130 THE BEST OF MONTEREY BAY ® 2026-2027 ARTS & CULTURE Monterey Symphony The symphony brings together some of the best musicians in California for big, bold performances on the Sunset Center stage. This is an accomplished orchestra with a reputation so strong that all performances sold out last season. (831) 646-8511, montereysymphony. org Old Capitol Books There’s little shushing at this progressively minded bookstore. Instead, there’s the vibrant sound of readings, lectures, poetry, conversation and debate. This itty-bitty bookshop has space for all of it, including a gallery for emerging artists. 482 Alvarado St. (upstairs), Monterey. (831) 747-1322, oldcapitolbooks. com Palenke Arts A lot happens at this space—classes, workshops and events. The latter can range from concerts and recitals to films and exhibits by local artists and international touring acts. An annual festival brings it all together, for free, outdoors. The nonprofit has its own standalone space for even more creativity. 530 Elm Ave., Seaside. (831) 657-9447, palenkearts. com Pearl Hour One of the county’s finest cocktail bars also plays host to a diverse array of performances, ranging from jazz groups to DJs, burlesque, drag shows and even full-blown theater, like Shakespeare and other plays—on an intimate scale, of course. 214 Lighthouse Ave., Monterey. pearlhour.com Pop & Hiss This is a record store, gathering place with a bar and all-ages music venue that opened in 2024 and immediately became the place to be in P.G. There’s a DJ booth and space to listen or dance. The live music schedule features national touring acts as well as local favorites. 215 Forest Ave., Pacific Grove. popandhiss.net SandBox SandBox is a platform for performing arts: concerts, spoken word artists, film screenings and art parties that push boundaries and build community. It’s designed for collaborative and inclusive cultural events amplifying the vibrant arts community. They pluck artists from the global touring circuit and provide them a haven to collaborate and experiment, often putting different artistic practices in conversation. 440 Ortiz Ave. #A, Sand City. sandboxsandcity.com Sand City Art Park This outdoor community venue with a focus on celebrating the arts is in the heart of Sand City, which itself is a city of murals. It also hosts the monthly 831 Night Market every first Friday during the summer season. Take a tour of the tiny city and view new murals, plus older public artworks. 525 Ortiz Ave., Sand City. (831) 394-3054, sandcity.org Salinas Sports Complex Located on 80 acres in Sherwood Park, this outdoor arena/equestrian complex has played home to events like the California Rodeo Salinas, Monster Truck Jam and a Blake Shelton concert, as well as private or smaller events in its meeting halls. Plus, they host regular weekly night markets and food trucks with live musical acts. 1034 N. Main St., Salinas. (831) 775-3100, salinassportscomplex.com Sherwood Hall This Salinas institution, located at the sprawling Sherwood Park complex, seats 1,000 people, which makes it one of the largest enclosed performance spaces in the county. It has hosted symphony concerts, plays, dances, children’s shows, mariachi bands, cowboy music and poetry. 940 N. Main St., Salinas. (831) 758-7477, cityofsalinas.org Sol Treasures A South Monterey County nonprofit arts and culture center that offers local communities a place for creativity through visual arts, music, dance, theater, classes, events and afterschool activities for community members of all ages. 519 Broadway St., King City. (831) 3869809, soltreasures.com SpectorDance This tenacious nonprofit is a dance school and dance company for all ages, featuring performances by local youth and also standout visiting professionals from all over. SpectorDance mentors young dancers and choreographers and assembles regular performances that interpret complex topics like the climate crisis and gang violence, appearing in a range of venues. (831) 601-8510, spectordance.org Sunkiss’d Mozart The organizers refer to the Sunkiss’d Mozart concept as “musical omakase.” In other words, you get what the performers serve. The innovative chamber music concerts take place in libraries, galleries and other nonconventional spaces. skmozart.com Sunset Cultural Center The state-of-the-art performing arts center boasts more than 700 seats embedded in Gothic architecture and incredible acoustics, two art galleries and a variety of event spaces. Comedy, lectures, theater, music and dance come from legends like Willie Nelson, Mavis Staples, Idina Menzel, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Ira Glass and David Sedaris. San Carlos and 9th, Carmel. (831) 620-2048, sunsetcenter. org The PG Meetinghouse Meetinghouse is an appropriate word here. A coffee shop during the day, it transforms into a venue for everything from local bands to open mics and trivia nights. 599 Lighthouse Ave., Pacific Grove. pgmeetinghouse.com Wave Street Studios An intimate venue hosting live music in a range of genres, plus comedy and other performances—indoors and out. There is also video recording studio space. And it’s right in the heart of the Cannery Row area. 774 Wave St., Monterey. (831) 655-2010, wavestreetstudios.com Wendi Kirby Music A lot happens here: concerts, music seminars and classes, retreats, corporate events. It’s all under the direction of renowned performer and educator Wendi Kirby. 550 Hartnell St. #F, Monterey. wendikirbymusic.com Monterey County Fair & Event Center DANIEL DREIFUSS
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