All Weekend

Get your swing on at the Monterey Swingfest taking place all weekend long at the Hyatt Regency Monterey. Take swing classes, attend workshops or show off your polished dance skills in one of the dance contests. West Coast Swing legend Skippy Blair will also be back to whip your skills into shape. Don’t know how to swing dance? No problem! Newbies can attend free basic swing classes Friday-Sunday from 11am-1pm. Thursday-Monday, 1 Old Golf Course Road, Monterey. $145 or $75 for junior attendees. Ed Rickett's Lab Sold out! Don’t miss one of the few chances to visit Ed Ricketts’ Lab, which was fictionalized in the Steinbeck novel “Cannery Row.” Doc’s lab will be open for tours throughout the weekend and best of all, it’s free! Learn about the life of Ed Ricketts and how he formed a friendship with local writer John Steinbeck as well as the history of the building and how it was used for marine biology supplies. Saturday and Sunday 11am and 1pm, 800 Cannery Row, Monterey. Free admission. For an adult spin on Sesame Street head over to the Paper Wing Theatre in Monterey. The hilarious puppet comedy Avenue Q took home the Tony “Triple Crown” Award for Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book. Friday 8pm, Saturday 4pm and 8pm, 320 Hoffman Avenue, Monterey. $25.

Friday

Pierce Ranch Vineyards invites you to sip wine by glass and enjoy live music. The talented musicians that comprise the Kombucheros will perform music with low-key Latin and South American beats. 8pm, 499 Wave Street, Monterey. Free cover. Grab a drink at the London Bridge Pub and listen to Rex Wheeler tonight. His acoustic rock music is the perfect way to end the work week. 9pm, 256 Figueroa St., Wharf #2, Monterey. No cover. Big Sur local band Songs Hotbox Harry Taught Us graces the stage at Fernwood Tavern tonight. This six person retro country band mixes things up with the keyboard, guitar, fiddle, bass, drums and mad vocals. 9:30pm, 47200 Highway One, Big Sur. No Cover.

Saturday

The Sunset Center in Carmel-by-the-Sea presents the Kingston Trio tonight. These three spunky American folk legends have been entertaining crowds since the ‘50s and have since received several Grammys to prove their talents. Visitors are also welcome to meet the trio over a wine and cheese reception before the show. 8pm, San Carlos at Ninth Avenue, Carmel-by-the-Sea. Tickets are $49-$69 and the VIP Meet & Greet is $75. Louie Ortega, Dean Giles and Gary Roda team up for a special concert at the Fernwood Tavern. “To Sur, With Love” will be a night full of free fun and great music! 9pm, 47200 Highway One, Big Sur. No cover. Acoustic rock guitarist Martin Shears performs tonight at the London Bridge Pub. If you haven’t had the chance to check him out then now is the time! 9:30pm, 256 Figueroa St., Wharf #2, Monterey. No cover.

Sunday

Take to the trails with the Monterey Peninsula Regional Parks District. Today an adventurous group will explore the tremendous trees of Mill Creek via the Mill Creek Trailhead on Palo Colorado Road. This 5.5 mile hike is expected to last 3-4 hours. Don’t forget to wear good hiking shoes, and take water, lunch and snacks. 10am, Mill Creek, Carmel. Free. Enjoy your last hours of the weekend at the Mucky Duck. This evening reggae musician Tony Miles will be jamming out on the patio. 4pm-8pm, 479 Alvarado Street, Monterey. Free cover.