www.montereycountynow.com JULY 23-29, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 27 Send ideas to montereycountynow.com/events HOT PICKS (just Food & Wine’s Best New Chef, that’s all). Chef Tyler Florence hosts, even though it’s not a food truck thing, plus cooking demonstrations, vendors, live music and, most likely, barbecue. If so, go to Moss Landing on Saturday, you’re going to miss out. [DF] Street Fair: 8am-3:30pm Sunday, July 26 throughout Moss Landing, $5, (831) 6334501, mosslandingchamber.com. Black Smoke Invitational: 10am-8pm at The Antique Shop, 8071 Moss Landing Road. $92. houseofblacksmoke.com. ANCESTRAL SPIRITS There are many ways we might define “culture,” but often it’s a list of the many elements that combine into a feeling about what makes us who we are: Food, religious traditions, dance, music, fashion. All of these elements and more come together at the Salinas Obon Festival, and all are welcome to learn and celebrate. The program opens with a tea ceremony at 12:30pm and an ikebana floral demonstration follows from 1-2pm, then bonsai at 2:15pm. On the performance stage, watch Chinese dance, taiko drumming, odori dance and a kendo demonstration (the martial art of samurai-style swordfighting). Food is for sale but the aromas (and good vibes) are available for free. [SR] Noon-5pm Sunday, July 26. Buddhist Temple of Salinas, 14 California St., Salinas. Free. (831) 424-4105, btsalinas.org. CHILI TODAY Prefer your meat from a pot rather than a smoker? The Great Bowls of Fire Chili Cook-Off is back, featuring local chefs and home cooks preparing their best chili (if you’re from Texas, you can pick out the beans). At the same time, bartenders and people with a thing for lime and salt compete in a margarita competition. And at the same time as all of that, bands play for your entertainment—as if great chili and strong (hopefully) cocktails weren’t enough. When you think about it, Sunday is a really good day to be in Monterey County if you’re a foodie. [DF] 1-4pm Sunday, July 26. Folktale Winery, 8940 Carmel Valley Road, $65; $50/chamber members. (831) 624-3877, carmelchamber. org. BACK AT THE LIBRARY Jazz guitar virtuoso Phil deGruy returns to the Henry Miller Library, where he last played a decade ago, according to staffer Mike Scutari. “One of the best guitarists I’ve ever seen and one of the funniest guys ever,” Scutari notes. He is not the only one who adores deGruy. The unique style of this New Orleans native was described by guitarist Steve Vai as “John Coltrane meets Mel Brooks at a party for Salvador Dali.” DeGruy is famous for using a custom seven-string guitar, “The Guitararp,” with a unique, fan-fretted neck. [AP] 2-3pm Sunday, July 26. Henry Miller Memorial Library, 48603 Highway 1, Big Sur. Free. (831) 667-2574, henrymiller.org. Hot Picks by Sloan Campi, Erik Chalhoub, Dave Faries, Celia Jiménez, Pam Marino, Agata Popęda, Katie Rodriguez, Sara Rubin and Aric Sleeper. If you haven’t seen Calpulli Yaocuauhtli presenting Indigenous traditions, you have a chance to do so this Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Central Park in Salinas (see p. 26). COURTESY OF CALPULLI YAOCUAUHTLI
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