Celebrate the Holidays Sonoma County-Style

Embrace the season’s magic in Sonoma County, where vineyards and redwoods become the backdrop for a unique blend of holiday cheer. Join us on a journey through the heart of this picturesque region, where joy is uncorked and memories are crafted with every twinkling light.

Say Hello to Santa

In Wine Country, Santa sure knows how to make an entrance. He likes to arrive by different modes of transportation: tractor, boat, train — even helicopter. Suppose you want to add extra magic to the season while savoring every crumb of bakery bliss; you can meet Santa for breakfast at Costeaux’s Bakery in Healdsburg every Saturday in December. Santa will be onsite from 9 to 11 a.m.

Spread Holiday Cheer

‘Tis the season for eating lots of food, exchanging gifts, and getting together with friends and family. But the holiday season can also be difficult for many, including those alone or struggling to make ends meet. This year, spend some time helping those in need: Alleviate hunger with the Redwood Empire Food Bank, volunteer at Committee on the Shelterless (COTS), or support seniors in Sonoma County through the Council on Aging. More volunteer opportunities are here.

Be Dazzled by a Mexican Posada

Celebrate the culture and traditions of Mexico with Posada Navideña by Calidanza, held at the Luther Burbank Center for the Arts. Las Posadas are traditionally celebrated over nine nights, ending on Christmas Eve; they tell the biblical story of Mary and Joseph’s search for shelter during the first Christmas. Artistic director Steven Valencia, Sacramento-based Calidanza’s interpretation of Las Posadas, tells the story in a single program. Nearly two dozen strong group members bring youthful wit and vibrancy to Mexican storytelling and dance.

Watch a Lighted Boat Parade

Put on a parka, gather the family, and pick your spot on the Petaluma River for one of the most charming holiday parades you’ll ever likely see. A flotilla of decorated, lighted vessels — from canoes to stately yachts — gathers at Petaluma Turning Basin for a graceful glide into Petaluma’s historic downtown district. The lighted boats remain docked downtown throughout the night behind the Great Petaluma Mill. For more information, check our events page.

Say Feliz Navidad, God Jul, or Joyeux Noël

Nothing tugs at our heartstrings like the foods of Christmas past. Whether it’s mom’s pecan pie, abuela’s tamales, Swedish pickled herring, or a bûche de Noël, we all crave a little taste of our heritage during the holidays. Find holiday foods from around the world at Sonoma County’s restaurants and bakeries: Tamales Mana makes our favorite steamed corn cakes, Sarmentine Artisan Boulanger in Santa Rosa will have bûche de Noël, Stockhome restaurant in Petaluma serves a traditional Swedish julbord and glögg and 9 Islands Bakery in Rohnert Park has Portuguese pastéis de nata. 

Watch a Drone Gelt Drop

Celebrate Hanukkah with the Chabad Jewish Center of Petaluma, which hosts an action-packed event at the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds that includes a drone gelt drop. The event also features a nine-foot menorah, a fire juggling act, a “dancing dreidel” (plus the world’s largest dreidel), giant Hanukkah decorations, live DJ Hanukkah music, latkes, jelly doughnuts and chocolate gelt, and face painting. The event is free with RSVP at jewishpetaluma.com.

Visit a Christmas Card Church

Bodega’s Saint Teresa of Avila, a white New England-style church with a tall steeple, looks like something out of an old-fashioned Christmas card. And just before Christmas, it is lit up around the door and decorated with garlands. The great photographer Ansel Adams immortalized the church in a photograph that became one of his favorites, and it was famously featured in Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds.

Enjoy an Old-Fashioned French Holiday Spectacle

Michel Michelis’s Le Cirque de Bohème has enthralled children and adults during sold-out annual performances. Echoing the style of 1920s nouveau-cirque and the French Christmastime circus tradition, it blends circus acts — clowns, mimes, trapeze artists, tightrope walkers, contortionists, and jugglers — with a captivating storyline and live music, held at Cornerstone Sonoma. For more information, check out our events page.

Take-In Upscale Gingerbread Houses

Some might say it’s not officially the holiday season until you’ve had your first gingersnap. But for some, a cookie is not enough. Hotel Petaluma’s annual gingerbread house showcase and competition reminds you that love grows in little houses. You’ll see creations that lure any modern-day Hansel and Gretel into the witch’s cauldron. Some gingerbread houses even replicate historic Petaluma mansions. For more information, check out our events page.

Lace Up Those Skates

There may not be snow, but icy winter fun arrives in downtown Santa Rosa with a synthetic ice rink at Old Courthouse Square. The attraction, Skating on the Square, is a Santa Rosa Metro Chamber project and is the first of its kind for downtown. Every Thursday before Christmas, there are also theme nights with special music, décor, professional skating entertainment, and instruction. Skates are available for rent, and the rink will be open most weekdays and weekends during the afternoon and early evening throughout the season. For a larger rink indoors, head to Snoopy’s Home Ice. Morning, midday, and evening public skating sessions are available.

