Night Owl Returns
Night Owl is flying back to PG on October 11 and we have a whole host of fun activities to make our biggest fundraiser the biggest night of the year!
This is a 21+ only event. Learn more and get your tickets at the link below:
Field Sketching Workshops Class 2
Join us for a special series of Field Sketching workshops with talented artist and scientist Cady DeLay! Learn more about each day and sign up at the link below:
Firewise Gardening Panel: PG Museum and UC Master Gardeners
Hear from experts on fire-safe landscaping, featuring the UC Master Gardeners, Monterey County Firewise, and the Fire Department.
Science Saturday: Spooky Science
Join us for a spine-chilling Science Saturday dedicated to exploring the spooky and creepy aspects of nature. Discover the eerie world of nocturnal creatures as we delve into the lives of bats, owls, and other mysterious animals that thrive in the darkness. Learn about the fascinating adaptations of these creatures and the myths that surround them. Engage in activities that highlight the unsettling beauty of nature, from the life cycles of creepy crawlies to the intriguing yet macabre role of scavengers in the ecosystem. Embrace the thrill of the unknown as we uncover the natural wonders that give rise to our greatest fears and inspire our most fantastical tales.
Field Sketching Workshops Class 3
Join us for a special series of Field Sketching workshops with talented artist and scientist Cady DeLay! Learn more about each day and sign up at the link below:
Field Sketching Workshops Class 4
Join us for a special series of Field Sketching workshops with talented artist and scientist Cady DeLay! Learn more about each day and sign up at the link below:
LGO Guided Monarch Walk
Join the naturalists at the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History for a free guided walk at the Pacific Grove Monarch Sanctuary. Find monarchs clustering in trees or feeding from nectar plants, and learn about their amazing adaptations and how we can help protect them.
NOTE: this program is dependent on monarchs being present at the Sanctuary. Monarchs are a highly threatened species, and we cannot guarantee there being a healthy population this year. Check the latest monarch count below.
This free event requires registration with the Let’s Go Outdoors! website below.
LGO Guided Monarch Walk
Join the naturalists at the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History for a free guided walk at the Pacific Grove Monarch Sanctuary. Find monarchs clustering in trees or feeding from nectar plants, and learn about their amazing adaptations and how we can help protect them.
NOTE: this program is dependent on monarchs being present at the Sanctuary. Monarchs are a highly threatened species, and we cannot guarantee there being a healthy population this year. Check the latest monarch count below.
This free event requires registration with the Let’s Go Outdoors! website below.
History on Tap: Gold, Ghosts, & Legends of Monterey
Hidden bags of gold, family heritage, outlaw chases, and more are part of a fascinating tale that shines a light on many aspects of Monterey’s rich history. Join us for a special night with Brian Edwards and friends from the Monterey County Free Public Libraries to learn about our local tales and histories! More information coming soon, but get your tickets now before they sell out!
Special Qigong Session
Ease into the holidays and release the stresses of the season with a special Qigong session led by Linda Anne Goulet of Gou-Chi. With a special shakuhachi flute performance and easy, guided movements, you’ll leave feeling rested and recharged.
Details
Cost: Free for Museum Members, $15 for Member Guests
Why $15 for Guests? We love offering free events for members, and we’re always happy to see their guests, but these events do have a cost, so we ask for a nominal fee to help us cover it from non-members.
Registration: Required as space is limited
Location: In the Bird Gallery
Age Range: 10 & above
What to Expect: Your registration includes an hour-long Qigong session with Linda Anne. Be sure to dress in comfortable clothes and shoes that you can move in and bring some water.
Accessibility: This class is formatted to people with all abilities, and Linda Anne tailors each move to varying levels of ability. This course can be done sitting or standing, and can movements can be large or small.
Duration: 1 hour
Field Sketching Workshops Class 5
Join us for a special series of Field Sketching workshops with talented artist and scientist Cady DeLay! Learn more about each day and sign up at the link below:
Science Saturday: Pollinators and Monarchs
Join us for a magical Science Saturday focused on the vital role of pollinators, with a special emphasis on the enchanting Monarch butterfly. Come explore the intricate relationship between these remarkable insects and the ecosystems they inhabit. Through engaging activities, attendees will learn about the life cycle of monarchs, the importance of habitat conservation, and how each of us can contribute to protecting these essential pollinators. This event promises to be both educational and inspiring, shedding light on the challenges facing monarchs and the strategies we can adopt to safeguard their future.
Winter Wreathmaking
Join us for our third annual Winter Wreathmaking workshops! We have a wonderful day planned and can’t wait to see what you create. We’ll provide the supplies and materials to create the wreath of your dreams including boughs, florals, ribbons, and molds, as well as snacks and hot cider and advice from our staff. You just have to show up and enjoy! This year we’re doing things a little differently: Adults who want to accompany their kids to make a wreath but not to make one themselves do not have to pay full admission. See below for more details, and sign up for either the 10:00 or 1:00 sessions below!
