MARCH 15-16
Savor Sonoma Valley: More than 20 participating wineries in Sonoma Valley will showcase 2013 vintage wines straight from the barrel, offer visitors tastes of new releases and pair specific wines with dishes prepared by local chefs and restaurants. Meet the winemakers, view works by local artists and listen to live music. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. $10-$65.
Various Sonoma Valley wineries, 866-794-9463, heartofsonomavalley.com
MARCH 21-22
Pigs & Pinot: Dry Creek Kitchen’s Charlie Palmer teams with more than a dozen other top chefs and winemakers at this two-day celebration of all things pork and Pinot Noir. Wine and food tastings, cooking and wine competitions, and a gala dinner are among the features. $125-$175.
Hotel Healdsburg, 25 Matheson St., Healdsburg, 707-922-5249, pigsandpinot.com
MARCH 21-23
California’s Artisan Cheese Festival: Find out just how good cheese can be when cheesemakers, chefs, experts and authors gather at the Sheraton Sonoma County in Petaluma for an opening-night reception, tastings, demonstrations, classes, cheese field trips, panel discussions and seminars. Whether you like mild or sharp, white or yellow or blue, you’ll find cheeses to love here. $20-$135.
Sheraton Sonoma County, 745 Baywood Drive, Petaluma, 707-523-3728, artisancheesefestival.com
MARCH 27-30
Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival: Sebastopol’s 17th annual celebration of nonfiction cinema touches on topics ranging from local to global, with screenings at the Rialto Cinemas and other venues. $250 all-access pass.
Headquarters: Sebastopol Center for the Arts, 282 S. High St., Sebastopol, 707-829-4797, sebastopolfilmfestival.org
MARCH 29
Battle of the Brews: With the rise of Northern California professional brewers making their own custom beers on a smaller scale, there’s no longer any doubt that Wine Country is also Beer Country. This 18th annual event, sponsored by the Active 20-30 Club of Santa Rosa, showcases more than 30 breweries and 20 food vendors, live music and a gourmet sandwich competition. $40-$95.
Sonoma County Fairgrounds, 1350 Bennett Valley Road, Santa Rosa, 707-545-4200, battleofthebrews.com
MARCH
Children’s Museum of Sonoma County: After nearly a decade on the go, taking exhibits to various venues, the museum plans to open the Mary’s Garden and Ella’s Studio portions of its new permanent home next to the Charles M. Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa. By late March, kids will be able to explore hands-on activities there. Look for the museum’s grand opening in the fall.
1835 W. Steele Lane, 707-546-4069, cmosc.com
APRIL 12-13
Sebastopol Apple Blossom Festival: Two days of food, drink, crafts and live entertainment celebrate Sebastopol’s agricultural heritage, honoring the bygone days when apple orchards dominated the landscape. The first day’s Main Street parade is a charming slice of Americana. $10 general admission, $5 seniors and students, under 10 free.
Ives Park, 7400 Willow St., Sebastopol, 707-823-3032, sebastopol.org
APRIL 26-27
April in Carneros: Enjoy the beautiful grapevine-covered hills of southern Sonoma County during the annual two-day celebration of the wine region that bridges Sonoma and Napa counties. Nearly 20 participating wineries on both sides of the line will offer food and wine pairings, as well as barrel, reserve, vertical and library wine tastings, plus live entertainment. $39-$45.
carneroswineries.org
APRIL 26-27
Bodega Bay Fisherman’s Festival: The 41st annual event promises local seafood, tastings of more than 25 Sonoma County wines, boat races, live entertainment, a pet parade and the beloved annual Blessing of the Fleet ceremony. $10-$12; under 12 free.
Westside Regional Park, 2400 Westshore Road, Bodega Bay, 707-875-3866, bbfishfest.org
APRIL 26-27
Passport to Dry Creek Valley: For the event’s 25th anniversary year, more than 50 wineries in the Dry Creek Valley will offer the best of Sonoma County wine and food, plus live music and vineyard tours at many of the sites. $120 for a two-day pass; $70 for Sunday only.
707-433-3031, wdcv.com
APRIL 26
Petaluma Butter and Egg Days Parade: Celebrate Sonoma County’s agricultural roots and Petaluma’s rich history at this all-day community festival. The parade, which winds through downtown Petaluma, draws thousands every year. Free.
707-762-9348, petalumadowntown.com
APRIL 27
Hilary Hahn: At 33, the violin virtuoso already has two Grammy Awards and was named “America’s Best Young Classical Musician” by Time magazine in 2011. She’ll make her Weill Hall debut at Sonoma State’s Green Music Center. $40-$85.
Green Music Center, 801 E. Cotati Ave., Rohnert Park, 866-955-6040, gmc.sonoma.edu