Carmel Magazine

and the laid-back vibe. www.san- tacruzamericanmusicfestival.com MayFest Monterey, noon-7pm, May 23-25, Custom House Plaza, Monterey T his free, first-time community event is the brainchild of Andre Lengacher, who owns Lugano Swiss Bistro and founded Monterey Oktoberfest. The theme is international with beer and foods from the US, Italy, Mexico, Germany, India and Switzerland and a wide variety of music, from the blues of Red Beans & Rice and the alt-folk of True North and Frechette-Thomsen and German music from The Alpine Trio. There's pretty much something for every- one. www.mayfestmonterey.com Monterey Beer Festival, 11:30am-5pm, June 13, Monterey County Fair and Event Center B eer" just doesn't seem adequate enough to cover all the craft brews served up at this lively outdoor event. Lagers, ales, pilsners, porters, stouts, IPAs and creative blends that are still being dreamed up as you read this will be poured. The festival also features food vendors and three tribute rock bands to keep the ener- gy up. www.montereybeerfestival.com BaconFest 2015 Presented by the Monterey Americana Festival, 11am-7pm, June 27-28, Monterey County Fair and Event Center F or the third year of this roots country festi- val, organizers have added a new twist— everyone's favorite pork product—bacon! In addition to music from artists such as Grammy- winners Jim Lauderdale and former Eric Clapton bandmate Albert Lee, Byrds co-founder Chris Hillman and young alt-country acts such as The Easy Leaves and Midnight North, local chefs will be serving up their most creative bacon dishes. Beer and wine, non-bacon food booths and arts and crafts vendors round out the festivities. www.montereybaconfest.com City of Monterey's Fourth of July Parade and Big Little Backyard Barbecue, 11am-5pm, July 4, down- town Monterey and Colton Hall lawn T he spectacular fireworks display may be long gone, but Monterey's old-fashioned, patriotic parade and community barbecue are still popular attractions on Independence Day. The lawn at Colton Hall will be filled with live rock, pop, R&B music and Pacific Street will be lined with barbecue and other food vendors, kid's games and nonprofit booths. Plus, it's all free to attend. Now that's worth celebrating. www.kel- lypro.com 78th Annual Carmel Bach Festival, July 18-Aug. 1, Carmel H ard to believe in this day of shifting economies and spon- sorships, but this Carmel classical music institution has been going strong since 1935. A change from a three-week format to a two-week festival may have even strength- ened it and made it better and more focused. As this year's theme, "Bach, Bohemia and Beyond" signi- fies, it not only celebrates Bach, but his ongoing influence and inspira- tion on other composers and musi- cians with concerts, recitals, master classes, lectures, and open rehearsals. www.bachfestival.org The 78th Carmel Bach Festival offers a variety of classical and chamber music. C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 1 5 85 BaconFest, on June 27-28, features Byrds' co-founder Chris Hillman and Desert Rose Band partner Herb Petersen. "

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