It is easy to be negative or even snarky about having fun these days, given the current political and world climate that has somehow managed to ooze down onto all of us here in chill, progressive Northern California.
And it almost feels challenging to have fun with so much sadness and idiocy around every corner. Alas, what else do we have? Plus, we’re incredibly lucky to live in a vibrant and, perhaps more importantly, temperate area where summertime allows for some outdoor fun.
It would be nearly impossible to name all the events happening in and around Sonoma County this summer, but here are a few to get one started on enjoying the next few months. After all … it may be the last. See, there we go again.
Sonoma Botanical Garden’s Sunday Funday series returns this summer, kicking off Sunday, June 22 and then picking back up Sunday, July 13 and finally, Sunday, Aug. 10. Packed with fun for all ages, this year’s events will also celebrate the stunning new exhibit, Winged Wonders, featuring larger-than-life bamboo birds hidden throughout the garden.
As if that weren’t enough, one can enjoy live bird presentations by The Bird Rescue Center of Sonoma County, guided family birding walks, face painting and crafts with Art Escape’s Art Van Gogh, Family yoga with Sonoma Yoga, lawn games and more festival favorites. Free with admission (members enjoy free entry).
Santa Rosa’s Summer on the Square is back again. And if one hasn’t checked out how this event rolls (and rocks), it’s time they did. Santa Rosa Metro Chamber’s popular series of free, family-friendly events hits Courthouse Square all summer long, filling downtown with live music, outdoor movies and vibrant cultural celebrations.
The fun begins Friday, June 20 with a Country Summer Preview Concert—featuring local stars Dustin Saylor and Nicole Marden. This event is presented in partnership with Country Summer Music Festival. Then, Friday, July 18 brings a special treat as KRSH 95.9 puts on their first Backyard Concert on the Road. This event will feature venerable locals The Sorentinos and upstarts Pardon the Interruption.
Throughout the summer, every Monday and select Fridays through June and July, families can enjoy a lively mix of live concerts showcasing homegrown talent, community movie nights under the stars and family-friendly festivities for all ages. All in the heart of Santa Rosa.
Speaking of KRSH, the beloved radio station’s backyard concert series has a solid lineup set for their free Thursday night shows, as this new season brings an electrifying mix of rising talent and beloved favorites to the outdoor backyard series. Kicking things off is local up-and-comer Bella Rayne and Friends playing the music of JGB and Grateful Dead with local teen sensations Gas Money setting the stage.
The excitement continues with San Francisco legends Lydia Pense & Cold Blood, preceded by the crowd-pleasing sounds of Marshall House Project to get the crowd warmed up. This carefully curated lineup promises unforgettable performances under the stars, blending fresh energy with timeless appeal. There’s also food and drink available at every show.
Other KRSH backyard shows include Wreckless Strangers, Rockabilly Roadhouse with Big Dave presents: Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys plus Jinx Jones & The KingTones and a Sonoma County Super Jam featuring the Pulsators and All-Star Special Guests: Volker Strifler, Spike Sikes, Sebastian St. James, Andre DeChannes, Ellie James, Danny Sorentino, Anna Jae, Kevin Mulligan, hosted by Johnny Campbell.
Even in more certain times, few things lift the spirit like gathering with good company and savoring the endless bounty our area provides. And that’s exactly what Sebastopol’s 52nd Annual Gravenstein Apple Fair delivers—a joyful celebration of community, flavor and tradition. One may want to mark those calendars for Aug. 9–10, when the fair returns at the perfect moment: peak Gravenstein apple season. Set in the picturesque Ragle Ranch Regional Park in Sebastopol, this beloved event brings together farm-fresh flavors and local food, live music to lift spirits and good vibes for all ages.
OK, so maybe all this outdoor, daytime fun sounds cool. But some like the nighttime events a little more. Fair enough. Sonoma County’s nonprofit film hub, True West Film Center, has revealed the lineup for its 2025 Movies Under the Stars outdoor film series. Running June 6 through Oct. 25, the six-event series will bring free, family-friendly screenings under the open sky at venues in Cloverdale and Healdsburg.
