Biggest Annual Sonoma County Festivals

Taste of Sonoma

For wine, food, music, and art celebrations, Sonoma County has all the bases covered with a wide array of fun happenings all year. Find your favorite event or discover a new activity to look forward to. Every season is a good time in gorgeous Sonoma Wine Country! 

Here is a round-up of Sonoma County’s best events and festivals this year:

January

People enjoy wine around a table overlooking a vineyard at the Winter Wineland event, Sonoma County
Winter Wineland

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

Sample chowder at quaint seaside restaurants, tour the coast, and receive a Commemorative spoon! This driving event spans multiple towns along the beautiful Sonoma Coast.

February

Steelhead pushing upstream and leaping out of the water as they climb the fish ladder at the Lake Sonoma Steelhead Festival
Lake Sonoma Steelhead Festival

Cloverdale Citrus Fair

Come for everything you love about a small-town fair, including live, local music, a carnival, a petting zoo, and agricultural shows, plus culinary demos and wine tasting!

Lake Sonoma Steelhead Festival

Celebrate the return of the Steelhead Trout at this free event featuring live music and fun activities for the whole family, plus beer, wine, and food to purchase.

Sonoma County Restaurant Week

Try some of the finest Sonoma County restaurants as you sample their talent in specially prepared tasting dishes — all for an amazing price.

March

Samples of cheese ready to enjoy at the Artisan Cheese Festival, Sonoma County
Artisan Cheese Festival

Wine Road Barrel Tasting

For two weekends, sample wine directly from the barrel at more than 100 wineries throughout Sonoma Wine Country. 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.

Sonoma International Film Festival

This five-day film festival offers the best in independent film from around the world, plus food and wine in one of the most intimate settings on the film festival circuit.

April

The blessing of the fleet at the Bodega Bay Fisherman’s Festival, Sonoma County
Bodega Bay Fisherman’s Festival

Alexander Valley Film Festival 

The Alexander Valley Film Festival showcases indie films, including diverse talent from and about underrepresented artists and communities.

Passport to Dry Creek Valley

Enjoy a variety of world-class wine, food, education, and revelry throughout this fun-filled spring weekend. Dry Creek Valley wineries pour their best current releases for this can’t-miss event.

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 floats and groups march through Downtown Petaluma and 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. Sample beers and food offerings, and check out the winning brews.

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 to a mammoth 117 miles to challenge experts.

May

People sit on the beach watching kites fly in the sky at Doran Regional Park at the Castles & Kites event, Bodega Bay
Castles & Kites

Bodega Bay Fisherman’s Festival

The 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. Bring your kite or sit back and watch. Sand sculptors build elaborate creations, and free sandcastle tools and molds are on loan.

June

A performer jumps and plays guitar on stage at the Country Summer Music Festival, Sonoma County
Country Summer Music Festival

Taste of Sonoma

Enjoy the finest wine and food in Sonoma County 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.

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.

July

People dance in costume at the Fort Ross Festival, Sonoma County
Fort Ross Festival

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 celebration features food, live music, and kid’s activities, 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 celebration features historical re-enactments, militia cannon firings, music, crafts, a multicultural food court, children’s activities, and dancing, such as a balalaika ensemble and Alaska Native drumming.

August

Apple display at the Gravenstein Apple Festival in Sebastopol
Gravenstein Apple Festival

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 displayed, along with food and craft vendors, live entertainment, and children’s activities.

September

People enjoy live music at the Old Grove Festival, surrounded by redwoods at the historic Redwood Forest Theater in Armstrong Redwoods, Sonoma County
Old Grove Festival

National Heirloom Exposition

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 features outstanding musical productions to support the nonprofit Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods.

Sonoma County Wine Auction

Named one of the top charitable wine auctions by Wine Spectator, the Sonoma County Wine Auction brings wine superstars, local celebrity chefs, and honored guests together to invest in the community. The event features imaginative and indulgent auction lots, highlighted by exquisite wine and cuisine.

October

People sample wine at the Sonoma County Harvest Fair, Santa Rosa
Sonoma County Harvest Fair

Sonoma County Harvest Fair

It’s a wine country harvest extravaganza with three days of wine tasting with over 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 artisan food vendors to celebrate all things Pinot Noir. Meet the winemakers and other Pinot-loving consumers.

Healdsburg Crush

Sample limited-production West Coast Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sparkling Wines, and a few longtime favorites. A silent auction boasts a large collection of locally produced Pinot Noir, as well as raffles for instant wine cellars and premium large-format bottles.

November

People enjoy wine around a table at the event Wine and Food Affair, Sonoma County
Wine and Food Affair

Wine & Food Affair

Over 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 holiday decor. Enjoy festive music, spiced tea, and cookies. Listen to carolers and let the kids make some festive crafts.

Check for current dates and details on the Sonoma Wine Country Calendar of Events

Find places to stay and restaurants to enjoy in Sonoma County. 

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