Step back in time to Renaissance Europe and enjoy hearty ales, fine foods, and handmade crafts, plus hundreds of costumed performers roaming the streets and shows on 5 different stages. Don’t miss the exciting new Tournament of Horses! Open Saturdays and Sundays, September 16 to October 15, at Casa de Fruta Orchard Resort in Hollister.

Junior golfers get the chance to play with champions like Ben Crenshaw, Isao Aoki, Tom Kite, Sandy Lyle, Tom Watson and Fuzzy Zoeller at the First Tee Open at Pebble Beach. This competition, broadcast on The Golf Channel, earns money for The First Tee, a charity that gives disadvantaged youngsters the opportunity to play golf. Admission to the event is free to the public.

The California International Airshow Salinas returns to the Salinas Municipal Airport for its 37th year. Watch jaw-dropping aeronautical acrobatics from the Patriots Jet Team, Metal Mulisha, the Pemberton's Wing Suit Jump, Robosaurus and more. There will also be military demos, military fly-bys and military/civilian aircraft displays. General Admission tickets for adults are $20 in advance.

Monterey County is home to the Continental Tire Monterey Grand Prix featuring the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. This premier road racing series features non-stop action with at least 10 different car manufacturers vying for the title with both professional and pro-am drivers behind the wheels. This new series is created by the merger between the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series and the American Le Mans Series.

The Monterey Beach Sportsfest is a celebration of wellness both for people and for the ocean we love and enjoy so much. Join in on two exciting days of competitive events in the waters and along the shore of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. The Monterey Beach SportsFest also hosts an Ikaika Challenge which is a combination of swimming, strength and running.

Stately oak trees and rolling hills set the stage for our traditional-style San Benito County Fair. It's all about family fun, great food, incredible entertainment, friendly competition and community. Our county fair is an expression of the dedication and hard work of the youth of our county. We feel that there is no better investment than in the youth of today who are the citizens of tomorrow.

Discover a whole new kind of magical, mystical Halloween fun this October at Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park! As the sun sets, “Halloween@Night” comes to life, with tricks, treats, and plenty of spooky-but-not-too-scary fun for the entire family. Open Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings, September 29-October 29, from 7-10 pm.

Watch jaw-dropping aeronautical acrobatics from the Patriots Jet Team, Metal Mulisha, the Pemberton's Wing Suit Jump, Robosaurus and more. There will also be military demos, military fly-bys and military/civilian aircraft displays.

Experience Hitcock's famous film at one of the filming locations. The Plaza History Association is hosting a Vertigo Day event with a tour, lecture, and free showing of the famous movie. Tickets are required for the tour and lecture.

Taste of Carmel is your gateway to exploring a quaint coastal village with world-class dining and top-rated wines while uncovering your own bohemian side. Over a long weekend, Taste of Carmel features local food and wine, live music, outdoor activities, culinary education and experiences, a silent auction showcasing area restaurants, inns and boutique goods — all set in an ancient forest near a white sand beach.

Carmel’s Annual Pumpkin-Rolling Contest is now an official event of Carmel-by-the-Sea’s month-long birthday party celebrations throughout October. The official pumpkin-rolling course is right down Ocean Avenue - lined with hay bales and fencing to keep pumpkins from veering off track. Spectators have a front row view of the heart-stopping action.

Step back to the early days. Meet mountain men, Civil War soldiers, Victorian ladies, and more. Enjoy craft and cooking demonstrations. Have an old-fashioned soda in the historic Plaza Hotel Saloon. Take your picture with a historic horse-drawn vehicle inside the Plaza Stables and visit the Breen House (part of the Donner Party) and Zanetta family home.

Pacific Grove's annual Butterfly Parade, a tradition that goes back almost three-quarters of a century, is held on the first Saturday of every October. The Butterfly Parade celebrates the return of the Monarch butterfly to Pacific Grove, the beautiful insects' annual wintering stop. This parade, which first took place in 1939, attracts people from both near and far to view the adorable children in their themed costumes.

One of North America’s finest and longest running auto racing series, the Pirelli World Challenge, will crown their 2017 champions at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. The popular Series boasts a paddock of more than 70 race cars and consists of six classes of vehicles.

During Fall Passport Weekend, curious tasters and adept connoisseurs get to experience each unique winery as they meander along Santa Clara Valley’s Wine Trail. Over 25 participating wineries will provide guests with live music, barrel tastings, winery tours, new blend releases, special discounts, and souvenir wine glasses.

Plan on a fun-filled olive festival from 10am to 5pm at the charming San Benito County Historical Park in Tres Pinos, just south of Hollister. Local growers and creators will welcome culinary adventurers from all over California. A special VIP tasting area featuring regional world-class wines and craft beers. Celebrity chefs entertain guests while performing cooking demonstrations. Award-winning olive oils, artisanal foods and gourmet chocolates will be available to sample and purchase.

The PAWlitzer Prize for Best Dogged LITTERature is both a recognition of the Pulitzer Prize celebrating 100 years of excellence in journalism and the arts, and a way to celebrate Carmel's literary history — and current passion for our four-legged family members. America’s dog lovers share their personal stories in hopes of winning the coveted PAWlitzer Prize Golden Paw Award. And what better venue to hold the Award Ceremony than Carmel, one of America’s most dog-friendly towns.