This year, True West has really done a good job mixing in family fare with films that appeal to an older crowd. Disney/Pixar’s Elemental screens on June 6 in the Healdsburg Plaza. And that crazy Bruce the Shark celebrates the Big 5-0 this year with a screening of Jaws on July 13 at the Cloverdale Airport, where no bodies of water are around to add to the thrills. All films begin at dusk, and tickets are not required. Audiences are welcome on a first come, first served basis.
One of the neatest pop-up events in Petaluma has become a local jazz tradition. Live and free every Sunday from 1 to 3:30pm, the Chuck Sher Quartet brings together world-class musicians from the Bay Area, New York City and beyond for unforgettable performances in Putnam Plaza Park (next to the Speakeasy). Since its debut in 2020, this weekly gathering has become a must-experience event for jazz lovers and casual listeners alike. One may pull up a seat, soak in the vibrant downtown atmosphere and enjoy some of the finest jazz performances around—no cover, just pure musical magic.
Another, more long-standing musical event is the vibrant Cotati Accordion Festival. For 33 years, this fest has brought together accordion lovers of all ages and cultures for two unforgettable days of music and merriment. This year’s event takes place Aug. 16 and 17 at La Plaza Park in Cotati. Typically featuring around 30 accordion acts—from world-class soloists to zany bands—there’s also all kinds of vendors, unique crafts, delicious eats and general accordion conviviality.
Right down the road from downtown Cotati, one can check out the annual Green Music Center Summer Series. The lineup recently dropped and, per usual, there’s a little something for everyone. Located inside and outside of Sonoma State’s gorgeous Weill Hall, a few highlights include “Weird Al” Yankovic, Pink Martini, Tower of Power, Rhiannon Giddens, a 4th of July fireworks show featuring the Santa Rosa Symphony accompanied by Transcendence Theatre Company and a whole bunch more.
We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention Windsor’s popular and fun summer staple, Summer Nights on the Green, which is back for its 23rd edition starting May 29 and running through Aug. 28. The Thursday night event ties in with the Windsor Farmers’ Market, along with food vendors, farm fresh produce and family lawn games. There’s also a solid music lineup featuring Fleetwood Macrame, Pop Rocks, Pride and Joy, David Martin’s House Party and many more.
Sure, we’re leaning into a lot of live music here. But maybe one is looking for a way to enjoy nature. Would surrounding oneself in the lovely smell of lavender also be a motivator? Then one may choose to immerse themself in the sights, scents and serenity of the lavender fields at Santa Rosa’s Lavender Bloom Fest at Bees ’n’ Blooms Farm starting May 24 and running through July 13 from 10am-4pm.
At the fest, they may stroll through the fragrant Lavender Labyrinth, explore the vibrant Flower and Butterfly Gardens and visit the intriguingly named Poultry Palace. And they may bring a picnic to enjoy amid the blooming fields, then browse their Farm Stand for fresh lavender bundles, handmade bath and body products, local honey, essential oils and other farm-fresh treasures. Admission is $15 per person, with children 12 and under free when accompanied by an adult.
As if roaming fields of lavender weren’t uplifting enough, how about the chance to experience the magic of Transcendence Theatre Company’s Broadway Under the Stars? If one hasn’t done so, then why wait? This is a truly world-class event that begins with a Wine Country picnic featuring gourmet fare and local wines. As twilight falls, the excitement builds toward a spectacular performance by world-class talent from Broadway, Hollywood and beyond, all set against the breathtaking backdrop of Sonoma’s Field of Dreams, just steps from Sonoma Plaza.
This season, acts include Broadway’s Best Night Ever, which features song and dance from the greatest hits of musical theater, showcasing music from dozens of Broadway shows, with talent from Broadway brought to Sonoma. There will also be a performance of Beautiful—The Carole King Musical, featuring Sarah Bockel, who played King on Broadway and across North America and then, later, Ladies of Broadway, which is billed as “a celebration of dreams, stories, and the magic of live theater. Featuring beloved Broadway performers, inspired by the legends of musical theater.”
Again, these are but a few picks we have for summer fun. And one can be sure the Bohemian will be bringing even more event ideas throughout the summer.