Make the Yuletide Gay

The acclaimed San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus returns to Sonoma County for the holidays, an exuberant performance of zany holiday antics, traditional carols, and new surprises. The holiday extravaganza features a choir of more than 150 voices, special guests, and live musicians. The concert at the Green Music Center in Rohnert Park benefits Face 2 Face, ending HIV in Sonoma County.

Hear the Fireplace Roar

Contrary to popular belief, it can get cold in Sonoma County. While you may have mastered the art of layering, there’s nothing quite like a fireplace to warm you up. Several local restaurants serve up ember-enhanced meals and drinks sure to get you into the holiday spirit; a few favorites include Catelli’s in Geyserville, John Ash & Co. and Stark’s Steak & Seafood in Santa Rosa, and El Dorado Kitchen in Sonoma.

Warm Up with a Hot Drink

While we’re staying warm, how about a hot drink with a spoonful of childhood nostalgia? At Snoopy’s Home Ice in Santa Rosa, order a Peppermint Patty Hot Chocolate at the Warm Puppy Café. Then cozy up by the fireplace before you consider putting on those skates.  Try the Aztec Mocha with double espresso or the Valrhona chocolate and chilies at Flying Goat Coffee in Healdsburg, for a more grownup version.

Shop Local

Swap the dreaded mid-December mall experience for a wholesome old-school event. Holidays Along the Farm Trails, a.k.a. the perfect antidote to seasonal anxiety, allows participants to get into the holiday spirit by visiting local farms, creameries, and cideries. On the Farm Trails, buy gifts (delicious artisan foods) or make your own at DIY workshops. You can also greet the farm animals.

Shop for Fido

If your dog has been a good boy or girl, head to Fideaux in Healdsburg for a sweater, toy, or treat. This boutique carries everything from Pendleton dog beds and Molly Mutt duvet covers to collars, leashes, doggie jackets, and pet wall art (including Dogs of Duke’s advent calendars). Lots of treats are available, from Kongs to doggie ice cream. And for the discerning Wine Country dog, choose from a fully-stocked bar of stuffed toys, like Woof Clicquot or Pinot Grrr.

Get Cracking in Healdsburg

At Costeaux French Bakery in Healdsburg, see rows of whimsical, militarily precise nutcrackers ready for inspection. Their ranks are arrayed on shelves installed just for the holidays and spill over into every nook and cranny of the bakery. There is even a tall version to greet you as you walk through the bakery’s open gates. The Nutcracker view is best enjoyed with Pain Perdu and a Ghirardelli chocolate mocha before holiday shopping on the plaza.

Sip, Savor, and Shop

Holidays in Healdsburg is a cherished seasonal tradition in Sonoma County. During a four-hour guided tour, enjoy the Christmas-tree-lit plaza, colorful street decorations, festive window displays, and carolers; savor seasonal bites and sip wines at three boutique wineries; or ride a horse-drawn carriage. Tours start at the gazebo in Healdsburg’s central plaza. Book the tour online at Wine Country Walking Tours.

Visit Hotels for the Holidays

If you’ve always wanted an enormous Christmas tree but are perhaps short on ceiling space, go to Hotel Petaluma, where a 12-foot evergreen towers in the building’s courtyard. In years past, the hotel has even made it “snow” in the courtyard — fingers crossed for that happening again this year. 

Get Sparkling

Head to SIGH Champagne bar in Sonoma for holiday celebratory sparkles. No reservations are needed. This is a great tasting room option if you have teetotalers or beer drinkers at your party, because the champagne bar also offers draft beer, regular wine, non-alcoholic beverages, and snack-sized bites, both savory and sweet.

Take a Historic Stroll

After a sip of bubbly, Sonoma Plaza offers holiday cheer and attractions for history buffs, from the Sonoma Mission to the barracks and Toscano Hotel, all within two blocks. Other fascinating historical sites and attractions are just steps away, such as the Depot Park Museum and the Presidio of Sonoma. 

Immerse Yourself in Holiday Decor

Brewsters Beer Garden in Petaluma is transformed into a winter wonderland come Christmastime — decorated with thousands of merry tchotchkes. The kitschy decor combines holiday dishes like bri, house-made pickles, and cocktails infused with spiced apple cider, cinnamon cognac, and other seasonal flavors. Check out the restaurant’s Miracle Market, too. Tables are set with holiday gifts like Santa-pants mugs, and ugly sweaters through the New Year.

Take a Quiet Winter Hike

Shady forest groves are a respite from the flurry of the holiday season. Located just off Highway 1 in Jenner, the entrance to Stillwater Cove Regional Park is easy to miss. This hidden gem features three miles of trails surrounded by lush ferns and towering redwoods and is a popular spot for beach picnics. Parking is available at the day-use lot east of Highway 1.

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Written by Sonoma Magazine Staff