Big Sur California Calendar of Events

YOUR COMPLETE GUIDE TO THE BIG SUR CALIFORNIA COAST

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JANUARY 2009

January brings some of our nicest weather, although it does introduce the rainy season. The cool weather keeps the fog and haze away, offering up cool, yet clear blue skies in the daytime, and perfect weather for stargazing at night. Big Sur is known to astronomers as the best place in the country for observing the heavens because there is very little ambient light pollution.

Get a close up view of the California Gray whales as they make their annual southern journey from the frigid waters of the Bering and Chukchi Seas to the warm lagoons of Baja California. Each year the total population of the Gray Whales migrates twice along the coast of Big Sur. Once when going to Mexico (December-February) and once when returning to the Alaskan waters (March-May). Gray Whales are known to still have a few stragglers migrating up the coast throughout the summer months. Come see the California Gray Whale migration, easily visible from the roadside turnouts.

Female elephant seals continue to arrive on the shoreline in Southern Big Sur. Peak of births usually are the last half of the month.

Sea otter pups are born between January and March. Keep your eyes open for baby sea otters alongside their mothers. The male departs a few days after the mating and has no role in the upbringing of the pups.

January (Weekends)

Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park

(831) 667-2315 California State Parks is proud to present Ranger guided Whale Watching Presentations.

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FEBRUARY 2009

February is pretty quiet around here. To get a good idea of what life used to be during pioneer days and if you want the beaches or forests to yourself, this is the time to come. Bring your waders and fishing pole and explore the Big Sur River. Be sure to spend some time watching the Gray Whale migration. From most any roadside turnout you can see Gray Whales on their journey to the warm lagoons of Mexico. It may take a while to train your eyes to spot them. Watch for the spouts of water spraying in the air. They begin their return journey to the feeding grounds off the coast of Alaska as early as March and continue through spring.

Sea otter pups are born between January and March. Keep your eyes open for baby sea otters alongside their mothers. The male departs a few days after the mating and has no role in the upbringing of the pups.

Elephant seal births continue. The peak of mating is around Valentine's Day. More females leave.

February

Whale Watching

(831) 667-2315 California State Parks is proud to present Ranger guided Whale Watching Presentations. Come celebrate with us the migration of the California Gray Whales off the Big Sur Coast. Meet at the vista point on Highway 1 at mile marker 37 just north of Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. Drop in. Rangers will be available.

February

Steelhead fishing season ends

(831) 649-2870 California Department of Fish & Game. The Steelhead season runs from November 16 to February 28. That's "Catch & Release," Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays. Fishing regulations can change from year to year, so contact the Department of Fish and Game at the telephone number above for the most accurate information.

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MARCH 2009

Mother Gray whales and their calves swim close to shore on their return migration to the Arctic. Spring bulbs begin to blossom; willows and calla lillies bloom along the creeks and wild iris appear in the forest. The hills are emerald green.

Sea otter pups are born between January and March. Keep your eyes open for baby sea otters alongside their mothers. The male departs a few days after the mating and has no role in the upbringing of the pups.

March (weekends)

Big Sur Historical Society
Sat & Sun. 11am - 3pm

(831) 620-0541 Molera Ranch House
The Big Sur Cultural and Natural History Center in the Molera Ranch House showcases the rich heritage and diverse natural habitats of the coast. Located within Andrew Molera State Park.

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APRIL 2009

April is springtime in the gardens of the northern hemisphere and Big Sur is no different. The hillsides come alive with California Poppies and wildflowers and the streams are still running clear and deep.

April

Point Sur Lighthouse

(831) 625-4419 Beginning April, through the beginning of October, monthly Moonlight Tours are held at Point Sur Lighthouse. First lit in 1889, it has remained in continuous operation and stands 361 feet above the surf on a large volcanic rock. Saturday and Sunday morning tours are available year round. Wednesday and Thursday tours available in the summer.

April 26

Big Sur International Marathon

(831) 625-6226 Once again the Big Sur Marathon has been voted the BEST MARATHON in North America by the Ultimate Guide to Marathons. Join us in Big Sur for the most spectacular run in America. Visit their website or call for more information. Local Shuttle information.

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MAY 2009
In May, the emerald green hillsides begin fading to the golden color of a lion's back and are covered in California Poppies, Lupine, and a variety of other wildflowers. The perfect month for a hike and a picnic. For information on hiking in the Ventana Wilderness call the Big Sur Station (831) 667-2315
The Ventana Wilderness Alliance maintains an On-Line Trail Conditions Report of most, if not all, trails in the Ventana Wilderness Area. This is the place to check for the most current online information about trails.
Big Sur Softball is played in Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park and is very entertaining.

May (weekends)

Big Sur Historical Society
Sat & Sun. 11am - 3pm (831) 620-0541 Molera Ranch House
The Big Sur Cultural and Natural History Center in the Molera Ranch House showcases the rich heritage and diverse natural habitats of the coast. Located within Andrew Molera State Park.

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JUNE 2009

The Junior Ranger Program, guided nature walks and nature discussions begin in Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. These programs extend through Labor Day. Click Here to view the schedule.

