Esalen’s Community Program
For Big Sur Locals and Friends
Labor Day
Monday, September 6, 2-8:30pm
Gate opens at 2pm, Show Starts at 2:30pm
A Celebration of Big Sur Culture!
Join us in celebrating Big Sur culture with local foods and entertainment. Our way of saying "Thank You," and cultivating a joyful community life!
Culinary Creations with Local Foods
Be a Locavore! Sustainable foods harvested from the Esalen farm as well as other local farms and coastal waters will be served all day at one of our three food stands:
- Wood-fired pizza and Esalen grown salads from our Farm and Garden
- Fresh caught Monterey Bay fish at our taco stand
- Ingenious and crazy-delicious creations at our vegetarian BBQ
A meal from one of these three is complimentary with your entrance ticket. Purchase more if you’d like, along with local beer and wine.
Performances
Reggae, Bossa Nova, Hip-Swaying Tribal Fusion, Grass-Roots, Hip-Hop, Fire-Dancing and 
Big Sur Native Drumming with the talents of:
LoCura
An original blend of irresistible, high energy Flamenco, Reggae, & Hip-Hop with lyrics in Spanish and English and a message of bridging cultures and transcending borders.
Jayson Fann & the Achè Ensemble
Featuring members of the Big Sur Natives - Afro-Cuban Latin Jazz Music and Dance Ensemble.
Folk Funk Possibility
What do you get when you combine the sounds of Ben Harper and Dave Matthews? Our very own Folk Funk! Originals sounds with vocalist Mati on guitar, Dave Holodilhoff on mandolin and Laurel Thompsen on violin.
Selah Dance Company & Big SuRCuS
Tribal bellydance & fusion that will mesmerize. Hearts blazing, bodies aflame — amazing local fire dancing.
Jaqui Hope
Sultry Brazilian bossa nova & expressive jazz.
Navel Explorations
A jamming eclectic mix of underground gorilla grooves.
Just for Kids... Or Not!
Create huge bubbles and watch them float. Pop them before they get away!
Chalk Art
Face painting – this one is for children of ALL ages!
Tickets
SOLD OUT! Tickets are available only for Big Sur residents and employees the day of the event at the gate.
Advance ticket sales are available here or at the Esalen gate. Online sales will end when tickets are sold out or 24 hours before the event, whichever is sooner. Tickets may not be purchased by phone. If you plan to purchase tickets at the event please plan to arrive early and we cannot guarantee availability. Tickets are non-refundable and only transferable if both parties are present at check-in.
Tickets are $30/person, $10/Children 6-14, 5 and under free. Tickets are $20 for Big Sur locals. Local tickets are available now through event day only at the Esalen gate with proof of address. All who have a Big Sur or Palo Colorado address qualify as local.
Ticket includes a meal and use of the hot springs. Bring towels if you plan to use the mineral baths and a blanket for sitting on the lawn. The baths close at 7:30pm.
IMPORTANT:
After purchasing your ticket(s) online, please print and bring your confirmation to the event. A valid photo ID of the ticket purchaser will be required for check-in. If you purchase tickets as a gift or the tickets should be held under another name, please click the "Add special instructions to merchant" link during checkout and note the name(s) the tickets should be held under.
Where Our Local Foods Come From
Esalen Farm, Garden and Kitchen, Big Sur
Many are left speechless by the beauty and vitality of the sacred Esalen grounds and food. Most who stroll through, spend time working in, or simply gaze upon our one acre market garden feel awe and appreciation for its abundance, vitality and sheer beauty. Our four- acre farm sustainably produces 60%-75% of all the produce we eat in the summer and 30%-40% in the winter. The Esalen kitchen skillfully prepares and artfully serves 3 healthy meals a day.
Pear Valley Farm, Big Sur
Steve Beck and Sydney Ocean have been working with Esalen for over 30 years providing food, compost and love. We’ll enjoy juicy citrus from Steve who helped craft the Asilomar Declaration for Sustainable Agriculture.
Wise Acre Farm, Cambria - http://www.wiseacrefarm.net
Laurie (Lioness) and Greg Parizek honor the artistic as well as the agricultural with herb and flower beds and a country park setting on six acres on Santa Rosa Creek in the rural farmlands of Cambria.
Sweetwater Farm, Big Sur
Charlie Cascio, former Esalen Kitchen Manager and Chef brings us delightful and delicious Big Sur Goat Cheese and Honey.
Swank Family Farm, Hollister - http://www.swankfarms.com
Dick and Bonnie Swank grow a variety of fruits, vegetables, and ornamentals.
Coke Farm, San Juan Bautista - http://www.cokefarm.com
Dale Coke was prompted by a doubting conventional farmer in 1981, who speculated that strawberries could not be grown organically. 
He proved him wrong! Producing organically grown fruits and vegetables for over twenty-five years.
Jerry Whettle - Fisher, Big Sur
All of Jerry Whettle's fish is local from Monterey Bay and Moss Landing. He uses sustainable practices and delivers them directly to our door!
Big Sur Produce
Gazebo Raffle
Once again, we have some fabulous prizes for the Gazebo Raffle, so be prepared to buy some tickets! Many thanks to these local restaurants, artists, farms, shops and vineyards for their generosity.
Esalen Weekend Workshop
2 Esalen massages
Gift certificate to the Big Sur Bakery & Restaurant
Gift certificate to Deejin's Restaurant
Gift certificate to the Roadhouse Restaurant
Gift certificate to Sushi
Gift certificate for Sunshine Freestyle Surf Shop Sweatshirt
6 tickets to events at the Spirit Garden
Gift Basket from Earthbound Farms
2 gift certificates for Cornucopia Natural Foods
1 print by Daniel Bianchetta
1 pair of custom hand knit socks by Jerilyn Hesse
Case of Parsonage Vineyards wine
1 oilcloth bag from Tafay Linderman
10 Ways to Become a Locavore:
Culinary adventurers who eat food within 100 miles from home.
- Visit a farmers' market. Farmers' markets keep small farms in business through direct sales.
- Lobby your supermarket. Ask your supermarket manager where your meat, produce and dairy are coming from.
- Choose 5 foods in your house that you can grow or buy locally. Rather than trying to source everything locally all at once, try swapping out just 5 local foods.
- Find a local CSA sign-up! Through a CSA—Community Supported Agriculture—program you invest in a local farm in exchange for a weekly box of assorted vegetables and other farm products.
- Grow and preserve a local food for the winter. As we are headed into winter, use preservable fruits and vegetables.
- Find out what restaurants in your area support local farmers. You can do this by asking the restaurants about their ingredients directly, or by asking your favorite farmers what restaurant accounts they have.
- Host a local Thanksgiving. Participate in 100 Mile Thanksgiving project by making a dish or an entire meal from local foods.
- Buy from local vendors. Can't find locally grown? How about locally produced? Many areas have locally produced jams, jellies and breads as well as locally roasted coffee and locally created confections.
- Ask about origins. Not locally grown? Then where is it from? Call the producer of your favorite foods to see where the ingredients are from.
- Visit a farm. Find a farm in your area and call to make an appointment to see the farm. When time allows, the farmers are usually happy to show a family or a group around it. Children need to know where their food is coming from in order to feel a sense of connection to their dinner.