Posted by Founder, Bicycling Monterey
West End Celebration, Sand City
Free-admission event, including FREE live music
SAVE THE DATE: August 22-23, 2026 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/
FREE Live Music
Among 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 at Contra Costa and Ortiz in Sand City. As 2026 photo below shows, it now has a larger, off-street space, just across the street at the same intersection.
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 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
FREE live music: Dan & Laurel, and more
Dan Frechette and Laurel Thomsen will perform original songs on West End’s Redwood Stage on Sunday, Aug 23, 2026, 11:00-11:45am. 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 but still want to give Dan and Laurel some love? Contact them directly: https://www.danandlaurel.ca/Contact/
For West End’s full music lineup, see https://westendcelebration.com/music-line-up/
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/
This post was published on 22 August 2026. One or more changes last made to this post on 23 August 2026.
