Thursday, July 2
Open the Doors
Tribute bands are big business these days, with just about every major band and artist from decades past represented by musicians dedicated to bringing beloved hits to life. Add to the long list of successful tribute bands The Ultimate Doors, considered one of the most authentic Doors tribute bands in the nation. This band commits to the premise, using period-correct instruments and vintage gear to create a sound faithful to the originals. Fans of The Ultimate Doors say it’s the closest thing to experiencing Jim Morrison and his iconic band as you can get today. [PM]
8pm Thursday, July 2. Golden State Theatre, 417 Alvarado St., Monterey. $38-$61. (831) 649-1070, goldenstatetheatre.com.
Friday, July 3
Third Place
What’s red and white and goes boom? Yes, a stick of dynamite. But Red, White & Boom is also a pool party at the Carmel Mission Inn to welcome the Fourth of July with a bang. There is pizza in the afternoon, barbecue and the Shearwater Tavern menu – all for purchase – along with games and a lineup of live music that goes on into the night. Oh, and to give the party a real splash, the pool is open to all, BYOT (that’s bring your own towel). As a bonus, all this fun takes place a day early, so you can party again on the fourth. That’s dy-no-mite! [DF]
1-10pm Friday, July 3. Carmel Mission Inn, 3665 Rio Road, Carmel. Free to attend. (831) 624-1841, carmelmissioninn.com.
Friday, July 3-Sunday, July 5
Classic Collab
With faculty members that are masters of composition and virtuosos of their given instruments, whether it’s violin, cello, clarinet or piano, those who made the cut to participate in the 2026 Emerging Composer Intensive at Hidden Valley Music Seminars are poised to sharpen their skills. Although the intensive part is meant to hone the musical abilities of the participants, the public reaps the rewards as the week of seminars, open rehearsals and concerts are free and open to all spectators. For those that want to see the culmination of the program, the final concerts are also free to the public and feature a reception where concertgoers can pick the brains of the emerging composers. [AS]
7pm Friday, July 3; 3pm Sunday, July 5. Hidden Valley Institute of Performing Arts, 104 W. Carmel Valley Road. Free. (831) 659-3115, hiddenvalleymusic.org.
Saturday, July 4
Independence Cakes
Monterey’s Fourth of July celebration starts early, with a pancake breakfast at Fire Station #11 ($17; sold out). Monterey firefighters will set aside their hoses and drop fire gear for aprons and spatulas to make fluffy cakes, with proceeds benefiting MY Museum. Join the parade that starts at 10am at the corner of Alvarado and Pearl streets. Backyard Food Fest will last from 11am-4:30pm on the Colton Hall lawn, featuring food for sale and live music performances. During the same time, Living History Day will be taking place at the Memory Garden behind the Pacific House, with 19th-century games and rope making. Cooper-Molera Adobe hosts a Stars, Stripes & Stories event with storytelling and family crafts from noon-4pm. Expect live entertainment, stilt walkers and taffy from Uncle Sam during the annual Fourth on the Wharf. [CJ; AP]
7:30am-4pm Saturday, July 4. Various locations downtown Monterey. Free. (831) 646-3799, monterey.gov.
King’s Heritage
This community celebration brings together the best of South Monterey County’s history, agriculture and small-town traditions in one of the region’s most beautiful parks. King City will celebrate the Fourth with an annual Chamber of Commerce parade, followed by an afternoon of festivities at San Lorenzo Park, where the Valley Heritage Days event returns with cars, tractors and family fun (11am-4pm). Spend the day exploring museum exhibits, strolling beneath towering eucalyptus and oak trees, and enjoying activities for all ages. Highlights include a car show, an antique show, kid zone, a quilt show, community performances, food vendors, local artisans and competitions. The parade begins at 10:30am, traveling down Broadway from 2nd Street to San Lorenzo Park, where more festivities await. [AP]
10:30am-5pm Saturday, July 4. San Lorenzo Park, 1160 Broadway St., King City. Free. (831) 385-8020, tinyurl.com/KingCityFourth2026.
Back to the Future
The City of Seaside is hosting its annual Red, White & Blues Celebration. This free, family-friendly event features live music, food vendors, a petting zoo, a bounce house and a special unveiling of a 1976 time capsule at 2pm. Headlining performances by blues artists, including Coco Montoya, John “Broadway” Tucker Revue and Liquid Sky, a Jimi Hendrix tribute. Free hot dogs will be available for kids. Local singers are invited to apply to perform patriotic favorites at the event. A watermelon eating contest will also be held, with age categories. No fireworks, alcohol, drugs, barbecues or dogs are permitted. [AP]
11am-4pm Saturday, July 4. City Hall lawn, 440 Harcourt Ave., Seaside. Free. (831) 899-6809, tinyurl.com/SeasideFourth2026.
