Holidays
Easter
Our Favorite Salt Dough Crafts for Kids
Salt dough is easy to make and requires ingredients you most likely have at home. Once you've whipped up a batch, here are our favorite fun items your kids can create. Read more
Easy Easter Crafts
Easter is almost here. This year we celebrate on April 12! Here are 4 fun Easter projects that use relatively common supplies you probably already have at home. Read more
8 Egg-citing Easter Traditions
Below are 8 ideas for Easter traditions you can try with your own kids. Pick and choose a few of them each year … and stick with the ones your family loves! Read more
Five Beautiful Easter Crafts Perfect for Decorating
Decorating for Easter is twice as much fun if you create the decorations using one or more of our pretty ideas. Depending on your threshold for a mess, you may want to let the kids help. Read more
Easter Crafts Workshops
Are you looking for Easter crafts for the kids? Here are four fun classes that kids will love. Read more
Mother's Day
Monterey Mother's Day: Military Style!
For military parents, celebrating Mother's Day and Father's Day with their children is extra special, since they know that in future years deployments or training may keep them apart during these special days. Read more
Unique Mother's Day Gifts For Mom
As much as every mom appreciates a card, some flowers, and a bit of a break on Mother’s Day, coming up with new gift ideas can be difficult. Here are ten gift ideas to show the mothers in your life some extra love on Mother’s Day. Read more
Father's Day: Celebrating Moms on this Mother's Day
Although the second Sunday in May has been designated as Mother’s Day, the appreciation should continue every day. Read more
Mother’s Day Celebrations and Gifts She’ll Treasure
Mother’s Day is just around the corner. So, this year give her the gift of your heart and time, and make it a special day she’ll treasure. Read more
Mother's Day Spa Day in Monterey County
Mothers spend the entire year giving of themselves to everyone around them. Pamper your favorite mom with a day that is all about her! Read more
Father's Day
Monterey Mother's Day: Military Style!
For military parents, celebrating Mother's Day and Father's Day with their children is extra special, since they know that in future years deployments or training may keep them apart during these special days. Read more
Talking to Children About Death
Experts recommend answering children’s questions about death directly and age-appropriately. They say to avoid euphemisms like “passed away” or, in the case of a pet, “put to sleep” for young children because those expressions confuse them. Read more
Father's Day: A Father’s Role in Protecting His Family
As a dad, I feel that my role is “protector” by keeping my kid safe in all ways. At the same time, I don’t want to give in to my fears and make my daughter think and feel that where we live and where we go are not safe places. Read more
Father's Day: Rituals and Mindsets for Back to School
Now is the time to start preparing children for the mental shift to return to school. With my kid, I have been talking up what will happen once school starts–how the start time is earlier than her current summer camp, for instance. Read more
Ten things to do with longer summer days
Here on the Central Coast, the temperatures don’t always reflect the seasons, but having the sun up in the morning and the daylight on the way home leaves me with a smile. Here are some ideas on what to do with the longer days. Read more
4th of July
4th of July in Monterey
The City of Monterey will host a full day of events for family and friends and the whole community this July 4th. Activities include a pancake breakfast, downtown parade, BBQ, Open House, baseball game, and a free concert. Read more
Fourth of July Fun in Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties
There are a variety of fun events planned for both Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties including Pancake Breakfasts, Parades, Fun Runs and, of course, FIREWORKS! Read more
4th of July Fun for Monterey County Families
It's time to plan a fun day for the 4th of July holiday! You'll find plenty of great local events to choose from in this list. For more information on each event, click the link at the end of each entry. Read more
Halloween
October Fall for Monterey Military Families
October is filled with Fall fun for the military families of Monterey. Read more
Halloween Photo Contest Winner Announced
The votes have been tabulated and the winner of the 2019 Halloween Photo Contest is . . . Read more
Vote in Our Halloween Photo Contest!
