Pacific Grove Good Old Days Festival offering arts, crafts and entertainment

The Pacific Grove Good Old Days Street Festival is one of the city’s largest attractions of the year, celebrating community spirit, and offering a platform for locals and visitors to come together.

Dozens of art sellers, bands and vendors are listed on this year’s itinerary for the festival happening downtown this weekend. The event transforms the coastal town into a family-friendly atmosphere, offering diverse attractions, entertainment and food.

Hosted by the Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce, the 65th annual festival will run on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. To kick off the festival, there will be a parade on Pine Avenue at 10 a.m. Saturday featuring the 2024 Grand Marshalls Vic and Lynda Johnson.

“There’s something to do for every age group,” said Christian Metzner, interim CEO president of the Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce. “We want to see everyone having a good time, it brings everyone together.”

Over 40 bands and performers will take the stage from a wide range of musical genres and more than 200 food, arts and crafts vendors will highlight the talents and flavors of the region. Hand-craft enthusiasts are also encouraged to check out the quilt show with a showcase of intricate designs.

The Kiwanis Club will host a pancake breakfast at 8 a.m. Sunday at Jewell Park.

There are also a lot of family events planned from carnival rides and a petting zoo, to a kids firefighter challenge on Sunday, hosted by the Monterey Firefighter Foundation.

“The firefighter challenge is one of our most popular events,” Metzner said. “The kids love it, and the firefighters that participate are always enthusiastic.”

For adults, there will be a chance to relax and unwind in the Pacific Grove Rotary’s beer and wine gardens, offering several different types of beverages to complement the festivities.

The festival took a small hiatus during the pandemic, but has been going strong since 2022, bringing many returning bands and vendors downtown, and keeping the spirit and essence of the festival going according to officials.

As of Tuesday, there is a slight chance of rain early Saturday morning, and again in the evening, but the precipitation might clear up for a cloudy day on the coast.

The Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce has been working on this event since December, reaching out to vendors and bands and drawing up plans. In all, it’s a combination of work between both Pacific Grove and Monterey County organizations to bring everyone together for a good time.

“We couldn’t do it without the other partners and city departments that participate,” Metzner said. “It takes all of them to put this on, and we’re really excited for it. We’re just hoping for good weather.”