Friday, December 12 and Saturday, December 13, 5-9 pm Christmas in the Adobes – This is Monterey’s beautiful celebration of the adobes decorated for the holidays. Follow the luminaria along the paths through old Monterey to envision life as it was in the early days of the city. Docents dressed in period costume explain the history of each adobe. Music and refreshments at some venues. For more information and tickets, visit www.mshpa.org/christmasintheadobes. Tickets and map can be purchased at the Pacific House Museum store off Custom House Plaza and other locations. Adults for one night pass $30; Children 17 and under are free.
Saturday, December 20, 11-2 pm – Iluminado Winter Art Market at the Monterey Museum of Art, 559 Pacific Street. Shop original artwork, jewelry, décor, beverages, and pastries for sale at the museum. In addition, the Monterey Museum of Art has FREE ADMISSION DURING THE MONTH OF DECEMBER! Visit the interactive Iluminado exhibit for shimmering visual delights, on view through January 18.
Wednesday, December 31, 2025 – First Night Monterey. Celebrate the end of the year at this annual family celebration throughout downtown. Enjoy music and over 50 performances with entertainment starting at 3 pm in the afternoon and continuing with a parade and festivities at several locations. Although many outdoor events are free, tickets are required for several, and your purchase helps support this wonderful event. More information and tickets at www.firstnightmonterey.org.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Christmas on the Wharf – Musical Groups perform weekends in December up until Dec 20. See the schedule of all events at www.montereywharf.com.
Visits with Santa on the Wharf – December Fridays 5-8, Saturdays 11-8, and Sundays 1-6 pm through December 21. Santa’s hut will be next to the Crab House Restaurant. Free Meets and Greets and photo opportunities with Santa and his elves.
A beautiful new mural depicting Monterey Bay and Cannery Row History has been produced by Chris Shake along the recreation trail behind Austino’s Restaurant at 851 Cannery Row. The colorful mural by artist Renae McCollum, depickts John Steinbeck, Kalisa Moore, and the Western Flyer boat that John Steinbeck and Doc Ricketts to to the Sea of Cortez in 1940.
Sand Bag Fill Station next to the Fire Station at 600 Pacific Street is now operational for the season. This is a self-serve station. Sand and bags are provided. Bring your own shovel.
Free Recycling Bins are available by asking at the Planning Office, main level of Colton Hall at 570 Pacific Street, or by emailing bristow@monterey.gov to arrange for a pick up.
Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is having their next training course on three consecutive Saturdays, February 7th, 14th, and 21st, 2026, from 8-5. The program instructs local citizens in a wide variety of rescue, search, emergency medical, preparedness, safety, team operations, basic fire control and community service skills. CERT members regularly respond
to assist local fire and police with storm impacts, searches for missing persons, fire scenes, evacuations and many other emergency situation CERT members become sworn Disaster Service Workers (DSW). The free training occurs in downtown Monterey. Attendance on all three days is mandatory to graduate. As these classes often fill up way in advance, Email certmonterey@gmail.com with your name, resident address, email you most commonly use, your cell and home phone numbers.
The Monterey Airport Board New VOLUNTARY Flight Curfew is from midnight to 5 am! The board voted to rescind the prior ordinances which had a curfew between 11 pm and 7 am, and had limitations to how low flights could come in.
New Zoning for R-1 Properties in Monterey. At the August 19, 2025 meeting, the City Council voted to adopt the SB9 requirements for lot splits allowing 2 units each, for a total of four, and went further to allow six units on a single lot when a unit is an affordable housing unit. They did not want to defer until the lawsuit by other Charter cities (Monterey is a charter city) is settled on appeal. In the original lawsuit, the court found that the state could not direct zoning in Charter cities. The vote was 3-2 with the mayor, Councilman Gino Garcia, and Councilwoman Dr. Kim Barber approving (District 1, most of Old Town), and Councilman Ed Smith (District 2, most eastern part of Old Town) and Jean Rasch (a slim part of Old Town on Madison) opposing.
Invitation to Wednesday and Saturday Barbecues at the American Legion. At our Old Town Neighborhood Association Meeting on Wednesday, August 20, our speaker from the American Legion wanted to be sure that we, their neighbors, are always invited to attend the Wednesday Steak Barbecues (at $15, a bargain) and the Saturday Grills of Hot Dogs/ Hamburgers (under $6). Soft drinks are reasonable and it’s a nice way to meet our veterans.
LOST AND FOUND: If you left your navy cotton jacket at the July picnic in Veterans Park, please reply to this bulletin.
Rental Registry Compliance – All rental properties must be in compliance with the city rental registry ordinance, and be registered annually.
The Monterey Public Library is now fine-free!
Annual Residential Parking Passes are available to residents of Monterey and active military for $20, good for two hours at both East and West Downtown Garages, Cannery Row Garage and the Waterfront lot. Bring proof of residency, vehicle registration and ID to Parking office, 340 Tyler Street in the East Garage. See Monterey.org/parking for more information.
City of Monterey Accepting Applications for Boards, Committees, and Commissions. For position descriptions and requirements, please go to Monterey.gov/bcc.