Also of interest are the exhibits at the Nature Center (located in Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park) which are designed to acquaint visitors with Big Sur's plant and animal life.

Discovery Center - Ventana Wildlife Society Discovery Center located at Andrew Molera State Park. Friday, Saturday & Sunday year round. 9:00 am - 4:00 pm.

Download our local Big Sur Visitors Guide, in Adobe PDF. (1.8Mb)

June (weekends)

Big Sur Historical Society
Sat & Sun. 11am - 3pm

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JULY 2009

The Junior Ranger Program, guided nature walks and a nightly campfire program with slide shows, singing, and nature discussions begin in Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. These programs extend through Labor Day.

Ventana Wildlife Society has a full schedule of events called Natural Science Discovery Camp for ages 8-11 and 12-17. Please visit their website for more information on this great youth program.

Also of interest are the exhibits at the Nature Center which are designed to acquaint visitors with Big Sur's plant and animal life. Located next to Andrew Molera State Park and the Ventana Wildlife Society. At this same location is the new Big Sur Cultural and Natural History Center, located in the "Ranch House."

Discovery Center - Ventana Wildlife Society Discovery Center located at Andrew Molera State Park. Friday, Saturday & Sunday year round. 9:00 am - 4:00 pm.

FIREWORKS ARE NOT ALLOWED ANYWHERE IN BIG SUR. Fire danger is too high.

Download our local Big Sur Visitors Guide, in Adobe PDF. (1.8Mb)

July - ongoing

Campfire Program

Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park.

July

Big Sur River Inn
1:00 - 5:00 PM

(800) 548-3610, (831) 667-2700
Sunday afternoon music series
7/4 Jonah and the Whalewatchers
7/5 Hands on Fire Band
7/12 Carlson Rae
7/19 Along Came Betty
7/26 Kenny Stahl

July

Fernwood Resort

(831) 667-2422 Weekend concerts
7/4 James Henry
7/11 Dave Stein Bubhub
7/18 Hallway Ballers
7/25 Naomi and the Courteous Rude Boys

July 3 & 4

Henry Miller Library

(831) 667-2574 Henry Miller Memorial Library
Mother Hips Family Hipnic
Friday, 3:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Emily Jane White
Citay
Red Cortez
These United States
Moondoggies
MOTHER HIPS

Saturday, 1 PM
Brothers and Sisters
Nicky Bluhm and the Gramblers
Parson's Red Heads
Little Wings
Sparrow's Gate
Everest
MOTHER HIPS

July 3 - 5

Esalen International Arts Festival 2009

(831) 667-3000 The 2009 Esalen International Arts Festival A Celebration of Art, Culture, and Spirit. The Esalen International Arts Festival is a three-day celebration of the infinite creative spirit within. Esalen will be pulsating with irresistible rhythms and sounds, acts of truth and imagination, and invocations of joy and beauty woven into a vibrant tapestry of art, culture, and spirit. More information

July 12

Ventana Wildlife Society

(831) 455-9514 California Condor Viewing Tour
This two-hour tour will take you down the coast with VWS's informed staff to view magnificient and endangered California condors using radio telemetry to track the condors.

July 12

Henry Miller Library

(831) 667-2574 Henry Miller Memorial Library
Second Sunday Concert Series

July 24

Henry Miller Library

(831) 667-2574 Henry Miller Memorial Library
STEPHEN MALKMUS and The Jicks plus very special guests, returning to Big Sur: The Entrance Band + DJ sets.

July 25

Henry Miller Library

(831) 667-2574 Henry Miller Memorial Library
The House of Floyd - tribute to Pink Floyd

July 31

Big Sur Lodge
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM

(831) 647-7755
Big Sur Multi Agency Advisory Council Meeting

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AUGUST 2009

August is a good month for family activities, tubing down the Big Sur River, exploring tide pools along the Big Sur beaches, having a barbecue in one of Big Sur's State Parks. Simply a beautiful time of year to be here. In the winter Big Sur is blessed with the Gray Whale migration. Summer brings us the largest mammals on earth, the Blue Whales. In addition the Humpback Whales , and Orcas are in town. Enjoy these giants from the roadside turnouts. Remember to bring your binoculars.

Discovery Center - Ventana Wildlife Society Discovery Center located at Andrew Molera State Park. Friday, Saturday & Sunday year round. 9:00 am - 4:00 pm.

Download our local Big Sur Visitors Guide, in Adobe PDF. (1.8Mb)

August 7

Big Sur Lodge
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM

(831) 647-7755
Big Sur Multi Agency Advisory Council Meeting

August 9

Ventana Wildlife Society

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SEPTEMBER 2009

September winds down the tourist season in Big Sur yet the weather is still some of the best of the year. Summer and Fall bring us the largest mammals on earth, the Blue Whales. In addition, the Humpback Whales and Orcas are swimming in our coastal waters at this time of the year. Soon to be replaced by the spectacular annual migration of the Gray Whales whose total population swims by our coastline twice every year. Once when going to the lagoons of Mexico to birth and breed, and once when returning to the Alaskan waters to feed for the summer. Enjoy these amazing adaptations to life on the blue, watery planet conveniently from the roadside turnouts. Bring binoculars. Some of the best theater in town!
Dates and times of these events are deemed to be accurate but check out the event you're interested in attending with the venue.

