Oystertown is proud to introduce The Espresso Bar by O-town at 281 Lighthouse Avenue in Monterey. Open Monday - Saturday, 8am-1pm. You don't have to leave your neighborhood for morning treats!

Proudly serving ACME Coffee, Red River teas, Red's...

Hideaway on Hoffman development in Monterey offers mid-term stays, not long-term leases.
by Aric Sleeper
Monterey County NOW, 07/09/26

It's that time of year again, folks! The nomination process for Monterey County Weekly's Best of Monterey County 2026 has begun.

Now through July 26, please consider nominating your friendly local businesses, people, and the Lighthouse District for the honors. The top nominees will go to the final round of voting August 6-28. It's easy: start voting here .

Gold Coast Tattoo is excited to announce that Stefan Johnsson from Paradise Tattoo in Downtown Santa Cruz is now accepting appointments at Gold Coast, located at 639 Lighthouse Avenue in Monterey.

Stefan specializes in large-scale custom work, American Traditional, Japanese, fine line, black and grey, and portrait tattooing. Text Gold Coast at 831-226-6170 to book an appointment.

Step behind the scenes of one of Monterey’s most significant preservation projects with Hidden Stewards: Documentation Photography of the Cooper-Molera Restoration by Marcia F. DeVoe at Cooper-Molera Adobe, July 9 - September 13.

Guest curated by Megan Goodwin, this exhibition showcases the photographs of the restoration of Cooper-Molera Adobe, 1976–1985. Discover the archaeology, architecture, and the often-overlooked people whose dedication helped preserve this site for future generations.

Photos from the 2026 4th of July festivities in Downtown Old Monterey are now online! View moments captured at the parade , the Colton Hall lawn party , the pancake breakfast , Cooper-Molera Adobe , and Monterey State Historic Park .

The Old Monterey Business Association, which produces the 4th of July Parade, thanks everyone who marched, sponsored, volunteered, and attended! It was a beautiful celebration of our community on the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Declaration of Independence.

Let's support Downtown's Monterey County Youth Museum , the beneficiary of a charity drawing sponsored by Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance and Mercedes-Benz. Get a ticket and you might win a beautiful 2027 Mercedes-Benz CLA 250+ electric sedan.

Tickets for the drawing are $100 each. All funds go directly to MY Museum. Reserve tickets online or call MY Museum at 831-649-6444. Drawing is on August 16.

Scoops Ice Cream Parlor introduces our Affogato Latte! It's rich espresso, creamy milk, and any flavor of ice cream...and it's pure magic.

This isn't your average coffee run, this is coffee the Scoops way. Visit us at 595 Munras Ave across from Trader Joe's. Open Mon-Thu, 1pm-10pm; Fri, 1pm-11pm; and Sat & Sun, 12pm-11pm.

The Hot Spot Studios is now open seven days a week. Our new hours are Sun-Thu, 11am-8pm, and Fri & Sat, 11am-9pm.

Come paint pottery, paint a blank canvas, create a mosaic, make a candle, design a fairy garden, or mix some slime at 458 Alvarado Street.

Reflections Elegante announces three new artists at our fine art gallery: watercolor painter Lenn Goldman, oil painter Elizabeth May, and photographer Gustavo Alejandro.

Visit us at 271 Alvarado Street and see their work. Now open Mon & Wed-Sat 11am-6pm; & Sun, 12pm-4pm.

This summer, Ad Astra Bread Co., located at 479 Alvarado Street, is open until 6pm on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Come by and enjoy our Summer Savory Menu featuring flatbreads and sandwiches those days, 12pm-6pm.

The Monterey 4th of July Parade will be live streamed by KSBW Action News 8 and also carried on C-SPAN as part of the nationwide America 250 celebrations!

Attending the parade in person would be the best way to watch the parade, but if you can't be here with us, you can follow along online starting at 10AM PDT by tuning into the KSBW live stream on YouTube or watch it on C-SPAN .