These are the finalists in our 2019 Halloween Photo Contest! You can vote for your favorite once per day, per email. Voting ends on November 8 at 5 pm. Read more
Trick or Treating for Monterey and Santa Cruz County Families
Are you looking for local trick or treat events? Here's the rundown of what's happening in Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties for Halloween, 2019. Read more
Halloween Fun for Monterey and Santa Cruz Families
Are you looking for that perfect pumpkin or the best place to take kids trick or treating? We have articles on all sorts of Halloween-related topics! Read more
2019 Monterey Bay Parent's Fall Family Fun Guide
Are you looking for events for Fall Fun in Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties? We have DOZENS for you! Read more
Monterey Bay Parent Halloween & Fall Photo Contest
Win a $100 gift certificate for Del Monte Center, Monterey in our Halloween and Fall Fun Photo Contest. Read more
Monterey County Fall Festivals 2019
It's time for apples, pumpkins, hay bales and all sorts of fall fun. Find a day of fun in our list of Fall Festivals for Monterey and Santa Cruz. Read more
Monterey and Santa Cruz Pumpkin Patches
Here are our favorite places to visit for pumpkins, animals, and some spooky fun in Monterey, Pacific Grove, Carmel, Marina, Seaside, Salinas, Watsonville, Santa Cruz, Capitola, and Aptos. Read more
Neighborhood Halloween Contests
Are you looking for some fun new ways to celebrate Halloween with your kids this year? How about a neighborhood contest? Costume contests are just one of the many options to get everyone in the spirit. Read more
Christmas
Christmas on the Wharf
Fisherman's Wharf Association is proud to sponsor and hold its “4th Annual Christmas on the Wharf” weekend festivities on Old Fisherman’s Wharf in Monterey. Read more
Sunset Center Community Party
The Sunset Center will host a Community Holiday Party on Friday, December 6, 2019, from 3-5 PM before the City of Carmel Tree Lighting Ceremony. Read more
Reduced Adoption Fees for Monterey and Salinas Animal Services
Monterey County Animal Services and the City of Salinas Animal Services have reduced adoption fees to only $25 for cats and dogs! This reduction is to help get shelter pets into homes this holiday season. Read more
Monterey firefighters help families this holiday
Your Monterey firefighters and the Pacific Grove Kiwanis are teaming up to provide presents to families in need this holiday season. Read more
Monterey and Santa Cruz Santa Visits!
Looking for Santa? In addition to these ongoing Santa visits, check our calendar for additional Santa appearances at community events throughout the month of December. Read more
New Year's
Ten Ways to Stress Less This Holiday Season
Most Americans have elevated stress levels during the holiday season. Instead of being full of good tidings and cheer, families often feel drained of time, energy and peace. Here are ten tips to help ease the stress. Read more
Hallmark Christmas Movie Schedule
It's Christmas movie time on the Hallmark channel. Christmas movies, old and new, will continue for 24 hours every day through the end of the year. Set your DVR now for your favorites. Read more
Breakfast with Friends
Free community breakfast for seniors, homeless and all with hunger needs. Read more
Apr 9, 2020
8:30 AM
Baby Time Storytime
Free storytime for little library lovers. Open to ages 0-12 months old. Stories, songs, and sign language for baby and caregiver. Held every Thursday. Read more
Apr 9, 2020
10:00 AM
Toddler Tales
Toddlers (with a favorite adult) can enjoy interactive stories, songs, and games that encourage their emerging language skills. Target audience is birth to three years old. Read more
Apr 9, 2020
10:00 AM11:00 AM
Preschool Storytime - Marina
For children aged 2-5. This program will be held in the Michelle Lang Children's Room. Any question, please call 831-883-7507. Read more
Apr 9, 2020
10:15 AM10:45 AM
Preschool Storytime - King City
Join us for stories every Thursdays at 11 am. Preschool Storytime with Phyllis is free, open to the public, and no registration is required. Read more
Apr 9, 2020
11:00 AM12:00 PM
Salinas Fatherhood Workshops
Join Papás of the Central Coast in Salinas for our Supporting Fatherhood Involvement groups! The group is free and includes dinner and childcare. Bring your kids. Read more
Apr 9, 2020
5:30 PM8:30 PM
Toddler Time
Toddler Time is a weekly program for families with children ages 0-3 years old. It includes music, movement, stories, fingerplays, rhymes, songs and fun for your child and you as well as social time with other children and their caregivers. Read more
Apr 10, 2020
10:00 AM
Makerspace4Kids - Soledad
Join us each Friday morning for a hands-on creative project that allows you to build and make in a fun learning environment where mistakes are allowed and even encouraged as we creatively explore science, technology, robotics, art, and music. Read more
Apr 10, 2020
10:00 AM12:00 PM
Bilingual Toddler Time
Bilingual Toddler Time is a free bilingual English/Spanish 30 minute program each Friday of stories, activities, and music for toddlers and preschoolers. Read more
Apr 10, 2020
10:30 AM11:30 AM
Storytime at the Big Sur Library
Come join in the family fun with stories, songs, and crafts for kids! Ages 0-5, but all are welcome. Questions? Please call 831-667-2537. Read more
Apr 10, 2020
11:30 AM12:30 PM