Between the north and west county, Sonoma denizens will have plenty of opportunities to enjoy both the fruits of the region and world-class entertainment this summer, thanks to a dizzying array of outdoor festivals and events.
Coming up soon is the Healdsburg Future Farmers Country Fair and the 64th Twilight Parade on May 23. The parade begins at 6 p.m. in front of St. John the Baptist Church and winds along Center, Piper and Fitch streets before proceeding down Matheson Street towards Recreation Park.
This year’s parade theme is Blue Jeans and Country Dreams. Committee member Mary Rodgers said the theme is selected by vote.
“Everybody liked that one because it is what we are,” Rodgers said. “These young people coming through, showing their animals, all dream of being a champion.”
For more information on the parade visit: http://healdsburgfair.org/html/parade_information.html.
The parade marks the beginning of the fair at Recreation Park, with a chance for local 4-H and FFA students to showcase what may be years of hard work. The fair culminates with the livestock auction which includes announcement of the Sir Rusty Winner.
The popular Sir Rusty fundraiser is named after the fair mascot and takes the form of a community raffle. The holder of the winning ticket receives either beef or lamb of their choice and the knowledge they participated in the fair’s main fundraiser.
Also in Healdsburg, starting on May 31, the 15th annual Jazz Festival begins. The ten day music event will be hosted by various businesses throughout the city including Costeaux French Bakery, the newly opened Healdsburg Shed and Dry Creek Kitchen.
On June 1, the weekend starts off with a two-day tribute to bass-playing legend Charlie Haden that will include Carla Bley, Bill Frisell, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Lee Konitz, Ravi Coltrane, Geri Allen, Chris Potter and many more honoring the master.
The festival finale will be a treat for lovers of the human voice – the extraordinary vocal ensemble Sweet Honey in the Rock playing outdoors along with high energy saxophonist Azar Lawrence and his tight foursome.
Ticket prices will vary depending on the venue and some shows have already sold out. For more details and information on the Healdsburg Jazz Festival, visit http://www.healdsburgjazzfestival.org.
Another late May festival, this one a one-day affair, is the sixth annual Oysterpalooza at Rocker Oysterfeller’s at the Valley Ford Hotel. Oysterpalooza celebrates, well, the oyster, as well as the foods of New Orleans and several local musical talents in an all day outdoor festival.
Festival-goers will be treated to Tomales Bay Miagi Oysters grilled with an assortment of sauces, or raw on the half shell with a mignonette of honey, jalapeño and lemon juice. Other culinary offerings will include shrimp and oyster po-boys, baked potatoes stuffed with chopped beef brisket or pimento cheese, cochon au lait po-boys, beans and greens, seafood gumbo, boudin balls and more.
Oysterpalooza will also feature live music on two alternating outdoor stages. Musical acts will include Arann Harris and the Farm Band, The Crux, Church Marching Band, The Far West, Windy Hill Bluegrass and Supermule. Doors open at 11:00 and music begins at noon.
Entry will be $15 for all adults and children 10 and under enter free. For more information, visit http://www.rockeroysterfellers.com/special-events.html.
The Russian River Valley Winegrowers are putting on their second annual Passport to Pinot starting on June 8. The weekend-long event sold out last year and event organizers hope to double attendance in 2013.
“I like to tell people that I call this place paradise,” project manager Shannon Wesley said. “They come here for the wine, but there’s really so much more to do here, from everything on the river to hiking through the redwoods.”
More than 30 wineries are participating in the roving celebration that focuses on, but isn’t restricted to, Pinot Noir. The event will be kicking off with a screening of local grape grower Joe Nugent’s documentary “From Obscurity to Excellence: The Story of the Grapes and Wines of the Russian River Valley” showing at Vintner’s Inn on June 7.
Most of the wineries will be offering food, barrel tastings and future buying opportunities, as well as live music, artist demonstrations and vineyard tours. Tickets for the full weekend of festivities are $65, with Sunday-only tickets running $40 and designated driver tickets going for $20.
On August 10 and 11, the Gravenstein Apple Fair will be held in Sebastopol at Ragle Ranch Park. At this year’s 40th anniversary of the Apple Fair, the famous apples will be celebrated with live music on two stages, food, arts and crafts, pony rides and more. Plus, between the apple pie baking contest, the pie eating contest, the no-hands caramel apple eating contest, applesauce drinking contest and the apple juggling contest, fair visitors are sure to enjoy the most that the family friendly event has to offer.
Rounding out the summer’s festival offerings will take visitors out to the coast for the Bodega Seafood, Art & Wine Festival (http://www.winecountryfestivals.com), on August 24 and 25.
During this weekend event, more than 45 wineries and microbreweries will pour wines and beers, while 15 restaurants and catering companies will be cooking up seafood classics, including barbecued oysters, crab cakes, Key Lime calamari, clam chowder and other delicacies.
Three stages will host musical performances and proceeds from the event are slated to support Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods and the Bodega Volunteer Fire Department.
Over Labor Day weekend, Bodega will also be recognizing the 50th anniversary of Alfred Hitchcock’s suspense horror film, “The Birds” with the B50 Festival.
“People have been asking what the town will be doing to commemorate the 50th anniversary of The Birds, so we decided to do something fun,” Bodega Country Store owner and B50 Festival sponsor, Mike Fahmie, said.
A kick-off event for diehard fans will take place Sept. 1 with a limited number of tickets available for the evening which includes tours of locations from the original film, the Potter School House, St. Teresa of Avila Church, as well as a gourmet dinner at Casino Bar and Grill and a viewing of deleted scenes and the making of the movie.
On Sept. 2 a parade featuring The Birds actress Tippi Hedren and Alfred Hitchcock look-alikes, along with a marching band, will make its way through the town. Tickets will be on sale starting March 15, via http://www.bodegabirds.com.
Healdsburg Future Farmers Country Fair
May 23-25
Recreation Park
Free Admission
Oysterpalooza
May 26, 11 a.m. – all day
$15 in advance tickets
Rocker Oysterfeller’s Kitchen + Saloon
14415 Highway One, Valley Ford
http://www.rockeroysterfellers.com/special-events.htm
Healdsburg Jazz Festival
May 31 – June 9
http://www.healdsburgjazzfestival.org
Passport to Pinot
11 a.m. – 4 p.m. June 8-9
$65 Weekend ticket
$40 Sunday-only ticket
$20 Designated Driver ticket
$15 Passport to Pinot movie night – Friday June 7, 6:30 p.m. Vintner’s Inn 4350 Barnes Road, Santa Rosa
http://rrvw.org/passport-to-pinot/
Gravenstein Apple Fair
10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Saturday August 10
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sunday August 11
$12 Adults
$10 Seniors (65 & up), students and cyclists
$5 kids under 12, Free kids under 3
500 Ragle Road, Sebastopol
Bodega Seafood, Art & Wine Festival
10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, August 24
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, August 25
$12 in advance for adults
Free for children less than 12 years of age
Watts Ranch, 16855 Bodega Highway
www.winecountryfestivals.com.
B50: A Celebration of ‘The Birds’ & Bodega
5 p.m. – 10 p.m. Sept. 1, Kick-off Event
Tours, gourmet meal, multi-media presentation
$125 tickets
10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Sept 2 Parade day
Free for parade, tour tickets $25
http://bodegabirds.com
