Carmel Valley Ranch and Pernod Ricard Whiskies invite you on a sensory trip around the Isles of Ireland and Scotland with a tasting of six of the rarest expressions of Whiskey. Join Chef Tim, Sommelier Dave, Kate Flanagan, and Master of Scotch Josh Gefland for a three-course dinner as you taste, talk, and learn everything whiskey.

Join us in the Organic Garden for one of our favorite traditions. We’ll have eggs full of treats hidden about the garden, plus a Petting Zoo with our favorite friends from the Hilltop Corral!

This family-friendly brunch features all the holiday favorites, including fresh-carved honey-baked ham and prime rib, Pacific Northwest smoked salmon, sustainably raised seafood and sushi, hand-rolled omelets, Ranch eggs benedict, and fresh pastries, fruits, and veggies--plus a kids’ craft table to keep the little ones entertained.

Stop by our blooming Organic Garden to pick a Mother’s Day bouquet of fresh flowers and herbs for that special mom in your life. Farmer Mark will help you choose the perfect arrangement for her—or you!

Kick off the summer with a Memorial Day Weekend tradition! Festivities begin with family races and games, followed by Doug the Surfing Magician’s magic show, face-painting, and live music. For the barbeque, order up your choice of ribs, brats, or chicken plus sides from the River Ranch Cafe.

Grab the kids and come down to the River Ranch for a special afternoon of lawn games like Giant Jenga, grilled meat, and beers on tap for Dad. No reservations necessary.

Celebrate Father’s Day in style on the Vintner Terrace, with a barbeque from Chef Tim befitting all the #1 Dads out there. Somellier Dave will be pouring rare and exciting bourbons, rye whiskeys and hand-crafted whiskey-based cocktails. Seating is limited; reservations highly recommended.

Celebrate Independence Day, Ranch-style! Family Games begin at 1:30p with a pie-eating contest, water-balloon toss, strolling magician, face painter, and live music by local band David Holodiloff Trio. Of course, it wouldn’t be the 4th without firing up the grill! From 4:00p to 7:00p, enjoy a choice of ribs, brats, or chicken, plus corn on the cob, coleslaw, and cornbread for $30 per person.

Come celebrate the harvest and enjoy the bounty of the 7,500 Grosso and English Lavender plants that grace our hillsides. This not-to-be-missed celebration features an afternoon of lavender oil distillation demonstrations, tasting stations, garden tours, crafts, kite building, music, chicken chats and meet-and-greets with our Nanny Goats of Carmel Valley Ranch!

A truly unique opportunity to participate in our distillation and essential oil blending process of lavender—from stem and root to oil and hydrosol! Carmel Valley Ranch is home to 7,000 lavender plants, of two different varieties. Help with the harvesting process and learn all about the production of essential oils. Participants will take home their own bottle of essential oil.

Join us in the Organic Garden to celebrate the coming of Fall and the amazing bounty of the Monterey Bay and Carmel Valley! We'll be featuring our favorite local artisans and farmers, including Beekeeper John Russo, who will host a honey tasting and share the secrets of our Carmel Valley Ranch lavender oil; Bob Kirkland from Monterey Bay Salt Company, who will offer samples of his infused salts with delicious sweet summer fruits and veggies; Farmer Mark Marino, who will lead tours through our 2-acre garden and orchard; and Sommelier Mark Buzan, who will deliver tastes of Carmel Valley Ranch's Swing wines. We’ll have lead-line horseback rides for children of all ages, open up the Hen House for questions and chicken cuddles, and make specialty harvest crafts such as lavender sachets.

Join The Carmel Valley Wine Experience annual Wine & Food event with a grand tasting on our beautiful Vineyard Lawn. You will be able to taste wine from 12 winery members of the Carmel Valley Wine Experience as well as sample food from local restaurants who will be showcasing local produce and foods from beautiful Monterey County. Meet The Ranch’s artisans for a specialty tasting of The Ranch’s new Swing vintage, a Ranch-honey tasting from our apiary, a variety of Ranch-made salt tastings from our salt house, and a goat cheese tasting by our goat whisperer and master cheese maker. *Must be 21 years of age and have a valid ID.

This family-friendly brunch features all the classics, Ranch style—from apple-cider-brined turkey to thyme & sage stuffing, from cinnamon citrus cranberry sauce to green beans with toasted almonds, from maple roasted butternut squash soup to pumpkin pie straight from our Organic Garden.

Join us for this interactive gift-making tradition. Enjoy refreshments and music while you create a festive holiday wreath, a custom scent or lip balm, or a fragrant potpourri sachet from herbs grown on property. Or try your hand at rolling beeswax candles, designing bead jewelry, or making personalized holiday ornaments and table decorations. Admission includes three tickets to participate in three crafts of your choice, as well as one raffle ticket.

Mark the beginning of the Winter Holidays, and join us for a very special tree-lighting ceremony. We will be lighting the ancient and beautiful oak tree that reigns supreme in front of the Lodge. Santa will be visiting us and will be available for family photos by the lobby fireplace.

Celebrate the season with a different traditional holiday cookie on each night leading to Christmas. These homemade delights come from old family recipes gathered from our talented, multinational Ranch Team. Sample the goodies while you read about the people and stories behind them.

Join us in the Lobby as local singing groups serenade us with holiday classics. Everyone is invited to sing along!

Help us light the menorah and celebrate the Festival of Lights with games, crafts, songs, and— of course—homemade latkes and other delicious noshes. Carmel Valley’s own Rabbi Bruce will be on hand to tell the wondrous story of the miracle of Chanukah. Open to Members and Guests.

Come get your hands sticky and build an enchanting gingerbread house! We provide the candies, frosting, and gingerbread—you provide the creativity and perseverance.

Santa Claus has come to the Ranch—catch him if you can! Enjoy a family-friendly scavenger hunt around the property, using clues that lead you from Elf to Elf to Santa himself! We’ll also be offering family portraits with the big man himself, plus crafts, snacks, and more!

This event combines performance, participation, storytelling, and even sword fighting. Meet the young stars of Dance Kids of Monterey’s The Nutcracker, and learn a scene from the famous ballet. Tea will be served, with complimentary champagne for the adults. A portion of the proceeds goes to Dance Kids of Monterey County, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing local youth with dance and theater arts opportunities.

Gather around for a very Ranchy tradition. Read by one of our own Ranch Hands, the classic tale of magic and wonder comes to life on this winter afternoon by the warmth of the Lobby hearth.

Burn off those holiday calories and start the New Year right! Join us for one of our longer and more strenuous hikes to the top of Snively’s Ridge, enjoying breathtaking views of the entire Carmel River Valley. Recommended for adults and children over 12. Pet friendly for seasoned trail dogs.

Gather around with your fellow Ranchers for a steaming cup of hot cider, and exchange memories of your day.

Ring in the New Year with a refined yet relaxed buffet dinner. Enjoy hors d’ouevres and a Welcome Reception starting at 6:00, followed by dinner seating at 7:00p. You’ll be treated to an amazing feast of ocean-fresh shellfish, natural prime rib of beef, locally grown vegtables, and much more. At 9:00, we’ll host an East Coast Countdown with dancing and dessert.

Dinner, dancing, and toasting--the essentials of a New Year’s Eve celebration! We’ll have live music in the Lodge Lobby and Restaurant until 9:30p, followed by dance music for the night owls through midnight.