Events
Landmarks |
The PG
Chamber of Commerce is a good place to find out about local events
and landmarks. |
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Events |
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AT&T
Pro Am
Late January-Early February
The AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am is a 72-hole PGA Tour
championship tournament played on Pebble Beach, Spyglass Hill,
and Poppy Hills golf courses in neighboring Pebble Beach.
British Car Meet
May
Display and exhibit in downtown of more than 200 British cars
and car-related vendors, with proceeds benefiting local charities.
Contact the Chamber
of Commerce via e-mail at chamber@pacificgrove.org
or call (831) 373-3304 for more info.
Butterfly
parade along Lighthouse Avenue
Butterfly Parade
Early October
Local kindergarten children dress as Monarchs and welcome the
returning insects. Older elementary school kids also join in
and welcome the returning Monarch Butterflies to their winter
home. The parade is followed by a Butterfly Bazaar at Robert Down School:
(831) 646-6540.
View vintage photos
of a parade c. 1955.
Animated soldier
is part of the annual Candy Cane Lane Christmas decorations.
Candy Cane Lane
December
The area surrounding Platt Park off of Forest Avenue becomes
a winter wonderland, with Christmas decorations galore. Contact
the Chamber of Commerce
via e-mail at chamber@pacificgrove.org
or call (831) 373-3304 for more info.
Seven
Gables Bed and Breakfast is one of the many local inns involved
in Christmas at the Inns.
Christmas at the Inns
December
Bed and breakfast inns decorated for the holiday in Victorian
splendor are open for ticket holders. Entertainment and refreshments
served. Contact the Chamber
of Commerce via e-mail at chamber@pacificgrove.org
or call (831) 373-3304 for more info and tickets.
Christmas Tree Lighting
Ceremony
November
Festivities at Jewell Park. Live entertainment and a visit from
Santa and caroling at Chautauqua Hall. Contact the Chamber
of Commerce via e-mail at chamber@pacificgrove.org
or call (831) 373-3304 for more info.
During
Feast of Lanterns, PG establishments decorate their windows (this
is a beauty salon on Grand Avenue).
Feast
of Lanterns
End of July
This week-long Pacific Grove tradition began in 1905 as a closing
celebration for the yearly Chautauqua meetings.
The festival includes a Fun Track Meet for all ages, a street
dance that features several local groups, a children's pet parade,
and salad extravaganza. The culmination is a pageant on Saturday
at Lovers Point Park that tells the story depicted on blue willow
china in an uniquely Pagrovian way. The pageant stars a bevy
of mineral-named
princesses and their queen, Topaz. It traditionally ends in a
fireworks display. Call (831) 649-8737 for more info.
Tel: 831.655.5229
Fax: 831.655.5228
Anti-alcohol
protesters at Good Old Days' beer garden.
Good
Old Days
Early April
Parade, over 225 arts & crafts exhibitors, police officers'
motorcycle competition and drill team, and other contests, live
entertainment: Contact the Chamber
of Commerce via e-mail at chamber@pacificgrove.org
or call (831) 373-3304 for more info.
Marching Band Festival
November
Approximately 30 high school bands compete in marching and field
competitions. Sponsored by Pacific Grove High School Music Program:
(831) 646-6595.
Stillwell's Snow in the Park
December
Caledonia Park. Holiday carols, hayrides, and entertainment:
Contact the Chamber
of Commerce via e-mail at chamber@pacificgrove.org
or call
(831) 373-3304 for information.
Taste
of PG
February
PG restaurants donate samples of their menus, and more than 12
vineyards provide the wine at an elegant setting at the Inn at
Spanish Bay. Proceeds benefit classroom activities in the Pacific
Grove Unified School District. $45.00 per person. Sponsored by
P.G. PRIDE:
(831) 642-4943.
Local
homes are featured in the annual Victorian Home Tour.
