Santa Rosa Celebrates the Holidays with Sonoma Wine Country Flavor

Travelers Will Delight in Festive Fun for All Ages in the Heart of Sonoma County

SANTA ROSA, Calif. (November 19, 2015) – The holidays are is in full swing in wine country, and Santa Rosa is at the heart of Sonoma County’s seasonal spirit. With festive concerts at the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts, gift-making activities at the Charles M. Schulz Museum, and a plethora of special feasts and winery programs, Santa Rosa presents holiday travelers with an unforgettable winter wonderland for the whole family.

Here is a guide to the city’s upcoming holiday attractions:

Festive Family Events and Activities

• Holiday Faire and Quaker Tea; November 21; 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; Friends House; The Friends House invites guests to attend a holiday fundraising event with local artisans, crafters and makers benefitting their continuing care retirement community.
• Winter Lights Downtown Tree Lighting Celebration; November 27; 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.; Old Courthouse Square; The Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce invites guests to join them for a tree lighting celebration and remembrance candle lighting ceremony with Sutter Care at Home and Hospice.
• Santa and Mrs. Claus; Every weekend starting November 28; 11:00 a.m.; Montgomery Village Shopping Center
• “Light Up a Life” Tree Lighting – Heartland Hospice; December 3; 5:00 p.m to 6:30 p.m.; Montgomery Village Shopping Center; Join Heartland Hospice for a night to celebrate community, light up lives and cherish memories.
• “Light Up a Life” Tree Lighting – Memorial Hospice; December 5; 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.; Depot Park in Railroad Square; Join Memorial Hospice for a community tree lighting and remembrance celebration in Railroad Square.
• Disney’s Prep and Landing: Drawing Inspiration from “A Charlie Brown Christmas”; December 5; 2:00 p.m.; Charles M. Schulz Museum; Disney’s “Prep and Landing” animated Christmas specials directors and writers Kevin Deters and Stevie Warmers-Skelton discuss how “A Charlie Brown Christmas” influenced their creative process.
• Secret Santa Waffle Run; December 6; 9:00 a.m.; Prince Memorial Greenway; Run/walk in support of the Sonoma County Volunteer Center’s Secret Santa Program and enjoy free delicious waffles after.
• Chanukah Festival; December 6; 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.; Montgomery Village Shopping Center; The Chabad Jewish Center invites guests for a menorah lighting celebration with hot latkes, dreidels, gelt and much more.
• Museum Mondays for Little Ones; December 7; 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.; Charles M. Schulz Museum; Celebrate Chanukah by creating your own marshmallow dreidel and clay menorah.
• Parent and Child Gingerbread Doghouse Class; December 12; 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.; Charles M. Schulz Museum; Work together to build your own version of Snoopy’s doghouse with gingerbread and marshmallows.
• Holiday Gift-Making; December 19; 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.; Charles M. Schulz Museum; Create handmade holiday gifts including snowball soap, braided fleece scarves and ornaments.
• Decorate Your Own Snoopy; December 19; 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Charles M. Schulz Museum; Decorate your own “Flying Ace” to bring home to the family.
• Happy New Year, Charlie Brown!; December 31; 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; Charles M. Schulz Museum; Ring in the New Year with Charlie Brown and the gang. Create hands-on crafts then watch Santa Rosa’s only Up-Down and Baby balloon drop at noon with a root beer toast.

