Monterey Jazz Festival, California

The Monterey Jazz Festival is one of the Golden State's premiere music events. For more than 50 years, jazz musicians and fans have come together to enjoy some amazing music along the Central Coast. The annual event, which is as much a tradition as the California State Fair, features more than 500 artists who perform on eight different stages over the course of two days and three nights.

Monterey Jazz Festival History and Facts

The Monterey Jazz Festival California 2011 will happen in Mid-September. As it has been since the first year, the festival takes place at the Monterey County Fairgrounds. Many of the concerts are held at the Arena, an outdoor amphitheater at the heart of the fairgrounds. Outside of the arena, there are twenty acres of grounds to enjoy events under magnificent oak trees and eight more stages of live jazz.

The list of Monterey Jazz Festival events and things to do includes a film festival and plenty of shopping opportunities. Vendors will also stage exhibits and sell food and drinks. The gates open at Friday evening as well as Saturday and Sunday morning, giving you plenty of time to explore and experience all the festivities along with the great music.

Tickets to the Monterey Jazz Festival Events

A variety of ticket options are available for the Monterey Jazz Festival California 2011, everything from a single-day ticket to a full weekend VIP package. Tickets for the arena shows, available for the day or the weekend, include a reserved seat for all the concerts as well as general admission to the outdoor concert and activities. Weekend and single-day packages also are available for just the grounds concerts and events.

If you upgrade to the Premier Access Pass with any of these packages, you'll enjoy a long list of perks. VIPs will receive a gift bag as well as a special entrance at the fairgrounds. As one of the premier holidays and events in the region, it's no surprise that upgrades are available to make the experience even more speical.

Directions to the Monterey Jazz Festival

The Monterey Fairgrounds are located close to the Pacific Coast in scenic central California, south of the Bay Area. If you're planning to enjoy the Monterey Jazz festival events, you need to find your way to the fairgrounds first. They're found on Fairgrounds Road in the heart of town. This road crosses Highway 68, or you could take the Fremont Street exit from Highway 1, the Cabrillo Highway, and take one of the cross streets the short distance from Fairgrounds Road.

Monterey is a neighbor to Big Sur and Carmel and close to the Salinas Valley. Scenic Highway 1, the famed Pacific Highway, winds it way north to Santa Cruz up to San Francisco. If you're traveling from the south to the Monterey Jazz Festival California, you could take the same highway from Santa Barbara and Orange County.

Lodging near the Monterey Jazz Festival

Camping is not allowed at the fairgrounds, but several nearby campgrounds can accommodate tents and RVs. If you're looking to upgrade your accommodations during the Monterey Jazz Festival, you'll have several choices for hotels and resorts. The long-running festival draws a big crowd, so you'll want to make reservations well in advance at the nearby California hotels.

The Casa Munras Hotel and Spa, at 700 Munras Avenue, provides hospitality to festival goers during September and others throughout the year. This boutique hotel, close to the fairgrounds, is right in the heart of Old Town Monterey. The guestrooms, 171 in total, are decorated in the California hacienda style. Guests enjoy a wide range of amenities and comforts, including an outdoor heated pool and luxury beds in each room and suite.

Another option, the Embassy Suites Hotel Monterey Bay-Seaside, can be found at 1441 Canyon Del Rey just two blocks from the beach. This lodging provider offers bay views and easy access to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, all a short drive from the Monterey Jazz Festival. There are 255 guest suites in this hotel tower, each with a wet bar and kitchenette, and complimentary high-speed Internet access.