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Monterey Events in June 2024: Festivals, Family-Friendly Activities, & Wine Tasting
by Jill Loeffler •
Updated: June 2, 2024
My Monterey events in June calendar offers the best of what the bay area has to offer this month. It includes details for the top concerts, festivals, wine tasting celebrations, and so much more.
You will find information on things to do in Monterey, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Santa Cruz, Salinas and other towns around the bay.
Disclaimer: I receive a small commission from some of the links on this page.
Monterey Wine Festival
Dates: 6/15 & 6/16
Location: Monterey Conference Center at 1 Portola Drive
Times: 12 pm - 4 pm
Prices: Range from $79 to $99 depending on day, date and package
This two-day festival is one of the best in the area. It's a must for all food and wine lovers.
Both days features top wines from local wineries. You will also find some great picks from further north in Sonoma and Napa.
Each day has a special pairing that you will want to take full advantage of so you can combine both drink and food. On Saturday make sure to come hungry as the famous "Chowdah Challenge & Celebration" will be going on.
Sunday's celebration includes the "King of Calamari and Masters of Mussels!" event. It includes amazing seafood combined with delicious cheeses and charcuteries.
Not only will you be able to try the wines and food from this area, but you also get to taste at fun events like the "Cocktail Camp." This camp gives you the chance to taste a large amount of spirits designed by the best bartenders from around this area. A bonus to this camp is that you can learn how to make your own craft drinks.
>> Additional information and ticketing details are available on their site
Castroville Artichoke Festival
Dates: 6/8 & 6/9
Location: Monterey County Fair & Event Center at 2004 Fairground Road, Monterey
Times: Saturday 11 am - 9 pm; Sunday 11 am - 6 pm
Prices: General admission tickets for one day are $20 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under
If you love artichokes, then this festival is a must for you and your family. This annual event features a classic car show, a beautiful art gallery and a family-friendly parade. You can also sample hundreds of fun artichoke dishes.
This Monterey food event has been going on for over 6 decades and only gets better each and every year. Nearly 100% of America's artichokes come from Castroville, so this celebration is a one-of-a-kind and one of the truly special Monterey events in June.
Some of the festivities will include local chefs demonstrating their skills and showing how artichokes can be used in meals, a Kids Zone, a wine and beer garden, and loads of local musicians. You will want to check the schedules for each day as there are numerous events happening on the different stages at the same time.
>> More details and ticketing information on their site
Great Places to Stay Around the Bay
Monterey: You will find the largest selection of hotels in and around Monterey. Higher end picks include the Spindrift Inn and Portola Hotel and Spa. You will also find some more budget friendly options if you move a few additional blocks away from the waterfront. Find my top picks for all budgets here.
Carmel-By-The-Sea: This seaside town is a bit smaller, but still offers plenty of accommodations. You will find some great luxury hotels as well as several quaint bed and breakfasts. Here are my top picks for Carmel-By-The-Sea.
Pacific Grove: This small community sits just to the north west of Monterey. They offer several great places to stay including a couple of great bed and breakfast and some budget-friendly options. Find my top 5 picks here.
Are you ready to book? Make sure to check out the great options below.
TripAdvisor: Compare prices, read recent guest reviews and find a wide selection of options.
VRBO: Another option is to rent an apartment, house, or a room around Monterey through VRBO.
Monterey Rock & Rod Festival
Dates: 6/15
Location: Custom House Plaza in Downtown Monterey
Times: Saturday 10 am - 6 pm
This is one of the coolest Monterey events in June for those that love hot rock and roll and hot rods! It features about 150 classic cars, street rods and muscle cars from 1975 or before.
This year the event is only one day.
The amazing classic and custom car show will make you feel like you are a kid again, or if you are with your kids, let them feel like they grew up in the "Good Old Days."
This show only allows pre-1975 cars, trucks, muscle cars and street hot rods. Even though you can't drive them, you can enjoy them as you eat great food, listen to live music and dig on all the vendors selling their wares.
>> Visit their site for additional details
More Fun Things to Do Around Monterey Bay
In addition to all of these great Monterey events in June, make sure to spend some time checking out the area. Here are some of the top things to do this month.