Arts, Culture and Entertainment

• Mannheim Steamroller Christmas; November 30; 7:30 p.m.; Wells Fargo Center for the Arts; Grammy-Award winner Chip Davis creates a stunning visual effects show that features the beloved Christmas music of Mannheim Steamroller.
• Lightwire Theater’s A Very Eclectic Christmas; December 1; 6:30 p.m.; Wells Fargo Center for the Arts; The story of Max the bird and his family’s journey home for the winter.
• Big Bad Voodoo Daddy’s Wild and Swingin’ Holiday Party; December 3; 8:00 p.m.; Wells Fargo Center for the Arts; Big Bad Voodoo Daddy is turning holiday classics into a show that’s cool enough to keep a snowman from melting!
• Joy to the World from Transcendence’s “Broadway Under the Stars”; December 4-5; Wells Fargo Center for the Arts; The Transcendence Theatre Company presents their first holiday show filled with holiday favorites, Broadway showstoppers and much more!
• Nightmare Before Christmas; December 5; Spreckels Performing Arts Center; A play based off the 1993 Tim Burton film classic about a skeleton who celebrates Christmas for the first time.
• Ha Ha Ha Holiday!; December 5; 7:00 p.m.; Flamingo Resort and Spa; Get into the holiday mood with a comedy show featuring Priya Prasad, Samson Koletkar and a surprise special guest!
• San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus “Home for the Holidays”; December 6; 3:00 p.m.; Wells Fargo Center for the Arts; A festive extravaganza with joyful takes on holiday favorites, new choral works and dazzling choreography benefitting the Face2Face Foundation, who works to end AIDS in Sonoma County.
• LeAnn Rimes Today is Christmas Tour; December 8; 7:30 p.m.; Wells Fargo Center for the Arts; Grammy-Award winner LeAnn Rimes sings a show filled with your favorite holiday classics.
• Ballet Folklórico De Sacramento Posada Navideña; December 11; 7:00 p.m.; Wells Fargo Center for the Arts; A Mexican folk culture production with a Christmas twist and traditional Posada celebration.
• Early Music Christmas: In Sweetest Joy; December 12; 8:00 p.m.; Green Music Center; Hear the classic hymn of joy in dulci jubilo.
• Roustabout Theater’s Apprentice Program Presents Irving Berlin’s White Christmas; December 12-20; Wells Fargo Center for the Arts; Roustabout Theater’s award-winning Apprentice Program celebrates the holiday with the production based on the film with Rosemary Clooney and Bing Crosby.
• Symphony Pops: A Very Merry Holiday Pops Maestro’s Favorites; December 13; 3:00 p.m.; Wells Fargo Center for the Arts; The Santa Rosa Symphony and special guests ring in the season by performing holiday favorites and Christmas hymns.
• Soweto Gospel Choir; December 18; 7:00 p.m.; Green Music Center; The Grammy Award-winning choir sings African gospel music renditions to celebrate the holidays.
• Moscow Ballet Presents The Great Russian Nutcracker; December 19; Wells Fargo Center for the Arts; Moscow Ballet’s spectacular Great Russian Nutcracker is the must-see event this Christmas.
• Handel’s Messiah – Philharmonia Baroque Orchesta; December 20; 3:00 p.m.; Green Music Center; Hear holiday classics played by one of America’s most admired early music ensembles.
• Dave Koz Christmas Tour 2015; December 22; 8:00 p.m.; Wells Fargo Center for the Arts; Features live Christmas music by Candy Dulfer, Jonathan Butler and Bill medley of The Righteous Brothers.
• The Brian Setzer Orchestra 12th Annual Christmas Rocks! Tour; December 23; 8:00 p.m.; Wells Fargo Center for the Arts; The holiday party of the year is here as the Brian Setzer Orchestra performs re-imagined holiday classics!

Holiday Shopping

• Sixth Annual Sonoma County “Fall Gift Showcase”; November 22; 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; Doubletree by Hilton Sonoma Wine Country; Start holiday shopping with more than 30 home-based vendors featuring the finest gift products available.
• Korbel Holiday Shopping Spree Weekend; December 4-6; 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Korbel Champagne Cellars; Korbel invites visitors to shop for wine and champagne for the holiday season. On Saturday and Sunday, Christmas carolers will be performing and there will be a special appearance from Santa Claus!
• Luther Burbank Gardens Holiday Open House; December 5-6; 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; Luther Burbank Home and Gardens; Experience traditional turn-of-the-century style, shop for unique items in the gift shop and enjoy tea in the Burbank Home.
• Dickens Holiday Craft Fair; December 5-6; 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; Finley Community Center; Start your holiday shopping with more than 70 local artists selling hand-crafted items.
• Artisan Craft Faire and Holiday Festival; December 12; 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; Center for Spiritual Living; Listen to great music, eat delicious food and shop with over 60 vendors displaying handcrafted goods.