Celebrate ocean conservation and Latin American cultural traditions at our annual Fiesta del Mar event on October 15. The day will include live music, cultural dance, bilingual feeding shows, crafts for kids and more.

Filmmakers, film lovers, and industry professionals enjoy the Carmel International Film Festival, which showcases the best of independent cinema and contemporary art, music, and photography from around the globe, including narrative feature, documentary, short, student, retrospective, and premièring films. Looking to educate and entertain, the festival also includes an interactive lecture series, including a film score demonstration in real time, Art in the Park featuring artists in various mediums, art auctions, film and panel discussion, and an emerging-artists music café.

Come out to historic downtown Gilroy the weekend before Halloween for a day of wild costumes, craft beers, great shopping, and an over-21 crowd. Costumes are highly encouraged!

New spirits and locations have arisen...Take a guided walking tour of several local sites with ghost sightings and paranormal activities!

The City of Carmel-by-the-Sea was incorporated on Halloween in 1916, so it celebrates its birthday and the country’s favorite costume-and-candy holiday with a Halloween Parade through downtown in which all are welcome to participate or spectate. Following the 11 a.m. parade at Sunset Center is a hot-dog lunch with all the fixin's—City dignitaries, VIPs, costumed dogs and kids, and residents and visitors alike gather for this upbeat annual affair, followed by a street dance that evening!

Palisades Vineyard is one of those precious secret places in the heart of Carmel Valley. Planted in 2005, the vineyard has been exclusively used for Cima Collina wines with the first vineyard-designated release in 2012. Local Chef Jerome Viel will present four-courses to complement Cima Collina’s 2012-14 vintages of Palisades Vineyard Pinot Noir, in addition to aging selections from Winemaker Annette Hoff Danzer’s cellar. Cost: $150 per person, Club members: $130 (pricing includes tax & gratuity).

Indulge in fantastic food, great wines and exquisite scenery at the Big Sur Food and Wine Festival. Local and visiting restaurateurs, resorts and wineries from all over will team up for dinners and tastings at unique Big Sur locations.

Harvest@Night is a new Beer, Food & Wine Fest hosted at Gilroy Gardens on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings in November. As you stroll through the park's 26 acres, you'll enjoy gourmet food, craft beers and fine wines, and live entertainment. Rides will not be running during Harvest@Night. While children are always welcome, this evening experience is intended for adults 21 and over.

Step back to the early days. Meet mountain men, Civil War soldiers, Victorian ladies, and more. Enjoy craft and cooking demonstrations. Have an old-fashioned soda in the historic Plaza Hotel Saloon. Take your picture with a historic horse-drawn vehicle inside the Plaza Stables and visit the Breen House (part of the Donner Party) and Zanetta family home.

The Half Marathon on Monterey Bay takes runners through historic downtown Monterey, over to Cannery Row, down the shore of Monterey Bay, into downtown Pacific Grove, and back along the coast to the grand finish at Custom House Plaza. Spectators can watch from anywhere along the course.

The Callaway Golf Pebble Beach Invitational attracts professional and amateur golfers of all stripes to Pebble Beach. The Invitational gives spectators a special chance to watch their favorite golfers in a more intimate and relaxed environment; viewers can even walk down the fairway right behind the golfers.

One of the most anticipated events of the holidays, the city's Homecrafters' Marketplace features 100 vendors from Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito counties selling their own handmade crafts and artwork. Each has been subjected to a jury panel for selection, ensuring high-quality goods and a wide range of unique offerings. The sale takes place in the parking lots of the city's Sunset Cultural Center.

A celebration of the great chefs of Pacific Grove at Asilomar Conference Grounds. More than 120 donations of trips, restaurant certificates, accommodations & golf packages will also be auctioned off.

Score on the best deals of the holiday season at over 145 brand-name stores like Kate Spade, Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, Brooks Brothers, Coach, Gap, Hugo Boss, J.Crew, Lucky Brand, Nike, Polo Ralph Lauren, Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th, Sony, Timberland, Tommy Hilfiger, and more!

A wonderful family-friendly, community event in downtown Hollister. The parade (with over 80 entries) begins on Haydon and San Benito Streets and proceeds north Fifth Street. This year's parade theme is "Winter Wonderland". There is also a Holiday Car Display, Dec-A-Tree and Photos with Santa & Mrs. Clause and other entertainment.

It's Pacific Grove at its most picturesque, as ten of the town's bed and breakfasts and inns deck their halls and open their doors so you can share their holiday cheer in Victorian-era splendor.

Pack those chaps and spurs for a wranglin' good time with some of the nation's top balladeers and cowboy/girl poets featured during the Monterey Cowboy Poetry and Music Festival. The three-day event hosts several great shows, open mic sessions, a western art and gear sale, silent auction and "cowboy" church service among other festivities.

Step back into Monterey's past during Christmas in the Adobes. See the adobes by candlelight and enjoy refreshments and live performances as volunteers in period attire welcome you into historic homes decorated in historical style.