Spring is one of the busiest and best seasons on the Monterey Peninsula. Whales are passing the coast, the hills are green, and the event calendar fills up. Here are the dates to know for 2027.
Pebble Beach Food & Wine: April 1 to 4
Chefs and winemakers gather at Pebble Beach for tastings, demos, and dinners. Popular events sell out, so watch pebblebeachfoodandwine.com (https://www.pebblebeachfoodandwine.com/) for tickets.
Whalefest Monterey: April 10 and 11
A free weekend on Old Fisherman's Wharf celebrating whales, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. Details at whalefest.org (https://whalefest.org/).
Sea Otter Classic: April 15 to 18
Racing, fun rides, and a giant cycling expo at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Rider early bird pricing runs through December 8, 2026. More at seaotterclassic.com (https://www.seaotterclassic.com/).
Big Sur International Marathon: April 25
The famous point-to-point race along Highway 1, starting at 6:45 a.m. Highway 1 closes on race morning, so plan any Big Sur drive for another day. More at bigsurmarathon.org (https://www.bigsurmarathon.org/races/marathon/).
IMSA at Laguna Seca: April 30 to May 2
Sports car racing on the Corkscrew. Schedule and tickets at imsa.com (https://www.imsa.com/events/2027-weathertech-raceway-laguna-seca/).
Planning tips
- April weekends book up fast. Reserve your room as soon as your dates are set.
- Spring weather swings from foggy mornings to warm afternoons. Pack layers.
Staying at Sand Dollar Inn
Sand Dollar Inn in Seaside is a short drive from every event on this list, with complimentary Wi-Fi, an outdoor pool, and rooms with microwaves and refrigerators. Book direct at sanddollarinnseaside.com.
Illustrative photograph of humpback whales in Monterey Bay; not a photograph of the 2027 events. Photo: Humpback whales in Monterey Bay by Cynthia Yock, via Wikimedia Commons. Original photograph and this image adaptation licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Resized; website renditions may be cropped and converted in format. This license applies only to the photograph.
