Art Walks in Sonoma County

Stroll through fascinating neighborhoods, view a variety of art, sip wine, nibble appetizers, and perhaps enjoy a bit of music during one of Sonoma County’s art walks. Whether it’s a monthly or annual event, organized by gallery owners or the artists themselves, an art walk lets you explore the local creative scene on foot, in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

Here’s a list of the art walks in Sonoma Wine Country that let you walk from place to place.

Due to the ever-changing nature of events, please visit each website for the most current information. Details will also appear on our Arts & Culture page as events are scheduled.

First Friday Art Walk, Guerneville

Local art and artisans take center stage in the Russian River town of Guerneville on the first Friday of each month. Galleries, tasting rooms, and local merchants feature rotating exhibits for this monthly happening, which frequently include receptions with local artists as well as street performers and musicians. Start the evening by picking up a guide/map at the Sonoma Nesting Company.

First Friday Art Walk, Santa Rosa

Check out open studios throughout downtown Santa Rosa on the first Friday of each month with refreshments and live music. Get started by picking up details about participating sites at either Corrick’s fine gifts and gallery or at SOFA, the colorful block of storefronts known as the South A Street Art District.

Second Saturday Art Walk, Petaluma

There’s always a wide range of art from traditional and decorative to experimental at Petaluma’s Second Saturday Art Walk from March to November. Start at the Petaluma Arts Center to find out which galleries are participating that month, typically with appetizers and a wine reception. Then stroll to each site through eclectic architectural styles that give a hip and retro vibe to downtown Petaluma.

Salmon Creek Art Walk, Bodega Bay 

Walk from studio to studio in the coastal community of Salmon Creek Village, where about 100 homes are tucked near the beach just a mile north of Bodega Bay. Typically, 10 to 12 artists showcase work in this twice-a-year event (spring and fall), with a wide variety of styles and mediums presented in this rustic and gorgeous seaside setting.

Sonoma Art Walk, Sonoma

Enjoy music, art, poetry, and dance on the first Thursday of each month at more than 25 wine tasting rooms, stores, and restaurants on and around the Sonoma Plaza. The Sonoma Valley Museum of Art and the Sonoma Community Center open their gallery spaces as part of the evening. Everything is within easy walking distance, and the participants range from painters and artisans to musicians, poets, and culinary artists.

Galleries to Walk to in Downtown Healdsburg 

With some two dozen art galleries within walking distance of the lively central plaza in the Sonoma Wine Country town of Healdsburg, this is a destination where you can easily create your own art walk. Inviting studios dot the downtown between wine tasting rooms and world-class restaurants. For details, read Stroll From Art Gallery to Art Gallery in Healdsburg.

Sculpture Gardens in Sonoma County

Art walks aren’t the only way to admire art on a stroll in Sonoma County. Here’s a quick list of fun outdoor sculpture gardens to tour.

Sculpture Garden at the Museum of Sonoma County, Santa Rosa

Take a relaxing stroll through sunlight and shade in the sculpture garden at the Museum of Sonoma County. Discover natural, industrial, and whimsical art in this oasis displaying about a dozen large-scale pieces surrounded by giant redwood trees, native grasses, and crushed rock paths. The museum’s art gallery and history building are also well worth a visit.

Cornerstone Sonoma, Sonoma

You can walk through an ever-changing series of displays showcasing artistic sculpture and exquisite gardens. This venue and marketplace is a hub for art-inspired gardens, live music, events, boutique wineries, tasting rooms, and artisanal foods.

Florence Avenue, Sebastopol

This three-block-long neighborhood in Sebastopol is fun to walk because it’s dotted with colorful, whimsical, and oversized sculptures made from recycled materials by husband and wife artists Patrick Amiot and Brigitte Laurent.

Sculpture Trails in Sonoma County

The northern Sonoma County communities of Geyserville and Cloverdale boast wonderful sculpture trails, which feature a wide variety of unique public artworks. For more details, read Following the Sculpture Trails in Northern Sonoma County.

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Written by Sonoma Insider Patricia Lynn Henley