Sonoma County Events for Autumn 2018

It's grape pickin' and wine makin' season so there's lots to see. You can even smell the harvest! There's usually great weather, but you can always count on great wine and great food.

There are many events going on between September and November. Enjoy the bounty of Sonoma County.
        
September

1  Taste of Sonoma - (Was Sonoma Wine Country Weekend, but now it's only one day) - An educational day of wine and food in Rohnert Park. Info

11-13 National Heirloom Exposition at the Sonoma County fairgrounds in Santa Rosa. It's billed as the world's largest display of heirloom produce with speakers and music, also. Info

14-16 Indy Cars at Sonoma Raceway. Info

15  Petaluma River Craft Beer Festival. Info

22-23 Wings Over Wine Country - Airshow at the Sonoma County Airport. Info

22-23 Sonoma Harvest Music Festival at B.R. Cohn Winery. It's the first year for it and it is put on by the folks doing the highly successful BottleRock Festival in Napa. Info

28-30 Valley of the Moon Vintage Festival in Sonoma is the oldest festival in the state. Art, music, grape stomp, parade, activities for the kids, and lots of wine. Many events are free. Info

30 Harvest Celebration at Kendall-Jackson Winery. Their long-running Heirloom Tomato Festival has morphed into this new event. Info

October

5-7 Sonoma County Harvest Fair in Santa Rosa at the county fairgrounds - Food, award-winning wines, beer, music, and the "World Championship" Grape Stomp. Info

5-7  Levi's GranFondo. Local professional cyclist, Levi Leipheimer, puts on a cycle event with multiple routes throughout the county so there's something for everybody. Or you can watch the pros in action. Info

13  Cotati Oktoberfest - Food, beer, yodeling contest, and oom-pah bands. Info

13-14 & 20-21 Tolay Fall Festival, Petaluma. A Sonoma County family tradition with hay rides, a pumpkin patch, and farm animals. Info

21  Pinot on the River in Healdsburg. Food plus a hundred wineries pouring Pinot Noir. Info

November

3-4 Wine and Food Affair - A northern Sonoma County food and wine event weekend with over 50 participating wineries. Info


Other Info

The harvest / crush / vintage - Grape harvest season is at its peak from about mid-Sep to mid-Oct (exact timing is up to Mother Nature). It's a great time to visit a winery where you can see some of the action on the crush pad. Be careful! The action is fast and furious and the workers are tired from long hours. Ask permission before approaching too closely.

Individual winery harvest events - Many wineries have their own harvest parties and winemaker dinners. Check with your favorites to see if they have anything going on.

Thanksgiving weekend - Most wineries are closed on Thanksgiving Day. The rest of the weekend is usually very busy with many putting on holiday open houses.  Check with your favorites to see if they have a special event.