It may not snow in Sonoma County, but the region becomes its own special winter wonderland as the holidays approach. There are plenty of delicious dishes, festive drinks and wondrous events to create a warm, cozy and joyful atmosphere.
As we count down to Christmas, here are more than 25 magical things to experience this holiday season.
Now through December
Shop local: Swap the dreaded mid-December mall experience for a wholesome outdoors event. At Holidays Along the Farm Trails (until Jan. 1), buy gifts (often in the form of delicious artisan foods) or make your own at DIY workshops. You can also cut your own tree and, best of all, greet the farm animals.
Visit Healdsburg hotels for the holidays: A number of hotels and other businesses in Healdsburg are participating in the city’s Season to Sparkle initiative presenting various themed events, activities and special offers, now through Dec. 30. Montage Healdsburg will have both Christmas tree and Hanukkah menorah lightings as well as a mistletoe display for photo ops. Hotel Healdsburg will offer complimentary gift wrapping for guests and a Holiday Glow Facial at its spa.
Nov. 21 – Dec. 23
Immerse yourself in holiday decor: Come Christmastime, Brewsters Beer Garden in Petaluma transforms into Miracle at Brewsters, with kitschy decor paired with holiday dishes and drinks (opens Nov. 21). 229 Water St., Petaluma, 707-981-8330, brewstersbeergarden.com
Nov. 23 – Jan. 6
Tiki holiday vibes: The Flamingo Resort in Santa Rosa also hosts a special holiday cocktail pop-up,”Sippin’ Santa” that combines Christmas and tiki, with tropical cocktails and a selection of seasonal bites (from Nov. 23 through Jan. 6). 2777 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-545-8530, flamingoresort.com
Nov. 28
Make the season bright: Downtown Santa Rosa is kicking off the holiday season with its annual Winter Lights tree lighting celebration from 4-7 p.m., Nov. 28, at Old Courthouse Square. The free event, presented by the Santa Rosa Metro Chamber, will include a “Letters to Santa” station, photos opportunities with Santa and Snoopy, and performances by School of Rock Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Ballet and Transcendence Theatre Company. Plus, the Santa Rosa Growlers will be on hand to spread holiday cheer. Old Courthouse Square, 600 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, santarosametrochamber.com
Nov. 28-30
See upscale gingerbread houses: It wouldn’t be Christmas without gingerbread. But for some, a cookie is not enough. At Hotel Petaluma’s 9th annual Gingerbread Showcase (Nov. 28-30), you’ll see creations that replicate historic Petaluma mansions and other impressive buildings. Plus, a 12-foot evergreen towers in the hotel’s courtyard for added Christmas cheer. 205 Kentucky St., Petaluma, 707-559-3393, hotelpetaluma.com
Nov. 28-30, Dec. 6-28 weekends
Enjoy an old-fashioned French holiday spectacle: Le Cirque de Bohème has entertained adults and children for the past 12 holiday seasons. This year, the show will feature magicians, trapeze artists, contortionists, acrobats, aerial duos and dancers, who will bring to life a story of a mysterious knight in medieval Europe. Nov. 28-30 and Saturdays and Sundays from Dec. 6-28. 23570 Arnold Drive, Sonoma, cirquedeboheme.org
Nov. 28 – Dec. 31
Sip, savor and shop: Holidays in Healdsburg (daily from Nov. 28 to Dec. 31) is a cherished seasonal tradition. During a four-hour guided tour, enjoy the Christmas-tree-lit plaza, colorful street decorations, festive window displays and carolers, then savor seasonal bites and sip wines at boutique wineries and restaurants. $129 per person. Meet at Healdsburg Plaza, Healdsburg, 707-758-4287, winecountrywalkingtours.com
Nov. 29 – Dec. 21
Say hello to Santa: Santa certainly gets around. This year, he’ll ride the Napa Valley Wine Train, breakfast at Healdsburg’s Costeaux French Bakery every Saturday in December and sail along the Petaluma River for photos and activities (Nov. 29). Santa will also take pictures with community members at various places, such as Montgomery Village in Santa Rosa (weekends from Nov. 29 to Dec. 21) and Larson Family Winery in Sonoma (Dec. 6-7).
Dec. 5
Have a very merry Healdsburg Christmas: Join the city of Healdsburg for its annual Merry Healdsburg Tree Lighting Celebration from 5-9 p.m., Dec. 5, on the Healdsburg Plaza. The event will include complimentary carriage rides through downtown, photo ops with Santa, festive live music performances, and holiday arts and crafts for children. There will also be a holiday market held during the celebration featuring local vendors selling everything from food and drinks to jewelry and home goods. Healdsburg Plaza, healdsburg.gov
Attend a Winter Festival up north: Further north, the city of Cloverdale will host its Winter Festival & Tree Lighting Celebration from 5-8 p.m., Dec. 5, at the downtown Plaza. In addition to the tree lighting ceremony, there will be live music, food and drink, cookie decorating, photo ops with Santa, a holiday movie on Broad Street and a candlelit holiday shopping stroll featuring local vendors. Cloverdale Plaza, cloverdalechamber.com
Dec. 5-7
See Snoopy on ice: For a larger indoor rink, head to Snoopy’s Home Ice. Morning, midday and evening public skating sessions are available, and there will be outdoor holiday variety shows with professional figure skaters, dancers and a special appearance from Snoopy from Dec. 5-7. 1667 W Steele Lane, Santa Rosa, 707-546-7147, snoopyshomeice.com
Dec. 6-7
Enjoy an old-school holiday open house: Luther Burbank Home & Gardens in Santa Rosa will be decked out in old-fashioned holiday finery for its 45th annual Holiday Open House 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 6-7. Shop for unique gifts, plants, holiday decor and persimmon bread in the gift shop, and enjoy games and activities for children and homemade cookies in the greenhouse for all ages. 204 Santa Rosa Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-524-5445, lutherburbank.org
Dec. 7, 14, 21 and 23
Say Feliz Navidad, God Jul or Joyeux Noël: Find holiday foods from around the world at Sonoma County’s restaurants and bakeries. Tamales Maná makes our favorite steamed corn cakes, Sarmentine has bûche de Noël, and Stockhome serves a traditional Swedish julbord and glögg (from Dec. 7, 14, 21 and 23).
