The James Pelican Clown Show will be performing “How to Bury a Cat” at The Occidental Center for the Arts this weekend. Tickets are $5.

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LOOKING FOR 2011 HALLOWEEN EVENTS? GO HERE.
As always, there’s plenty of haunted happenings in Sonoma County, many free or cheap (some are pricier). I’ve also tossed in a few harvest or Day of the Dead events. Here is a listing of what’s available (you can click on the date below to be brought down to the events that occur on that day): [Read more →]

The Sonoma County Chamber Singers will present their fall concert “Life, Music, Concord, Harmony” this weekend in 3 locations. Admission is free. Donations are gratefully accepted. [Read more →]

The Occidental Family Fun Festival includes the amazing lunapillar “butterfly car” (offering rides for kids),  music by the Thiessen Brothers, arts and crafts activities for kids, a family film, music, food and a raffle. For more info, call Adrea Van Dyke at (707) 865-2388. $5 per family.

Sunday July 18, 2010 noon to 5 pm
Occidental Center for the Arts
4008 Bohemian Highway, Occidental

This Sunday, May 23, from 4 to 7 pm, there will be an Open House to celebrate KOWS radio’s new studios. KOWS 107.3 is a new community radio station for Occidental and West Sonoma county.

The Open House will be at 14775 Third Street in Occidental. This is just a few seconds walk from the very center of town. There will be signs to guide you.

There will be music, refreshments, and a chance to see thenew studio and meet many of the members of the community who produce their own radio shows on KOWS.

KOWS can be heard at 107.3 FM and also online at WWW.KOWS.FM

Looking for free and cheap Halloween events in Sonoma County for 2010? Go here.

Sonoma County has dozens of free or cheap ($10 or less) ways to celebrate Halloween—there is something for just about every age,  running from this weekend through to Halloween itself. There are pumpkin farms (of course) and art projects, parties, spooky (or not-so-spooky) stories, and more. I’ve organized them here by date. If I’ve missed any, please add a comment, or email me at lisa(at) sonomaonthecheap.com. Thanks!

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Coming soon: Free installation of high-efficiency plumbing fixtures (toilets, urinals, faucet aerators, showerheads) for commercial, residential and multi-family customers located in eligible service areas, which include:

• Airport / Larkfield / Wikiup Sanitation Zone
• Geyserville Sanitation Zone
• Occidental Sanitation District
• Penngrove Sanitation Zone
• Russian River County Sanitation District
• Sea Ranch Sanitation Zone
• Sonoma Valley County Sanitation District

Sign up online to be notified as more details become available.

In Sonoma County, we know we have it all—beaches, rolling farmlands, orchards, charming towns where (if you squint a bit) you could be in 1950 (or 1850), Victorian farmhouses, lavish mansions, suburban tract homes, vineyards, hey, we even have a few Tuscan courtyards. Hollywood knows it, too.

Here’s a list of 110 movies said to have been filmed (or partially filmed) in Sonoma County (alphabetically by title).

It makes a great DVD night trivia game—can you recognize Sonoma County in these films?

But I’m adding another game into the mix. Do you recognize a house in one of the movies (and know what corner it’s on)? Or can you give me more specific locations for scenes I have listed below? Were you an extra? Or a spectator? Do you know of a movie (big screen only–no made for TV movies) that isn’t on my list? Or do you just want to guess on a filming spot in one of these movies or  suggest a movie that looks like it was filmed here? Enter a comment below. On May 1, all the comments to this post will be entered in a drawing. One lucky reader will get 4 free movie passes for Reading Cinema’s Rohnert Park 16 at 555 Rohnert Park Expressway West in Rohnert Park.  Another lucky commenter will win their own DVD of Bottle Shock.  And one of our email subscribers will win a copy of the gorgeous photo book, Hidden Sonoma.

 Ready? Action!

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The Occidental Fools Parade returns April 4—celebrating Spring, West County Community and Inherent Foolishness. The parade will start at 1 p.m. and participants are to gather at noon (Occidental Community Center). As the parade ends in Occidental’s Village Square, the party begins featuring live music, and more.

Occidental Community Center/Occidental Village Square

April 4

1 p.m. (parade participants at noon)

707-869-9883

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There are lots of free and cheap things to do in Sonoma County, but no doubt about it: Sonoma County hotel rooms aren’t cheap. But spring is the shoulder season, and the recession has spawned some nice deals on rooms in Sonoma County hotels, motels, B&Bs, and vacation rentals. (Looking for Summer 2009 deals? Try here)

Here are a few Sonoma County Spring lodging specials: [Read more →]