Hot Picks 10.12.23

Thursday, Oct. 12-Sunday, Oct. 15

Fall Fun

California Rodeo Salinas is once again bringing a long weekend of family fun to the Salinas Sports Complex with the return of the Fall Round Up Festival, which debuted last year. The festivities include carnival rides and games, a pumpkin patch (with pumpkins available to buy and paint), food, live music, a daily costume contest and more (but no rodeo). Unlimited-ride wristbands are available to purchase for $40, or you can buy tickets for individual rides at the carnival. Parking is free and a clear-bag policy will be in effect. [RM]

4-10pm Thursday, Oct. 12 and Friday, Oct. 13; noon-10pm Saturday, Oct. 14; noon-6pm Sunday, Oct. 15. Salinas Sports Complex, 1034 N. Main St., Salinas. $12; $7/children ages 2-12; free/children under 2. 775-3100, carodeo.com/events/2023/fall-round-up.

Friday, Oct. 13

Poetic History

This year’s Tor House Foundation’s Fall Festival celebrates the life and work of 20th-century poet Robinson Jeffers, and his lasting legacy. It kicks off with poetry readings, music and wine at a sunset celebration at Tor House on Friday ($25), then a program of talks, a film and panel discussion on Saturday at the Carmel Woman’s Club (free), followed by a reception and dinner at the Monterey Conference Center ($75). The daytime program on Saturday focuses on “The Poet in a Democracy,” the theme of a talk Jeffers gave at the Library of Congress in 1941. A panel discussion features Rick Applegate, Rachelle Escamilla and the Weekly’s own Sara Rubin. The evening reception features Youth Music Monterey and keynote speaker poet Elliot Ruchowitz-Roberts, president of Tor House Foundation. A guided poetry walk on Sunday to Carmel River State Beach wraps up the weekend. Sunday admission is also free. [AP]

5-7pm Friday Oct. 13, 9am-9pm Saturday, Oct. 14 and 9am-2pm on Sunday, Oct 15. Various locations. All event package: $100. 624-1813, torhouse.org.

Friday, Oct. 13-Sunday, Oct. 15

Put a Bird On It

Take a moment to stand still, pause and look up and listen. Birding presents a glorious invitation to immerse yourself in nature and connect to the animal kingdom. Whether you’re into nighttime hunters (owls) or you prefer the early morning chorus of chirping, the three-day Monterey Bay Festival of Birds has an event for you. A series of workshops bring participants, from amateurs to experts, into the field. All you need is a little bit of curiosity to experience fun and learning at events like a raptor presentation at Palo Corona Regional Park in Carmel (2-4pm Sunday, free) or bilingual, family-friendly guided nature walk at Ramsay Park in Watsonville (10am-noon Saturday, free). Practice field sketching from 8-10am Friday at Lovers Point in Pacific Grove, and if you’re not too squeamish, take a guided walk on Del Monte Beach in Monterey to learn bird anatomy – from the dead ones – from 2-4:30pm. You can also test your knowledge of bird facts at a trivia night at 7pm Friday at The Slough Brewing Collective in Watsonville. Win or lose, we can all raise a glass to our feathered friends. [SR]

Various times Friday, Oct. 13-Sunday, Oct. 15. Various locations from Carmel to Moss Landing to Watsonville. Some events are free; ticketed events are $45/three activities or $100/unlimited pass. jess@birdschoolproject.org, birdschoolproject.org/festival.

Saturday Oct. 14

East Meets West

For the Chinese immigrants who sailed to California during the gold rush in search of that precious metal, the cards were stacked against them – even if they discovered and staked out a profitable claim, they were typically forced off of it by white men. Some of the Chinese who became disillusioned by this dynamic came to the Monterey Peninsula in the early 1850s and found a valuable resource for which, initially, they had no competition: seafood. It was the Chinese who founded the local fishing industry, and their success eventually drew the attention of white men and a racial backlash that led to arsonists burning down the Chinese fishing village in Pacific Grove in 1906. Chinese, and their culture, have been in California nearly as long as it’s been a part of America, and the country has become much richer for it. This Saturday at Custom House Plaza, the Monterey Bay Chinese Association is hosting its fifth Chinese Cultural Festival to celebrate that contribution, and to showcase some of the things that make Chinese culture so rich: There will be traditional dances – dragon, lion and waist drum, among others – and 20 booths showcasing things like painting and calligraphy, Chinese food, games like mahjong and go, and visitors can even get their own Chinese name. [DS]

11am-3pm Saturday, Oct. 14. Custom House Plaza, Monterey. Free.

Pride power

There’s lots to be proud of for the Salinas Valley’s LGBTQ+ residents and allies. This 13th annual celebration is an invitation to celebrate – and also learn and tap into useful resources, like rapid HIV and Hepatitis C testing, get MPX and flu vaccines and more. As for the fun part: Expect live music, dance (the Luna Dance Collective performs at 11:30am), a drag show (2pm) and an opportunity for audience participation – those interested in bringing out their inner drag queen can participate in the Salad Slay: The Freshest Drag Competition, and win $250 (for ages 15 and up, 1:30pm). Expect to hear from local leaders, and also get the latest on a new online LGBTQ+ business directory, which launches at 11:15am. Drop by, or spend all day; bring a blanket and sunscreen to post up on the grass if you’d like. No alcohol is permitted. [CJ]

11am-3pm Saturday, Oct. 14. Central Park, 420 Central Ave. Salinas. Free. salinasvalleypride.com.

Sunday, Oct. 15

The Room Where it Happened

What was the birth of the state of California like? You don’t have to imagine it, you can live it in downtown Monterey, walking across the very wood floors of Colton Hall that 48 delegates trod as they debated and crafted California’s inaugural constitution in 1849. It was the state’s first constitutional convention, lasting 43 days, from Sept. 1 to Oct. 13. California officially became a state about a year later, on Sept. 9, 1850. The City of Monterey owns the historic building constructed by Walter Colton, the city’s first alcalde – a sort of mash-up of mayor, judge and tax collector. Colton used fines, taxes and jail inmate labor to construct the two-story hall, which at the time was the largest city building west of the Rockies. The Monterey Museums & Cultural Arts Division is hosting a live reenactment of the convention, with performers reciting actual excerpts from the debates in the same room they occurred 174 years ago. Registration is recommended as seating is limited. [PM]

2-4pm Sunday, Oct. 15. Colton Hall, 570 Pacific St., Monterey. Free; register at montereypl.libcal.com. 646-5648, museumpt@monterey.org.

Through Oct. 31

Oh, The Horror

There’s a reason this campy, sexy, funny musical is a cult classic. The mad scientist Dr. Frank-N-Furter is the same murderous person as he was in the original 1970s production, perfect for Halloween vibes (and midnight showings). But his bloodthirsty intentions are tempered by hit songs that never get old. Tunes like “Time Warp” and “Sweet Transvestite” are a delight in live performance – and also part of our cultural fabric. Year after year, the cast and crew at Paper Wing gives this iconic play their all, so audiences can experience The Rocky Horror Show!, and all of the laughs, live. [SR]

8pm Fridays, 8pm and midnight Saturdays, Oct. 13-31; additional midnight showing on Halloween. Paper Wing Theatre, 711 Cannery Row, Monterey. $35. 905-5684, paperwing.com.

HOT PICKS by Tajha Chappellet-Lanier, Dave Faries, Celia Jiménez, Pam Marino, Rey Mashayekhi, Agata Popęda, Sara Rubin and David Schmalz.