PG Reads the Declaration
The Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce is hosting a community celebration for the 250th Independence Day. Hear a live reading of the Declaration of Independence from the Rotary Club of Pacific Grove, followed by the Monterey Peninsula Voices choir singing the National Anthem and a medley of military anthems. There’s also live music and a beer garden. The Youth Ambassadors of Pacific Grove host kids activities, face painting and a barbecue. [AP]
11am-3pm Saturday, July 4. Jewell Park, corner of Central and Grand avenues, Pacific Grove. Free. (831) 373-3304, pacificgrove.org.
Dressed for the Fourth
Soledad, please note there will be no parade or fireworks this year, but plenty of fun. Instead, the City invites the community to a free, family-friendly Fourth of July celebration, including live music performances (King Bee Blues Music and Banda Raza de Rancho), food vendors, games and prizes – even a best-dressed patriotic contest to amuse and inspire your fellow countrymen. [AP]
Noon-6pm Saturday, July 4. Soledad Little League Park, corner of Andalucia Drive and North Street. Free. (831) 223-5000, facebook.com/TheCityofSoledad.
Carmel Pops
The Monterey County Pops! orchestra will be in Carmel with a free public concert of popular and patriotic music on the lawn. This festive day celebrates the issuance of the Declaration of Independence with a concert starting at 2pm. The special guest is vocal soloist Jorge Torres, who grew up in Salinas and attended Salinas High School. He is the director of choral activities at Soquel High School and Santa Cruz High School. The program includes themes from musical theater and movies, Dixieland favorites, traditional Americana and marches by John Philip Sousa and Henry Filmore. Bring lawn chairs and picnics. [AP]
Noon-3pm Saturday, July 4. Devendorf Park, Ocean and Junipero avenues, Carmel. Free. (831) 620-2020, montereycountypops.org.
Marina on the Block
Advertised as Marina’s biggest summer celebration, this family-friendly Block Party features live music, food vendors and kids’ activities like inflatables, face painting and a rock wall in celebration of the Fourth. Sensory Tribe, The Sol Band, as well as Shannon and the Night Divers play in a live music lineup. For those 21 and over, there will be craft brews and other refreshing adult beverages a lively beer and wine garden. [AP]
3-8:30pm Saturday, July 4. Marina Airport, 3240 Imjin Road, Marina. Free. (831) 884-1278, cityofmarina.org/1464/July-4th-Block-Party.
Big Bang
For 250 years, Americans have been sorting out the best way to govern a pluralistic society. Whatever your review along that journey of progress or room for improvement, every Fourth of July presents a meaningful opportunity to come together, reflect and celebrate. Compass Church hosts a grand party with the county’s largest fireworks show (the Salinas Sports Complex offers excellent stadium-style viewing). The family-friendly festivities start at 3pm with bounce houses, games and rides. A patriotic service begins at 7:30pm, featuring musical performances including pianist/composer John Wineglass, and a ceremony honoring veterans and members of the military. A drone and fireworks show lights up the night sky to top it off. Happy birthday, America. [SR]
3-9:30pm Saturday, July 4. Salinas Sports Complex, 1034 N. Main St., Salinas. Free. (831) 422-7811, carodeo.com.
Big Sur View
Since Highway 1 reopened, several Southern Californians have come up to marvel at the spectacular beauty of Big Sur. Residents have differing thoughts about that, but one set of Los Angelinos that we’re happy to see come up is psych rock group Windows. Whether or not they’re going to drive up the windy coastline to get to Fernwood Resort for their show is up to them, but locals know it’s worth it. On a similar note, if you’re the type who foregoes fireworks in the sky for ones in your heart, then this is the performance you’ll want to be at. [SC]
10pm Saturday, July 4. Fernwood Resort, 47200 Highway 1, Big Sur. Free. Ages 21+. (831) 667-2422, fernwoodbigsur.com.
Monday, July 6
Go Bach
The Carmel Bach Festival officially begins on July 11 and runs for a few weeks. But let’s face it, there’s no way to cram all that great classical music into that short of a span. Fortunately, organizers have come up with a pre-festival event. Grammy-nominated countertenor Reginald Mobley performs a recital of baroque, classical and modern music to prepare us for what’s to come. And if, like some of us, you assume that countertenor is the villainous arch-enemy of tenors, it’s not like that at all. Mobley’s ability to extend into the contralto and mezzo-soprano range has impressed music critics nationwide. That’s a heady way to kick off Bach Fest. In addition to the July 6 concert, is the series titled In the Stacks, comprising free 3pm library concerts – in Monterey (July 3) and Marina (July 5). Masterclasses, also open to the public, are on July 3, 6, 7, 9 at Carmel Presbyterian Church. [DF]
7:30pm Monday, July 6. All Saints Episcopal Church, Dolores and 9th, Carmel. $45-$55. (831) 624-1521, bachfestival.org.
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