For more than four decades, Monterey has opened its historic adobes for a few evenings each December. In 2026, the 42nd annual Christmas in the Adobes is Friday, December 11, and Saturday, December 12, from 5 to 9 p.m.
What it is
Monterey was the capital of Spanish and Mexican California, and many of its 19th-century adobes still stand downtown. During Christmas in the Adobes, these historic homes and buildings glow with luminarias and holiday decorations, with music and refreshments along the way. You walk between them at your own pace.
Tickets
- Buy online from the Monterey State Historic Park Association (https://www.mshpa.org/christmas-in-the-adobes).
- Adult tickets are cheaper if bought before November 1. A two-night pass is also offered.
- Youth 17 and under are free.
Will-call: pick up your wristband first
Online ticket holders must check in at a will-call location to get a wristband and the event map. Print-at-home and phone tickets are not accepted at the individual adobes. Will-call opens at 4 p.m. at:
- The Stanton Center, Custom House Plaza
- Casa Gutierrez, 590 Calle Principal
- Stevenson House, 530 Houston Street
Tips for the evening
- The event is held rain or shine. Dress warmly and wear comfortable shoes.
- Start near Custom House Plaza, then work your way inland.
- Arrive early on Saturday, the busier night.
Staying at Bay Breeze Inn
Bay Breeze Inn in Seaside is about seven minutes from Old Monterey, and connecting rooms make it easy to bring the whole family for the holidays. Free coffee in the lobby all day helps on a chilly December evening. Book direct at baybreezeinn.com.
Illustrative photograph of the historic Custom House; not a photograph of the 2026 Christmas in the Adobes event. Photo: Custom House Monterey, CA (cropped) by Jsweida, via Wikimedia Commons. Original photograph and this image adaptation licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Cropped on Commons from the original; Resized; website renditions may be cropped and converted in format. This license applies only to the photograph.
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