Monterey County’s beautiful landscapes have often been described as magical. In September, the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History will take it a step further with an Enchanted Forest Costume Contest at their annual fundraiser Night Owl.

Night Owl participants are encouraged to sign up for the costume contest, which will be held during the evening, and exercise their imaginations. The mystery and wonder of an enchanted forest is often depicted with mystical creatures such as fairies, unicorns, witches and wizards, and covered in toadstools, moss, lichen, and the like, and participants are encouraged to dive into what they’re most excited about as a costume. The winner of the contest will be chosen by the audience and win a tasting room tour for 8 from Bargetto Winery. Second and Third place will also receive special prizes, with every submission getting cheered on and every dollar spent at the event going back to the Museum’s free admission, programming, and collections care.

Night Owl: Curiosity After Dark will be held on September 18th with special discounts for members and an exclusive Curiosity Hour for an extra $10 that allows a limited number of guests to enjoy the night early before the major crowds enter. Night Owl will also feature the return of popular artist Wesley Haack doing block printing, Mayari Metaphysical giving free tarot readings, local artist Mckenzie Floyd selling cyanotype block prints, a murder mystery, and live raptors and owls with Full Circle Falconry. Tickets are on sale now and can be found with more information on the Museum’s website: Night Owl 2026 — Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History

Upcoming Events at the Museum:

Jade in Watercolor- 8/22, 10am-1pm

Science on Tap: Creatures of the Land & Sea- 8/27, 5:30-7:30pm

Birding at Point Pinos – 8/29, 9-11:30am

Science Saturday: Unique Habitats – 8/29, 10am-3pm

Garden Work Bee – 9/5, 10am-12pm

Night Owl – 9/18, 7-10pm, early access 6pm

About the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History

In 1883, the Museum opened its doors among the first wave of natural history museums in America. Naturalists of this era began a national tradition of hands-on science education and nature preservation, a tradition the Museum has continued for over 140 years. The Museum’s mission is to inspire discovery, wonder, and stewardship of our cultural and natural world. The Museum supports conservation, scientific literacy, co-curation, and deep learning towards a resilient community and sustainable future. Their work is made possible, in part, by the following generous donors: American Water Charitable Foundation, City of Pacific Grove, Community Foundation for Monterey County, Harden Foundation, Helen Johnson Endowment Funds, Monterey Peninsula Foundation, and Shelby Cullom Davis Charitable Fund. The Museum is open to the public Wednesday-Sunday, 10am-4pm. For more information visit www.pgmuseum.org.