businesses offering good and demonstrations. Various cities in Monterey County offer community gatherings for First Friday, highlighting local arts and culture. Sand City’s Night Market, Pacific Grove’s First Friday or First Fridays Art Walk in Salinas all offer a unique opportunity to explore local downtown areas, interact with artists and take in the vibes of a neighborhood. [CJ] Friday, Aug. 1. 5-9pm in downtown Salinas on Main Street, bit.ly/4kWK5iu. 6-9pm on Lighthouse Avenue between Forest and Grand, Pacific Grove, bit.ly/4m9xsl5. 6-9pm at Sand City Art Park, 525 Ortiz Ave., Sand City, bit.ly/4fh7vxN. Free to attend. FUNNY BUSINESS Anjelah Johnson-Reyes loves her dog, but she wishes she could speak its language. She’s also fond of her Mexican and Native American heritage, yet she can’t speak Spanish. Perhaps that’s a good thing: It gives her plenty of material to work with. The San Jose native comic riffs on the everyday struggles through a hilarious lens, and visits Monterey on her nationwide tour. She’s had specials on Comedy Central, Netflix and more, as well as appeared in various films and TV shows. She performs two shows at the Golden State Theatre with opportunities for a pre-show meet and greet. [EC] 7pm and 9:45pm Friday, Aug. 1. Golden State Theatre, 417 Alvarado St., Monterey. $40- $180. 649-1070, goldenstatetheatre.com. Friday, August 1 - Sunday, August 3 FIESTA TIME Let’s say there was a park, and that you could fill said park with live music, crafts and food vendors. That would be cool, right? But hang on a minute. The folks in Carmel Valley do things right when it comes to a party in the park. Carmel Valley Fiesta adds a car show, a dog show, a pancake breakfast, raffles and more. It happens all day, with proceeds going to support youth programs and scholarships. [DF] 5-9:15pm Friday, Aug. 1 at Carmel Valley Trail & Saddle Club, 399 E. Garzas Road, Carmel Valley. $60; $35/children ages 12 and under. 659-4330, trailandsaddle.club. 8am-6pm Saturday, Aug. 2; 8am-5pm Sunday, Aug. 3 at Carmel Valley Community Park, 25 Ford Road, Carmel Valley. Free to attend. 298-0018, cvkiwanis.org. Saturday, August 2 DOWN AND DIRTY Have you looked at your sliver of yard lately and thought: It’s just too small? Or maybe you’ve looked at a massive area and thought: It’s just too overwhelming. Wherever you are on whatever spectrum, prepare to gain skills from a team of experts at this one-day native plant boot camp. Learn about backyard composting from Estella Guerrero of Salinas Valley Solid Waste Authority; how to create the right soil After her career as a cheerleader for the Oakland Raiders, Anjelah Johnson-Reyes dove into comedy after a friend noted she had a knack for stand-up. Laugh along when she visits Monterey. SEAN HAGWELL The Festival of Winds started as a result of reduced opportunities for wind players during the pandemic. It’s now a tradition, and the fifth edition takes place on Aug. 6.
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