Free and Cheap Things to do in the Sonoma County, California Wine Country

I’ve had great time exploring fun free and cheap things to do in Sonoma County (there are so many!) and I’ve really enjoyed SOTC’s readers (you are a great bunch of people!). But  keeping up with all the fun events and great deals here in Sonoma County is practically a full-time job, and I just don’t have the time to devote to it right now. So Sonoma on the Cheap is going into hibernation temporarily, until I have the time to do it justice, or until I have more help. Thank you for being a part of  the Sonoma on the Cheap community.

I hope you all have a wonderful  2012.

There will be 2 naturalist-led family hikes starting at the Environmental Discovery Center at Spring Lake  this  Saturday. The one-hour hikes  will begin at 1 or  3 pm and families can return to the EDC afterward to design leaf cards and seed balls and learn more about plants and native plant use in Sonoma County. These will be easy to moderate hikes. All ages are welcome, but strollers are not recommended.  $5 per family. Parking is $6 (free with annual parks membership). [Read more →]

Don Landis offers his expertise and olive curing techniques to fellow olive enthusiasts in the Cline Cellars Barrel Room on Sunday. Enjoy the history of the olive in California. Learn about the growing and harvesting of olives and receive Don Landis’ recipe for “No Lye” curing. Olive tasting, wine tasting and wine discounts will be offered to all participants. [Read more →]

Looking for things to do in Rohnert Park this weekend? On Saturday, December 10, 2011 the Scene it Movie Night at SSU is featuring Crazy Stupid Love. The movie is free and open to the public. It will air at 9 pm on the SSU Campus at Ives Hall 101 (Warren Auditorium), in Rohnert Park.

Proprietor Sondra Bernstein of The Girl and the Fig in Sonoma will celebrate the release of her second cookbook, “Plats du Jour” at a free Holiday Open House and Book Launch Party  at Estate Restaurant. There will be apertivo, antipasti, and Rhone styles wines available as well as food, cheese and art gifts for sale.

Guerneville’s Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony in the town square  at 6:15 pm tonight (December 1, 2011)

There will also be a Merchant Open House all along Main Street 5-9 pm with refreshments, hot drinks, holiday shopping,  caroling all throughout the town & around the tree.  Santa Claus pictures for the kids.

Guerneville Town Square and Main St.

For other Sonoma County Holiday Events, see the 2011 Sonoma County Holiday Events page. 

The SRJC Planetarium offers their next free First Friday Show,  on Friday.  There are shows at 7 pm and 8:30 pm. [Read more →]

Petaluma Pie Company is celebrating the anniversary of their opening on Sunday, Dec4. between 1-4 pm in downtown Petaluma. Performers will light up Putnam Plaza with live music. There will be free holiday pie tasting, pie tin art activities, wine happy hour , and hot apple cider. [Read more →]

Here’s an inexpensive, romantic date night: Viva Cooking School is showing an Italian movie free Friday night. Sign up in advance for a “light” supper and you’ll get a light entree for $6.  Italian wine is $6. And dessert is $3. RSVP required for the meal.

The film is La Notte di San Lorenzo (The Night of the Shooting Stars).

[Read more →]

The 2011 Sonoma County Holiday Events listing is here— you’ll find it on the left hand side of the page. It will be continually updated, so check back often. If you know of a free or cheap holiday event in Sonoma County I’ve missed, let me know by email: lisa (at) sonomaonthecheap.com or leave a comment below.