Events · Sonoma & Napa
The festivals worth planning around, the seasons worth knowing, and where to check before you drive up.
We don't run a ticket desk and we don't keep a live listings feed — the tourism boards do that better, and we link straight to them. What we can tell you is which events are worth building a weekend around, and what each season actually feels like up here.
Looking for this weekend specifically?
For dated listings this weekend, the official tourism calendars are the reliable source. We would rather send you somewhere correct than publish a stale list.
Recurring every year — confirm dates with the organiser
Autumn, during harvest season
The county's long-running harvest celebration, best known for the professional wine competition and the grape stomp. Check the organiser for this year's dates and ticketing.
Source checked 2026-08-12
September — one of California's oldest wine festivals
A Sonoma Plaza institution running for well over a century, marking the start of the crush with food, wine and community events.
Source checked 2026-08-12
September
Painters work outdoors across the valley through the week, finishing with a public exhibition and sale.
Source checked 2026-08-12
Annual — check the organiser for this year's date
Two dozen or so regional breweries pouring in historic downtown Petaluma. A good answer to "what is there besides wine".
Source checked 2026-08-12
Year-round, heaviest during harvest
Release parties, vineyard dinners and harvest events across the valley. The Vintners calendar is the reliable index.
Source checked 2026-08-12
The dates move. The seasons don't. If you're deciding when to come rather than what to do this Saturday, start here.
Late August – November
The busiest and best-smelling stretch of the year. Crush pads run early, vineyards turn, and most wineries add harvest events. Book rooms further ahead than you think.
December
Tree lightings on the plazas, winter menus, and the quietest tasting rooms of the year. Good for a low-key weekend.
February – April
Yellow mustard between the vines, green hills, cheap rooms and no crowds. The locals' favourite season.
May – August
Outdoor concerts, river swimming, farmers markets and dinners that run late. Busiest for lodging.
Harvest weekends book out early. Compare rooms before you commit.
If you run a winery, restaurant, venue or nonprofit in Sonoma or Napa and you have an event our readers would want, tell us. We read everything and publish what fits.
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