Events
What's on near our hotels.
The festivals, tournaments, races, and holiday traditions people travel for, with the Otter hotels closest to each.
Photo: WilliamFMeyer, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Event guides
Our take on the biggest upcoming weekends: what to expect, tips, and where to stay.
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Event guide · 4 min read TaylorMade Pebble Beach Invitational 2026: what to know Pros from four tours share one leaderboard at Pebble Beach, November 17 to 22, 2026. How the week works, tips for visiting, and where to stay nearby. Read the guide → -
Event guide · 5 min read AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am 2027: dates, tips, and where to stay The PGA TOUR returns to Pebble Beach February 1 to 7, 2027. Here is how the week works, how to plan a visit, and which Otter hotels put you closest. Read the guide → -
Event guide · 4 min read Big Sur International Marathon 2027: race weekend guide for runners and families The 40th Big Sur International Marathon runs April 25, 2027. Key times, road closures, spectator tips, and where to stay on the Monterey Peninsula. Read the guide → -
Event guide · 4 min read The holidays in Gilroy: North Pole Nights and the Downtown Holiday Parade Gilroy Gardens' North Pole Nights runs select evenings November 21 to December 31, and downtown's free Holiday Festival and Parade is December 5. Dates, tips, and where to stay. Read the guide → -
Event guide · 5 min read The holidays on the Monterey Peninsula: 2026 events guide Christmas in the Adobes, Pacific Grove's Holiday Parade of Lights, and monarch season. Dates, tips, and where to stay for a festive Monterey getaway. Read the guide → -
Event guide · 4 min read Sea Otter Classic 2027: a visitor's guide to the world-famous bike festival The Life Time Sea Otter Classic takes over Laguna Seca April 15 to 18, 2027. What to expect, how to plan, and the closest Otter hotels. Read the guide → -
Event guide · 4 min read Silicon Valley this holiday season: Christmas in the Park and 49ers home games San José's free Christmas in the Park runs November 27 to January 1, with four 49ers home games at Levi's Stadium in between. Dates and where to stay. Read the guide →
Dates are checked against each event's official website, listed on every card. Plans change, so confirm with the organizer before you travel.
October 2026
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Nature · Pacific Grove
Monarch butterfly season in Pacific Grove
Monarch Grove Sanctuary, 250 Ridge Road
Western monarchs overwinter in the sanctuary from about October through February. Volunteer docents explain the clusters during the season; numbers vary year to year.
Stay nearby: Cannery Row Inn, Stargazer Hotel
Official site: Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History · Our guide →
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Football · Santa Clara
San Francisco 49ers vs. Washington Commanders
· Monday Night Football, 5:15 p.m. kickoff
Levi's Stadium
A Monday night home game at Levi's Stadium. Make it a long weekend in Silicon Valley.
Stay nearby: Granada Hotel, Carlyle Hotel, Gilroy Inn
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Wine · Gilroy and Santa Clara Valley
Fall Passport Weekend in Santa Clara Valley Wine Country
· Noon to 4 or 5 p.m., varies by winery
Participating wineries from Saratoga to Gilroy
One passport, special tastings at participating wineries across the Santa Clara Valley wine trail all weekend. Build your own route.
Stay nearby: Gilroy Inn
November 2026
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Food and wine · Big Sur
Big Sur Food & Wine Festival
Venues along Highway 1 in Big Sur
Three days of chef dinners, winemaker tastings, and wine walks at Big Sur's resorts and restaurants, raising money for local nonprofits.
Stay nearby: Stargazer Hotel, Scottish Fairway Inn, Cannery Row Inn
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Running · Monterey
Monterey Bay Half Marathon
· 5K and 3K Saturday in Pacific Grove; half marathon Sunday 7 a.m.
Del Monte Avenue start, Cannery Row and the Pacific Grove shoreline
A scenic out-and-back half marathon along Cannery Row and the Pacific Grove coast, with the Pacific Grove Lighthouse 5K and By the Bay 3K the day before.
Stay nearby: Cannery Row Inn, Stargazer Hotel, El Castell Hotel
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Football · Santa Clara
San Francisco 49ers vs. Las Vegas Raiders
· 1:05 p.m. kickoff
Levi's Stadium
The Bay Area rivalry comes to Levi's Stadium on a Sunday afternoon. Expect a full house and heavy traffic, so stay close.
Stay nearby: Granada Hotel, Carlyle Hotel, Gilroy Inn
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Golf · Pebble Beach
TaylorMade Pebble Beach Invitational
Pebble Beach Resorts
A fall tournament that puts players from the PGA, LPGA, Champions, and Korn Ferry tours on the same Pebble Beach leaderboard.
Stay nearby: Stargazer Hotel, Cannery Row Inn, Scottish Fairway Inn
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Holiday · Gilroy
North Pole Nights at Gilroy Gardens
· Select evenings; see the park calendar
Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park, Hecker Pass Highway
The theme park turns into a holiday wonderland on select evenings: light displays, a 100-foot animated Tunnel of Lights, live shows, characters, and ice skating. Park admission or a membership is required.
Stay nearby: Gilroy Inn
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Running · San José
Silicon Valley Turkey Trot
· 5K and 10K start 8:30 a.m.
W. Santa Clara Street at N. First Street, downtown San José
A Thanksgiving morning 5K, 10K, and kids' fun run through downtown San José, billed by its organizers as the largest Thanksgiving Day race in the country.
Stay nearby: Carlyle Hotel, Granada Hotel, Gilroy Inn
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Holiday · San José
Christmas in the Park
· Daily, noon to 10 p.m.
Plaza de César Chávez, downtown San José
San José's free holiday tradition since the 1980s: hundreds of decorated trees, animated displays, and visits with Santa, open every day through New Year's Day.
Stay nearby: Carlyle Hotel, Granada Hotel, Gilroy Inn
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Football · Santa Clara
San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks
· 1:25 p.m. kickoff
Levi's Stadium
A division rivalry at Levi's Stadium on Thanksgiving weekend. Pair it with opening weekend of Christmas in the Park.
Stay nearby: Granada Hotel, Carlyle Hotel, Gilroy Inn
December 2026
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Holiday · Pacific Grove
Pacific Grove Holiday Parade of Lights
· 6 to 8 p.m.
Lighthouse Avenue, downtown Pacific Grove
The 23rd annual evening parade, themed "A Storybook Christmas" for 2026, with marching bands, lit floats, dance teams, and Santa. Rain or shine.
Stay nearby: Cannery Row Inn, Stargazer Hotel
Official site: Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce · Our guide →
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Holiday · Carmel-by-the-Sea
Holidays in the Park, Carmel-by-the-Sea
· 3 to 7 p.m.
Devendorf Park, Ocean Avenue and Mission Street
The city's annual holiday tree and menorah lighting celebration in Devendorf Park, in the middle of Carmel's shopping village.
Stay nearby: Stargazer Hotel, Scottish Fairway Inn, Cannery Row Inn
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Holiday · Gilroy
Downtown Gilroy Holiday Festival and Parade
· Festival 3 p.m., parade 5 p.m., tree lighting 6:30 p.m.
Downtown Gilroy, Monterey Street
A free, family-friendly afternoon downtown: Santa's Village, Grinchville, a Holiday Trail of Treats, live entertainment, the holiday parade, and the tree lighting. Rain or shine.
Stay nearby: Gilroy Inn
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Holiday · Los Gatos
Fantasy of Lights at Vasona
· Walk-through only, Dec 5, 6, 12 and 13, 4 to 9 p.m.
Vasona Lake County Park
Santa Clara County's lakeside holiday light show goes walk-through only this year, on four December nights with drone light displays. Advance tickets required.
Stay nearby: Carlyle Hotel, Granada Hotel
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Holiday · Pacific Grove
Holiday at the Inns, Pacific Grove
· 5 to 9 p.m.
Inns and historic properties across Pacific Grove
The 44th annual evening tour of Pacific Grove's inns and historic properties, decorated for the holidays and hosted by the Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce.
Stay nearby: Cannery Row Inn, Stargazer Hotel
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Holiday · Monterey
Christmas in the Adobes
· 5 to 9 p.m.
Historic Old Monterey (check-in at Custom House Plaza, Casa Gutierrez, or Stevenson House)
The 42nd annual walk through Monterey's historic adobes, lit by luminarias, with period costumes, music, and refreshments. Ticketed; youth 17 and under are free.
