April - May 26
Wild About Otters
Monterey Bay Aquarium
Tel: 831-644-7561
www.montereybayaquarium.org
You are invited to embark on an adventure into the world of freshwater otters with the opening of “Wild About Otters”. The Aquarium will debut eight freshwater otters and their lush world of tropical fishes, reptiles and plants. The five-gallery exhibition will display four African spotted-necked otters and four Asian small clawed otters in exhibits that represent their native lake and river habitats.

April - September
Historic Garden Tours
Monterey
Tel: 831-649-3364
www.historicgardenleague.org
The Historic Garden League leads 90-minute guided walks of several Old Monterey gardens. The tours are conducted every Tuesday at 1PM starting at the Cooper-Molera complex and include Larkin House and Stevenson House. Reservations required; groups can be accommodated with advance notice on other days as well.

April 1 - April 10
Dockside Tours of the Privateer Lynx
Monterey
Tel: 866-446-5969
www.privateerlynx.org
Climb aboard the tall ship "Privateer Lynx". Step back in time and relive history as you hoist the sails, steer the ship, and fire the six-pounder cannons. Experience what life was like aboard a traditional, square topsail schooner. This was the ship hired to train the cast of the movie "Pirates of the Caribbean".

April 1 - April 22
La Cage Aux Folles
Carmel - Golden Bough Theatre
Tel: 831-622-0100
www.pacrep.org
Pacific Repertory presents La Cage Aux Folles Book by Harvey Fierstein. Music & Lyrics by Jerry Herman Based on the play by Jean Poiret Directed and Choreographed by Terry Barto. Featuring Sid Cato as "Albin".

April 1 - May 27
"My California: Portals and People"
Salinas - The National Steinbeck Center
Tel: 831-775-4721
www.steinbeck.org
An exhibition presented by Scott Schields, Chief Curator Crocker Art Museum. Artists explore their own California dream and what California means to them in this special juried exhibition.Free with museum admission.

April 1 - May 29
Old Monterey Plein Air Painting and Art Promenade
Monterey
Tel: 831-655-8070
www.oldmonterey.org
In collaboration with MBPAPA (Monterey Bay Plein Aire Painters Association), the museum will be hosting their juried exhibit containing 30 paintings of modern day “Plein Aire Painters of Monterey Peninsula Art Colony, 2006.”

April 1
2nd Annual Festival de Bellas Artes de César Chávez
San Jose - MHP Teatro
Tel: 408-928-5500
www.mhcviva.org
Sunday, April 1, at 3 p.m. a dance concert in honor of César Chávez performed by Spector Dance Company, in the MHP Teatro. Sponsored by the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Common Ground & Figures in the Dust, is a dance piece focusing on the politics of agriculture. Free admission.

April 2 - 28
Birding Excursions
Moss Landing
Tel: 831-633-5555
www.elkhornslough.com
Tour Elkhorn Slough by nearly-silent pontoon boat, guided by Special focus bird workshops with local birding professionals are offered by Elkhorn Slough Safari each season. The topics covered during the three hour cruise include shorebirds, identification, behavior, and rare species.

April 7 - 9
Bouquets to Monterey
Monterey
Tel: 831-372-2608
www.montereyhistory.org
Twenty works of art and artifacts from the Maritime Museum of Monterey will challenge and inspire florists and designers to create floral arrangements that are equally beautiful or intriguing. Lectures about the artifacts and the creative process complement the event.

April 21 - 22
50th Annual Good Old Days Celebration
Pacific Grove
Tel: 831-373-3304
www.pacificgrove.org
Celebrate a bygone era with a parade, a Victorian fashion show, numerous contests, street dance, and the California Police Motorcycle Competition. It's one of the county's largest arts and crafts shows, with more than 225 arts and food vendors.

April 12 - 15
Sea Otter Classic Cycling Festival
Laguna Seca Recreation Area, Monterey
Tel: 831-755-4899
www.seaotterclassic.com
Called the Bikestock of North America, this massive cycling event features fun rides, road racing, mountain bike racing, BMX racing, kids events, and a consumer tradeshow that highlights the latest in cycling hardware, clothing and goods. Racers range from first timers to Olympic champions. All kids'events are free. Camping is available.

April 12 - 15
Bouquets to History & Art Fundraiser
Monterey
Tel: 831-372-2608
www.montereyhistory.org
Florists, designers and members of the Historic Garden League of the Monterey Bay area will be creating floral interpretations of works exhibited in the museums' galleries, and these floral displays will be presented in juxtaposition with the works that inspired them.

