4 Best Performing Arts Venues in The Monterey Bay Area, California

Traditional jazz bands play early jazz, big band, swing, ragtime, blues, zydeco, and gypsy jazz at waterfront venues during this festival, held on the first full weekend of March.

The center draws top performers such as Lee Ritenour, Chris Potter, and the Dave Holland Trio. A café serves meals an hour before most shows.

The world's oldest jazz festival attracts top-name performers to the Monterey Fairgrounds on the third full weekend of September.

The symphony performs classical concerts from October through May at the Sunset Center in Carmel and at the Performing Arts Center of the Steinbeck Institute of Art & Culture in Salinas.