Send ideas to montereycountynow.com/events 32 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JANUARY 22-28, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com along to their favorite hits. If you want more bonding, join a friendship bracelet-making party before the show. Shaw is a Las Vegas tribute singer who specializes in performing not only as Swift, but also as Britney Spears and Lady Gaga. [AP] 6pm bracelet-making party; 7:30pm show Friday, Jan. 23. Sunset Center, San Carlos and 9th, Carmel. $45-$75; $25/ages 12 and under. (831) 620-2048, sunsetcenter.org. Saturday, Jan. 24 FUNGUS TIMES Mycophiles and foodies of Monterey County will unite for the 2026 Big Sur Foragers Festival, where 10 acclaimed chefs show off their skills in the Fungus Face Off. Attendees are presented with one-of-a-kind foraged dishes that showcase the bounty of Big Sur. And 20 local wineries feature offerings to pair with the fungus-filled dishes. The unique culinary competition is limited to 200 guests, so get tickets while you can. Proceeds go to support the nonprofit Big Sur Health Center, which means attendees can indulge knowing that they are also helping out the community. [AS] Noon-3pm Saturday, Jan. 24. Big Sur Lodge, 47225 Highway 1, Big Sur. $125. (831) 6673100, bigsurforagerfestival.org. OCEAN VOYAGER Shymala Dason is not so much a survivor but a thriver. It wasn’t easy to get there though: she survived cancer, got a culture shock in the form of a New York City winter blizzard and even worked for NASA. What do you do with a life like that? Write, of course— her medium is poetry. The award-winning, first-generation immigrant from Malaysia is coming to Monterey and bringing her book Carrying the Ocean with her for signing. [SC] 2:30-4pm Saturday Jan. 24. Cooper-Molera Adobe, 506 Munras Ave., Monterey. Free. (800) 944-6847, ext. 9183, shymaladason. studio. ACTS OF PIRACY Before he was Dread Pirate Roberts, he was just Westley, a lowly farm kid. And before that—bear with us while we break the fourth wall here—he was an actor named Cary Elwes, who found his way to enduring fame for his role in The Princess Bride. Elwes himself appears onstage. “Inconceivable!” you say? Anything but. He responds to questions following a screening of the 1987 movie, giving fans—and anyone trying not to be a Humperdinck—a chance to hear some behind-thescenes lore. [SR] 7pm Saturday, Jan. 24. Golden State Theatre, 417 Alvarado St., Monterey. $40-$185. (831) 649-1070, goldenstatetheatre.com. SOUL JOURNEY Diana Gameros, a Mexican singer-songwriter from Ciudad Juárez who lives in San Francisco, returns to Seaside to hypnotize audiences with her soothing voice. Gameros sings primarily in Spanish, but listeners in any language can connect to the music. She blends Latin folk, jazz, indie-pop and world music. In her lyrics, Gameros talks about the border and the transborder experience; she was born and grew up in a border city, navigating two languages and cultures. She’s promoting her latest album, Volver a la Luz (English: Return to the Light) where she sings about loss, longing, hope and joy. [CJ] 7-9pm Saturday, Jan. 24. Palenke Teen Art Center, 530 Elm Ave., Seaside. $30. (831) 899-9909, bit.ly/Diana012426. HOT PICKS 6pm Thursday, Jan. 22. Bud’s at La Playa, Camino Real and 8th, Carmel. Free. (831) 293-6100, fadeawaysessions.com. STILL TEMPTING Your favorite soul, rhythm and blues group is coming to town. In the 1960s, members of two local Detroit bands— The Distants and The Primes—came together to form the standout vocal group known as The Temptations. Their smooth harmonies went on to help shape R&B and soul music, they signed with Motown Records and went on to score massive hits with songs like “My Girl,” “Cloud Nine” and “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone.” Over the years, the group has evolved (but their style remains pristine), with founding member Otis Williams remaining the sole original member still performing today. The band have earned five Grammy Awards, including the Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award in 2013. [KR] 8pm Thursday, Jan. 22. Golden State Theatre, 417 Alvarado St., Monterey. $65-$124. (831) 649-1070, goldenstatetheatre.com. Friday, Jan. 23 STORIES OF THE SEA The benefits of reading aloud to children are numerous. Studies show that when children are read to, it helps them develop their literacy skills and language capabilities, critical tools they will carry with them throughout their lives. It’s also fun, which is what the children really care about anyway. How about combining storytime with the wonders of the ocean? The Monterey Public Library welcomes guests from the Monterey Bay Aquarium to share stories through books and songs. Expect to get up and move, too. This is geared toward children ages 2-5, but all ages are welcome. [EC] 10:15-11am Friday, Jan. 23. Monterey Public Library community room, 625 Pacific St., Monterey. Free. (831) 646-3933, monterey. gov/library. LUCKY AGAIN Salinas-based Miguel A. Hernandez has been serving as a defense attorney in Monterey County for almost 50 years. In 2023, he published The Lucky Lawyer: Dreams of Hope and Justice, a work of nonfiction, in which he shares stories he encountered at work. For example, he has defended the driver in a car shooting accused of second-degree murder, people suffering from drug addiction, robbers and a man who was charged with attempted first-degree murder. Through it all, he has tried to provide unwavering access to justice. Now, Hernandez is back with The Lucky Lawyer II: More Dreams of Hope and Justice. Get the book and meet the author. [AP] 5:30-7:30pm Friday, Jan. 23. One Main Street, 1 Main St., Salinas. Free. RSVP by texting yes to (831) 794-4927, steinbeck.org. SWIFTIES TIME What’s the best thing besides a Taylor Swift concert in town? How about a tribute concert to Taylor Swift? With Christina Shaw on vocals, Legends: A Tribute to Taylor Swift Music is a performance that will undoubtedly gather Swift’s fans to sing and dance The Big Sur Foragers Festival features a flurry of locally-sourced fungi varieties on the plate. The event takes place Saturday, Jan. 24. JIM PINCKNEY Diana Gameros is a Mexican singer who considers herself a social activist promoting social justice for the immigrant community. She plays in Seaside on Saturday, Jan. 24. CRISTINA ISABEL RIVERA
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