Special & Signature Events
When it comes to signature events, Santa Rosa is the happening hub of Sonoma County. No matter what season, winter, spring, summer, or fall, you'll find culinary, wine, and beer events. If endurance sports are more your style, we have you covered. Music festivals and Broadway performances? Check. Our calendar is bursting and there are plenty of festivals and events to plan your vacation around.
With so many things to see, do, eat, drink, hike, bike, and explore in Sonoma County you should be reminded, when you visit Santa Rosa, you're going to need more days.
With that in mind, here's a rundown of just a few of our seasonal favorites...
Please note: due to Covid-19, some events may be postponed or dates may change.
Spring
If you are a foodie or consider yourself a culinarian then spring is the time for you. We have the Artisan Cheese Festival, Sonoma County Restaurant Week, and the Bodega Bay Fisherman’s Festival. Beer continues to flow with the Battle of the Brews and the IPA 10K. If wine is more your style then check out the Wine Roads Barrel Weekend where you can taste wines directly from the barrel. There is also the Passport to Dry Creek and Signature Sonoma Valley celebrating all Sonoma County has to offer. We also have the Wine Country Distillery Festival.
If you need to work off all the food and libations then participate in some of the most picturesque endurance events around with the Lake Sonoma 50, the Wine Country Century, or half marathons like the Windsor Half or the popular trail run, the Annadel Half Marathon.
Summer
Summer is our busiest time of the year, and the hardest part will be deciding when to visit. For local flavor, you can get that small-town feel with the Luther Burbank Rose Parade or meet a local artist at Art at the Source. You can get your activity in with the Giro Bello, Napa to Sonoma Half Marathon, Snoopy’s Senior Hockey Tournament, the Tour de Fox, or the Santa Rosa Marathon. If watching the action is more your style than the excitement of NASCAR and NHRA is the course for you. If you want a more laid-back experience then enjoy the A-list performers at Country Summer Music Festival.
For food and libations, we have the Bodega Seafood, Art and Wine Festival, or Beerfest – The Good One. We also welcome all with the Sonoma County Pride Parade and Festival and Gay Wine Weekend.
Fall
As harvest arrives, there is no better time to celebrate the abundance than with The National Heirloom Expo, the Sonoma County Harvest Fair, or Weekend along the Farm Trails.
Wine aficionados can enjoy events like Pinot on the Square or Wine Road’s annual Food and Wine Affair. When it comes to getting out in the fresh air and exercising than the Tour de Fuzz or Levi Leipheimer’s Gran Fondo may be more to your liking. This is also a great time to get out and meet artists from around the county at ARTrails Open Studios.
Winter
Start out the holidays with Downtown Winter Lights, a family-focused event featuring a tree lighting celebration the day after Thanksgiving. Throughout November and December, there are special events in Downtown Santa Rosa, including a synthetic Glice rink in Courthouse Square, and seasonal shopping and dining opportunities abound.
Ring in the New Year with the first wine event, Winter Wine Land, where you get a chance to meet winemakers and taste limited production wines and new releases.
If beer is more your style, help us celebrate FeBREWary with Beer Passport and the Pliny the Younger release in the epicenter of the craft brew movement.
We can’t possibly list everything here. But, for all there is to see, do, eat, drink, hike, bike, and explore in Sonoma County check out our events calendar.
