Biggest Annual Sonoma County Festivals

Here is a round-up of Sonoma County's best events and festivals throughout the year. 

There's wine, food, music, art, and lots of fun. Sonoma Wine Country Weekend, Wineroad's Wine and Food Affair, Russian River Wine Road Barrel Tasting, Savor Sonoma Valley... find your favorite or discover a new variety at one of several festivals throughout the area. 

After all that wine tasting, climb into bed at one of the 11,600 rooms available. From luxury hotels to quaint inns, vacation rentals to campgrounds – Sonoma County has a place for you. Check our calendar of events for all current dates and details here:

 Calendar of Events 

January

Winter Wineland

Join more than 100 wineries for this fun and educational weekend. Meet winemakers, tour wineries, and sample wine throughout the Russian River, Alexander, and Dry Creek valleys.

Chowder Day Bodega Bay

Tour eight seaside restaurants, taste chowder, vote, and get prizes at this fun coastal event. Docents will be available at Bodega Head for whale watching. You can buy crab at the docks.

February

Cloverdale Citrus Fair

Enjoy 3-D exhibits made of citrus fruit and other food products. A wine tasting and gourmet food show entices adults, while families can enjoy arts, crafts, and a carnival.

Lake Sonoma Steelhead Festival

Celebrate the return of the Steelhead Trout with fun activities for the whole family, beer, wine, and live music!

Sonoma County Restaurant Week

Restaurants offer prix-fixe two-course lunch menus and three-course dinner menus. There aren't any tickets or passes, and part of the appeal is that you can try restaurants you've been curious about without as much risk to your wallet.

March

Wine Road Barrel Tasting

For two weekends, sample wine directly from the barrel at more than 100 wineries throughout the Alexander, Dry Creek and Russian River valleys. Purchase 'futures,' meet winemakers, discover new wineries and visit your favorites.

California Artisan Cheese Festival

Meet celebrated cheese makers and sample artisan cheeses at this tasty festival, held at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds. Seminars and farm tours are available. Virtual for 2021.

Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival

Sebastopol Center for the Arts presents its annual showcase of independent documentary films, bringing enlightening subjects and filmmakers to West Sonoma County. Virtual for 2021.

Sonoma International Film Festival

An intimate celebration of unforgettable cinema, world-class food and fine wine on Sonoma's historic plaza. The  Sonoma International Film Festival features over 90 hand-selected films screened in intimate venues within walking distance of Sonoma's historic plaza. Renowned filmmakers, industry leaders and celebrities such as Bruce Willis, Susan Sarandon, Mary-Louise Parker and Ray Liotta have enjoyed this unique event. Virtual for 2021.

April

Alexander Valley Film Festival 

The Alexander Valley Film Festival regularly showcases and hosts new and emerging talents from all over the world. AVFF features cutting-edge indie films and selections of diverse works from and about underrepresented artists and communities. They actively seek socially conscious films that depict characters in the richness of their culture and identities; works from directors of color; Latinx-, LGBTQ+-, and female-driven narratives; and youth-oriented stories.

Passport to Dry Creek Valley

Many wineries create themes around which they showcase wine paired with food, and entertainment. All showcase the best current releases, library wines, and special bottlings only available during Passport. Presented by Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley.

Apple Blossom Festival and Parade

Enjoy an old fashioned parade down Main Street. The colorful festival features music, arts, crafts, and more.

Butter and Egg Days Parade and Festival

Watch more than 110 groups and floats march through Downtown Petaluma, enjoy food and drink, music, arts and crafts, and an area just for the kids.

Battle of the Brews

Celebrate all things craft beer at Sonoma County's biggest beer event, offering the opportunity to sample beers, admire the judging for the Craft Brew Cup Best of Show competition, and indulge in Sonoma County Best Bites food offerings.

May

Bodega Bay Fisherman's Festival

Salmon season kicks off with a blessing of the fleet, along with entertainment for the whole family, wine and beer tasting, and a wooden boat challenge.

Castles & Kites

Join the celebration of sandcastle building and kite flying at Doran Beach in Bodega Bay. Amateurs and experts are welcome to join in the fun. Bring your own kite or sit back and watch others show off their kite-handling skills. Free tools and molds are on loan to build a sandcastle and long-time sand sculptors will work on elaborate creations.

Luther Burbank Rose Parade and Festival

Downtown Santa Rosa comes alive with a community parade, celebrating the contribution of famed horticulturist Luther Burbank.

Film Fest Petaluma

This annual event showcases some of the best new animated and live action short films from around the world. Enjoy lively post-screening discussions with filmmakers after all shows.

