24 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY SEPTEMBER 24-30, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com Welcome to the fall. September is the month when we here at the Weekly traditionally realize we can’t keep up with all of the events of the season all at once—important exhibits, concerts, theatrical productions, community celebrations and various holiday traditions. As we pack our calendars to the brim, it’s the most exciting and busy time of the year for the arts. So while you can still find a focus on arts and culture this week (see the Hot Picks section, p. 28), we take a look through the end of the calendar year. This year, event powerhouse Sunset Cultural Center in Carmel is celebrating the 100th anniversary of its existence (first as a school, then as a venue). A big community block party is coming up on Oct. 25, followed by three years of special events and extra fun programming within the nonprofit’s “Century of Creativity” campaign, set to culminate in 2031, the centennial of the theater itself. In the visual arts world, another party happens for the 150th birthday of the famous artist (and Monterey County local) Jo Mora. An exhibit of his work pertaining to his life as an author is on display at the John Steinbeck Library in Salinas now through at least October. An exhibit of his multiple artistic talents opens at One Main Street in Salinas this month and runs through the end of the year. Meanwhile, another exhibit of his life and artwork, as documented by Carmel photographer Lewis Josselyn, displayed at the Stanton Center in Monterey runs into 2027. Local theater audiences have more opportunities for staged works than ever, with initiatives such as Enchantrix and Soapbox Stage Works supplementing productions from more established local stages. Waiting for Godot by Enchantrix is coming this October, with Fort Ord National Monument as a setting. The annual Shakespeare offering from PacRep is A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the fittingly dreamy Outdoor Forest Theater. Paper Wing Theatre is back with its annual tradition of The Rocky Horror Show, with a run ending on Halloween. There’s more live entertainment from intimate classical ensembles to emerging local rock ‘n’ roll musicians, touring DJs and seasonal performances of The Nutcracker coming too. Seemingly every style from every era will grace Monterey County venues this season. Enjoy. -Agata Popęda, arts and culture staff writer SEPTEMBER REX RAY: WE ARE ALL MADE OF LIGHT On display until Jan. 17, 2027 Monterey Museum of Art, Monterey 372-5477, montereyart.org BORN OF THE BEAR DANCE: DUGAN AGUILAR’S PHOTOGRAPHS OF NATIVE CALIFORNIA On display until Dec. 20 Monterey Museum of Art, Monterey 372-5477, montereyart.org MONICA LONCOLA: ON THE EDGE OF THE PACIFIC On display until Jan. 3, 2027 Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History, Pacific Grove 648-5716, pgmuseum.org Sept. 26 JOE MANN, VICTORIA LYNN 6pm, Henry Miller Library, Big Sur 667-2574, henrymiller.org JO MORA & FAMILY: THROUGH THE LENS OF LEWIS JOSSELYN On display until 2027 Monterey History and Art at Stanton Center, Monterey 372-2608, montereyhistory.org Sept. 27 MONTEREY PENINSULA GOSPEL COMMUNITY CHOIR 5pm, Sunset Center, Carmel 625-9938, sunsetcenter.org Sept. 30 GEOFF TATE 7pm, Golden State Theatre, Monterey 649-1070, goldenstatetheatre.com OCTOBER Oct. 1-4 CARMEL INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL Various times, Golden Bough Playhouse, Carmel (858) 829-7722, ciffest.com Oct. 1 JESSICA KIRSON 7pm, Golden State Theatre, Monterey 649-1070, goldenstatetheatre.com Oct. 1-18 A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM Various times, Outdoor Forest Theater, Carmel 622-0100, pacrep.org Oct. 2 PERFUME GENIUS 6pm, Henry Miller Library, Big Sur 667-2574, henrymiller.org THE GREEN 7pm, Golden State Theatre, Monterey 649-1070, goldenstatetheatre.com AN EVENING WITH CHRIS BOTTI 7pm, Sunset Center, Carmel 625-9938, sunsetcenter.org Oct. 3 DEATH FROM ABOVE 1979: PRIVATE LIVES TOUR 7pm, Golden State Theatre, Monterey 649-1070, goldenstatetheatre.com Oct. 6 KILLER QUEEN: A TRIBUTE TO QUEEN 7pm, Golden State Theatre, Monterey 649-1070, goldenstatetheatre.com Oct. 7 PACREP PRESENTS: THE TRAVELING WILBURYS REVUE 7:30pm, Golden Bough Playhouse, Carmel 622-0100, pacrep.org Oct. 8 TOAD THE WET SPROCKET 7pm, Golden State Theatre, Monterey 649-1070, goldenstatetheatre.com DESPERATE ELECTRIC 7pm, Pop & Hiss, Pacific Grove 275-3303, popandhiss.net Oct. 9 BRIAN REGAN 7pm, Golden State Theatre, Monterey 649-1070, goldenstatetheatre.com WE OWN THE LAUGHS PRESENTS: J. VALENTINO 8pm, Fox Theater, Salinas 758-8459, foxtheatersalinas.com Oct. 9-31 THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW Paper Wing Theatre and Supper Club, Monterey 905-5684, paperwing.com Oct. 10 THE PINNACLES FILM FESTIVAL 10am-6pm, King City Theater, King City 386-1381, soltreasures.com/thepinnaclesfilmfestival TRANSYLVANIAN DANCE WITH LUCIAN BAN & MAT MANERI 7pm, SandBox, Sand City sandboxsandcity.com DENNIS MURPHY’S HOMECOMING CONCERT 7pm, Wave Street Studios, Monterey 655-2010, wavestreetlive774.com Oct. 11 ANDERSON AND ROE PIANO DUO 3pm, Sunset Center, Carmel 625-9938, carmelmusic.org Oct. 13 ROGER MCGUINN OF THE BYRDS 7pm, Sunset Center, Carmel 625-9938, sunsetcenter.org Oct. 14 LE PATIN LIBRE MELT 7pm, Sunset Center, Carmel 625-9938, sunsetcenter.org Oct. 15 STEEP CANYON RANGERS 7pm, Golden State Theatre, Monterey 649-1070, goldenstatetheatre.com FALL ARTS CALENDAR Art is in the Air Oct. 22 VOCAL RANGE There’s something about Sarah Jarosz’s pure, soaring vocals that has the ability to transport you to somewhere else—it’s music stripped to its essence, voice with a country twang and just enough backing instrumentals to support it. The Nashville-based Texas native has won six Grammys, released seven solo albums plus another two with the band I’m With Her. She hasn’t stopped making new, potent music, but on the 10th anniversary of her record Undercurrent, she revisits that earlier work in a tour that brings her (and her signature poetic lyrics) to the stage in Monterey. [SR] 7pm Thursday, Oct. 22. Golden State Theatre, 417 Alvarado St., Monterey. $42- $77. (831) 649-1070, goldenstatetheatre. com. SHERVIN LAINEZ
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