Film festivals and spring parades, food and wine events and the best of Broadway – there’s no shortage of things to do in Sonoma County in March and April. Click through the gallery above for some of our favorite picks.
Things to Do in Sonoma County, March – April
Film festivals and spring parades, food and wine events and the best of Broadway - there's no shortage of things to do in Sonoma County in March and April.
MARCH 16-17: Pigs & Pinot, Healdsburg: Gourmets who particularly appreciate the pairing of pork dishes with Pinot Noir won’t want to miss this. Chef Charlie Palmer hosts the 13th annual event at Hotel Healdsburg, with master sommeliers and international celebrity chefs showcasing their best. The program features both intimate dining and educational events. $125-$175. Hotel Healdsburg, 25 Matheson St., Healdsburg. 707-922-5249, pigsandpinot.com. (Photo by Crista Jeremiason)
MARCH 17-18: Savor Sonoma Valley: Get ready to enjoy the ultimate barrel tasting experience, when wineries throughout Kenwood and Glen Ellen offer hard-to-find wines as well as all-time favorites. Hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. Advance tickets: $65 for a weekend pass, $50 for Sunday only. Tickets at the door: $75 for a weekend pass, $60 for Sunday only. heartofsonomavalley.com. (Photo by Jeremy Portje)
MARCH 20: Sonoma County Women in Conversation: Launched in 2016, the Press Democrat’s Sonoma County Women in Conversation series gives voice to topics of interest for women by welcoming speakers whose compelling stories and powerful messages serve as an inspiration to us all. This year, the series welcomes actor, feminist and social justice humanitarian Ashley Judd; VISA director of government relations and co-founder of We Said Enough Adama lwu; and Batch, Inc. CEO Lindsay Meyer. Judd, Iwu and Meyer all appeared in TIME Magazine’s 2017 Person of the Year issue honoring “The Silence Breakers” — the thousands of women and men around the world who have come forward with their experiences of sexual harassment and assault. The event is presented by Summit State Bank and sponsored by St. Joseph Health. 6 p.m. program, with “mix and mingle” beginning at 5 p.m. $55. Luther Burbank Center for the Arts, 50 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa, 707-546-3600, lutherburbankcenter.org
MARCH 21-25: Sonoma International Film Festival: Everybody loves to go the movies, but this 21st annual celebration of cinema will make it an event to remember, with dozens of screenings, plus celebrity guests and special parties. Passes cost run $175 to $550. sonomafilmfest.org.
MARCH 22-25: Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival: Experience just how adventurous nonfiction films can be, when this 11th annual, four-day event brings the best documentaries from around the world, and their filmmakers, to several venues in the Sebastopol area. Festival pass and ticket prices to be announced. Festival memberships: $40, single; $60, dual. sebastopolfilmfestival.org. (Photo by Alvin Jornada)
MARCH 23-25: California Artisan Cheese Festival: Enter the fascinating world of artisan cheese at this 12th annual weekend celebration, packed with tastings, tours, seminars, a Sunday “Bubbles Brunch” and more. Mingle with top cheesemakers and chefs. $25-$135. Sonoma County Fairgrounds Events Center, 1350 Bennett Valley Road, Santa Rosa, artisancheesefestival.com. (Photo by Erik Castro)
MARCH 24-25: The Ladies of Broadway: The immensely popular Transcendence Theatre Company, creators of the annual summer “Broadway Under the Stars” concert series in Glen Ellen’s Jack London State Historic Park, comes indoors to Luther Burbank Center for a performance by half a dozen women performers with Broadway credits. Show times are 2 and 7:30 p.m. March 24 and 2 p.m. March 25. $39-$139. Luther Burbank Center for the Arts, 50 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa, 707-546-3600, lutherburbankcenter.org. (Photo by Will Bucquoy)
MARCH 29: After the Fire, Vol. 1: Help raise money to aid the ongoing recovery of victims from last October’s North Bay wildfires at this live concert and record release party. The album, a compilation produced by Grammy-balloted artist and producer Scott Mickelson, features new recordings by 15 North Bay music acts. The show will feature Mickelson, M. Lockwood Porter, Kelly McFarling (pictured), Jeremy Lyon, Travis Hayes, Bobby Jo Valentine, Felsen, John Elliott, The Crux and more. 8 p.m. $15. HopMonk Tavern, 230 Petaluma Ave., Sebastopol, 707-829-7300, hopmonk.com. (Photo by Christopher M. Howard)
APRIL 7: Sonoma County Fire Relief Event: The Active 20-30 Club of Santa Rosa #50, organizers of the annual Battle of Brews craft beer event, plans a special edition of their popular program to aid victims of last October’s North Bay wildfires. Noon-7 p.m. Tickets: $100 for VIP Craft Cup beer and food tasting, noon to 3 p.m.; $50 for the main event, with dozens of craft beers from Sonoma County and across the country, 3-7 p.m. Grace Pavilion, Sonoma County Fairgrounds, 1350 Bennett Valley Road, Santa Rosa. firereliefbeerevent.com.
APRIL 8: Delicious New Chapters: At a daylong event that girl & the fig founder Sondra Bernstein has dubbed a “cookbook raiser,” fire survivors will have an opportunity to replace treasured volumes they lost with their homes. Donations of cookbooks will be accepted through April 4 at multiple locations throughout Sonoma (see event website for a complete list), and the giveaway itself begins at 9 a.m. at Bernstein’s multipurpose event space, Suite D. Suite D, 21800 Schellville Road, Sonoma, deliciousnewchapters.org, 707-933-3000, ext. 10. (Stock photo)
APRIL 14: Dianne Reeves: The Grammy Award-winning jazz singer makes the most of the outstanding acoustics in Green Music Center’s impressive Weill Hall, backed by a four-piece band. 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $35. For an extra $5, come early for the pre-concert “musical insights” talk by Doug Leibinger, director of jazz studies at Sonoma State University; a glass of wine is included. Weill Hall at the Green Music Center, Sonoma State University, 1801 E. Cotati Ave., Rohnert Park, gmc.sonoma.edu, 866-955-6040. (Photo by Jerris Madison)
APRIL 21-22: Apple Blossom Festival: Recapture the classic spirit of small town Americana with this 72nd annual event in Sebastopol. The iconic, nostalgic parade starts at 10 a.m. April 21 on Main Street. The second day of the festival features the “Blues Music Explosion,” with high-energy live acts. Ives Park, 7400 Willow St., and Sebastopol Center for the Arts, 282 High St., Sebastopol, 707-823-3032, appleblossomfest.com. (Photo by John Burgess)
APRIL 28: Petaluma Butter and Egg Days Parade and Celebration: Celebrate the city’s rich agricultural history with food, arts and crafts vendors, information booths and more from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Traditional highlights include the Cutest Chick Contest for kids, the Cow Chip Throwing Contest and, above all, the parade through downtown, starting at noon. Kids get their own parade at 11:30 a.m. Free. 707-938-9348, petalumadowntown.com. (Photo by John Burgess)
APRIL 28-29: Passport to Dry Creek Valley: If you love wine tasting events, this is one you’ll want to attend, with more 40 wineries throughout the Dry Creek Valley and top chefs offering food and pairings. 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m. both days. Ticket information: 707-433-3031, drycreekvalley.org. (Photo by Jeremy Portje)