First Night Monterey is downtown Monterey’s big New Year’s Eve bash – nine hours of art and music that begins with Kids’ Night Out at 3pm and goes all the way until 2024 arrives at midnight.
Friday, Dec. 29 – Saturday Dec. 30
Scroogelesque Christmas
Scroogelesque: A Burlesque Christmas Tail is a tassel-twirling adaptation of the beloved tale, A Christmas Carol, featuring burlesque by the Carmel Delights Dance Company and a host of guest artists. The show stars Cody Moore and Proprietrix as Scrooge and the Ghost of Christmas Past. Featured guest performers include Bomb Pop, Coco Quetzal, Gochu Hung, Rogue Roulette and Razz Vio. The featured performer is Rawlee Anne Rock, a Los Angeles-based variety performer and contortionist. Come early to get a good seat; the shows start promptly at 9pm and 11:30pm. [AP]
8:30pm Friday, Dec. 29 and 11pm Saturday, Dec. 30. Pearl Hour, 214 Lighthouse Ave., Monterey. $20. 657-9447, pearlhour.com.
Saturday, Dec. 30
Kwanzaa Revival
The Salinas Juneteenth Coalition does much more than sponsor a Juneteenth celebration – year-round, they host events celebrating Black culture. This year’s Kwanzaa celebration is no exception. Expect performer/dancer Tiye Garrett of Kuumba accompanied by drummers; arts and crafts activities; and remarks from Sharolyn Robinson, a former president of the Black Student Union at Hartnell College, who speaks about the principles and history of Kwanzaa. The holiday (which means “first fruits” in Swahili) is a celebration of African American culture, and this gathering emphasizes themes of hope and unity. Learn about and participate in some of the spirit of joy at this event, which coincides with the farmers market. “We are trying to provide spaces for people to come together and celebrate – and remind people there is a Black presence in Salinas. Everybody is welcome. Come and join us, celebrate with us,” says Kendra Cabrera, a member of the Salinas Juneteenth Celebration Association. [SR]
Noon-2pm Saturday, Dec. 30. Outside of Heirloom Pizza, 344 Main St., Salinas. Free. salinasjuneteenth@gmail.com, salinasjuneteenth.com.
Live Steam
You’ve never heard of Chip Davis? Geez – the guy’s albums struck gold 19 times, and he has 12 platinum. And it’s Davis who sets the soundtrack of the season, with 31.5 million albums of holiday music sold. Elvis? A paltry 17 million. Blue Christmas, indeed. But we’re willing to let you off the hook, because the reason he’s not a household name is because he wraps his identity into Mannheim Steamroller. The powerful ensemble takes Christmas classics and gives them an orchestral rock stadium show thrust. It’s as if Led Zeppelin, The Who and Mozart collaborated on a concert tour. Davis got the ball steamrolling. And they bring this multimedia magic to Sunset Center for two shows. [DF]
2pm and 7pm Saturday, Dec. 30. Sunset Center, San Carlos and 9th, Carmel. $75-$135. 620-2048, sunsetcenter.org.
Mannheim Steamroller’s renowned annual Christmas concert rolls into the Sunset Center on Saturday, Dec. 30, closing out the year in Carmel’s largest venue.
Fjord the Love of Dance
End 2023 with a whirl by learning a few new dance steps at the New Year’s Eve-Eve Contra Dance and Norwegian dance workshop led by Elizabeth, Mattias and Hans Gaver of the group Feleboga (“Fiddle Bows”), visiting from Norway. The family band has played festivals all over Europe, Iceland and the U.S. They’re coming to Monterey to lead an evening of contra dance, sponsored by the Monterey Country Dance Community. No prior dance experience is necessary and you don’t need to bring a partner. The workshop is followed by an optional potluck dinner, then a contra-beginners orientation. Follow that with a few hours of dancing the night away to some spirited music. [PM]
4-10pm Saturday, Dec. 30. Dance workshop from 4-6pm; potluck dinner 6-6:30pm; orientation 6:40pm; contra dancing from 7-10pm. YMCA of the Monterey Peninsula, 600 Camino El Estero, Monterey. $12/general; $5/students and active military with ID; free/children ages 12 and under. montereycontradance.org.
Sunday, Dec. 31
Twelve O’Clock Somewhere
The countdown. The anticipation as the ball drops. Then the stroke of 12. Noisemakers blare, party hats and streamers fly. People cheer and carry on. And then they head back into the daylight, perhaps for a little lunch. Yes, it’s the Noon Year’s Celebration at MY Museum – all the festivities of a New Year’s party, but much more family friendly. And it allows the kids to welcome 2024 without having to stay up until midnight (and the parents to head home from a party without knocking back a preemptive Alka-Seltzer). Reservations are required for this popular fete. [DF]
10am-noon Sunday, Dec. 31. MY Museum, 425 Washington St., Monterey. $20; $10/ members. 649-6444, mymuseum.org.
A Christmas Carol, but make it burlesque. That’s what the dancers of Carmel Delights (and guests) are bringing to Pearl Hour. Don’t miss the show.
History and Culture
Life coach and author Glodean Champion, the Black Leaders and Allies Collaborative and the Juneteenth Coalition are teaming up to bring a special Kwanzaa celebration to Monterey. Kwanzaa is a week-long celebration – based on African harvest traditions – that, this year, runs Tuesday, Dec. 26 through Monday, Jan. 1, 2024. It culminates, typically on the sixth day, with a feast called Karamu – and that’s what you’re invited to partake in. The meal is potluck style and open to all. Bring a dish and get ready to dive into conversation with neighbors and new friends. [TCL]
6:30-8:30pm Sunday, Dec. 31. Monterey History & Art at Stanton Center, 5 Custom House Plaza, Monterey. $25. eventbrite.com/e/celebrating-kwanzaa-celebrating-community-tickets-773489557087.
On the Town
Every Dec. 31, downtown Monterey comes alive with more art and entertainment than any one person can take in. First Night Monterey, which premiered in 1992, is a family-friendly, alcohol-free event with stages along numerous streets in downtown, and also includes performances indoors at Golden State Theatre and Monterey’s Conference Center. The event features music of genres spanning the spectrum, dance, spoken word and youth performances. It’s nine straight hours of arts in action. For a full schedule, see p. 24. [DS]
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