The Best Holiday Events in Sonoma County 2018

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Nov 14, 2018-Jan 1, 2019, Holidays Along the Farm Trails: Starting on November 14, this old-school event allows Sonoma County residents and visitors to get into the holiday spirit by visiting local farms, creameries, and cideries. Special holiday activities, taking place on weekends through January 1, 2019, include DIY workshops, artisan cheese, cider and honey tastings, as well as plenty of farm animals to pet (and you can cut your own tree!). Visitors can buy local gifts (often in the form of delicious artisan foods) or try their hand at making their own. Guests must RSVP to receive an interactive online map of participating destinations. farmtrails.org.

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Nov 23-Dec 31, Holidays in Healdsburg, Sip, Savor, and Shop: Holidays in Healdsburg is a cherished seasonal tradition in Sonoma County. During a four-hour (day) or two-hour (evening) guided Fine Wine and Foodie Walking Tour, enjoy the Christmas tree lit plaza, colorful street decorations, festive window displays, carolers; savor seasonal bites and award-winning wines, ports, spiced teas and hot chocolate; or take a ride in a horse-drawn carriage. Daily until Dec. 31, 11 a.m. and 5 p.m., Healdsburg Plaza, 707-758-4725, winecountrywalkingtours.com.

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Nov 30-Dec 1, Festival of Trees, Petaluma: Local nonprofit The Fabulous Women and the Hotel Petaluma welcome guests to their holiday extravaganza, “The Festival of Trees.” Stroll through the hotel and bid on magical trees decorated by local businesses, listen to live Christmas music, enter the raffle, shop at the holiday market place, and take photos with Santa. It’s a festive occasion for the entire family. The proceeds support charitable causes and admission is free. Nov 30 6-9pm, Dec 1, 3-9pm, Hotel Petaluma, 205 Kentucky Street, thefabulouswomen.com. (Photo by Alvin Jornada)

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Nov 30-Dec 2, Transcendence’s Broadway Holiday Spectacular, Santa Rosa: 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 fourth 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. Also December 6 – 7 in Napa Valley. Luther Burbank Center for the Arts, 50 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa, 707-546-3600, lutherburbankcenter.org

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Dec 1, Lighting of the Snowmen Holiday Festival, Sonoma: A Sonoma Valley tradition, now in its 14th 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 6 p.m. and continue to enjoy the display through December at Cornerstone, Wine Country’s marketplace and gardens, and home to Sunset magazine's outdoor kitchen and test gardens. Free. Cornerstone Sonoma, 23750 Arnold Drive, Sonoma, 707-933-3010, cornerstonesonoma.com

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Dec 2-9, Chanukah Celebrations: Chanukah celebrations in Sonoma County begin December 2 with with live music, grand menorah lighting, hot latkes, gelt, dreidels, and more at Montgomery Village in Santa Rosa (4-6 p.m.). Healdsburg will host a celebration at Oakville Grocery on December 3 (3-5 p.m.) with music, dreidels, hot latkes and more, and Sonoma will have menorah lighting, festive foods and live music on the Plaza on December 5 (5 p.m.). Oliver's Market at Montecito Center in Santa Rosa will host a celebration on December 9 (10 a.m. - 12 p.m) with latke tasting, live music and prizes. More information here: jewishsonoma.com.

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Dec 4, LeAnn Rimes You and Me and Christmas Tour, Santa Rosa: Two-time Grammy Award-winner LeAnn Rimes will perform hits from her three holiday albums —“What a Wonderful World” (2004), “One Christmas” (2014), and “Today is Christmas” (2015) — and more at Santa Rosa’s Luther Burbank Center for the Arts. Rimes' 2015 Christmas record peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Holiday Albums chart and her duet with Gavin DeGraw “Celebrate Me Home,” was the second-most played new holiday song that year. Luther Burbank Center for the Arts, 50 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa, 707-546-3600, lutherburbankcenter.org

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Dec 6-7, Cotati Holiday Cheer and Christmas Tree Lighting: Cotati celebrates the holiday season with two days of fun and merriment in December, beginning with Holiday Cheer on December 6 - a festive evening that includes a stroll to downtown bars for a holiday drink special (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic) and complimentary appetizers, with singing  along the way (21 and over). The following day, on December 7, there will be a Christmas tree lighting at La Plaza Park, 4-8 p.m. 707-795-5508, cotati.org.

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Dec 1-2, Luther Burbank Home & Gardens Holiday Open House, Santa Rosa: Step back in time at this 39th 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

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Dec 7, Posada Navideña, Santa Rosa: Celebrate the culture and traditions of Mexico with Ballet Folklorico de Sacramento, at its 12th annual performance at Luther Burbank Center. Presented by the Rodney Strong Vineyards Dance Series, the show will feature more than 30 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

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Dec 8, Santa Fly-In at the Pacific Coast Air Museum, Santa Rosa: Mr. and Mrs. Claus will be arriving by helicopter at the Pacific Coast Air Museum during this free daytime event, featuring face-painting, a jump house and — of course — lots of airplanes to climb aboard. Santa and Mrs. Claus are expected to arrive about 11 a.m., leaving them plenty of time to listen to as many Christmas lists as the crowd calls for. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. More info here: pacificcoastairmuseum.org (Photo by John Burgess)

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Dec 8, Navidad Mexicana with Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles, Rohnert Park: !Que Vivan Las Mujeres! Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles brings the spirit of the holidays through the historic art of mariachi to the Green Music Center in Rohnert Park. In a musical landscape where songs are often written by men, from male perspectives, Reyna has created its own history as America’s first all-female mariachi ensemble, blazing the trail for female mariachi musicians. Weill Hall at the Green Music Center, Sonoma State University, 1801 E. Cotati Ave., Rohnert Park, 866-955-6040, gmc.sonoma.edu

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Dec 16, San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus Home for the Holidays, Rohnert Park: The San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus travels north at the holidays to benefit Face 2 Face, AIDS services of Sonoma County. The voices of 150 men will be accompanied by a brass quintet and coloratura soprano Marnie Breckenridge at the Green Music Center (GMC). "The chorus will sing and dance its way into your hearts with some zany holiday antics – and welcome you home by wrapping you in your favorite holiday carols and traditions," says the GMC. Weill Hall at the Green Music Center, Sonoma State University, 1801 E. Cotati Ave., Rohnert Park, 866-955-6040, gmc.sonoma.edu

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Dec 16, Sing-Along Messiah, Santa Rosa: The Santa Rosa Symphony League’s 37th 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

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Dec 20, Dave Koz Christmas Concert, Rohnert Park: Enjoy the smooth saxophone sounds of Dave Koz as he stages his 21st annual Christmas tour. This year’s guest artists include blues saxophonist and singer Mindi Abair, South African guitarist and singer Jonathan Butler, Japanese keyboard sensation Keiko Matsui, and up and coming vocalist Sheléa. Weill Hall at the Green Music Center, Sonoma State University, 1801 E. Cotati Ave., Rohnert Park, 866-955-6040, gmc.sonoma.edu

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