This Weekend in Carmel: 12/5 - 12/7

We have many events in store these upcoming weeks for those of you who are taking advantage of visiting Carmel before the new year arrives - and the rain should subside just in time for this weekend!

Friday, December 5th

Sunset Center Holiday Party, 3:00 - 5:00 pm
Enjoy complimentary wine, cookies and coffee in the Theater Lobby before heading to Devendorf Park for the Tree Lighting Ceremony. A photographer will be on hand to take photos in front of the Sunset Christmas Tree.

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Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at Devendorf Park, 4:30 pm
Festivities begin at 4:30 pm with special performances by Junipero Serra School Children and the Carmel Middle School Choir, as well as a recitation of "Twas the Night Before Christmas." Mayor Jason Burnett will light the tree around 5:45 pm.

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Carmel Plaza Holiday Open House, 5:00 - 7:00 pm
Carmel Plaza is hosting a Holiday Open House following the Tree Lighting Ceremony. There will be live music, appearances from Santa and his elves, as well as free warm beverages from Carmel Coffee & Cocoa and small bites from the restaurants at Carmel Plaza.

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Saturday, December 6th

- The Carmel Foundation Holiday Bazaar at Diment Hall, 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Shop a variety of crafts, gift baskets, jewelry and breads all handmade by talented local artists. The Carmel Foundation's cause nourishes the enrichment and productivity of active lives.

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- Wine and Wreaths at Joullian Vineyard, 11:00 am - 4:00 pm, $45 per person
Join Joullian Vineyard for their open house and food drive, where you can sample the latest vintage wines and enjoy a BBQ lunch. Juniper, holly, mistletoe and grapevines will be available for wreath-making and a contest will be held and prizes given for the best wreaths!

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This Weekend in Carmel: 11/21-11/23

Carmel is starting to become a little more festive this weekend as we head into the holiday season. With Thanksgiving rapidly approaching, we begin our countdown until Christmas and New Years, and with that comes a season of holiday shopping for friends and family.

Begin your holiday shopping early and take advantage of the 44th Annual Homecrafters Marketplace, an annual craft fair featuring over 100 hand-selected vendors from Monterey and neighboring counties. The event is held on Saturday, November 22nd, from 9:00 am until 3:00 pm in the parking lot at Sunset Center. 

Also held on Saturday from 9:00 am until 4:00 pm is the Annual Holiday Faire at the Church of the Wayfarer (on Lincoln and 7th). 

The Callaway Golf Invitational, which began yesterday, continues through Sunday the 23rd at the Pebble Beach Golf Links. Come see your favorite professional and amateur golfers in a more intimate, relaxed setting. If you need some convincing, the weather here has been beautiful lately, and admission to the invitational is free.

Finally, nothing says "It's the Holiday Season" like the opening weekend of Ice Skating by the Bay, a seasonal ice skating rink located at the Custom House Plaza in Monterey. The rink is open daily, Monday through Saturday from 11 am until 10 pm and on Sundays from 12 pm until 8pm. Admission is $12 for adults, $10 for children 12 and under, and skate rentals are available for $3.

We hope everyone has a wonderful weekend and gets plenty of exercise in anticipation of Thanksgiving next week. 

Cheers to a happy and healthy holiday season!