Join us for the second Monterey Abalone Festival, a two-day celebration on Saturday, August 1, starting at 12:30pm and Sunday, August 2, 2026, starting at 10:00am at the Monterey JACL Hall.
Explore the natural, cultural, and culinary history of abalone. The festival includes performances by the Monterey Bay Lion Dance Team and Rumen Ohlone Tribal Community Dancers. Please see below for the festival schedule.
Monterey has a long history with abalone. In fact, Monterey and abalone go hand in hand. It was abalone that first brought the Japanese to Monterey, and it was monies made from abalone that built the JACL Hall and the Monterey Wharf.
The Monterey JACL Hall is located at 424 Adams Street. Street parking is available for 2 hours and free parking is available in the lot to the left of the Monterey JACL Hall.
Monterey Abalone Festival Schedule (subject to change)
SATURDAY, AUGUST 1, 2026
12:30pm: Monterey Bay Lion Team
1:00pm: Introduction and Welcome by Tim Thomas and Tommy Hattori
1:15pm: Sandy Lydon, Chinese and Pebble Beach
2:00pm: Geoffrey Dunn: The Abalone Song, George Sterling
2:45pm: 15 minute break
3:00pm: Monterey Bay Lion Dance Team will parade to Del Monte Beach
3:30pm: Rumsen Ohlone Tribal Community Dancers: Abalone Dance
SUNDAY, AUGUST 2, 2026
10:00am: Thomas Hattori, grandson of Monterey abalone diver, Roy Hattori
10:45am: Keith Rootsaert: Giant Kelp Restoration Project
11:30am: Joe Ogilvy: Tin Can Coast
12:00pm: The White Abalone Project
12:45pm: Presentation of the Roy Hattori Memorial Award
1-2:00pm: Tours of the Monterey Abalone Farm
Sunday, August 2 , 1-2pm
Tour of the Monterey Abalone Farm
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