MIIS Student Housing Needed! Do you have an extra bedroom in your house or a local rental? Consider renting to a Middlebury Institute of International Studies (MIIS) student! The housing crisis in Monterey is deeply affecting our student population with low inventory and high prices. MIIS is reaching out to our community to form partnerships with local landlords and homeowners. For more information, go to this link: https://www.canva.com/design/DAGb0hGd1Qk/V0hDlFvuILlZKtzRyIWIcQ/view?utm_content=DAGb0hGd1Qk&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=hba13c991dc. Still have questions? Contact the MIIS Landlord Coordinator Naomi Braswell at nbraswell@middlebury.edu or at (831) 647-4120.
Free Wharf Walks by Maritime Historian Tim Thomas the first Saturday of every month from 10am to noon. Hear and experience a two hour cultural maritime history tour, with themes changing monthly. Meet at the head of Old Fisherman’s Wharf near the pink Harbor House store. Free, but advance reservations are required and can be made at monterey.gov/library/events or by calling 831-646-3933. This tour is recommended for ages 10 and up with a maximum group of 15 people.
The Presidio Museum of Monterey is open Saturdays and Sundays 10-4 pm – Learn the fascinating history of our Presidio, including the early indigenous settlers, the founding of the fort, the history during three wars, and the history of the Buffalo Soldiers. An interpretive walk with great views of the bay lead up to the Sloat Monument. You can take a short cut from Van Buren over the creek bridge to reach it from Old Town. Free. Please consider volunteering as a docent for this great museum!
Free Public Tours of Ed Ricketts Pacific Biological Laboratories Second Saturdays, 10:00-11:00 and 11:30-12:30 pm, subject to availability. Modeled after famed ecologist Ed Ricketts, “Doc” was featured prominently in John Steinbeck’s novels about Cannery Row. The Lab at 800 Cannery Row was also where the idea of the Monterey Jazz Festival was born and welcomed such prominent figures as Louis Armstrong. Reserve in advance at monterey.gov/museums or by calling 831-646-5648. Visitors are also welcome to drop by without a reservation to self-tour this historic site from 12:00-4:00 pm on the second Saturday.
Casa Serano, the historic adobe at 412 Pacific Street, is now open for free visits on Saturday and Sunday 2-4 pm. Docents can help you learn the interesting history of this adobe built in 1843, as you peruse the art and furnishings.
Old Town Neighborhood Association’s website is LIVE! Visit oldtownmonterey.org for the latest on events, issues, and to find the Historic Homes self-guided walk featuring historic homes in our Old Town neighborhood. Photos of the July 13 picnic are now posted on the social page of the website.
COMMUNITY GROUPS AND CLUBS
Are you interested in finding others with your interests? Below are some of the other local organizations that welcome new members:
American Association of University Women – This national organization promotes equity for women in the workplace and in education. In addition to supporting education through scholarships, they have book clubs, social events, monthly speakers, a Romancing the Coast monthly adventure, a hiking/walking group, and other interesting events. See http://mpb-ca.aauw.net for more information.
Monterey Civic Club – Founded in 1906, the club owns and meets monthly at the House of the Four Winds, located at 540 Calle Principal. This beautiful and historic adobe is believed to be the oldest women’s clubhouse in continuous use in the United States. Members meet the first Tuesday of each month for lunch and a social program ($25), often with a speaker of importance to members. Contact (831) 747-1072 for more information.
Gentrain Society is an organization for life-long learners. They generally meet the first and third Wednesdays from 1:30-2:30 at the Monterey Peninsula College Lecture Forum #103. Lectures are free and open to the public (except $3.00 parking fee). Topics range from drama, history, and understanding civilizations and more. Courses are also offered, along with trips organized for special events.
Native Daughters of the Golden West – founded in 1880s, for women born in California. The Monterey Junipero Parlor No 141 meets at 6:30 pm in the Casa Serrano on the second Monday of each month. An added benefit is that members can stay at the NDGW home designed by Julia Morgan on Baker Street in San Francisco. For more information, call or text Jerilynn Crivello at 831-320-2080.
Kiwanis Club of Monterey –founded in 1926, helps support community projects, scholarships, and youth groups in our community. Learn more at http://www.kiwanisclubmonterey.org or by emailing factpath-kiwanis@yahoo.com.
| Not Yet a Member of Old Town Neighborhood Association? Annual membership dues are just $20 for two adults in your household which covers the calendar year in which paid. Your dues help support social events and technical costs of website, Zoom meetings, and newsletter. Members can be renters, owners or landlords of a property in Old Town. Learn how to become a member on our website! If you have any questions, contact us! All residents living above Pacific St between the creek near Madison and the Presidio/DLI are eligible. Checks to OTNA can be mailed, along with your names, address, phone and email to our address below. Old Town Neighborhood Association P O Box 724, Monterey, CA 93942 |
This information is being shared as a service by Old Town Neighborhood Association. Information is presumed accurate, but is not guaranteed, and always subject to change. Visit our website at oldtownmonterey.org.