Written by Crissi Langwell & Dan Taylor for the Press Democrat.
If you’re looking for fun, you’ve come to the right place. This weekend, head over to Sebastopol for their annual Apple Blossom Festival and Parade. You can also view the bounty of spring on several wildflower hikes at Jack London Historic State Park. And you can celebrate Earth Day with lots of festive fun at Quarryhill Botanical Gardens. All this and more is in our list of things to do.
Saturday, April 16
Butter & Egg Days Opening Ceremony: The official countdown to the Butter & Egg Days Festival begins this Saturday when the Petaluma hosts the opening ceremonies. From noon to 1 p.m. at the Petaluma Historical Museum, meet the town’s newest Good Egg recipient and cheer the 2016 Grand Marshal. Following the ceremony will be a BBQ lunch for sale. Find out more information at www.petalumadowntown.com/opening-ceremonies.html.
Saturday, April 16
Crab in the Cave: Enjoy a delicious crab dinner and auction at Deerfield Ranch Winery in Kenwood this Saturday night. Proceeds from the event will benefit Sonoma Valley schools and community projects, and will also help international clean water, sanitation and educational programs. The event goes from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., and the dinner includes wine, pasta, salad, crab, French bread and dessert. Tickets are $75 per person. Purchase tickets at crabcave.bpt.me.
Saturday, April 16
Earth Day at Quarryhill: This year, celebrate Earth Day a little early with fun and activities at Quarryhill. On Saturday, the botanical garden preserve will offer arts, crafts, games, kayak rides, live animals and more, taking place 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event is free to attend with a $5 parking fee. Find out more at www.quarryhillbg.org.
April 16 & 17
Apple Blossom Festival and Parade: This weekend marks the 70th annual Sebastopol Apple Blossom celebration, beginning this Saturday at 10 a.m. with the traditional parade. The weekend-long event includes live blues performances, art exhibits, local food and drink, family fun and more. Find out all the details at www.appleblossomfest.com.
April 16 & 17
Petaluma River Trips: If you’ve ever wanted to learn more about the Petaluma River, now is your chance. This Saturday and Sunday, Dolphin Charters is offering 3-hour tours of the river, departing from the Petaluma Turning Basin. The tour will share unique aspects of this waterway, including history of the river and why it’s still important today. Tours are $40 per person, and tour times vary. Find out more at www.dolphincharters.com.
April 16 & 17
Rose Harvest Celebration: This Saturday and Sunday, celebrate the spring rose harvest with two festive events at the Russian River Rose Company in Healdsburg. On Saturday, the Gradina Slavic Singers will kick things off with the Blessing of the Rose Harvest to ensure a bountiful bloom. Both days will feature the Rose Petal Toss, Spring Singing and other fragrant frolics. Performances are at noon and 2 p.m. both days. Admission is a $2 donation. Find out more at www.russian-river-rose.com.
April 16 & 17
Wildflower Extravaganza: Spring has sprung at Jack London Historic State Park, and you’re invited to view the blooms. This Saturday and Sunday, take part in one of several wildflower outings around the grounds. A park naturalist will lead easy to intermediate hikes along several of the park’s trails, offering views of vibrant flowers and wildlife. Admission is $10 per person, plus $10 parking fee. Find out more at www.jacklondonpark.com.
April 15-24
Village Building Convergence: The 2nd annual 10-day festival kicks off in Sebastopol on Friday and continues through April 24 with placemaking projects, evening lectures, presentations, discussions and music. Most events take place at the Sebastopol Grange, and placemaking projects will be located in various spaces around Sebastopol. View a schedule and event locations at sebastopolvbc.weebly.com.
Sunday, April 17
Simcha Sunday: Come to the Jewish Cultural Festival this Sunday at Sally Tomatoes in Rohnert Park. From noon to 4 p.m., enjoy delicious food, entertainment, family activities and more. The event is free to the public. Find out all the details at www.jccsoco.org.
Other upcoming events:
Friday, April 15
Paul McCandless/Christian Foley-Beining Collaboration: Original compositions by jazz quartet, 8 p.m., Occidental Center for the Arts. $20. 874-9392, occidentalcenterforthearts.org.
Chanticleer: Twelve-voice San Francisco men’s ensemble ‘Over the Moon’ program, 7:30 p.m., Green Music Center, Rohnert Park. $35-$85. (866) 955-6040, gmc.sonoma.edu.
Babatunde Lea: Soulful jazz drummer-percussionist and friends, concerts 7 and 9 p.m., Healdsburg Center for the Arts. $20. 431-1970, healdsburgcenterforthearts.com.
‘All My Sons’: Raven Players production of Arthur Miller’s first play, 8 p.m., Raven Performing Arts Theater, Healdsburg. $10-$25. 433-6335, raventheater.org.
Saturday, April 16
Anoushka Shankar: Sitar performance, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Green Music Center, Rohnert Park. $35-$85. (866) 955-6040, gmc.sonoma.edu.
Harlem String Quartet: New York-based classical ensemble, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Glaser Center, Santa Rosa. $30. 874-1124, redwoodarts.org.
Beer Blossom Festival: Venue’s ninth-anniversary celebration, live music, noon Saturday, HopMonk Tavern, Sebastopol. Free. 829-7300, hopmonk-sebastopol.ticketfly.com.
