 Salinas holds a number of exciting events which draw thousands of travelers
and locals throughout the year. The third full week in July is always reserved
for the California Rodeo, one of the top rodeos in the nation. The Rodeo is four days of raucous competition among top professional cowboys and cowgirls. Take in bareback bronc and bull riding, calf roping, steer wrestling, cattle cutting and barrel racing at its finest along with barbecues, parades and country western entertainment. The California Rodeo is held in the new $8.5 million Salinas Sports Complex, which also hosts concerts and sporting events throughout the year.
 Fall brings the California International Airshow and Cherry’ Jubilee. The California International Airshow is the premier aviation event on the West Coast. Top jet teams like The Blue Angels, Thunderbirds and Canadian Snowbirds perform for crowds of 80,000 each year. Other flying exhibitions, aerobatics and dynamic ground shows thrill audiences of all ages. Cherry’s Jubilee is a classic car show and rally that occurs over three days, encompassing venues from Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca to Cannery Row. Participants display cars from the early 1900’s to 1972, and enjoy parades, cruising, entertainment, and food and craft booths. Both events benefit local charities and the Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital Foundation.
 A host of cultural events and fairs are held up and down the valley throughout the year including the Castroville Artichoke Festival, Greenfield’s Harvest Festival, the Salinas Valley Fair, Clam Chowder Feed, Great Wine Escape, Obon Festival, Filipino Festival, Steinbeck Wine Country Open House, the Steinbeck Festival held at the National Steinbeck Center and the Chamber's own month-long Salute to Agriculture. Look for dates on the website annual events calendar.
The Castroville Artichoke Festival, which celebrates the locally grown and tasty vegetable, features what some have called the "best little parade in California." It also includes live entertainment, food booths and a craft fair. This two-day event celebrates Castroville as the "Artichoke Capital of the World."
Carmel's TomatoFest and Greenfield’s Harvest Festival are two events that celebrate agriculture in the Salinas Valley. The TomatoFest features tasting of more than 300 tomatoes varieties from around the world, an extravagant outdoor BBQ and delicious tomato foods created by 55 of America's best chefs. The Harvest Festival is a community event, allowing organizations to raise funds for the year. Taste authentic foods, watch the parade and enjoy festival entertainment. The Salinas Valley Fair is an old-fashioned style county fair with 4-H exhibits, a carnival, rodeo and live entertainment. Enjoy the beauty of the valley and the richness of what it produces.
The Steinbeck Festival is a four-day event including lectures, panels, walking tours of Salinas, bus tours to Steinbeck sites of interest and stage performances. The annual theme changes, each year focusing on a new element of Steinbeck’s literature and works.
The nearby Monterey Peninsula is also home to a number of world-famous annual events including the Monterey Jazz Festival, Winemaker’s Celebration, Scottish Games and Celtic Festival, Pebble Beach Concourse d’Elegance and the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am golf tournament.
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