42 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY DECEMBER 18-24, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com Send ideas to montereycountynow.com/events HOT PICKS Center in Pacific Grove, leads a ceremony to mark this transition of seasons, of darkness and light. This winter solstice also marks a personal transition for Rinpoche: He will be moving to Portland, so this is a chance to bid him farewell. The ceremony includes prayers for peace and to restore harmony between humans and the environment. Participants are encouraged to bring flower petals to float onto the ocean as a gesture of goodwill. [SR] 4-5pm Sunday, Dec. 21. Lovers Point beach, 17th Street at Ocean View Boulevard, Pacific Grove. Free. (831) 917-3969, manjushridharmacenter.org. GOSPEL TRUTH The Monterey Peninsula Community Choir is bringing its own spin to favorite Christmas hymns and tunes in its concert, “Christmas Carols with Gospel Flava!” The choir, led by John Nash Jr., has had a very busy year, singing on the Grammy-nominated song “Words,” the debut single by Donald Lawrence from the Edwin Hawkins (“O Happy Day”) Music + Arts Global retreat. They toured Amsterdam and Stockholm over the summer. They’re home now, to entertain us all in full voice and Christmas spirit. [PM] 4pm Sunday, Dec. 21. First Baptist Church of Pacific Grove, 246 Laurel Ave., Pacific Grove. Free. mpgospelcc@aol.com, mpgcc.org. LIGHT IT UP On this ride, there’s no such thing as having too many lights on your bike. The Critical Christmas Bicycle Ride is a tradition of more than two decades, where a “critical mass” of bicyclists— that means you and as many bicycling neighbors that show up—descend onto Custom House Plaza on the week of Christmas and go for a ride to Cannery Row and back. But just a plain old headlight won’t do here. The riders will be a sea of red, green and other festively colored lights wrapped around their bikes’ handlebars, spokes, frames and just about anywhere else. [EC] 5:45pm Sunday, Dec. 21. Start and end at Custom House Plaza, Monterey. Free. facebook.com/CriticalChristmasBicycleRide. Monday, Dec. 22 SACRED MUSIC The San Francisco-based men’s chorus Chanticleer is back with one of their Christmas concerts inside the Carmel Mission Basilica, featuring rich harmonies created by what’s been described as an “orchestra of voices.” They fill the historic chapel in a way that is joyful, entertaining and hallowed. Originally rooted in Renaissance music, the chorus’ repertoire includes classical, gospel, jazz and popular music. Past Christmas concerts have included fun and amusing takes on holiday favorites, inspiring classics and even goosebump- producing moments performing sacred music by candlelight. [PM] 6-8pm Monday, Dec. 22. Carmel Mission Basilica, 3080 Rio Road, Carmel. $66-$91; Sold out. (415) 252-8589, chanticleer.org. Hot Picks by Sloan Campi, Erik Chalhoub, Dave Faries, Celia Jiménez, Pam Marino, Agata Popęda, Katie Rodriguez and Sara Rubin. Modern ice skates originated in the 13th or 14th century in the Netherlands, where increasing irrigation led to the creation of canals that froze over in winter. Soon, the world got obsessed. Ice skate in Monterey daily until Jan. 4 (details on p. 38). 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