It wasn’t much of a summer, was it? The weather stayed far too hazy and cool, and the kids are already back in school. Yet everyone in and around Sonoma County knows that fall is the best season as the weather often stays warm if not hotter, and a new season of local arts is always intriguing and fun.
The slate for fall arts in Sonoma County appears to show another potpourri of the interesting and entertaining, the thought-provoking, the wildly creative and the just plain fun, so let’s take a tour of some upcoming events. This is by no means comprehensive, but a representative list of the offerings available.
The Spreckels Performing Arts Center, at 5409 Snyder Lane in Rohnert Park, has two very different shows lined up for fall.
First up, Playwright Bill Cain’s all-too-timely Equivocation invades Spreckels Aug. 28-Sept. 13. The plot involves an insecure king in 1600s England who claims a terrorist plot is brewing to take him out of power. Sigh. Please note, aside from being all too current, this play is not recommended for children.
Additional fall theatrical programming can be found in last week’s Bohemian edition (‘Curtain Rises: North Bay Theater Companies Unveil 2026/27 Season Openers.’
The Luther Burbank Center for the Arts, located at 50 Mark West Springs Rd. in Santa Rosa, always offers a deeply diverse range of programming and its fall schedule is no different. Living legend Roger Daltrey, of the Who, gets much more intimate playing solo on Friday, Sept. 4. Then, a few weeks later on Sunday, Sept. 19, from 1-7pm, is the 17th Annual Fiesta de Independencia. A free family event organized by the Center’s Latino Advisory Council, the festival honors Latin American countries that recognize their independence during this month.
Other fall highlights include the 50th Annual San Francisco Comedy Competition Semi-Finals on Saturday, Sept. 19; author Kristin Hannah in conversation with local author Ellen Sussman on Saturday, Sept. 26; another rock-and-roll hall-of-famer, Pat Benatar, performing alongside Neil Giraldo on Tuesday, Sept. 29; and the great Lily Tomlin on Thursday, Oct. 8.
More info at lutherburbankcenter.org.
Sonoma State’s Weill Hall, in the Green Music Center at 1801 E. Cotati Ave. in Rohnert Park, keeps its lively entertainment lineup rolling right into fall. Saturday, Sept. 5, New Orleans funk meets Delta Blues as Trombone Shorty and Keb’ Mo’ bring their tour to Sonoma County. Then, a few weeks later on Friday, Sept. 18, Bay Area legend Boz Scaggs brings the “Lowdown” and more with his Rhythm Review show.
Other highlights include author Anne Lamott in conversation on Wednesday, Sept. 23; jazz great Wynton Marsalis on Saturday, Sept. 26; 24-year-old Mexican singing sensation Lucía on Friday, Oct. 2; and Grammy- and Emmy-nominated singer/songwriter Ingrid Michaelson on Sunday, Oct. 18.
More info at gmc.sonoma.edu.
A much-anticipated exhibition takes place Jun. 27-Nov. 8 at the Museum of Sonoma County at 425 Seventh St. in Santa Rosa, with “Christo and Jeanne-Claude: Running Fence at 50 Years.” The 4-year journey to bring the living art project to life will encompass an immersive design, powerful visuals and firsthand accounts. It invites visitors to experience a one-of-a-kind moment in Sonoma County history.
More info at museumsc.org.
Starting Aug. 14 and running through Oct. 31, downtown Santa Rosa hosts a very cool new pilot program with Ross Street Live. Taking place on and around Ross St., the event closes off a section of the block behind the Corner Store Collective down to Mendocino Avenue, with a stage, food trucks, games and more.
See the schedule online at downtownsantarosa.org.
Speaking of fun sprawling and inspiring art-related treks, the Santa Rosa Open Studios fall lineup happens Sept. 12, 13, 19 and 20 from 10am to 4pm each day. A preview of who is involved runs from Jun. 29-Sept. 2 at the Finley Center, at 2026 W. College Ave. in Santa Rosa, and a complete list of participating artists is available now at sropenstudios.com.
The Occidental Center for the Arts has really stepped up its already impressive programming and this fall one of its signature events, Occidental Jazz Festival, returns Sept. 18-19. This year’s lineup features Glass Brick Boulevard, Paul Hanson, Michael Manring and Scott Amendola, Ken Cook Trio, Junior Jazz All-Stars, Jaycie Grady 4Tet, and Jose Neto and Netoband. Tickets are available for the whole weekend or for individual days.
More info at occidentalcenterforthearts.org.
After a lengthy search for a new location, the Sebastopol Gallery is now open at 186 North Main St. in Sebastopol. The new location merely means the same great, locally centered shows where one can meet and check out original artwork by some of Sonoma County’s finest artists, as well as join a class, a demonstration or an artist talk through the fall and beyond.
More info at sebastopolgallery.com.
Healdsburg’s Raven Theater, at 115 North St. in Healdsburg, continues to knock out an impressively mixed schedule of live performances this fall. Ravi Coltrane—son of John—arrives in town with his quartet on Sunday, Sept. 20, while Tuesday, Sept. 22, sees the United States Air Force Commanders Jazz Ensemble hit the stage. The theater veers again on Sept. 25-27 with the annual Healdsburg International Short Film Festival and then guitar legend Bill Frisell and his Harmony Five ensemble come to town on Tuesday, Sept. 29.
More info at raventheater.org.
What better way to cap off this round-up of fall arts than to mention the Railroad Square Music Fest? It returns on Sunday, Sept. 20, to celebrate its 11th year running in Santa Rosa’s Railroad Square. The free event is open to all ages, and a sampling of acts includes the Sam Chase & the Untraditional, Second Hand Funk & Friends, Dark Matter Lives! with Kayatta, Erica Ambrin, LBZ, Toast Machine, Grapevine Line Dancing, Kalei Yamanoha, LBC, Mariachi, Ballet Folklorico, Nick Otis Orchestra, sicksentz, Pazifico, Kemist, ulyssescfm, Princess Boutique Fashion Show and XO_Chips_XO. Want to really see how we do it in Santa Rosa? Take the SMART Train and enjoy everything the festival has to offer.
More info at railroadsquaremusicfestival.com.
