www.montereycountynow.com AUGUST 13-19, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 29 Send ideas to montereycountynow.com/events HOT PICKS Hinderscheid, Songs for the New World come to Salinas, with John G. Bridges, Leticia Candelaria, Melissa Podczaszy, Brennan Whitaker and Jacquelyn Villena Whitake as cast. A song cycle rather than a traditional book musical, the show doesn’t have a traditional plot or named characters. Four performers move through songs unified by the common experience—that of being on a crossroads, in a decisive moment in life, about to make a choice about to change everything. Brown wrote it in his mid-20s, and it draws on a mix of styles—pop, gospel, jazz and Broadway balladry. Favorite songs include “Stars and the Moon,” “Just One Step,” “I’m Not Afraid of Anything,” “SurabayaSanta,” “The Flagmaker, 1775,” and “King of the World.” [AP] 7:30pm Saturdays; 2pm Sundays, Aug. 15-Sept. 6. The Western Stage, 411 Central Ave., Salinas. $12-$30. (831) 755-6816, westernstage.com. Sunday, Aug. 16 LA GUELAGUETZA For the last 17 years the Oaxacan community has come together to celebrate its culture and history at La Guelaguetza in Salinas. The festival draws about 2,000 attendees every year and brings together local and visiting folkloric dance groups representing Oaxaca’s eight regions, each sharing traditional dances, music, attire and regional harvests like bananas, pineapples and bread. Beyond performances, the event functions as a welcoming space for Indigenous and mixed Oaxacan communities, offering cultural pride, community connection, and access to resources such as immigration information, consular services, and potentially food distribution for families in need. [RH] 2-5pm Sunday, Aug. 16. Natividad Creek Park, 1395 Nogal Drive, Salinas. Free. (831) 800-6115, Salinas.gov/Events. Tuesday, Aug. 18 ROCK STARS Who are the best rockers in Monterey County? The Salty Seal is here to find out at its first-ever Battle of the Bands since new ownership took over. Three to four judges will assess the band’s stage presence, performance and audience-reactions for each of the 11 music groups that signed up. The musicians are tasked with two original songs and one cover song each. But the stakes are pretty high, since judges include veteran musicians and musical thinkers in Monterey County, but the grand prize is $1,000 plus a year-long residency at the bar. The contest will be held weekly until one band is crowned the winner. [SC] 7-10pm Tuesday, Aug. 18. The Salty Seal, 635 Cannery Row, Monterey. Free. (831) 9202327, saltysealpub.com. Hot Picks by Sloan Campi, Erik Chalhoub, Dave Faries, Royvi Hernandez, Celia Jiménez, Pam Marino, Agata Popęda, Katie Rodriguez, Sara Rubin and Aric Sleeper. Make art and wear it. A jewelry workshop at the P.G. Art Center is the first step in making your own jewelry. Try your own patterns and colors on Saturday, Aug. 15. ABBY BETTENCOURT 622 LIGHTHOUSE AVE. MONTEREY (831) 655-HULA (4852) @HULASTIKI the original
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