Details
Cost: $15 for Museum Members, $25 General, $10 kids 6-12, $5 for parent or guardian who is not going to make a wreath.
Why $5 if I’m not making a wreath? We love to have you with us helping children or friends make their wreath, as we’re providing all supplies and food at-cost, we ask for a small donation to participate.
Registration: Required as space is limited
Location: In the Museum Classroom
Age Range: 10 & above
What to Expect: Your registration includes two hours to create your wreaths with all tools and supplies provided. You’ll also get to help yourself to homemade non-alcoholic mulled cider and holiday snacks.
Accessibility: This class is formatted to people with all abilities, and helpers can be available if needed. Hand-coordination to cut ribbon and/or greenery and mold wire will be needed but can be provided by helpers.
Duration: 2 hours
Field Sketching Workshops Class 6
Join us for a special series of Field Sketching workshops with talented artist and scientist Cady DeLay! Learn more about each day and sign up at the link below:
Outreach: Monarch Volunteers
PG Museum monarch volunteers will be at the Butterfly Days Parade with buttons, "Ask me how you can help monarchs."
Free First Friday-Kirsten Carlson
Artist Meet & Greet: Kirsten Carlson
Join us on First Friday for a special opportunity to meet science illustrator and artist Kirsten Carlson! Explore her stunning work that blends art, science, and storytelling, and hear firsthand about her creative process and passion for the natural world. There will be wine and small bites available for free.
Come get inspired, ask questions, and connect with the artist!
Monterey Regional Monarch Alliance
The annual in-person meeting of the Monterey Regional Monarch alliance will take place at PG Museum. Agencies, organizations, and businesses involved in monarch conservation and education are invited to attend.
Field Sketching Workshops Class One
Join us for a special series of Field Sketching workshops with talented artist and scientist Cady DeLay! Learn more about each day and sign up at the link below:
Monarch Docent Volunteer Training (part 2)
Join the Museum’s Monarch Docent team! Inspire visitors to take action to protect the endangered Western monarch butterfly. Help visitors locate any clustering or otherwise visible monarchs at Pacific Grove's Monarch Sanctuary. Help visitors discover the wonder of these magnificent creatures.
Benefits include:
In-depth training on the natural history and conservation of the Western monarch butterfly.
Interacting with visitors from all around the world in a beautiful outdoor setting.
Becoming skilled in informal science education.
To become a Monarch Docent, you must join the Monarch Docent Training. The 2025 training consists of two parts:
Thursday, September 25, 5:30 - 7:30 pm: a virtual lecture on monarch butterfly natural history and conservation
Saturday, September 27, 11:00 am - 12:00 pm: an in-person orientation to the Monarch Sanctuary and interpretive tools for docents
Sign up for both trainings with the link below. For questions, reach out to our Volunteer Coordinator.
Science Saturday: Biodiversity Blast
Join us for a Biodiversity-themed Science Saturday at the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History, where you can explore the rich diversity of life found along the Central Coast. Engaging activities and interactive displays will highlight the importance of biodiversity in our ecosystems, emphasizing the roles different species play in maintaining environmental balance. Visitors will have the opportunity to engage with community partners in this field, participate in activities, and discover the fascinating relationships between flora and fauna. This event is designed to educate and inspire all ages to appreciate and protect the natural world around us.
Sea Otter Viewing
Join us for Sea Otter Awareness Week at Berwick Park! Our naturalists will have telescopes looking for sea otters and special specimens.
Monarch Docent Volunteer Training (part 1)
Join the Museum’s Monarch Docent team! Inspire visitors to take action to protect the endangered Western monarch butterfly. Help visitors locate any clustering or otherwise visible monarchs at Pacific Grove's Monarch Sanctuary. Help visitors discover the wonder of these magnificent creatures.
Benefits include:
In-depth training on the natural history and conservation of the Western monarch butterfly.
Interacting with visitors from all around the world in a beautiful outdoor setting.
Becoming skilled in informal science education.
To become a Monarch Docent, you must join the Monarch Docent Training. The 2025 training consists of two parts:
Thursday, September 25, 5:30 - 7:30 pm: a virtual lecture on monarch butterfly natural history and conservation
Saturday, September 27, 11:00 am - 12:00 pm: an in-person orientation to the Monarch Sanctuary and interpretive tools for docents
Sign up for both trainings with the link below. For questions, reach out to our Volunteer Coordinator.
Wings of Wood: The Art of Wesley Haack
Artist Wesley Haack Showcases his art at the museum! Running September-January 2026
On Saturday, October 11th, Wesley will join us for our annual fundraiser, Night Owl. Prints will be available for purchase and don’t miss out on a chance to meet the artist!
About Wings of wood: The Art of Wesley Haack
Wings of Wood is a series of 8 woodblock carvings of birds seen and photographed by the artist during his years living in Monterey. Each woodblock bird is to scale and carved by hand. The prints are printed with a Griffin Lithography Press, made and operated in Oakland, California. Each print is printed on Velin BFK Rives 100% cotton paper and painted with watercolor.
