Fall in Sonoma County

To see fall colors in Sonoma County, head to major winegrowing areas like Sonoma Valley, Dry Creek Valley, Alexander Valley, and Russian River Valley, where whole vineyards will be turning red and gold. You’ll find gorgeous fall color walks all over Wine Country, from Santa Rosa’s Spring Lake Regional Park to the North Sonoma Mountain Regional Park & Open Space Preserve, where oak trees turn yellow and orange in fall.

October is a great time to visit Sonoma County. This is when wine harvest is in full swing, it’s the warmest month of the off-season along the Sonoma Coast, and there are lots of fabulous fall events and festivals, like the Sonoma County Harvest Fair, Healdsburg Crush, and artist studio-tours along the Sonoma County Art Trails. Of course, October also brings plenty of unique Halloween events in Sonoma County.

In the fall, Sonoma County vineyards often turn bright red, and sometimes burnt orange. Deciduous trees can be found all over the county — including Big Leaf Maple, California Black Oak, and Red Alder — with leaves that turn either bright yellow, dark gold, bright orange, burnt orange, bright red, or dark red. Check out our guide on where to see Fall colors in Sonoma County.

Fall color in Sonoma County typically peaks from mid-October to early-November. You'll find whole vineyards turning gold and red, deciduous oaks morphing from green to yellow to a deep, dark orange, and meadows of warm golden yarrow, rust-hued grasses, and barberry showing off in red, burgundy and even dark purple.

Absolutely! The World Championship Grape Stomp at the Sonoma County Harvest Fair is one of the premier regional wine events in the country, and attendees come from all over the globe to participate in and watch it. "Stompers" crush the grapes while "swabbies" direct the juice into glass jugs, and whichever team fills the jugs with the most juice wins a cash prize. Beyond the Harvest Fair, individual wineries also host their own grape stomp events throughout the season, where you can dress up, kick off your shoes, and join in. Check our events calendar to find stomps happening during your visit.

In Wine Country, "crush" refers to the time just after winegrapes are harvested, when the fruit is crushed and the juice begins its journey to becoming wine. This period transforms Sonoma County into a hive of activity as wineries work around the clock to bring in ripened grapes and begin the winemaking process. Cellar hands pick through clusters, crush pads are wet and sticky with the juice of newly pressed grapes, and the aromas of new wooden barrels and pomace (grape skins, seeds, and stems) permeate the air. It's one of the most exciting times of the year to visit!

Yes, there are fabulous fall festivals and events all season long in Sonoma County. Here’s a taste of the fun to be had, month by month:

September

September welcomes the week-long Access Alexander Valley Wine Week, the weekend-long Valley of the Moon Vintage Festival, and the two-day Sonoma County Wine Celebration. The fall version of Weekend Along the Farm Trails features open-house farm tours across the county. Downtown Petaluma hosts the Petaluma Antique Faire, and Guerneville kicks off its three-day Russian River Pride celebration. For specific event details, check out our Calendar of Events.

October

The huge, ever-popular Sonoma County Harvest Fair is held at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds, the Petaluma Pride Festival returns to Downtown Petaluma, and Healdsburg Crush pours onto the Healdsburg Plaza. Halloween events in Sonoma County include the annual Hallowine Run, when runners compete in costume. Dia de Muertos on the Healdsburg Plaza is another favorite event, featuring face painting, live music, and a community altar of marigolds. For specific event details, check out our Calendar of Events.

November

November marks the start of Sonoma County’s olive harvest season, so you’ll find olive-grove tours and olive oil tastings in Sonoma, Petaluma, and Healdsburg. One of Sonoma County’s most popular events is the two-day Wine & Food Affair, with more than 50 wineries opening their doors for special pairings along the Wine Road. Thanksgiving in Sonoma County is also a beautiful affair at many area restaurants and wineries. For specific event details, check out our Calendar of Events.