Victorian Home Tour
October
A tour of prime and selected Victorian homes, bed & breakfast
inns, and churches. Hostesses dressed in Victorian era provide
a history of each location. Co-sponsored by the Chamber
of Commerce, Pacific Grove Art Center, and the Heritage
Society. Contact the Chamber of Commerce via e-mail at chamber@pacificgrove.org
or call (831) 373-3304 for information.
Wildflower Show
Mid-April
Through the efforts of the Monterey
Chapter of the California Native Plant Society. Over
500 species, varieties, lesser taxae of local flora on exhibit
at Pacific Grove Museum
of Natural History. |
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Landmarks |
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Asilomar
Conference Center and State Beach |
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Chautauqua Hall
16th Street & Central Avenue
Since 1881, this has been the vital center of the community.
Originally built to house the tents from the annual summer Methodist
retreats and Chautauquas, this wooden structure is maintained
by the city Recreation
Department, who sponsors dance and exercise classes here.
In 1970, the building became California Landmark #839.
Chautauqua Hall sits next to Elmarie
Dyke Open Space. |
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Crespi Pond
Oceanview Blvd., just west of Asilomar
Avenue |
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Crespi Pond,
with Point Pinos Lighthouse behind and to the left.
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This small freshwater
pond and the nearby cypress attract avian rarities.It is located
on the golf course. The pond is named for Father Crespi, a pupil
of Father Serra.
See Don Bain's
panoramic
view of Crespi Pond.
See Don
Roberson's page on identifying the geese at Crespi Pond. |
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El
Carmelo Cemetery
65 Asilomar Avenue |
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Deer grazing
at El Carmelo Cemetery.
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Run by the city of Pacific Grove
since 1948, many of the town's founders and historical figures
are buried here.
The municipal
golf links envelop the cemetery, and balls can go astray.
Steinbeck's sister is buried here, and he used
the locale in several of his books. |
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Kissing Rock
Oceanview Blvd. across
from Esplanade Park |
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"Kissing"
or "Arch" Rock, Oceanview Blvd. at Esplanade Park
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The Pacific Grove Museum of Natural
History has several images of the rock c. 1900 in their collection.
Click here
and scroll down to see some of these early images taken by Pacific
Grove photographer C.K. Tuttle. |
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Lovers
Point
Lovers
Point Park & Beach
Oceanview Blvd. near Forest Avenue
Although not named for the "Lovers of Jesus" as so
often told in PG lore, this park area is a favorite area for
visitors as well as residents. It offers sweeping panoramas of
Monterey Bay, a large lawn area, sand volleyball court, toddlers'
swimming pool, sandy protected beaches, concrete pier structure,
snack bar, and kayak and bicycle concessions. |
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Monarch Grove Sanctuary
From Lighthouse Avenue,
turn onto Ridge Road (by the Butterfly Grove Inn), and follow
the easement into the sanctuary.
This area has historically been an over-wintering site for the
Monarch Butterflies. It was purchased by the city in August 1992
after bond measure G was passed by the voters.It is now protected
as open space and butterfly habitat by the city and the State
of California. Friends of the Monarchs, in cooperation with the
Monarch docent program at the PG Museum of Natural History, provide
trained interpreters in the sanctuary during peak butterfly time.
This is generally from October through March.
Visit 93950.com's
Monarch page.
John Steinbeck
refers to the Monarchs in Sweet Thursday.
The PG Museum provides
Monarch information on its site.
Check out the web site of Friends
of the Monarchs |
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Can't visit Pacific Grove?
Then enjoy the Cyber
Monarch experience.
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Point Pinos Lighthouse in the
1930s
looked much like it does today. |
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Point Pinos Lighthouse
Two blocks north of Lighthouse
Avenue, on Asilomar Avenue
Built in the 1850s, this is the oldest continuously operating
lighthouse on the West Coast.
Flag
raising at Point Pinos Lighthouse
The Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History maintains webpages
with many
images of the Point Pinos Lighthouse.
The National Park Service's National
Maritime Initiative Point Pinos lighthouse page
Managed as a historical museum
by the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History. Visit the Museum's page, and click
on the lighthouse link.
John Steinbeck
mentioned the lighthouse in a number of his works. |