Summer’s home stretch is here, and August is packed with reasons to get the family out the door — from free library storytimes to a county-wide car show spectacular that turns whole downtowns into open-air museums. Here’s what’s on our radar for Monterey County families this month.
August 7 — Last Hurrah of the Summer
Free family fun with community partners and activities to celebrate the season. Where: Japanese School Park, Castroville
August 7 — Night Market 831
An evening out for the whole family (or a date night with the grandparents on duty): dinner options, sweet treats, beer and wine for the adults, local artists and makers, and live music. Where: Sand City Art Park, Sand City
August 8 — Asilomar Day in Pacific Grove
A full day at one of the coast’s most beautiful spots. Catch live music by Ricketts Folly from 2–4 PM, join a swing dance workshop from 12:45–1:45 PM, take a spin in a vintage car, and explore State Park activities plus historical items never before on display. Where: Asilomar Conference Grounds, Pacific Grove
August 12 — Music with Mary Lee
A sweet, low-key library morning for the littlest music lovers — bring your little one and enjoy music together.Where: Pacific Grove Public Library
August 19 — Paws to Read
A favorite for reluctant readers: kids practice reading aloud to a patient, attentive shelter dog courtesy of Hitchcock Animal Services. Zero judgment, all wagging tails. Where: Marina Branch Library
August 21 — Old Fashioned Campfires
A free evening of old-school camp traditions. From 5:30–6:45 PM, enjoy dinner, tortilla making, and live music; from 6:45–8:00 PM, gather ’round for camp songs, skits, and stories for all ages. Bring a picnic dinner, a lawn chair or blanket, and your favorite tortilla toppings. Where: Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park, Santa Cruz
August 29–30 — Turkish Festival in Monterey
A vibrant celebration of Turkish culture with live music, folk and belly dancing, food, drink, and art exhibits. Kids can dive into puppet making, face painting, coloring, folk dancing, and games. Where: Custom House Plaza, Monterey
August 29 — Night Hikes in Carmel Valley
For families with adventurous older kids: learn to quietly move through woodlands and meadows in search of owls, bats, and other nighttime predators. Begins at sunset. Where: Palo Corona Regional Park, Carmel Valley
Family-Friendly Car Week
Monterey Car Week takes over the Peninsula every August, and while some events come with a steep ticket price, plenty of the best viewing is free and welcoming to kids. Here’s where to catch the classics without spending a dime.
August 7 · 5:00–7:00 PM — Monterey Car Week Kickoff Historic race cars line downtown Monterey ahead of the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. Meet the drivers and enjoy live music and family activities. Alvarado Street, Monterey
August 12 · 12:00–5:00 PM — The Little Car Show A parade and display of microcars, vintage minis, and other small, quirky classics along Pacific Grove’s main street. Lighthouse Avenue, Pacific Grove
August 13 · 7:00 AM–Noon — Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance Concours entrants cruise scenic Highway 1 and county roads. Free to watch from public viewing points along the route. Pebble Beach and along the route
August 13 — Ferrari Owners Club Concours Carmel Ferraris and Italian motorcycles fill downtown Carmel streets. Free event benefiting local youth nonprofits. Downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea
August 13 · 10:00 AM–4:00 PM — Prancing Ponies Women’s Car Show A free showcase of women-owned classic, muscle, sport, and electric cars, benefiting a girls’ leadership foundation. Ocean Avenue, Carmel
August 13 · 12:00–5:00 PM — Woodies in the Woods Classic wood-paneled “woodie” wagons on display among the pines, with live music and food. Free to attend. Asilomar Conference Grounds, Pacific Grove
August 13 · 3:00–7:00 PM — BMW M Sport Event A free, family-friendly gathering of BMWs old and new, with food trucks, live entertainment, and giveaways. BMW of Monterey, Seaside
August 14 · Staging 10:00 AM–12:30 PM; Rally Drive Departs 5:00 PM — Pacific Grove Rotary Concours Auto Rally A free gathering of vintage and exotic cars lining historic downtown Pacific Grove, followed by a scenic coastal rally drive. Lighthouse Avenue and Forest Avenue, Pacific Grove
August 15 · 8:00 AM–1:30 PM — Concours d’Lemons A free, tongue-in-cheek celebration of the oddball, mundane, and truly awful of the automotive world, complete with celebrity judges — good for a laugh with the kids. Seaside City Hall, Seaside
August 15 · 11:00 AM–4:00 PM — Exotics on Broadway Free public viewing of exotic, luxury, and classic cars lining Broadway Avenue. (Note: a separate ticketed vendor/hypercar area runs alongside it this year.) Broadway Avenue, Seaside
Know of a family-friendly event we should feature? Let us know at montereybayparent.com.
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