Hold on to your hat, this weekend’s events are off to the races! This Friday, watch as speedy zukes squash the competition at the Zucchini Car Races. Don your best topper for the Sonoma County Fair’s Hat Day at the Races this Saturday. Or stay up late for the release party for the latest Harry Potter tale at Copperfield’s in Sebastopol. All this and more is in our list of things to do.
FRIDAY, July 29
Zucchini Car Races: This Friday night, see a few creative zukes squash the competition in the annual Zucchini Car Races at Sebastiani Winery’s Arbor Park. Decorated zucchini race cars will compete for both speed and creativity in an evening that brings out the best in veggie agility. Entries will be accepted from 5:30-6:15 p.m., and races begin at 6:30 p.m. This event is sponsored by the Friday morning Sonoma Valley Certified Farmers’ Market. Find out more at www.svcfm.org.
SATURDAY, July 30
Fort Ross Festival: Come to the coast this Saturday for the Fort Ross Festival, a celebration that will feature live music, dance, historic performances, international foods and more. The event starts at 10 a.m., and the Fort Ross Beer Garden starts pouring at 11:30 a.m. Tickets start at $20 per car. Find out all the information at www.fortross.org.
Harry Potter Release Party: Harry Potter fans, your wait is over. This Sunday at midnight is the much-anticipated release time of “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” the play script based on a new story by J.K. Rowling and two other writers. To celebrate, Copperfields in Sebastopol is holding a midnight release party, starting at 11 p.m. Saturday and going until 12:30 a.m. Sunday. Pre-ordering is highly recommended to become one of the first to read the latest in the Harry Potter series. Find out more at www.copperfieldsbooks.com.
Brews & Beats: This Saturday, head on over to St. Florian’s Brewery in Windsor for a late afternoon of live music and beer. Jamie Tamboury and Ukulele will be entertaining the masses from 3-6 p.m. There’s no cover to attend, and a food truck will be onsite. Find out all the details at stfloriansbrewery.com.
Weird Al Yankovich: This Saturday, Weird Al Yankovich puts his spin on some of your favorite tunes when he performs live at the Green Music Center. Tickets prices for the 7:30 p.m. show start at $25. Find out all the details at gmc.sonoma.edu.
Toyota NHRA Sonoma Nationals: This weekend, it’s all about the nitro. Friday through Sunday, Sonoma Raceway will be packed with fast cars and racing fans for the 29th annual Toyota NHRA Sonoma Nationals. For tickets and schedule of events, visit sonomaraceway.com.
Hat Day at the Races: Style meets steeds this Saturday when Hat Day at the Races returns to the Sonoma County Fair. Benefitting the Sonoma County Fair Foundation’s Agricultural Education Endowment Fund, guests are invited to wear their most fashionable topper and enjoy trackside wine and appetizers while watching the horse races. Tickets are $65 per person, or $600 per table of eight. Find out more at sonomacountyfair.com.
SUNDAY, July 31
Valley of the Moon Festival: ‘The Young Mendelssohn’ festival finale, 4 p.m. Sunday, Hanna Boys Center, Sonoma. $20-$40. valleyofthemoonmusicfestival.org.
‘Viva Mariachi!’: Santa Rosa Symphony with Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles, 7 p.m. Sunday, Weill Hall and Lawn, Green Music Center, Rohnert Park. Free, tickets required. (866) 955-6040, gmc.sonoma.edu.
OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS…
Friday, July 29
Bebel Gilberto: Electronic bossa nova with the Latin vocalist, 8:30 tonight, Mystic Theatre, Petaluma. $27. 765-2121, mystictheatre.com.
‘Music in the Vineyards’: Mozart program opens 24-day Napa Valley Chamber Music Festival, 7:30 tonight, Freemark Abbey, St. Helena. $60. 258-5559, musicinthevineyards.org.
‘Raven 24/7’: Audience helps choose themes and characters for seven short plays staged tomorrow, 8 tonight, Raven Theater, Healdsburg. $20/both days. 433-6335, raventheater.org.
Jon Cleary & The Monster Gentlemen: Rhythm and blues, ‘Friday Night Live’ outdoor concert series, 7 p.m., Cloverdale Plaza. Free. 894-4410, cloverdaleartsalliance.org.
Gator Nation: Cajun, Zydeco and New Orleans rhythm and blues, ‘Funky Fridays’ outdoor concert, 7 p.m., Hood Mansion, Santa Rosa. $10. 833-6288, funkyfridays.info.
Saturday, July 30
Destruction Derby: Local, rookie and fair-circuit drivers, 7 p.m. Saturday, Sonoma County Fair, Santa Rosa. $10-$15, plus fair admission of $6-$12. 545-4200, sonomacountyfair.com.
‘SRT Cabaret’: Summer Repertory Theatre’s annual musical showcase, 8 p.m. Saturday, Burbank Auditorium, Santa Rosa Junior College, Santa Rosa. $20. 527-4307, summerrep.com.
O.A.R.: Alternative rock jam band, outdoor concert series, 7 p.m. Saturday, Robert Mondavi Winery, Oakville. $80-$110. (888) 769-5299, robertmondaviwinery.com.
Gethen Jenkins & The Freightshakers: Classic country music with an outlaw stance, 9 p.m. Saturday, Rossi’s 1906, Sonoma. $10. 343-0044, rossis1906.com.
Sunday, July 31
Elvin Bishop: Blues and rock ’n’ roll, ‘Sundays in the Park’ concert series, 6-8 p.m. Sunday, Todd Grove Park, Ukiah. Free. 463-6231, cityofukiah.com.
