If the North Bay has a “second summer,” it’s autumn in Wine Country—that shimmering window where the grapes are in, the tourists thin out and the arts scene goes full tilt. This is when the region’s creative culture flexes, pulling from its deep bench of painters, players, pickers and the occasional parrot (more on that soon).
Below is a curated, non-comprehensive hit list of fall’s must-see events as chosen by our team and squeezed into our print edition for one’s perusal. For a more thorough overview of offerings, visit bohemian.com/events-calendar. — Weeklys Staff
Sonoma County
‘Featherbaby’
Times vary, Aug. 29–Sept. 14 — David Templeton’s rambunctious new play follows a foul-mouthed Amazon parrot whose turf war with a competitive jigsaw puzzler takes unexpected turns. Directed by Skylar Evans, with alternating performances by Gina Alvarado and Matthew Cadigan as Featherbaby, alongside Mercedes Murphy and Nate Musser. Mature themes and language. Sunday matinees feature a post-show talkback with the playwright and a chance to win a Goblin Bros. gift certificate.
Tickets via box office, Spreckels Performing Arts Center, 5409 Snyder Ln., Rohnert Park. spreckelsonline.com.
‘Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus’
7:30–9:30pm, Saturday, Aug. 30 — Taylor Mac’s seven-time Tony Award-nominated dark comedy picks up right after the carnage of Shakespeare’s most gruesome play. Directed by Lulu Thompsxn, it’s part slapstick, part tragedy, as two lowly servants are left to literally clean up the mess in a world gone mad.
Tickets $33, California Theatre, 528 7th St., Santa Rosa. leftedgetheatre.com.
Transcendence Theatre Company — ‘Ladies of Broadway’
7:30pm, Thursday–Sunday, Sept. 4–14 — Broadway vets belt, shimmy and storytell under the Sonoma sky; pre‑show picnicking starts at 5pm, with special community nights (half‑price youth, Pride Night).
Tickets vary. Sonoma Field of Dreams, 151 First St. W., Sonoma. transcendencetheatre.org.
Sonoma Plein Air Festival (weeklong)
All day, Monday–Saturday, Sept. 8–13 — Nationally juried plein‑air painters fan out through the valley, then bring fresh canvases to Saturday’s Plaza show & sale benefiting arts education.
Free. Sonoma Plaza, 453 1st St. E., Sonoma. sonomapleinair.com.
Fiesta de Independencia (LBC campus festival)
1–7pm, Sunday, Sept. 14 — A free, family‑friendly celebration of Latin American independence with food, music, arts activities and community awards; 5,000+ attend annually.
Free. Luther Burbank Center for the Arts, 50 Mark West Springs Rd., Santa Rosa. lutherburbankcenter.org.
Petaluma Poetry Walk
11am–8pm, Sunday, Sept. 21 — Downtown becomes a roving salon as two‑dozen‑plus poets read in cafés, bookstores and the Phoenix Theater. Start at Hotel Petaluma Ballroom and wander.
Free. Start: Hotel Petaluma Ballroom, 205 Kentucky St., Petaluma. petalumapoetrywalk.org.
Valley of the Moon Vintage Festival (200 Years of Sonoma Wine)
Thursday–Saturday, Sept. 25–27; times vary — Grand tastings, grape‑stomp competitions and Plaza festivities mark the bicentennial of Sonoma Valley winemaking; VIP options available.
Tickets vary. Sonoma Plaza, 453 1st St. E., Sonoma. valleyofthemoonvintagefestival.com.
Spreckels Performing Arts Center — ‘Into the Woods’
7:30pm (Friday and Saturday), 2pm (Sunday), Sept. 26–Oct. 12 — Sondheim’s fairy‑tale mash‑up about wishes and consequences, staged in Rohnert Park’s Codding Theatre.
Tickets vary. 5409 Snyder Ln., Rohnert Park. spreckelsonline.com/show/into-the-woods.
‘A Taste of Ireland — The Irish Music & Dance SenSaturdayion’ (LBC)
7:30pm, Friday, Sept. 26 — Former world champions and alumni of Riverdance and Lord of the Dance bring foot‑drumming battles, trad mashups and storytelling.
Tickets vary. Luther Burbank Center for the Arts, 50 Mark West Springs Rd., Santa Rosa. lutherburbankcenter.org/event/a-taste-of-ireland.
Healdsburg Arts Festival
10am–6pm, Saturday, Sept. 27 — 40+ artist booths (ceramics to textiles), live music, food and wine on the Plaza — a relaxed, shop‑and‑sip art day.
Free. Healdsburg Plaza, Healdsburg Avenue and Matheson Street, Healdsburg. healdsburgcenterforthearts.org.
Delfeayo Marsalis & the Uptown Jazz Orchestra (GMC)
3pm, Sun, Sept. 28 — NEA jazz master Delfeayo Marsalis leads his New Orleans big band through Fats Domino/Professor Longhair classics and more; optional pre‑show dinner available.
