May
24
2013
California Roots Music & Arts Festival
May. 24-May. 26
The 4th annual California Roots Music and Arts Festival is a three-day event packed…more
May
25
2013
2nd Annual Great Monterey Clam Chowder & Calamari Festival
May. 25-May. 27
This Memorial Day Weekend, May 25th, 26th and 27th, the Custom House Plaza at Old…more
Jun
2
2013
Cannery Row Block Party
Jun. 2
This annual event is a crowd-pleaser includes continuous live music, live animals,…more
Jun
7
2013
Monterey Wine Festival
Jun. 7-Jun. 8
With hundreds of wines offered for tasting, wine lovers will lfind an embarrassment…more
Jun
8
2013
Carmel Valley Art & Wine Celebration
Jun. 8
The Art & Wine Celebration will showcase over 60 artists, local wines and…more
Jun
15
2013
Monterey Beer Festival
Jun. 15
Come join us for the greatest assortment of beer ever assembled on the Central…more
Monterey Cowboy Poetry & Music Festival
December 13 - December 15, 2013
This page has all the events that took place in 2012. Bookmark this page and return to get information about 2013's events!
For fourteen years, cowboys, cowgirls and their fans have been gathering in Monterey, the place where the Old West began, for the country's greatest "ode-down": the Monterey Cowboy Poetry & Music Festival, from November 30 through December 2!
The Festival provides guests with three days of the finest in cowboy arts. You'll hear everything from musical performances to storytelling and live poetry, get the chance to bid in a live auction, and be able to pick up plenty of cowboy art and gear just in time for Christmas!
Performers
You can catch poetry from Juni Fisher, Dave Stamey, Paul Zarzyski, Belinda Gail, Kent Rollins and many more. For a complete schedule visit the Cowboy Poetry's official website.
Activities
Between poetry and musical performances, shop for the holidays at the Art & Gear Show. Find a one-of-a-kind treasure at Saturday's silent auction. Sunday's Cowboy Church gives guests the chance to worship with a Western accent.
Monterey County Cowboy Culture
Cowboy culture in Monterey County doesn't end on December 2nd. While Carmel may be known for its shopping and fine dining, it's also home to the historic Mission Ranch Resort; this former working farm still has plenty of Western flavor, but is loaded with creature comforts.
Want an even more authentic feel? Stay in the Salinas Valley at Barlocker's Rustling Oaks Ranch, which was until recently a working cattle ranch and provides both horses to ride and beds in which to rest your saddle-weary bones.
The most authentic cowboy experience can be found in Parkfield, where visitors can actually join in on an authentic cattle drive and learn every skill a cowboy needs. The Parkfield Inn, located at the V6 Ranch, will give you a comfortable place to rest your head if you find yourself plumb tuckered out after a day on the range! They even play host to a rodeo every May.
The biggest rodeo around, however, is July's annual California Rodeo Salinas, one of the most prestigious stops on the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association circuit. Over 700 cowboys and cowgirls compete for over $250,000 in prize money. The California Rodeo Salinas celebrates its centennial this year with a truly epic list of events.
Other riding workshops and cowboy festivals take place throughout the area the whole year 'round. Looking to get your boots dusty? You can't find a better place than Monterey County!
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