Things to Do in Sonoma County This Weekend


Written by Crissi Langwell and Dan Taylor for The Press Democrat.

This week is packed full of things to do. Here’s where you need to be. This weekend marks the 25th annual Santa Rosa Tattoos & Blues Festival, running Friday through Sunday at the Flamingo Resort in Santa Rosa. Also happening is the Windsor’s Got Talent show on Saturday, and a chance to walk the red carpet in Sebastopol and watch the Academy Awards streamed live at the Rialto Theater. All this and more is in our list of things to do.

Friday, Feb. 26
Windsor’s Got Talent!: The annual talent show at the Windsor Performing Arts Center shines a spotlight on brilliant locals and their amazing feats. The show is the trademark fundraiser for Winsdor Performing Arts Academy, and will help fund musicals at the Windsor K-8 schools. The event takes place this Friday at 6:30 p.m. at the Windsor Community Center. Tickets are $15 at the door. Find out more information at www.windsorperformingarts.net.

Feb. 26-28
Tattoos & Blues Festival: In its 25th year, the annual Tattoos & Blues Festival is the longest running tattoo convention in the country. This highly anticipated event features some of the best tattoo artists around, as well as live blues music, fire dancing, body art competitions and more. Held at the Flamingo Resort in Santa Rosa, doors open at noon on Friday, and at 11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission is $20 for a day pass, and $35 for the weekend. Find out all the details at www.santarosatattoosandblues.com.

Feb. 26-27
Petaluma Library Book Sale: The book sale at the Petaluma Library continues Friday and Saturday, offering you a chance to fill your bookshelves at a mere fraction of a price. Friday is the last day new books will be added to the sale, and on Saturday you can get books at half price 10 a.m. to 1:50 p.m., and $2 a bagful from 2-4 p.m.. The sale starts at 10 a.m. both days, ending at 5 p.m. Friday and 4 p.m. Saturday. Find out all the details at sonomalibrary.org.

Friday, Feb. 26
The Grammar Diva: Grammar expert Arlene Miller will be at Copperfield’s Books in Petaluma this Friday to share her latest book, “Fifty Shades of Grammar.” In this guide, she reveals tips on grammar, punctuation, words, writing, education and technology. The free event starts at 7 p.m. Find out more at copperfieldsbooks.com.
Read our article on Arlene Miller here.

Saturday, Feb. 27
Explore the new Laguna Discovery Trail: The Laguna Environmental Center is inviting explorers to come check out the new Laguna Discovery Trail in Rohnert Park, or the Laguna Trail in Sebastopol. Hikers can view waterfowl, tree frogs and mammal tracks while enjoying the beauty of the Laguna. Price to participate is $30. Meet at 9 a.m. at the Laguna Environmental Center in Santa Rosa. Find out more at the Facebook events page.

Saturday, Feb. 27
Signs of Spring Hike: This Saturday, get a full dose of spring when park docent Carolyn Green leads hikers through Sugarloaf to enjoy the seasonal transformation. The 3-mile moderate hike will include new plant growth, wildflowers and many other signs of spring. Bring water and a bagged lunch, and don’t forget your binoculars. The free hike starts at the Visitor’s Center at 10 a.m. Find out all the details at www.sugarloafpark.org.

Saturday, Feb. 27
The Spirit of Us: The music and history of slavery in America will be presented in a theatrical and musical multi-media performance, narrated by Jacqueline Lawrence and accompanied by more than a dozen performers. The show is at 3 p.m. this Saturday, held at the Community Baptist Church in Santa Rosa. Find out more at www.cbcsr.org.
Read our article on this here.

Saturday, Feb. 27
Finley Crab Feed: Enjoy all-you-can-eat crab at the Finley Center in Santa Rosa this Saturday, in a delicious benefit for Recreation & Parks’ Senior Programs. The event will also include a silent auction. Cost is $50 per person. Find out more at srcity.org.

Sunday, Feb. 28
Academy Night at the Rialto: In a benefit for Food For Thought, Rialto Cinemas in Sebastopol is rolling out the red carpet on Sunday evening for a night of fun, prizes and the 88th Annual Academy Awards Ceremony on the big screens. VIP tickets are $45 and include a pre-show catered champagne reception starting at 3:30 p.m., a red carpet photo, priority seating and access to the Red Carper Viewing Lounge. General tickets are $25, with doors to the Rialto Cinemas opening at 4:30 p.m. All guests are invited to dress to impress to take part in a costume contest, and to take part in trivia games and Oscar balloting with prizes. Snacks will be available at the theater’s new cafe. Find out all the details at rialtocinemas.com.

Would you like more people to know about your event? Enter it into our online events calendar at pressdemocrat.com/events.

Other upcoming events:

Friday, Feb. 26

Steve Gillette & Cindy Mangsen: Folk duo. 7 p.m. at the Occidental Center for the Arts. $12-$15. 874-9392, occidentalcenterforthearts.org.

Royal Marines Band: Pipes, drums and Highland dancers of the Scots Guards. 7:30 p.m. Weill Hall, Green Music Center. $40 & up. 866-955-6040, gmc.sonoma.edu.

‘Next Women of Country’: Jennifer Nettles, Brandy Clark, Lindsay Ell and Tara Thompson perform at 8 p.m. Wells Fargo Center, Santa Rosa. $58-78. 546-3600, wellsfargocenterarts.org.

‘Kismet’: The Arabian Night Musical with comedy, adventure, full costumes and an 11-piece orchestra, 8 p.m. Spreckels Performing Arts Center, Rohnert Park. $16-$26. 588-3400, ci.rohnert-park.ca.us.