Discovery Center - Ventana Wildlife Society Discovery Center located at Andrew Molera State Park. Friday, Saturday & Sunday year round. 9:00 am - 4:00 pm.

September 13

Ventana Wildlife Society (831) 455-9514 California Condor Viewing Tour
This two-hour tour will take you down the coast with VWS's informed staff to view magnificient and endangered California condors using radio telemetry to track the condors.

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OCTOBER 2009

October brings Indian summer days with bright blue skies. The forest comes alive with color as leaves of deciduous trees turn golden. Monarch butterflies return to their annual wintering grounds and can be seen by the hundreds at Andrew Molera State Park and throughout Big Sur.

October TBA

EnviroSports

(415) 868-1829 16th Annual Big Sur Trail Marathon, half marathon and 8 mile run at Andrew Molera State Park. Enviro-Sports is a club specializing in unique environmental outings and environmental education, and supports trail maintenance and habitat restoration in the various parks in which we run to preserve wilderness and parklands.

October TBA

17th Annual Big Sur Jade Festival

Pacific Valley School
FREE!

(831) 659-3857 Each year the Jade Festival brings musicians, artists, crafts people, and rockhounds together in an annual fundraiser for the South Coast Community Land Trust. Held at Pacific Valley School. Friday's hours are from 12-6, Sat. and Sun. from 10-6
45 vendors of jade, gems, wood & stone. Food court, raffle, and live music.
Held at Pacific Valley School. 35 miles south of Big Sur center and 35 miles north of Hearst Castle.
FREE! Call for more information. Vender Information: (831) 402-1143
e-mail: surjade@hotmail.com

October

Big Sur River Run
29th Anniversary

(831) 624-4112 "The most beautiful 10k in the world!" Held annually in Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. All flat, black-top road loop alongside the Big Sur River through redwood and oak groves. The 10k Run and 5k Walk benefit the Big Sur Health Center and the Big Sur Volunteer Fire Brigade.

October 31

Nepenthe

(831) 667-2345 Halloween Bal Masque. Every year Nepenthe sponsors a benefit for the Big Sur Volunteer Fire Brigade. If you missed the Halloween Bal Masque at Nepenthe last year, have a look-see at all the beautiful costumes. Photos supplied by Central Coast Magazine. Click Here Now!

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NOVEMBER 2009

November begins the Steelhead Salmon fishing season and the very early, most ambitious Gray Whales begin their migration to the lagoons of Mexico. Twice every year the total Gray Whale population migrates past the Big Sur coastline. Spectacular viewing is available from nearly any roadside turnout. Bring your binoculars and get up close and personal.
Elephant Seals begin coming on shore to mate in Southern Big Sur.

November

Big Sur Half Marathon

(831) 625-6226 Big Sur Half-Marathon

November 5 - 8

Big Sur Food & Wine Festival

(831) 667-0800 The Big Sur Food and Wine Festival is a celebration of the creative culinary arts and professional, intimate hospitality of this world-renowned region. We aim to promote wine and food from our friends and neighbors as best as possible, and in as organic and low carbon-footprint a way as possible.

November 13

Big Sur Lodge
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM

(831) 647-7755
Big Sur Multi Agency Advisory Council Meeting

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DECEMBER 2009

Take a break from the holiday bustle. Off season rates make early December an economical way to experience the quiet beauty of Big Sur. The clear December skies make the night time star gazing spectacular and the day time sight seeing down the coast is equally amazing. Big Sur is known to astronomers as the best place in the country for viewing the heavens because there is so little "light pollution."

During the daytime hours one can while away the time watching the spectacular sites of the Gray Whale migration as they make their way to the lagoons of Mexico to have their babies. Overhead one can view the equally spectacular site of the California Condor in flight. The Ventana Wildlife Society will be further adding to the growing population of California Condors who are now living in Big Sur. Learn more about the California Condor Reintroduction program by visiting our Condor information page. Elephant Seals come on shore to give birth, mate, and molt in southern Big Sur.

December

STEELHEAD SEASON

(831) 649-2870 The Steelhead season runs from December – March, but only on Sat., Sun., Wed., legal holidays and the opening and closing days. The Big Sur River west of Highway 1, all of Limekiln Creek, and the portions of all other Big Sur Coast streams west of Highway 1 in Monterey Co., from Granite Creek south to Salmon Creek, shall be closed to all fishing when the department determines that the flow at the USGS gauging station on the Big Sur river is less than 40 cfs (call 831-649-2886 for flow info). Only barbless hooks may be used. Bag limit 0 (zero). Catch and release only.

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Click Here to download our local tourist guide, the Big Sur Guide, in Adobe PDF. (800k)

Click here to purchase books about Big Sur

Big Sur Chamber of Commerce - http://www.bigsurcalifornia.org (831) 667-2100

Big Sur Internet • www.bigsurinternet.com