West End Celebration, Sand City

Free-admission event, including FREE live music

August 24-25, 2024 West End Celebration

August’s annual Car Week is a more widely known Monterey County event, but it’s August’s annual West End Celebration when people, not cars, take over the streets! West End has a kinship to Monterey County Open Streets events in that the event’s activities are along car-free streets.

Since its launch more than two decades ago, West End Celebration is highly popular with locals, and visitors. Taking MST shuttle and/or biking is encouraged. For West End FAQs, go to https://westendcelebration.com/faqs/

Among 2024’s artists, crafters, and vendors (with food, art, and more available for purchase), West End includes FREE live music. The music lineup includes many Bicycling Monterey favorites, including the musicians at the end of this post.

FREE bicycle and skateboard valet parking

West End’s bike valet parking station is located on the corner of Contra Costa and Ortiz, Sand City. In 2024 the bike valet service rolls on, thanks to Michael Baroni and friends. Over the years, Mike has provided bike valet parking at many Monterey County events. Mike is a Monterey native and vocal bike advocate since 2009, when he launched Green Pedal Couriers. In recent years he launched his new business, Nitro Cycle brew bus (https://www.brewbus831.com/).

FREE MST shuttle to the event

We encourage biking or taking Monterey-Salinas Transit to the West End Celebration for all who are able. MST will provide a free shuttle every 15 minutes from the Sand City Station (by McDonald’s) to the event. All MST buses, including the trolleys, have bike racks for people who want to bike-and-ride. Tips: https://bikemonterey.org/monterey-salinas-transit-tips-for-people-who-bike.html

https://mst.org

FREE live music

Dan Frechette and Laurel Thomsen will perform original songs on West End’s Redwood Stage on Sat, Aug 24, 12:30-1:15 p.m. Their song “It’s a New Day,” accompanied by Bicycling Monterey photos, has helped inspire more people to bike! Get a little taste of Dan and Laurel’s talents in the video below.

Then check out the wide diversity of their music at https://danandlaurel.ca. If you see them at West End, please let them know you appreciate their acting on climate by supporting bike advocacy! Can’t make it Aug 24 but still want to give Dan and Laurel some love? Contact them directly: https://www.danandlaurel.ca/Contact/

For West End’s full 2024 music lineup, see https://westendcelebration.com/lineup-2024/.

Did you know? You don’t have to watch on YouTube the videos we or others have published on YouTube. There’s another option: You may prefer to do as we do, i.e., watch using Duck Duck Go’s Duck Player. https://duckduckgo.com/duckduckgo-help-pages/duck-player/