‘VINOLIVO’: Grand Tasting kicks off the weekend festival with food and wine tasting 7-10 p.m. The Lodge, Sonoma. $75, $85 at door. 935-0803, sonomavalleywine.com.

Rubber Soul: Beatles tribute band. 7-10 p.m. Rossi’s 1906, Sonoma. Free. 343-0044, rossis1906.com.

Saturday, Feb. 27

Bonnie Brooks: Jazz singer. accompanied by pianist John Simon, 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Sebastopol Center for the Arts. $15. 829-4797, sebarts.org.

Paddy Moloney & The Chieftains: Irish folk band. 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Weill Hall, Green Music Center, Rohnert Park. $60 & up. 866-955-6040, gmc.sonoma.edu.

Sons of Champlin & David Luning: R&B, jazz and Americana, 8:30 p.m. Saturday. Mystic Theatre, Petaluma. $36. 765-2121, ticketweb.com.

Sunday, Feb. 28

‘Red Carpet Evening’: Black-tie Oscar night viewing benefits the Alexander Valley Film Society. 4 p.m. Sunday.. Clover Theater, Cloverdale. $100, $200 VIP. avfilmsociety.org.

‘The Envelope, Please’: Academy Awards show, food and drinks 4 p.m. Sunday. Mystic Theatre, Petaluma. $50, $75 VIP, benefits KPCA Radio. 765-2121, mystictheatre.com.

Cypress String Quartet: San Francisco ensemble performs beloved favorites, 3 p.m. Sunday. Schroeder Hall, Green Music Center, Rohnert Park. $30. 866-955-6040, gmc.sonoma.edu.

Monday, Feb. 29

Aoife O’Donovan: The folk and blues singer performs 8:30 p.m. Monday, Mystic Theatre, Petaluma. $16-$21. 765-2121, ticketweb.com.
View our article here.

Tuesday, March 1

‘Mother Jones in Heaven’: One-woman musical stars Mary Gannon Graham, catered dinner, 6 p.m. Tuesday, Lagunitas Brewery, Petaluma. $30, $40 at door. 778-8776, brownpapertickets.com.

Wednesday, March 2

‘West Side Stories’: 10 storytellers with true-life tales, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sonoma Portworks, Petaluma. $8. 477-4416, westsidestoriespetaluma.com.

Thursday, March 3

Jerry Joseph: Singer-songwriter plays solo. 8 p.m. Thursday. $12. HopMonk Tavern, Sebastopol. 829-7300, hopmonk.com.

Friday, March 4

‘Velveteen Rabbit’: Actors Theater for Children. 7 p.m. March 4, Steele Lane Community Center, Santa Rosa. $5. 543-3282, actorstheaterforchildren.com.

Wine Road Barrel Tasting: 100 northern Sonoma County wineries. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. March 4. $45 for the weekend. wineroad.com.

Dana Carvey: Former “Saturday Night Live” star, 8 p.m. March 4. Uptown Theatre, Napa. $50-$75. 259-0123, uptowntheatrenapa.com.

Old Bling Dogs: : Traditional Scottish folk band performs 8 p.m. March 4. Sebastopol Community Cultural Center. $20-$25. 823-1511, seb.org.

Silver Scream Film Festival: More than 40 films, plus Q&A sessions, panel discussions. March 4-6 at Roxy Stadium 14, 85 Santa Rosa Ave., downtown Santa Rosa. $25 March 4 and March 6, $35 March 5. Festival pass, $99. silverscreamfest.com
See the article here.

‘Emotional Creature’: The innermost thoughts and secret voices of girls all over the world, 8 p.m. March 4, Burbank Auditorium, Santa Rosa Junior College, Santa Rosa. $12-$18. 527-4307, theatrearts.santarosa.edu.

Alberto Fayo Quintet: Also, Sonoma State Univeristy Latin Band. 7:30 p.m. March 4, Schroeder Hall, Green Music Center, Rohnert Park. $8. 866-955-6040, gmc.sonoma.edu.

Saturday, March 5

Valley of the Moon Festival musicians: : 18th and 19th century music, period instruments, 3 p.m. March 5, Schroeder Hall, Green Music Center. $30. 866-955-6040, gmc.sonoma.edu.

Black Brothers Band: Singing siblings from Ireland, traditional songs 8 p.m. March 5, Occidental Center for the Arts. $22-25. 874-9392, occidentalcenterforthearts.org.

Kingsborough: Modern twist on classic rock ’n’ roll, 9 p.m. March 5, HopMonk Tavern, Sebastopol. $10. 829-7300, hopmonk.com/sebastopol.

North Bay Make-a-Thon: Sonoma State University and North Bay iHub host a day of innovation, 10 a.m.-4:45 p.m. March 5. Sonoma Mountain Village, Rohnert Park. $35-$70. northbayihub.com.

Roller Derby: North Bay Bruisers vs. Wine Country Home Wreckers open the season, 5:30 p.m. March 5. Grace Pavilion, Sonoma County Fairgrounds, Santa Rosa. $5-$20. 273-1463, sonomacountyrollerderby.org.

Sunday, March 6

Claudia Villela & Vitor Goncalves Duo: Parlor jazz presented by the Healdsburg Jazz Festival, 7 p.m. March 6, Paul Mahder Gallery, Healdsburg. $25. 433-4633, healdsburgjazzfestival.org.

‘Life & Art of Isadora Duncan’: Dance performance and historical narrative, 4 p.m. March 6, Occidental Center for the Arts, Occidental. $12. 874-9392, occidentalcenterforthearts.org.

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