Progressive Festival: Live music and entertainment, speakers and information on social justice and local and international issues, noon-5 p.m. Sunday, Walnut Park, Petaluma. Free. progressivefestival.org.
Monday, Aug. 1
The Blues Defenders Pro Jam: Sonoma County gritty West Coast blues band, 8 p.m. Monday, Twin Oaks Roadhouse, Penngrove. Free. 795-5118, twinoakstavernpenngrove.com.
Tuesday, Aug. 2
Cassadee Pope: Country vocalist, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sonoma County Fair, Santa Rosa. Free with fair admission of $6-$12, $31 reserved seat, $50 includes dinner. 545-4200, sonomacountyfair.com.
pianoSonoma: Artists-in-residence concert, 5:30 p.m. wine tasting, 6 p.m. performance, Tuesday, Schroeder Hall, Green Music Center, Rohnert Park. $15. (866) 955-6040, gmc.sonoma.edu.
New Breed Brass Band: New Orleans funk, rock and jazz, ‘Tuesdays in the Plaza’ outdoor concert series, 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Healdsburg Plaza. Free. ci.healdsburg.ca.us.
Wednesday, Aug. 3
Margo Price: Nashville-based country musician, 8 p.m. Wednesday, Gundlach Bundschu Winery, Sonoma. $35. 938-5277, gunbun.ticketfly.com.
Lost Dog Found: All-original hot swing band, ‘Peacetown Summer Concert Series,’ 5-8 p.m. Wednesday, Ives Park, Sebastopol. Free. 823-1511, peacetown.org.
Thursday, Aug. 4
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts: Hard-rocking concert, 8 p.m. Thursday, Luther Burbank Center, Santa Rosa. $59-$75. 546-3600, lutherburbankcenter.org.
Aaron Tippin: Country singer, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sonoma County Fair, Santa Rosa. Free with fair admission of $6-$12, $31 reserved, $50 includes dinner. 545-4200, sonomacountyfair.com.
Pride & Joy: Soul and funk band, ‘Summer Nights on the Green’ outdoor concert, 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Windsor Town Green. Free. 838-1260, townofwindsor.com.
Friday, Aug. 5
Monster Trucks: TRAXXAS Destruction Tour, 7 p.m. Aug. 5, Sonoma County Fair, Santa Rosa. $10-$15 plus fair admission of $6-$12. 545-4200, sonomacountyfair.com.
French Oak Gypsy Band: Jazz combo, ‘Local Talent Friday,’ 8-10 p.m. Aug. 5, Occidental Center for the Arts. $10. 874-9392, occidentalcenterforthearts.org.
Cody Canada & The Departed: Country rock, ‘Friday Night Live’ outdoor concert series, 7 p.m. Aug. 5, Cloverdale Plaza. Free. 894-4410, cloverdaleartsalliance.org.
‘HARVESTER’: Opening reception for Erik Castro’s photographs of wine industry field workers, 5-8 p.m. Aug. 5, Christie Marks Fine Art Gallery, Santa Rosa. Free. 695-1011, christiemarksfineart.com.
Tommy Thomsen: Sonoma’s Americana musician, ‘Funky Fridays’ outdoor concert, 7 p.m. Aug. 5, Hood Mansion, Santa Rosa. $10. 833-6288, funkyfridays.info.
Broadway Under the Stars: ‘Dance the Night Away’ opener, 5 p.m. picnicking, 7:30 p.m. performance, Aug. 5, Jack London State Historic Park, Glen Ellen. $42-$134. (877) 424-1414, transcendencetheatre.org.
Los Tigres del Norte: Latin music, 7:30 p.m. Aug. 5, Weill Hall and Lawn, Green Music Center, Rohnert Park. $25-$80. (866) 955-6040, gmc.sonoma.edu.
Saturday, Aug. 6
Petaluma Music Festival: Fifteen performers, benefits music education in Petaluma-area schools, 11:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Aug. 6, Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds, Petaluma. $20-$45. petalumamusicfestival.org.
George Winston: Solo piano concert, 8 p.m. Aug. 6, Dance Palace, Point Reyes Station. $35-$40 plus suggested canned food donation. (415) 663-1075, dancepalace.org.
Guy Slater: Mix of modern guitar styles, 2-4 p.m. Aug. 6, Museums of Sonoma County, Santa Rosa. Free with admission of $7-$10. 579-1500, sonomacountymuseum.org.
Grammar Diva Arlene Miller: ‘The Best Little Grammar Book Ever’ author, 1 p.m. Aug. 6, Copperfield’s Books, Petaluma. Free. 762-0563, copperfieldsbooks.com.
Sunday, Aug. 7
Sonoma County Fair: Final day, gates open 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Aug. 7, Sonoma County Fair, Santa Rosa. $6-$12. 545-4200, sonomacountyfair.com.
The Opportunist: Vintage rock and blues, ‘Music on the Lawn’ series, 2:30-4:30 p.m. Aug. 7, St. Francis Winery, Santa Rosa. Free. 538-9463, stfranciswinery.com.
The Bootleg Honeys: Americana, ‘Live at Juilliard’ summer concert series, 5-7 p.m. Aug. 7, Juilliard Park, Santa Rosa. Free. 543-4512, srcity.org/liveatjuilliard.
Rodrigo y Gabriela: Mexican acoustic rock guitar duo, 8 p.m. Aug. 7, Luther Burbank Center, Santa Rosa. $69-$89. 546-3600, lutherburbankcenter.org.
Mixed Nuts: Dance band, pop, rock, country and standards, 1-4 p.m. Aug. 7, Village Court, Montgomery Village, Santa Rosa. Free. 545-3844, mvshops.com.