Stay nearby: Stargazer Hotel, Cannery Row Inn, El Castell Hotel
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Football · Santa Clara
San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Rams
· 1:25 p.m. kickoff
Levi's Stadium
A December division game at Levi's Stadium, in the middle of the holiday season in Silicon Valley.
Stay nearby: Granada Hotel, Carlyle Hotel, Gilroy Inn
January 2027
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Football · Santa Clara
San Francisco 49ers vs. Philadelphia Eagles
· 5:20 p.m. kickoff
Levi's Stadium
The final scheduled regular-season home game of the 2026 season, on a Sunday night at Levi's Stadium.
Stay nearby: Granada Hotel, Carlyle Hotel, Gilroy Inn
February 2027
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Golf · Pebble Beach
AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
· Practice rounds Feb 1 to 3, tournament rounds Feb 4 to 7
Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill Golf Course
A PGA TOUR Signature Event that pairs 80 of the world's best golfers with celebrity amateurs on two of the most famous courses in the game.
Stay nearby: Stargazer Hotel, Cannery Row Inn, Scottish Fairway Inn
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Wine · Gilroy and Morgan Hill
Barrel and Bites Weekend
· Noon to 4 p.m.
Participating Santa Clara Valley wineries (check-in at Fortino Winery, Gilroy, or Guglielmo Winery, Morgan Hill)
Barrel tastings with small bites at participating wineries along the Santa Clara Valley wine trail, with music and bottle specials at some stops. Designated driver tickets are available.
Stay nearby: Gilroy Inn
April 2027
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Food and wine · Pebble Beach
Pebble Beach Food & Wine
Pebble Beach Resorts
Four days of tastings, dinners, and demos with more than 135 chefs and 150 wineries, benefiting Monterey County youth.
Stay nearby: Stargazer Hotel, Cannery Row Inn, Scottish Fairway Inn
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Nature and family · Monterey
Whalefest Monterey
· 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Old Fisherman's Wharf and Custom House Plaza
The 17th annual free festival of marine science: dozens of nonprofit exhibits, talks by local researchers, music, and kids' activities on the wharf.
Stay nearby: Stargazer Hotel, Cannery Row Inn, El Castell Hotel
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Cycling festival · Monterey
Life Time Sea Otter Classic
· Festival 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thu to Sat, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sun
WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
One of the biggest cycling festivals in the world: mountain bike, gravel, and eMTB racing, recreational rides, a trail run, and an expo with more than 1,100 brands.
Stay nearby: Scottish Fairway Inn, Pacific Inn, El Castell Hotel, Sand Dollar Inn
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Running · Big Sur and Carmel
Big Sur International Marathon (40th running)
· Marathon starts 6:45 a.m.
Highway 1 from Big Sur Station to Carmel
The 40th running of one of the most scenic marathons anywhere, over Bixby Bridge on Highway 1, plus shorter distances. Highway 1 has major delays on race morning.
Stay nearby: Stargazer Hotel, Scottish Fairway Inn, Pacific Inn
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Motorsports · Monterey
IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship at Laguna Seca
WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
North America's top sports car series races through the famous Corkscrew, with prototypes and GT cars on track all weekend.
Stay nearby: Scottish Fairway Inn, Pacific Inn, El Castell Hotel, Sand Dollar Inn
May 2027
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Festival · Pacific Grove
Good Old Days Street Festival
· Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Lighthouse Avenue, downtown Pacific Grove
Pacific Grove's 68th annual street festival takes over downtown Lighthouse Avenue for a spring weekend.
Stay nearby: Cannery Row Inn, Stargazer Hotel
June 2027
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Golf · Pebble Beach
2027 U.S. Open Championship
Pebble Beach Golf Links
Golf's national championship returns to Pebble Beach. It is one of the busiest weeks of the year on the Peninsula, so plan and book well ahead.
Stay nearby: Stargazer Hotel, Scottish Fairway Inn, Pacific Inn, Sand Dollar Inn
July 2027
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Food festival · Gilroy
Gilroy Garlic Festival
· 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily
Hecker Pass Outdoor Events Center, 3050 Hecker Pass Highway (next to Gilroy Gardens)
Gilroy's famous celebration of garlic, founded in 1979: Gourmet Alley's flaming pans, garlic fries and calamari, a wine tent, live music, cooking demos, and arts and crafts. Tickets are good for one day.
Stay nearby: Gilroy Inn
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