You may not find snow-covered trees in Sonoma County, but there are still plenty of holiday events and activities to get you in the festive mood.
December 1-3: Transcendence’s Broadway Holiday Spectacular: The Transcendence Theatre Company, beloved for its outdoor Broadway Under the Stars shows at Jack London State Historic Park in Glen Ellen, comes indoors for the third winter in a row to present a live holiday musical revue at Luther Burbank Center. The troupe features performers with Broadway and national touring company experience, performing both classic holiday favorites and newer tunes, as well as some offbeat comedy numbers. 7:30 p.m. Dec. 1, and 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 2-3. $39-$139. Luther Burbank Center for the Arts, 50 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa, 707-546-3600, lutherburbankcenter.org
December 2: Lighting of the Snowmen Holiday Festival: A Sonoma Valley tradition, now in its 13th year, continues when Cornerstone Sonoma once again amasses a small army of brightly lit, synthetic snowmen, sure to survive even a warmish California winter. Attend the initial lighting ceremony from 4 to 8 p.m. and continue to enjoy the display through December at Cornerstone, Wine Country’s marketplace and gardens, and home to Sunset magazine. Free. Cornerstone Sonoma, 23750 Arnold Drive, Sonoma, 707-933-3010, cornerstonesonoma.com
December 2-3: Luther Burbank Home & Gardens Holiday Open House: Step back in time at this 38th annual celebration at the beautifully preserved and lavishly decorated downtown Santa Rosa home of world-famous 20th-century horticulturalist Luther Burbank. Now a museum, his house will be decked out in old-fashioned splendor. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. $3 for age 12 and older. Luther Burbank Home & Gardens, Santa Rosa and Sonoma avenues, Santa Rosa, 707-524-5445, lutherburbank.org
December 8: Posada Navideña: Celebrate the culture and traditions of Mexico with Ballet Folklorico de Sacramento, at its 11th annual performance at Luther Burbank Center. Presented by the Rodney Strong Vineyards Dance Series, the show will feature 25 musicians and dancers. 7 p.m. $10 for adults, $5 for children. Luther Burbank Center for the Arts, 50 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa, 707-546-3600, lutherburbankcenter.org
December 9: Holiday Lighted Boat Parade: There is something stately and deeply moving about Petaluma’s annual half-hour procession of a flotilla of colorfully illuminated boats, starting from the Petaluma River Turning Basin at about 6 p.m. and delighting spectators lined up along the river downtown. Free. 707-765-9725 petalumadowntown.com
December 15: Windham Hill’s Winter Solstice: Windham Hill Records, now a subsidiary of Sony, was co-founded in 1976 by guitarist Will Ackerman and recorded some of the best acoustic new age and folk music of the 1980s and ’90s. Ackerman takes the stage at the Green Music Center’s Weill Hall with Barbara Higbie, Alex De Grassi and Todd Boston to celebrate the Windham Hill legacy. 7:30 p.m. $25-$65. Weill Hall at the Green Music Center, Sonoma State University, 1801 E. Cotati Ave., Rohnert Park, 866-955-6040, gmc.sonoma.edu
December 17: Sing-Along Messiah: The Santa Rosa Symphony League’s 36th annual spectacular remains the quintessential holiday musical tradition. Beloved maestro Dan Earl leads the Santa Rosa Symphonic Chorus, accompanied by the Santa Rosa Chamber Orchestra, under the direction of Nicholas Xenelis. And you can count on both veteran and novice singers in the audience to join in. 3 p.m. $20. Jackson Theatre, 4400 Day School Place, Santa Rosa, 707-522-8786, srsymphonyleague.org
December 17: Dave Koz Christmas Concert: Enjoy the smooth saxophone sounds of Dave Koz as he stages his 20th-anniversary Christmas tour. This year’s guest artists include smooth jazz trumpeter Rick Braun, jazz fusion guitarist Peter White and Grammy-nominated pianist, composer and arranger David Benoit. 7 p.m. $50-$180. Weill Hall at the Green Music Center, Sonoma State University, 1801 E. Cotati Ave., Rohnert Park, 866-955-6040, gmc.sonoma.edu
You may not find snow-covered trees in Sonoma County, but there are still plenty of holiday events and activities to get you in the festive mood. From Christmas concerts and sing-alongs to lighted boat parades and synthetic snowmen – our list of things to do this holiday season will help make Sonoma County a winter wonderland all month long. Click through the gallery above for all the details.
