Ranking the top 10 events of the 2015 Monterey County summer ahead.

No First City.

No tears. 

Because bacon.

And Bach.

And cowboys.

And cowgirls.

And cars.

Plus stunt planes.

And: more time to soak up the West End indie artists—for free—that same weekend when First City made everyone want to be two places at once.

Here come the top 10 happening from the next three months, the eventful backbone from a summer to remember, in order from best to bestest:

10 • Aerosmith at Salinas Sports Complex • July 10, 2015

Rock and Roll Hall of Famers led by Steven Tyler with help from the likes of Joe Perry, Brad Whitford, Tom Hamilton and Joey Kramer launch Big Week, the precursor to the California Rodeo Salinas.

Salinas Sports Complex, Salinas. $45-$95. (831) 775-3113, www.carodeo.com/events/2015/aerosmith-concert-

9 • Monterey County Fair • Sept. 2-7, 2015

The theme this year is “Farm Fresh Fun,” and the sheer amount of pristine produce and ribbon-winning livestock will honor that ably, with a stampede of live music acts, amusement rides, arts vendors, food purveyors, special exhibits and deep-fried everything, on a stick, to boot.

Monterey County Fairgrounds, Monterey. $8/adult; $4/child. (831) 372-5863, www.montereycountyfair.com

8 • Monterey Car Week • Aug. 10-16, 2015

What began with Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance now rumbles all week long with a bevy of high-society events like the The Quail Motorsports Gathering, Concorso Italiano, McCall Motorsports Gathering, the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion and many more, but there are so many world-class cars in town there is plenty of viewing to be had without the huge gate prices, including world-class clunkers at the Concours d’Lemons in Seaside.

Various locales. Free-$500+/event. www.pebblebeachconcours.net, www.montereycarweek.com/Events.html.

7 • Bach Fest • July 18-Aug. 1, 2015

Two weeks plus of the Baroque legend open with a powerful note via Handel’s “Royal Fireworks Music,” Bach’s “Sleepers Wake” and Haydn’s “Harmony Mass” followed by master classes, chamber concerts, international soloists, opera and lectures. This fest brings sexy Bach annually, this year with a Bohemian bent.

Sunset Center and various other locations. Free-$125/event. (831) 624-1521, www.bachfestival.org.

6 • California International Airshow Salinas • Sept. 26-27, 2015

Military and civilian aircraft roar through the sky in all their aerial glory and pose for closeups on the ground. The F-22 Raptor demo team leads the bill; other performers include the Patriots Jet Team, a historic World War II heavy metal flight, six North American P-51 Mustangs, the USAF Heritage Flight and the Canadian Forces CF-18 Jet Demonstration.

Salinas Municipal Airport. $10-$35. (844) 647-7469, salinasairshow.com

5 • Northern California Renaissance Faire • Sept. 19-Oct. 18, 2015 (weekends)

This annual endeavor celebrates the way Old World England redeemed a life filled with disease and darkness: with ale, sex, bloodsport, song and dance. All sorts of characters can show up, from queens and knights to pirates and fairies and bards, with plenty of kid-appropriate enjoyment to be had as well.

Casa de Fruta, Hollister. $25/day; $35/weekend; $150/festival. www.norcalrenfaire.com.

4 • California Rodeo Salinas • July 16-19, 2015

Four glorious, hard-riding and dusty days of bull riding, bronc braving, mutton busting, steer wrestling, tie-down roping, barrel racing and freestyle bullfighting carry the 105th rodeo. This year the McMillan Family Trick Riders visit too, as does Slim Garner the Rodeo Clown and “Cowboy” Kenny with his gravity-defying freestyle motocross stunts.

Salinas Sports Complex, Salinas. $7-$20. (800) 549-4989, www.carodeo.com.

3 • Big Sur International Short Film Screening Series • Thursdays June 11-Aug. 27, 2015

The 10th annual installment reminds independent cinephiles that Cannes or Sundance doesn’t enjoy this coastal cliffside setting. The jury features film and art professionals like Philip Glass, Laurie Anderson and Kirsten Dunst, who help filter a vast catalog of entries numbering in the hundreds from all over the world down to 50 of the greatest shortie viewed on a giant outdoor screen at the fabled Henry Miller, 30 miles south of Carmel on Highway 1.

Henry Miller Memorial Library. Free; donations accepted; RSVP. (831) 667-2574, henrymiller.org.

2 • Monterey BaconFest • June 27-28, 2015

Bacon cook-offs, bacon cupcakes, bacon breath mints, bacon margaritas and bacon-wrapped bacon with bacon jelly. (OK, I made the mints up.) While the original underachieved, organizers learned a lot about lines and beverage service and—much more importantly—now partner with the inspired Monterey Americana Festival, which enjoyed a stacked lineup of alt/fusion country stars its first two years. Willie's son Lukas Nelson performs before he goes on tour backing Neil Young, heading a lineup that includes Jim Lauderdale, Midnight North and The Easy Leaves.

Monterey County Fairgrounds, Monterey. $10-$60. montereyamericanafestival@gmail.com, montereybaconfest.com

1 • Monterey Jazz Festival • Sept. 18-20, 2015

Monterey’s got jazz. A lot of it. So much, in fact, that it’s only a couple notes shy of 500 artists taking one of MJF’s eight stages in a weekend. Just a handful of the 500 reasons to dig the jazz fest this year: Chick Corea, Béla Fleck, Dianne Reeves, Wynton Marsalis and Nikki Hill.

Monterey County Fairgrounds, Monterey. $45-$71/day; $135-$360/weekend pass. (831) 373-3366, www.montereyjazzfestival.org.