Dec. 10 – Jan. 6
Lace up those skates: There may not be snow, but icy winter fun has arrived in Petaluma with the Luma Ice skating rink at the Petaluma Fairgrounds, open Dec. 10 through Jan. 6. 175 Fairgrounds Drive, Petaluma, 707-778-4380, lumaice.com
Dec. 12
Bake and break bread: At the state-of-the-art Artisan Baking Center in Petaluma, have some flour-filled fun during classes like whole grain bread-baking (Dec. 12), where baking instructor Michael Kalanty will teach how to bake rustic boules, multigrain rolls and seedy sandwich bread. Located in Keith Giusto Bakery Supply, 1120 Holm Road, Petaluma, 707-765-5745, centralmilling.com/artisan-baking-center
Be dazzled by a Mexican Posada: The 19th annual Posada Navideña by Calidanza Dance Company (6:30 p.m., Dec. 12) takes the audience to various regions of Mexico, showcasing holiday festivities and traditions through vibrant costumes, dynamic choreography and joyful music. 50 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa, 707-546-3600, lutherburbankcenter.org
Dec. 13
Watch a lighted boat parade: One of the most charming holiday parades around will glide gracefully down the Petaluma River from 6-8 p.m. on Dec. 13 at the Petaluma Turning Basin. Free to attend. Petaluma Turning Basin, 12 C St., Petaluma, petalumadowntown.com/lighted-boat-parade
For more luminous cheer, check out the county’s whimsical winter light parades. From decorated sofas and bikes to tractors and boats, the brilliantly lit spectacles are a sight to see.
Dec. 13-19
Have a musical Christmas: The Green Music Center in Rohnert Park is putting on a variety of holiday performances this season. The Sonoma Bach Choir presents its 14th annual Early Music Christmas show featuring 17th century music from three European countries from Dec. 13-14; Soweto Gospel Choir performs South African freedom songs, traditional spirituals and holiday favorites on Dec. 13; and Broadway star Jessica Vosk performs holiday hits from her album “Sleigh” on Dec. 19.
Dec. 18-21
Get cracking: Sonoma County offers (at least) two performances of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker this holiday season. Luther Burbank Center for the Arts presents Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet featuring gold-medalist performers from around the world on Dec. 18. Dance Evolution Studios (formerly Santa Rosa Dance Theater) presents its rendition at Spreckels Performing Arts Center from Dec. 19-21.
Make the Yuletide gay: The acclaimed San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus returns to Sonoma County with a “Holiday Spectacular” (Dec. 21), a rollicking performance of zany holiday antics, traditional carols and new surprises. Green Music Center, 1801 E. Cotati Ave., Rohnert Park, 707-664-4246, gmc.sonoma.edu
Throughout the season
Spread holiday cheer: ’Tis the giving season. Help those in need: feed the hungry at the Redwood Empire Food Bank, volunteer at Committee on the Shelterless (COTS) and support seniors in Sonoma County through the Council on Aging. More volunteer opportunities here.
Crack on in Healdsburg: At Costeaux French Bakery in Healdsburg, see rows of whimsical, militarily-precise nutcrackers stand ready for inspection. Their ranks are arrayed on shelves installed just for the holidays and spill over into every nook and cranny of the bakery. 417 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, 707-433-1913, costeaux.com
Hear the fireplace roar: Several local restaurants serve up ember-enhanced meals and drinks sure to get you into the holiday spirit. A few favorites include Catelli’s in Geyserville, Stark’s Steak & Seafood in Santa Rosa, and Taste of Tea in Healdsburg.
Warm up with a hot drink: While we’re on the topic of staying warm, how about a hot drink with a spoonful of childhood nostalgia? At Snoopy’s Home Ice in Santa Rosa, order a Peppermint Patty hot chocolate at the The Warm Puppy Café. For a more grown-up version, try the Aztec Mocha with double espresso, Valrhona chocolate and chiles at Flying Goat Coffee in Healdsburg.
Get sparkling: For some celebratory bubbles, head to SIGH Champagne bar in Sonoma. No reservations needed, and they offer a flight of three sparklers. They also serve draft beer, regular wine and non-alcoholic beverages, as well as snack-sized bites, both savory and sweet. And here are more sparkling wineries to visit.
After a sip of bubbly, the Sonoma Plaza offers holiday cheer and attractions for history buffs, from the Sonoma Mission to the barracks and Toscano Hotel, all within two blocks. There’s a big parking lot behind the barracks on First Street East.
See a Christmas card church: Bodega’s Saint Teresa of Avila looks like something out of an old-fashioned Christmas card during the holidays. Ansel Adams immortalized the church in a photograph and it was famously featured in Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds. 17242 Bodega Highway, Bodega
Take a quiet winter hike: Shady forest groves are a respite from the flurry of the holiday season. Stillwater Cove Regional Park, a hidden gem on the coast in Jenner, features 3 miles of trails surrounded by lush ferns and towering redwoods.
