Enjoy three days of work-free bliss with our list of things to do this holiday weekend.
Attend a Memorial Day observance: Petaluma’s annual Memorial Day event begins at 10 a.m. at Cypress Hill Memorial Park, 430 Magnolia Ave., Petaluma. The ceremony will feature the Avenue of the Flags display within the park’s section devoted to veterans and their spouses, and presentations by local veterans and Bay Area dignitaries. The event is free. (Shutterstock)
The 64th annual Sonoma Valley Joint Memorial Day Observance begins at 11 a.m. at the Sonoma Veterans Memorial Park, at 126 First St. W., Sonoma. The keynote speaker is Claudio Calvo. A Sonoma County resident for 34 years, Calvo served in Vietnam with the United States Marine Corps. He also is an Emmy Award winner with ABC Television Sports. The event will feature an aerial flyover and a free picnic with hamburgers and hot dogs. (Robbi Pengelly/Sonoma Index-Tribune)
City of Rohnert Park Community Services hosts a Memorial Day celebration beginning at 10 a.m. at the Rohnert Park Community Center, 5401 Snyder Lane. The event features guest speakers and music by Rohnert Park Community Band and a performance by the Rohnert Park Community Chorale. (Alvin Jornada/The Press Democrat)
In Santa Rosa, Memorial Day veterans' tours of the Santa Rosa Rural Cemetery start at 12 p.m., 1600 Franklin Ave. Admission is free; donations appreciated. For more information, go to bit.ly/3PFqgxT. (Erik Castro/For The Press Democrat)
Smell the lavender: Bees N Blooms in Santa Rosa boasts a labyrinth made entirely of lavender. The lavender farm is open to the public most weekends in May, June and July. This Saturday, New Skye Band will play a blend of rock and jazz tunes on the farm; on Sunday, classic jazz quintet John Kalleen Group will perform. Dino’s Greek Food Truck will be on site Sunday. Admission is $20 (kids 12 and under free); tickets can be purchased online. 3883 Petaluma Hill Road, Santa Rosa, 707-293-8293, beesnblooms.com (Courtesy of Bees N Blooms)
Make your way to Napa for some music, wine and food: If you don’t already have tickets to this year's BottleRock Napa Valley festival (May 27- 29), there is still hope. Some general admission tickets are still available, for Friday and Saturday only, at $179. Get those tickets here. Some sold-out tickets are still available at BottleRock’s official ticket exchange at lyte.com. Find your essential guide to the festival here. (Will Bucquoy/For The Press Democrat)
Have a more laidback music experience in Sonoma: Cornerstone Sonoma marketplace hosts a free summer music series every weekend through the end of October. This Saturday, Jimbo Trout will play bluegrass, rock 'n' roll, ragtime, blues and more, followed by local bass and guitar duo Wolf Run on Sunday. While taking in the shows, guests can order food from Folktable restaurant and Primal Cuts BBQ, along with wine and artisan cocktails. 23570 Arnold Drive, Sonoma, cornerstonesonoma.com (Thomas J. Story)
Or head to Healdsburg: Bacchus Landing, one of the hottest places to taste wine, will host a Memorial Day weekend celebration from 12-4 p.m. on Sunday. There will be live country, rock and blues from The Love Handles, food from Lunch Box, a popular burger pop-up, and plenty of wine, of course. The kid- and dog-friendly venue is home to seven wineries: 13th & Third, AldenAlli, Aldina Vineyards, Dot Wine, Smith-Story Wine Cellars and The Setting Wines. 14210 Bacchus Landing Way, Healdsburg, bacchuslanding.com (Courtesy of Bacchus Landing)
Float down the Russian River: If your idea of a river experience is strenuous rafting, you’ve come to the wrong place. The Russian River is best enjoyed by lying lazily back in a canoe, kayak or float tube. For ideas on how to spend a day on the river, in and out of the water, check out our guide to 20 favorite things to do by the Russian River. For rental river requirements and recommendations, visit Burke’s Canoe Trips in Forestville or King’s Sport and Tackle in Guerneville. (Kent Porter/The Press Democrat)
More water fun: Kayak and stand up paddle board rentals return for the summer season at Spring Lake Regional Park in Santa Rosa on Memorial Day weekend and continues 10:30 a.m.-4:45 p.m. daily through Labor Day. All rentals are $12 per hour. Reserve in advance online or in person at the Boat Rental Office at the park's Violetti Entrance (93 Violetti Road, Santa Rosa). (Courtesy of Sonoma County Regional Parks)
The Spring Lake swimming lagoon also opens on Memorial Day weekend. It includes a sandy beach, lawns shaded by redwoods and multiple picnic sites. The water park, which keeps kids entertained on inflatable, floating play structures, has two daily admissions; 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and 2-5 p.m. Admission is $10 per person per session. Online reservations are highly recommended. Children must be 6 or older, at least 42 inches tall and know how to swim. (Kent Porter/The Press Democrat)
Cool down on the coast: After a long, hot week with temperatures in the 90s, make your way to the coast for some fresh ocean air and crab sandwiches. We've got the best places to eat along the coast. We recommend venturing into Marin County for the crab sandwich at The Marshall Store (pictured), a drink with a Tomales Bay view at Nick's Cove, and the delicious menu at Dillon Beach Coastal Kitchen. For more things to do along the coast, check out our guide to the best Highway 1 pitstops in Sonoma County. (Christopher Chung /The Press Democrat)
Pair your picnic with wine: You could pack a basket and spread out a blanket in a local park, but how about taking things up a notch and do picnic Wine Country style? Several local wineries welcome picnickers — you can bring your own basket or buy picnic provisions at the winery. Truett Hurst Winery in Healdsburg, pictured, is a picnicker’s dream with three areas devoted to those who like to bring their own eats (and with cheeses and charcuterie available to buy by the basket-less hungry). (Photo by Kim Carroll)
Feast on great barbecue: Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of summer, which means it's time to soak up some sun and fire up the barbie (keeping in mind fire safety, of course). You could do it yourself, or let the pros feed you. We like to be lazy on our days off and recommend checking out some of our favorite BBQ spots (or devour one, or two, of the best burgers in Sonoma County). At Kinsmoke in Healdsburg (pictured), grilling and smoking tender meats is elevated to an art form. (Beth Schlanker/The Press Democrat)
Go for a bike ride or hike, then relax on a sun-dappled patio: Get the best of both worlds by starting your day with a bike ride or hike that lets you take in the local scenery and then, because you're worth it, kick back on a restaurant patio with a cold drink and a great meal. We've got 5 spectacular local bike rides complete with pitstops, top 10 hikes and 50 top restaurant patios in Sonoma County. (Shutterstock)
Haven’t made plans for the long weekend ahead? Enjoy three days of work-free bliss with our list of things to do in Sonoma County this holiday weekend. Click through the above gallery for details and don’t forget to tag us on Instagram (@sonomamag) when you share your weekend highlights.
Charles Swanson contributed to this article.