June

Taste of Sonoma

Enjoy the finest in Sonoma County wine and food at the annual showcase event Taste of Sonoma. Purveyors gather at the gorgeous Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate & Gardens for a day of tastings and entertainment.

Rodney Strong Vineyards, KJZY Jazz Concert Series

June through September, the Summer Concert Series features some of the top acts in contemporary music. This is a unique entertainment venue that provides an intimate concert experience while picnicking on the winery's luxurious green.

Country Summer Music Festival

Northern California's biggest country music festival features three days of top country artists, as well as Western-themed attractions, country-inspired foods, and libations for every palate.

Beerfest

This annual microbrew and food tasting extravaganza features more than 50 of Northern California's best microbreweries and an array of wonderful Sonoma County gourmet food purveyors in one location, the Luther Burbank Center in Santa Rosa. One ticket price gets you in the door and includes all the beer and food at the event, as well as a souvenir Beerfest glass. This annual event is a fundraiser for Face to face, Sonoma County AIDS Network, which works to improve the lives of people affected by HIV and to eliminate the number of new infections in Sonoma County.

July

All American Zin Day

Celebrate Independence Day with some of the best Dry Creek Valley Zins, from participating wineries, along with great food.

Red, White, and Boom!

Santa Rosa's annual Independence Day celebrations feature an afternoon and evening of food, live music, kid's activities, and fun for the entire family, concluding with an amazing fireworks show, all at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds.

Wine and Dixieland Jazz Festival

A perfect pairing of music and wine is featured at this annual festival. Beer, wine, and food are available for purchase, or picnics are welcome.

Fort Ross Festival

This annual multicultural celebration features costumed historical re-enactments, historic crafts, militia cannon firings, music and dance such as a balalaika ensemble and Alaska Native drumming, a multicultural food court, children's crafts, and more.

August

Gravenstein Apple Fair

Showcasing the best in arts, crafts, food, wines and brews, games, entertainment and farm life activities, this country fair celebrates the Gravenstein apple.

Bodega Seafood, Art and Wine Festival

Wine and microbrew tasting, live entertainment, seafood, and other yummy edibles. Top quality art, environmental exhibits, kid zone, carriage rides. Bodega

Petaluma Music Festival

An intimate, relaxed, and upbeat celebration, this festival will also offer an exceptional variety of music for people of all ages, fine beers, premium wine tasting, and specialty food vendors.

Art in the Redwoods Festival

In Gualala, more than 400 works are on display, along with food and craft vendors, live entertainment, and children's activities.

September

National Heirloom Exposition

See more than 250 garden vendors and farm producers; taste hundreds of varieties at America's largest heritage produce event, held in Santa Rosa. Learn about home gardening, seed saving, food farming, and politics from recognized experts.

Old Grove Festival

Enjoy live music under towering trees in the historic Redwood Forest Theater in Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve. This beautiful open-air theater was built in the 1930s, and is now only used for a limited number of events. Held here each September, the Old Grove Festival features an outstanding variety of musical productions; proceeds support the nonprofit Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods with their environmental education and volunteer stewardship programs, as well as continued advocacy for all State Parks.

October

Sonoma County Harvest Fair

It's a wine country harvest extravaganza with three days of wine tasting with more than 100 wineries, wine sales, food pairing, craft beer and cider tasting, chef demonstrations, workshops, and the World Championship Grape Stomp. Enjoy live music, a classic car show, a pumpkin patch, harvest games, and more.

Pinot on the River

Enjoy some of the best Pinot Noirs that California has to offer as more than 40 small-production wineries join with guest artisan food vendors to celebrate all things Pinot Noir. Meet the winemakers and other Pinot-loving consumers.

Healdsburg Crush

Take advantage of this unique opportunity to sample limited-production West Coast Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sparkling Wines, and a few longtime favorites. The event also features a silent auction boasting a large collection of locally produced Pinot Noir, as well as raffles for instant wine cellars and premium large-format bottles.

Levi's Granfondo 

Ride your bike along the edge of the continent and meet the sea. This is America's premier Gran Fondo, a cycling event unlike any other. Options range from an easy 9 miles for kiddos to a mammoth 117 miles to challenge experts and professionals.

November

Wine & Food Affair

More than 75 wineries in Alexander, Dry Creek, and Russian River valleys participate in this much-anticipated event. Each winery posts a favorite winery recipe online, which you can then sample at this event, along with the perfect wine.

December

Luther Burbank Holiday Open House

The lovely Luther Burbank Home and Gardens will be decked out in Victorian-style decor for the holidays. Enjoy festive music, spiced tea, and cookies. Listen to carolers and let the kids make some festive crafts.

Find places to stay and restaurants to enjoy while on your trip to Sonoma County!