Tickets vary. Weill Hall, Green Music Center, 1801 E. Cotati Ave., Rohnert Park. gmc.sonoma.edu/delfeayo.
Railroad Square Music Festival
12–7pm, Sunday, Sept. 28 — Free. All‑ages, multi‑stage bash that turns Historic Railroad Square into a North Bay charming street‑level venue for a day.
Free. 9 4th St. (Historic Railroad Square), Santa Rosa. railroadsquaremusicfestival.com.
Mariachi Herencia de México (GMC)
7:30pm, Friday, Oct. 3 — Two‑time Latin Grammy nominees La Nueva Generación blend youthful fire with tradition in a high‑energy 14‑piece mariachi set.
Tickets vary. Weill Hall, Green Music Center, 1801 E. Cotati Ave., Rohnert Park. gmc.sonoma.edu/mariachi-herencia-de-mexico.
6th Street Playhouse — ‘The Bad Seed’
Evenings & matinees; opens Friday, Oct. 3 — 1950s psychological thriller about nature vs. nurture and a too‑perfect child; mature themes. Tickets vary. 52 W. 6th St., Santa Rosa. 6thstreetplayhouse.com.
Sonoma County Art Trails
10am–5pm, Saturday–Sunday, Oct. 11–12 and Oct. 18–19 — Countywide studio tour with dozens of artists; talk process, buy direct; preview exhibition at Sebastopol Center for the Arts.
Free. Countywide; preview: 282 S. High St., Sebastopol. sonomacountyarttrails.org.
Santa Rosa Symphony — Beethoven & Bernstein
7:30pm, Saturday, Oct. 11; 3pm, Sunday, Oct. 12; 7:30pm, Monday, Oct. 13 — Beethoven’s Triple Concerto and Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances, plus Julia Perry; Francesco Lecce‑Chong conducts.
Tickets vary. Weill Hall, Green Music Center, 1801 E. Cotati Ave., Rohnert Park. srsymphony.org.
Sonoma County Harvest Fair
Time TBA, Saturday, Oct. 11 — County wine competition, Grand Tasting and world‑champion grape stomp highlight Sonoma ag at its most celebratory.
Tickets vary. Sonoma County Event Center @ the Fairgrounds, 1350 Bennett Valley Rd., Santa Rosa. harvestfair.org.
Kronos Quartet — Nonesuch & Nonetheless
7:30pm, Saturday, Oct. 18 — The San Francisco quartet celebrates Nonesuch’s 40th with classics and new commissions, proof the string quartet can still surprise.
Tickets vary. Weill Hall, Green Music Center, 1801 E. Cotati Ave., Rohnert Park. gmc.sonoma.edu/kronos.
Circa — Humans 2.0
7:30pm, Saturday, Oct. 25 — Australian contemporary circus, billed as a “symphony of acrobatics, sound and light”—10 performers explore balance, trust and flight.
Tickets vary. Weill Hall, Green Music Center, 1801 E. Cotati Ave., Rohnert Park. gmc.sonoma.edu/circa.
‘Sonoma Bach — Music’s Renaissance’
3pm, Saturday, Nov. 8 & Sunday, Nov. 9 — A cappella program tracing polyphony from Dunstable to Monteverdi; pre‑concert talk included.
Tickets vary. Schroeder Hall, Green Music Center, 1801 E. Cotati Ave., Rohnert Park. sonomabach.org.
Napa County
di Rosa Center — Descarga Cubana
11am–2:30pm, Thursday–Sunday, through Sept. 28 — 15 contemporary Cuban artists from the Rick Swig Collection, plus Swig’s photos; a cross‑cultural snapshot as the show closes out summer.
$10 adults, 5200 Sonoma Hwy., Napa. dirosaart.org.
Calistoga Harvest Table
4:30–9pm, Sunday, Sept. 7 — Lincoln Avenue becomes one long communal table: multi‑course menus by local restaurants, Napa Valley pours and sunset down the street.
Tickets vary. Lincoln Avenue, Calistoga. visitcalistoga.com.
Fall for Art: ODC at di Rosa
11am–3 pm, Sunday, Sept. 28 — Contemporary dance in the sculpture meadow, plus welcome reception, luncheon and live auction to benefit di Rosa.
Tix start at $250, di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art, 5200 Sonoma Hwy., Napa. dirosaart.org.
Uptown Theatre — ‘Re‑Animator Turns 40’ (screening + Jeffrey Combs Q&A)
8pm, Friday, Oct. 10 — Cult‑horror classic in 4K with the star onstage after for stories and schlocky secrets.
Tickets vary. 1350 Third St., Napa. uptowntheatrenapa.com.
Uptown Theatre — ‘Twin Peaks: Conversation With the Stars’
8pm, Friday, Oct. 17 — Cast members (Ray Wise, Sheryl Lee and more) revisit Lynch lore live on stage.
Tickets vary. 1350 Third St., Napa. uptowntheatrenapa.com.