April 13 - 14
First Annual Monterey Rock 'n Rod Festival
Monterey County Fairgrounds
Tel: 831-649-0102
www.montereyrockrod.com
Oldies music & classic car show featuring hundreds of pre 1972 classic American and European cars and trucks accompanied by classic music from the 50's and 60's. Proceeds benefit Gateway Center of Monterey County.

April 14 - May
Sea Otter Safari Tours
Moss Landing
Tel: 831-633-5555
www.elkhornslough.com
Learn all about the cutest critter in Elkhorn Slough - the threatened sea otter - as you tour by pontoon boat, guided by expert naturalists. Reserve early!

April 15
Dia del Niño
Monterey Bay Aquarium
Tel: 831-648-4800
www.montereybayaquarium.org
Celebrate children and families with a craft room, live music, prize drawings and Latin performances throughout the aquarium. Children 12 and under will be admitted free all day.

April 13 - 15
46th Annual Wildflower Show
Pacific Grove
Tel: 831-648-5716
www.pgmuseum.org
Prepared with the collaborative efforts of the Monterey Bay Chapter of the California Native Plant Society, presenting over 600 species and varieties of Central California wildflowers at PG's Museum of Natural History.

April 14 - 16
Monterey Symphony
Salinas (22), Carmel (23-24)
Tel: 831-624-8511
www.montereysymphony.org
Giampaolo Bisanti, conductor
DONIZETTI: Overture to Don Pasquale
SAINT-SAENS: Piano Concerto No.5 “Egyptian”
Andrew Armstrong, piano
R. STRAUSS: Le bourgeois gentilhomme Suite.

April 20
Identity Theft Prevention Day
Watsonville - 16 Walker St.
Tel: 831-818-9453
www.stordok.com
roofian@aol.com
Stordok Document Destruction is providing FREE document shredding for senior/low income citizens on Friday, April 20th, 2007. The event is to assist and educate the public on the prevention of identity theft and to help the senior/low income communities dispose of any obsolete tax (or other) documents. Participants can have one box of documents shred for complete peace of mind for FREE. A free identity theft seminar will also be held at 11 a.m that same day. Come for Free hot dogs and drinks, and a chance to win one year's worth of free shredding.

April 22
Multiple Sclerosis Society “Rainmaker" Walk, Run
Monterey
1-888-I- Shop-DM
The MS Walk in Monterey begins at 8:30 a.m. at Whole Foods market with a continental breakfast and warm-up. The course winds through Monterey and surrounding areas where participants will enjoy a barbecue, live entertainment and, more. All proceeds from the MS Walk fund local service programs for individuals with MS and their families.

April 22
Vintage Affair
Carmel Valley
Tel: 831-624-2600
www.chateaujulien.com
Chateau Julien's barrel room doors swing open for a full day of special wine-tasting opportunities, including vertical tastings, library wines, and much more.

April 28
4th Annual Pinnacles Wine Festival
Soledad
Tel: 831-678-2400
www.pinnacleswinefestival.com
Vineyards and winemakers from the Chalone Appellation present their finest wines - complemented by hors d'oeuvres and nibbles by nine of Monterey County's top restaurants - at the Inn at the Pinnacles, at the foot of Pinnacles National Monument.

April 28
Wild West Hoedown
Seaside
Tel: 831-394-3468
www.chartwell.org
bwolcott@chartwell.org
Join us for a boot scootin' good time at the Wild West Hoedown at Chartwell School! Watering hole sponsored by Carmel Valley Kiwanis opens at 6pm with BBQ, music by the Cachagua Playboys, and dancing to follow. All proceeds benefit Chartwell's financial aid program. Chartwell helps children with dyslexia and other language-based learning differences access their full potential by providing leading-edge education, research, and community outreach.

April 28 - 29
15th Annual Spring Home & Garden Show
Monterey - Fairgrounds
Tel: 866-770-0737
www.bestevents.biz
The Spring Home & Garden Show has everything from fixtures to furnishings for creating the perfect home.

April 28-29
Birdathon Countdown and Dinner
Big Sur
Tel: 831-624-1202
www.ventanaws.org/bat.htm
13th Annual Ventana Wildlife Society's Big Sur Ornithology Lab Birdiest County BIRDATHON! Every spring, birders, backyard bird enthusiasts, and nature lovers of all kinds from throughout Monterey County make a coordinated effort to see or hear as many bird species as possible over a specified 24-hour period of time while raising money for bird research and conservation in Monterey County.

April 29
Big Sur International Marathon
Hwy 1, Big Sur to Carmel
Tel: 831-625-6226
www.bsim.org
This marathon, consistently named the Best Marathon in North America by The Ultimate Guide to Marathons, is set along one of the most breathtaking routes in the world. Also includes a 21-mile power walk, 5K run, 9-mile walk, 10.6-mile walk, and marathon relay.