Monterey Bay Aquarium: The Monterey Bay Aquarium is always worth a trip. Rated as one of the best in the world, this aquarium features thousands of plants and animals that call the nearby bay home. My favorite here is the huge Open Sea tank which is 90-feet wide and 35-feet tall.
Sunset Cruise: This 2-hour cruise offers you the best of what the Monterey Bay has to offer. Sit back and relax as you sip on white wine and enjoy a few small bites. Make sure to keep one eye on the water to watch for whales, dolphins and other animals as you wait for the sun to set on the water. This cruise runs every day of the week.
Whale Watching: The Monterey Bay area is famous for its whale watching tours. All year long, whales migrate through this area on their way north and south. It's a prime feeding area, so many stick around for a while in the waters off the coast. You will find whale watching tours available every day of the week in June. Find tickets for all dates in June.
Additional Whale Watching Tour for Your Visit
Woodies on the Wharf
Dates: 6/20 - 6/23
Location: Santa Cruz Wharf at 21 Municipal Wharf in Santa Cruz
Times: 10 am - 3:30 pm
Prices: Free
Anyone who loves classic cars will love this awesome collection of more than 200 "Woodies." These cars are pre-1950s and they have wooden bodies on top of their metal bodies.
Take your time cruising up and down the wharf and check them all out. You can also visit the stores, vendors, restaurants and more as you enjoy this wonderful show and event.
Monterey International Blues Festival
Dates: No event this year
Location: Monterey Fairgrounds at 2004 Fairground Road in Monterey
Times: 11 am - 7:30 pm
This is one of the many great Monterey events in June that features awesome music and more.
Although this event is billed as a blues festival, you will also be able to enjoy rock, funk and jazz as the bands mix their styles. There will be lots of food, artists displaying their works, and merchants. Food and drinks are also available for purchase.
The VIP package includes all kinds of cool blues memorabilia and front row seating.
>> Pick up tickets for this month's event
Nightlife Ideas for Santa Cruz
Check out top shows around Santa Cruz this June.
Japanese Cultural Fair
Dates: 6/8
Location: Santa Cruz
Prices: Free
This fair is a perfect way to learn more about the Japanese culture overall and specifically in the Santa Cruz area.
Every year, you will find lots of fun events, including dancing from different regions of Japan, Taiko drumming, martial arts demonstrations, and much more. There is a stage where you can learn about bonsai trees, tea ceremonies, and even a kimono workshop.
Make sure to visit this one of the Monterey events in June if you want to learn more about the Japanese culture from all around the world.
>> More details on this year's event
Pleasure Point Street Fair
Dates: 6/22
Location: Portola Avenue between 41st and 38th Avenues, Santa Cruz
Times: 11 am - 5 pm
Prices: Free
This is the perfect kid-friendly fair as there are loads of events for all ages.
There is a special kid's zone, a skateboard contest, and more for the young ones. The adults can check out the beer garden if they want a drink or two. Everyone can enjoy the vendors with art, crafts and other stuff for sale.
There will be live music throughout the fair ranging from rock to reggae to the classic Santa Cruz-style surf music.
Golden State Theatre in Monterey
You will find a lot of fun nightlife options at the Golden State Theatre this month in Monterey. Here is a schedule of upcoming shows. Click the ticketing links for details.
Spartan Race
Dates: 6/1 & 6/2
Location: City of Salinas
Times: Registration starts at 6 am. Racers will be released every 15 minutes.
There are 3 different levels to this weekend's Spartan race. The first being the kids races which range from 1/2 mile to 2 miles and range from 4 years old up to 14 years old.
The second is the Spartan Sprint which is about 3 to 4 miles, has 20 or so obstacles, and is a tough one.
The next level is the 8 to 10-mile race, with between 25 to 30 obstacles, and is an incredible feat of endurance and strength.
If you just want to cheer on your favorite athlete, friend, or family member, there are spectator tickets available for purchase.
>> Visit the official Spartan site for details
More Top Events Nearby
Comments? Questions? Suggestions?
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