Celebrate the holiday season in Santa Rosa, CA, with a delightful array of festive events that cater to all ages and interests. Stroll through the charming Charlie Brown Christmas Tree Grove, where Peanuts characters come to life amid beautifully decorated firs. Embrace the local art scene at Graton's Holiday Arts & Crafts Fair and discover unique creations perfect for holiday gifting.
For a unique twist on seasonal celebrations, don't miss the Holiday Open House at Matanzas Creek Winery, where you can sample exclusive wines in a picturesque setting. Whether you're a local or visiting, Santa Rosa offers memorable experiences that capture the spirit of the holidays.
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The Top Christmas Events in Santa Rosa
- Holiday Open House at Matanzas Creek Winery
- Luther Burbank Home & Gardens Holiday Open House
- