86th Annual La Merienda

86th Annual Monterey History & Art Association's La Merienda event to be held on June 3, 2017

November 2016. Monterey, CA.  The community is invited to the 86th Annual Monterey History & Art Association's La Merienda to celebrate the City of Monterey's 247th birthday with a very special BARBECUE BUFFET EXTRAVAGANZA, a five-star culinary experience created by the SHAKE FAMILY CHEFS  and the Merienda Barbecue Committee, with entertainment by Mike Marotta, Jr. & special guests, mariachis, and folklorico dancers, and a festive "Californio" party in the historic Memory Garden on Custom House Plaza on Saturday, June 3, 2017.

Community Members are invited to Host a Party Within the Party!

La Merienda can be described as a “party within a party” with uniquely decorated hosted tables. Attendees invite friends, don a costume, decorate a table, and have fun at this festive event! Local companies are encouraged to purchase a table for their staff or special customers. Or, just come for the celebration, join a table and make some new friends. Meet elected officials, military leaders, and local dignitaries at this not-to-be-missed annual event! This outstanding party attracts over 500 people each year.

Monterey History & Art Association (MHAA) has hosted this party for the last 86 years and all proceeds go towards supporting Monterey's history and arts programs. For further information, go to montereyhistoryandart.org or call (831) 372-2311 or email [email protected].  To schedule an interview, contact Wendy Brickman at (831) 594-1500 or email [email protected]. 

At a Glance:  

What: 86th Annual La Merienda Celebration - City of Monterey’s 247th birthday party features a BARBECUE BUFFET EXTRAVAGANZA by the Shake Family Chefs and the Merienda Barbecue Committee who will create a five-star culinary experience featuring Certified Angus Beef New York steak, BBQ chicken breast, mild Italian sausage, salmon, sauteed scampi shrimp, complimented by 3 salad choices: mixed greens, pasta, and fruit salad, fire roasted sweet corn, fresh-made chili beans, fresh grilled garlic bread, fresh-made salsa and more. Included with the meal is wine, beer, coffee, tea and soft drinks. The mouth-watering feast is followed by the traditional outstanding dessert, a beautiful multi-layered birthday cake from Layers Bakery donated by Tina Del Piero and Lynn Tomlinson and decorated with fresh roses by Jackie Craghead. This festive event includes entertainment by musicians including Mike Marotta, Jr. and special guests, mariachis, and folklorico dancers, gallant dons and donas, and lovely senoritas.  The barbecue committee headed by Chris Shake is composed of local elected officials and well-known community members that prepare and serve the food at this event. There will also be a Silent Auction and 50/50 drawing.  

Children and grandchildren of attendees 4 to11 years old may celebrate with their very own "La Merienda para los Ninos” held concurrently at the MHAA/Stanton Center, featuring a full program of activities including participation in the cake ceremony. All guests are also welcome to dress in 18th century costume.  When: Saturday, June 3, 2017 from 11:15 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Where: Memory Garden, 20 Custom House Plaza, Monterey, CA 93940 

Tickets: Tickets will be available soon to be purchased online at www.montereyhistoryandart.org or call (831) 372-2311 or email [email protected]. $55 per ticket for MHAA members; $65 per ticket for non-MHAA members. Individuals are welcome to sponsor a table of 10 for $650. Companies can sponsor a table for $750 with a provided table hostess, who will decorate and manage the table if desired, plus receive sponsor recognition.

More Information: www.montereyhistoryandart.org or call (831) 372-2311 or email [email protected]. To arrange an advance interview, call Wendy Brickman at (831) 594-1500 or email [email protected], 

About La Merienda

La Merienda (Spanish word for picnic) includes great food and entertainment, a procession, and much, much more. This not-to-be missed very special community event celebrates the founding of the City of Monterey in June 1770 when Father Junipero Serra (recently canonized as a Saint by Pope Francis) and Captain Gaspar de Portola celebrated with a picnic overlooking the Monterey Bay.

 La Merienda, Monterey’s birthday party, is a colorful fiesta barbecue of delicious foods, wine, beer, soft drinks, gallant dons and donas, lovely senoritas, lively music and festive dance.  La Merienda (the Spanish term for afternoon picnic or mid-day meal) re-enacts an elegant 18th century fiesta. It celebrates the founding of the town of Monterey on June 3, 1770 when Padre Junípero Serra, father of the California missions (now Saint Serra), and Captain Gaspar de Portola, a Spanish military leader, joined forces to establish the pueblo of Monterey, California’s first Capital. Their meeting also honored the founding of the “Royal Presidio Chapel”, which today is known as San Carlos Cathedral.

After the ceremonies that day, everyone sat down for a picnic under a large oak tree near their ship, the San Antonio, which rested in the harbor. The first modern Merienda was celebrated in 1929, two years before the formation of the Monterey History & Art Association. A ceremony at Colton Hall and a small luncheon at the Memory Garden marked the occasion. It was presided over by Carmel Martin and Harry Greene. The next year, 350 people joined Carmel Martin, who again acted as Master of Ceremonies, in the Memory Garden and once again celebrated Monterey’s birthday.  The Monterey History & Art Association has celebrated this important early California historic event every year since the Association was established in 1931 (except one year during World War II).