Sea Otter Viewing
Join us for Sea Otter Awareness Week at Berwick Park! Our naturalists will have telescopes looking for sea otters and special specimens.
LiMPETS Teacher Workshop
Teacher workshop for all new teachers planning a LiMPETS Sandy Beach Monitoring program for the class.
Member Brown Bag: Don't Get Rattled-Myths, Truths, and Lives of Rattlesnakes
Rattlesnakes have so much information about them, but not all of it is true or accurate. Learn about these animals that many in our community live near and/or encounter with snake expert Noelle! This talk is for members. You can learn more about it on our member page, and become a member at the link below.
Dive Into Jade
Join us for the start of a new Museum program, Dive into Jade! A special look at aspects of jade and featuring discussions, demonstrations, and panels, Dive into Jade will launch with a panel of jade experts: Kenny Comello, Marina Shoupe, and Ryan Masters, as they take us into the community, artistry, and science of working with jade. With a happy half-hour sponsored by Other Brother Beer and the opportunity to explore our new exhibit Jade Beneath the Sea, this is going to be a fun and fascinating evening. Tickets have already started to sell, so make sure to reserve your seat for this special talk today!
Details
Cost: Museum Members: $15, General: $25, At the Door: $30
Registration: Required as seating is limited
Doors Open: 5:25pm
Age Range: 16+
What to Expect: Your ticket entitles you to entry, participation in a happy-half hour at the Museum with one drink ticket, a seat at the talk, and the opportunity to learn about jade from artisans, divers, and scholars of this incredible gem.
Duration: 2 hours
Western Monarch Count Volunteer Training
Join the Western Monarch Count community science team!
WoW at Touch a Truck!
Wonder on Wheels will be joining the “Touch a Truck” event for Coastal Kids Home Care.
Animal Frolics Qigong Series: The Crane
Join fabulous teacher Linda Anne Goulet for a special Qigong session to encourage movement and energy release. The series will focus on animal frolics and will offer members a unique opportunity to connect with nature through gentle, time-tested Chinese movement practices. Each session draws inspiration from animals represented in our collections, creating a natural bridge between our museum and member enrichment enhanced by live shakuhachi flute or gentle chimes when appropriate.
This four-part series can be signed up for as a whole or on a drop-in basis. Members can sign up for free, nonmembers can come for $20/person or bundle for a discount.
Each session will be one hour long and the movements are for all ages and abilities to create an inclusive space for the joy of movement. Linda is a fantastic teacher and is happy to accommodate needs for those who might not be able to stand or practice all the traditional movements. Members are now able to sign up on their special member page, and are free to send any questions about the sessions to our Marketing & Events Manager at Fletcher@pgmuseum.org.
Details
Cost: Free for PG Museum Members, $20 for Member guests. The first session will be for anyone who wants to come, after that registration will only be open to members and their guests.
Registration: Required as space is limited
Location: At the Museum, specific spaces will change with each theme.
Age Range: 12 & Above
Accessibility: This session is about energy balance and transfer, and can be done standing or sitting. Arm and leg movements will be part of the session but are optional and can be adjusted if needed. If special accommodations can be made please don’t hesitate to reach out to Fletcher@pgmuseum.org.
What to Expect: Your registration includes entry to the session with other members and friends. We suggest wearing clothing that allows for easy movement and comfort. Doors will open at 8:50am.
Duration: 60 minutes
Start of California Naturalist Class
The California Naturalist course is a 10-week program introducing you to the wonders of our local ecology and engage you in the stewardship of California’s natural communities.
End of Summer Sale Ends
Store Sale: August 16, 2025 -August 31, 2025
Don't miss the Museum Store's End of Summer Sale! Enjoy significant discounts on a wide selection of unique gifts, educational toys, and books. This is the perfect opportunity to pick up special souvenirs or thoughtful gifts while supporting the museum. Visit us before the month ends and save!
Science Saturday: Backyard Birds
Join us for a Backyard Birds Extravaganza at our Science Saturday at the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History!
This family-friendly event invites all to explore the fascinating world of avian life through activities, educational information, and birdwatching in our Native Plant Garden. Come craft your own bird feeders, learn about local bird species, and discover the importance of avian conservation efforts in our community. Expert educators will be on hand to share insights and answer questions, making this an enriching experience for budding ornithologists and nature enthusiasts. Don't miss this opportunity to deepen your understanding of our feathered friends and their vital role in the diverse ecosystems of the Central Coast.
Monarch Society Event
Learn more about our top-tier Monarch Society and see if it fits with your philanthropic goals.
Member Brown Bag: Dad Did What?! The Wild World of Seahorses
Members can join us for this special talk about amazing seahorses with our resident expert Natalie and some very interesting specimens! More information about this event can be found on our member page. If you’d like to become a member, click the link below!
WoW at the Ensen Park Grand Opening!
Wonder on Wheels will be joining the Big Sur Land Trust’s Ensen Park opening.