Each year, the Monterey 4th of July Parade honors our nation and celebrates our community. Like so many worthwhile things, it's a labor of love that needs help with funding.

Sponsors and partner organizations help defray the costs, but organizing and financing the parade ultimately falls to the Old Monterey Business Association. This is where we invite our community to help. If the Monterey 4th of July Parade is one of your cherished traditions, help us keep it going with your donation of any amount.

We’re excited for another great month of Summer Camps and Free Events in July! To make it easier to explore our camp offerings and free events, we’ve included direct links below!

If your child isn’t already registered or on...

You asked, and you shall receive! A variety of hacky sacks are now available at On The Beach Surf Shop. Come and get 'em at 693 Lighthouse Avenue.

Gold Coast Tattoo is excited to announce that Jeremy Lyn Kimzey from Paradise Tattoo in Santa Cruz is now accepting custom bookings at Gold Coast, located at 639 Lighthouse Ave.

Jeremy specializes in traditional tattooing, with a focus on color work that balances bright and muted tones for strong, lasting contrast. DM Jeremy or text Gold Coast at 831-226-6170 to book an appointment.

Looking for a really fun place to enjoy some FIFA World Cup games? There are big screens up at most of our restaurants and lots of very fun outdoor patio spaces where you can hang out, cheer, have a beer,...

The New Monterey Business Association welcomes The Hideaway on Hoffman , new extended stay suites located at 601 Lighthouse Avenue.

The goal is to provide guests with the perfect blend of luxury, comfort, and convenience for longer term stays on the peninsula, catering to business travelers, relocating professionals, and discerning guests seeking a sophisticated home-away-from-home. Reservations for extended stays are now available .

Fire season is here! The City of Monterey asks that you reduce the risk of wildfire by NOT using fireworks when celebrating the 4th of July.

In Monterey, you may be subject to a $1000 fine if you are caught using any type of fireworks (including those marked as "safe and sane"). Thank you for enjoying the holiday safely and responsibly.

The City of Monterey asks that you reduce the risk of wildfire by not using fireworks when celebrating the 4th of July. In the City you may be subject to a $1000 fine if you are caught using any type of fireworks (including those marked as "safe and sane"). Thank you for enjoying the holiday responsibly and safely.

Colton Hall Museum presents Old Flags of Monterey, an exhibit featuring a variety of historic and replica flags July 1-31 in celebration of America 250. The Museum, located at 570 Pacific Street, is open daily 10am-4pm, and will be open on July 4.

Included in the exhibit are several original flags, dating from the 19th century, that are seldom on public display, plus the watercolor painting of a bear by Charles Nahl, which is the basis for the current California Republic flag.

Venture Gallery presents the work of Sahar Jabr and Evelyn Klein , our featured local artists for July. Come and see how Jabr's three-dimensional felt and embroidery work integrates with Evelyn Klein's two-dimensional cyanotypes, etchings, and prints in their new collaborative exhibit entitled Intertwined .

Venture Gallery is open daily, 10am-6pm, at 260 Alvarado Street.

Manasiri's Crepes is hosting World Cup watch parties throughout the summer! Stop by, grab a bite, and watch a game with us at 321 Alvarado Street. All ages are welcome. We love the Beautiful Game and want to share the fun with you.

Manasiri's Crepes is open Sun-Thu, 8am-8pm, and Fri & Sat 8am-10pm.

Thank you to Monterey's newest 4th of July Parade business and organization sponsors!

Big Sur Marathon Foundation
Camba Jackman Family
Eugene Ganeles, CPA
Montage Health
Monterey Commercial Property Owners Association
Om Studios
Portola Hotel & Spa
Trader Joe's
West Coast Community Bank

Learn how your business can become a sponsor.

Since 1985, people in the United States have celebrated Park and Recreation Month in July to promote building strong, vibrant and resilient communities through the power of parks and recreation and to recognize the more than 160,000 full-time park...