Each year since La Merienda was founded, a local young woman with historic connections to Monterey is chosen as La Favorita, and with her lovely court, reigns over this unique celebration of Monterey’s history. Two other young women are selected to serve as her attendants (“Doncellas”). The women who are chosen for these roles, accompanied by a chaperone (“La Duena”) can trace their ancestry back through Monterey history many generations. These attractive young women dress in traditional white Spanish gowns and mantillas (scarfs) and greet guests, cut the birthday cake and hold court at the celebration. 

The large rose-adorned birthday cake is carried in by local young men (“cake-bearers”), and is sliced with the sword of Colonel Roger S. Fitch, the first President of the Monterey History & Art Association. This event has been sponsored annually by the Monterey History & Art Association for 85 years. Members of Monterey History & Art Association serve as voluntary hosts and hostesses in period costumes at colorfully decorated tables. All guests are also welcome to dress in 18th century costume.

The recipient of Monterey History & Art Association’s most prestigious award, the Laura Bride Powers Award, is announced at La Merienda. This award is named after the woman who is credited with conceiving both the idea of the Association and the Merienda celebration, which antedated MHAA’s founding. Mrs. Powers was the Curator of the Custom House and First Theater and an ardent student of California history. The 2016 Laura Bride Powers Award recipient was Mary Alice Cerrito Fettis. 

The colorful celebration is held in the Memory Gardens, located near the Custom House Plaza in historic downtown Monterey behind the Portola Plaza Hotel. Festivities begin at 11:15 A. M. with dancing. The doors open to the Memory Gardens where the aromas of the delicious barbeque greet the guests. Day-long entertainment includes live music, Mariachis and folklorico dancers as well as a procession of local and international dignitaries and costumed ladies and gentlemen, reenacting an old tradition.  The gaily-decorated tables are hosted by more than 50 MHAA volunteers, who provide hospitality to the guests. After the BARBECUE BUFFET EXTRAVAGANZA (served by another 25 well-known elected officials and local volunteers) the traditional Merienda birthday cake is paraded around the Garden and then cut and served with much ceremony. 

The La Merienda Barbecue is always served by well-known community members. In past years, La Merienda Barbecue servers have included Peter Coniglio, who coordinated this part of the event in the past for over 40 years, with Chris Shake taking it on in 2015. Leon Panetta, Dan Albert, Dan Baldwin, Ted Balestreri, Sr., Teddy Balestreri, Bill Curtis, Marc and Eric DelPiero, Jay Hudson, George Kodama, Nino Palma, Dave Potter, Carmelo Tringali, Russ Harris, Bert Cutino, Tony Leyva, Bob Masarro, Sal Ferrante, Dino Ferrante and John Lotz compose some of the barbecue team in the recent past. The 2017 La Merienda crew will be determined closer to the event date! 

La Merienda sponsorships, donations and other services help to defray the cost of this unique not-to-be-missed Monterey celebration. All proceeds above the cost of the Merienda itself go to Monterey History & Art Association’s support and maintenance of the Museum of Monterey at Stanton Center, Casa Serrano, the Doud House and the Mayo Hayes O’Donnell Library. To become a MHAA member, sponsor or donor, please call Larry Chavez, President of the Monterey History & Art Association, at (831) 869-1664 or email [email protected]. 

About Monterey History & Art Association:

From its founding in 1931, the Monterey History & Art Association’s primary mission has been to help preserve the irreplaceable reminders of Monterey’s colorful heritage. Over the past eight decades, the Association has worked closely with the City of Monterey, the California Department of Parks and Recreation, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and other agencies. As a result, more old adobes have been preserved and restored in Monterey than anywhere else in California.

The Association instituted Monterey’s historic landmark program and created the Path of History which guides visitors to historic sites in old Monterey. It possesses extensive collections of furnishings, paintings, photographs, costumes, books, manuscripts, and other artifacts, and is the parent organization of the following Monterey institutions: Museum of Monterey at Stanton Center, Casa Serrano, and the Mayo Hayes O'Donnell Library. 

The Monterey History & Art Association has been a guiding force in Monterey’s vital historic stewardship. The guarding of Monterey’s precious community assets and the preservation and presentation of its historical heritage for future enjoyment has been made possible by citizens who care and give generously of their time and resources. The Monterey History & Art Association, is the oldest cultural institution on the Monterey Peninsula. It began its work 85 years ago, and is still going strong today as a leader in the preservation of Monterey’s artifacts, historic properties, and local art.

The Museum of Monterey, Stanton Center, which was devoted to chronicling the history of Monterey through its connection with the sea, has been transformed into an impressive homage to Salvador Dali's etchings, mixed media, lithographs, sculptures and tapestries by the larger than life Spanish surrealist artist open 7 days a week.