A flurry of art events that sparkle brighter than a Christmas are about to descend on Sonoma County like so many reindeer.
At the Finley Center, the Redwood Writers Holiday Book & Craft Fair gathers more than three dozen local authors and artisans selling books, jewelry and handmade ornaments. Between signings and “Table Topics” on writing and marketing, it’s a cozy bazaar for the bookish and the curious alike. 10am–4pm, Saturday, Nov. 15, Finley Center, Santa Rosa. Admission free.
In Sonoma, the Japanese Gift Wrapping Workshop at the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art elevates the humble present into an art form. Artist Megumi Inouye demonstrates how pleating, folding and tying become gestures of gratitude in themselves—proof that what’s outside the box can be just as beautiful as what’s inside. 6–8pm, Wednesday, Nov. 19, 551 Broadway, Sonoma. $65 members/$85 non-members.
For a more tactile holiday keepsake, the Porcelain Ornaments class at Sonoma Community Center turns clay into heirlooms. Students hand-build and decorate their own ornaments, exploring slip techniques for color and texture while reliving that childhood joy of making a mess for a good cause. 6–8pm, Thursday, Nov. 20, 276 E. Napa St., Sonoma. $35 registration.
If one prefers their festivities shaken and stirred, the Flamingo Christmas Spectacular at the Flamingo Resort’s Lazeaway Club offers a cocktail-fueled kickoff with live music, carolers and a visit from Santa himself. Proceeds benefit Toys for Tots, so each toast spreads the cheer twice. 4–7pm, Sunday, Nov. 23, Flamingo Resort & Spa, 2777 Fourth St., Santa Rosa. Admission free.
Over on Olivet, DeLoach Vineyards’ Sip & Paint: Holiday Edition doubles as a low-stakes atelier. A Painted Cellars instructor walks everyone—yes, even the “I can’t draw” contingent—through a wintry canvas while estate wine keeps morale high. One leaves with their own art and just enough confidence to hang it somewhere other than the garage. 12–2:30pm, Saturday, Nov. 15, DeLoach Vineyards, 1791 Olivet Rd., Santa Rosa. Advance ticket; includes supplies and first pour.
Choral fans will find serenity at A Candlelight Christmas with Cantiamo Sonoma, whose harmonies fill St. Seraphim Orthodox Cathedral with candlelit glow and carols from Britten to Stopford. 7:30–9pm, Tuesday, Dec. 2, 90 Mountain View Ave., Santa Rosa. $20 at the door.
Across the county line, the Petaluma Cinema Series screens Tim Burton’s stop-motion classic, The Nightmare Before Christmas—a perfect blend of Halloween edge and holiday charm. Expect a brief talk on animation before Jack Skellington’s grand mischief begins. 6–10pm, Wednesday, Dec. 3, Carole L. Ellis Auditorium, SRJC Petaluma. $6–$7.
For traditionalists, The Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet at the Luther Burbank Center transforms Tchaikovsky’s classic into a dazzling international spectacle of acrobatics, puppetry and high-flying dance. 3:30 and 7:30pm, Thursday, Dec. 18, 50 Mark West Springs Rd., Santa Rosa. Tickets via lutherburbankcenter.org.
Meanwhile, Rohnert Park’s Holiday Ballet: Clara’s Enchanted Dream re-imagines the Nutcracker through a Latinx lens, with Puerto Rican guest artists Carla Curet and Estevalier Melendez leading a joyful journey through the Land of Sweets. Times vary, Dec. 20–21, Lawrence E. Jones Theater, 5154 Snyder Ln., Rohnert Park. $25 adults/$15 kids under 9.
And for those who like their classics syncopated, The Duke Ellington Nutcracker by New World Ballet swings into the Datorie Foundation with jazz-infused arrangements that trade sugarplums for saxophones. 3–5pm, Saturday, Dec. 20, 111 Third St., Santa Rosa. Tickets via New World Ballet.