Sunday, April 17
‘April in Carneros’: Wine, food, live entertainment at 15 award-winning wineries, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, southern Sonoma Valley. $15-$75. carneroswineries.org.
Santa Rosa Symphony Pops: ‘The King: The Music of Elvis,’ 3 p.m. Sunday, Luther Burbank Center, Santa Rosa. $37-$80. 546-3600, lutherburbankcenter.org.
Sonoma Bach Consort: ‘Sacred Realms: Song of Songs’ concert with Green Mountain Singers, 3 p.m. Sunday, St. Seraphim of Sarov Orthodox Church, Santa Rosa. $15-$25. (877) 914-2224, sonomabach.org.
James David Christie: Organist performs works of 16th- to 18th-century masters of the ‘king of instrument,’ 3 p.m. Sunday, Green Music Center, Rohnert Park. $30. (866) 955-6040, gmc.sonoma.edu.
Monday, April 18
John Franchetti: Healdsburg Chef’s Table dinner and conversation with Franchettis’ Wood Fire Kitchen chef, 6 p.m. Monday, Relish Culinary Center, Healdsburg. $98. 431-9999, relishculinary.com.
Tuesday, April 19
Veronika Scott: Sonoma County Women in Conversation series with the social entrepreneur and CEO/founder of The Empowerment Plan, 7 p.m. Tuesday, Luther Burbank Center, Santa Rosa. Sold out. socowomenevents.com.
Wednesday, April 20
Kiki Thorpe: Children’s author of ‘Into the Waves’ from ‘Never Girls’ series, 3 p.m. Wednesday, Copperfield’s Books, Napa. Free. 252-8002, copperfieldsbooks.com.
Thursday, April 21
‘Wine Country Chefs of Tomorrow’: Food, wine and auctions benefit 10 local youth culinary arts programs, 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Hyatt Vineyard Creek Hotel, Santa Rosa. $85. 837-1928, chefsoftomorrow.org.
Chick Corea & Béla Fleck: Legendary jazz pianist and banjo virtuoso, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Green Music Center, Rohnert Park. $65-$155. 866-955-6040, gmc.sonoma.edu.
The Crux: Songs and stories by multi-instrumentalist ensemble at Americana Night, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Cloverdale Arts Alliance. $20. 894-4410, cloverdaleartsalliance.org.
Friday, April 22
Prelude to Passport Weekend: Vineyard-tour lunches, winemaker dinners open weekend Passport event, various times and wineries, Friday, April 22, Dry Creek Valley, Healdsburg. $76-$155. drycreekvalley.org.
San Francisco Opera Adler Fellows: Chamber concert with young opera singers, 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 22, Carole L. Ellis Auditorium, Santa Rosa Junior College Petaluma campus. $15-$26. (415) 392-4400, santarosa.edu/chamber-concerts.
Crary, Evans & Spurgin: Bluegrass songs and stories, 8 p.m. Friday, April 22, Sebastopol Community Cultural Center Annex-Main Room, $22-$25. 824-1858, seb.org.
Terrie Odabi: Rhythm and blues soul singer with Evolution of the Blues, 7 p.m. Friday, April 22, Studio Barndiva Gallery Bar, Healdsburg. $45. barndiva.com.
Saturday, April 23
California Redwood Chorale: Classic songs of the screen and stage, 8 p.m. Saturday, April 23, Glaser Center, Santa Rosa. $17-$20. californiaredwoodchorale.org.
Earth Day OnStage: Performances, food, earth-friendly products and kids’ activities, noon-4 p.m. April 23, Courthouse Square, Santa Rosa. Free. 543-3366, srcity.org.
Butter & Egg Days: Festival 10 a.m.-4 p.m., kids’ parade at 11:30 a.m., main parade noon, April 23, downtown Petaluma. Free. 763-0344, petalumadowntown.com.
Midori: Violin program of Bach, Schubert, Brahms and Tchaikovsky, 7:30 p.m. April 23, Green Music Center, Rohnert Park. $35-$85. 866-955-6040, gmc.sonoma.edu.
‘Earth Laugh!’: Crushers of Comedy stand-up comedy, 8 p.m. Saturday, April 23, Best Western Sonoma Valley Inn Krug Center, Sonoma. $25. (415) 350-6433, crushersofcomedy.com.
Sunday, April 24
‘Twelfth Night’: Shakespearean comedy with a true-to-the-period all-male cast, 2 p.m. Sunday, April 24, Burbank Auditorium, Santa Rosa Junior College, Santa Rosa campus. $12-$18. 527-4307, theatrearts.santarosa.edu.
‘Tomatomania’: Tomato celebration with wide variety of heirloom tomato seedlings for sale, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. Sunday, April 24, Cornerstone, Sonoma. Free. 933-3010, tomatomania.com/sonoma.
Stephane Wrembel: Multi-faceted master guitarist and composer and his band, 8 p.m. Sunday, April 24, Occidental Center for the Arts. $25. 874-9392, occidentalcenterforthearts.org.
Matthias Goerne: Baritone performance of Schubert’s ‘Die Schöne Müllerin,’ 3 p.m. Sunday, April 24, Green Music Center, Rohnert Park. $35-$85. 866-955-6040, gmc.sonoma.edu.
Jackson Browne: Solo acoustic performance by Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, 7:30 p.m. Sunday, April 24, Luther Burbank Center, Santa Rosa. $56-$76. 546-3600, lutherburbankcenter.org.