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

Baby Seal Club, winners of the North Bay Music Awards’ “Best Indie Rock Band” of 2009, plays Sunday evening at the free Live at Julliard Park series. Bring a picnic dinner, low backed chairs or a blanket.

Sunday August 1, 2010 5 pm to 7 pm
Julliard Park
Santa Rosa Ave at Charles St., Santa Rosa
Across from Luther Burbank Gardens

Children and their parents are invited to join Dr. Jerome Smith,  Medical Director at Sonoma Valley Community Health Center, in a fun and healthy 45 minute walk on a paved path through the vineyards of Sonoma. Please wear comfortable clothing and good walking shoes. Water and fruit will be available after the walk. Free.
July 31, 2010  9:45 am – 10:30 am

Just a reminder, Paradise Ridge Winery stays open late  (from 6 pm to 8 pm) on Wednesdays so you can picnic and watch spectacular sunsets from their veranda. Wines are available for purchase by the bottle or glass.  Paradise is one of the wineries that has free self-guided vineyard tours. The Chef at Hopmonk created a picnic menu for Paradise if you want some delicious suggestions for what to bring.

Paradise Ridge Winery
4545 Thomas Lake Harris Drive,  Santa Rosa

Meet at 9 am Saturday in the Sebastopol Plaza for a free historian guided 3 mile walk through Sebastopol’s downtown and nearby neighborhoods, including a  stop at the West County Museum. Wear comfortable shoes, dress in layer, and bring water. For more information call (707) 823-3032.

This is a Sonoma iWalk event.

Saturday July 31, 2010
Sebastopol Plaza, Sebastopol

Petaluma’s  free outdoor Movies in the Park will be held in Luchessi Park.  Admission is free.  These family entertainment nights will include local bands, food, drink, raffles and a movie at dusk. Proceeds benefit local non-profits. Bring a blanket or low-backed chairs. This Friday, Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark is playing.

Friday July 30, 2010.  Entertainment starts at 6:30 pm: movie  starts at dusk.

Lucchesi Park (behind the Petaluma Community Center)
320 N. McDowell Boulevard, Petaluma.

REI in Santa Rosa is offering a free simple bike maintenance class. You’ll learn how to lube a chain, fix a flat and make minor adjustments to your bike.  Registration is required, call (707) 540-9025.

August 5, 2010 7 pm to 8:30 pm
REI, Santa Rosa Ave. Santa Rosa

Kate Gafney plays soulful roots rock and roll on Sunday evening at the free Live at Julliard Park series. Bring a picnic dinner, low backed chairs or a blanket.

Sunday August 1 , 2010 5 pm to 7 pm
Julliard Park
Santa Rosa Ave at Charles St., Santa Rosa
Across from Luther Burbank Gardens

This week’s free Kid’s Movies on the Windsor Green will be Tooth Fairy (PG). Admission is free. Bring a  blanket and popcorn or a picnic dinner.

July 27, 2010 15 minutes after sunset

Windsor Town Green
9455 Bell Road, Windsor

The annual San Francisco Theater Festival is a huge free indoor/outdoor celebration of live theater at held at the Yerba Buena Cultural Center in downtown San Francisco. It includes over 100  performances on 17 stages including comedy, drama, one-acts, excerpts, solo, new works, musical, improv, and children’s acts. All shows are under 30 minutes long.

The San Francisco Theater Festival is presented in partnership with the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival. And best of all, it’s free.  (But you can buy a VIP wristband here  for $18 that comes with a T-shirt and allows you to skip the lines.)

Sunday August 8, 2010
Yerba Buena Gardens
Third and Mission Streets, San Francisco

Sat July 31, 2010 & Sunday August 1, 2010 form 8 am to 4 pm you can drop off computer equipment, TV’s etc. free  for recycling at Friedman’s Home Improvement,  1360 Broadway Ave. (in the parking lot), Sonoma. [Read more →]