Food and Wine Events

• 32nd Annual Holiday Open House; November 27-28; Imagery Estate Winery; Join Imagery Estate Winery in the wine tasting room for Thanksgiving festivities.
• Holiday Open House; November 27-28; 11:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Ledson Winery and Vineyards; Cozy up to the fireplace inside Ledson Castle and eat gourmet treats paired with award-winning wines.
• Destination 128 – Taste of Alexander Valley; November 27; Medlock Ames; Medlock Ames joins forces with local wineries to celebrate everything to be thankful for on Thanksgiving!
• Holiday Open House “Naughty and Nice in Paradise;” November 27-28 and December 12-13; 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Paradise Ridge Winery; Join Paradise Ridge Winery in celebrating your naughty streak this holiday season with artisanal wines and sinfully delicious treats!
• Heart of Sonoma Valley Associations’ 32nd Annual Holiday Open House; November 27-28; St. Francis Winery and Vineyards; Join St. Francis and 17 other wineries throughout Sonoma Valley for a wine celebration!
• Wine Family Holiday Open House; December 4; 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.; Francis Ford Coppola Winery; Join Francis Ford Coppola Winery for an evening full of wine, assorted treats and holiday shopping.
• Annual Crab Feed; December 5; 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Fritz Underground Winery; Get your bib ready and enjoy fresh crab from San Francisco’s Alioto Lazios.
• Holiday Celebration and Wine Club Reception; December 5; 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.; Arrowood Vineyards and Winery; A holiday celebration featuring Arrowood’s famous wines.
• Second Annual Cairdean Holiday Open House; December 5; 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Cairdean Estate; Join Cairdean Estate for a holiday celebration featuring face painting, photos with Santa and Christmas wine selections.
• Holiday Wreaths for Charity; December 5; 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; Castello di Amorosa; Get into the holiday season and see wreaths prepared by local charities adorned on the Castello di Amorosa walls.
• Holiday on the Hill; December 5; 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.; Roth Estate Winery; Roth Estate Winery invites guests to enjoy holiday music, scrumptious treats and Santa’s wine specials.
• Tis the Season Holiday Celebration; December 5 to 6; All day; Matanzas Creek Winery; Welcome the holiday season at Matanzas Creek Winery and taste new releases, listen to festive holiday music and buy gifts for the family.
• Holiday Open House and Estate Guild Pickup Party; December 6; 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; Trione Vineyards and Winery; Enjoy a festive afternoon with holiday food, wine and crafts with the children!
• Wine Club Holiday Open House and Pickup Event; December 11; 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.; Kendall-Jackson Wine Estates; Join Kendall-Jackson Wine Estates for good cheer, complimentary bites and holiday wines in the holiday member package.
• Wine Club Pick-Up Party; December 12; 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.; Benziger Family Winery; Benziger invites members to taste fall selections and stock up on holiday sippers.
• Annual Holiday Wreath Making Party; December 12-13; 11:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Inspiration Vineyards and Winery; Create holiday wreaths while wine tasting Inspiration Vineyards’ holiday wine selection.
• Feast of Seven Fishes; December 18; 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.; D’Argenzio Winery and Tasting Room; Going back to their ancestry in Puglia and Campania, Italy, the D’Argenzio family has celebrated the Feast of Seven Fishes (Festa dei Sette Pesci) for over 100 years.
• New Year’s Eve Masquerade Ball; December 31; 7:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.; Castello di Amorosa; Ring in the New Year at Castello di Amorosa in formal attire at the masquerade ball.

More information on activities, dining and hotels in Santa Rosa is available at www.VisitSantaRosa.com. For press inquiries, please contact Chelsea Kurnick at chelsea@mccuecommunications.com or 213-985-1011.

About Visit Santa Rosa

Just 55 miles north of San Francisco, Santa Rosa, California has an abundance of recreational activities, epicurean delights and scenic vistas for visitors to enjoy. Situated in the heart of Northern California’s world-famous Wine Country and just 30 minutes from the stunning coast, it is Sonoma County’s largest city, with a small-town feel. Home to superb wineries and craft breweries, some of the country’s best bicycling routes, and the Charles M. Schulz Museum – along with many other attractions – this warm and friendly city is a blend of art and culture, food, wine and recreation.

“Visit Santa Rosa” is the tourism brand administered by the Santa Rosa Convention & Visitors Bureau, a division of the Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce. The bureau provides assistance to visitors and groups seeking information about lodging, dining and entertainment opportunities in Santa Rosa. It also operates an Official State of California Welcome Center and helps to bring major events to Santa Rosa, such as the Amgen Tour of California. For more information, call (800) 404-7673 or (707) 577-8674 or see www.VisitSantaRosa.com.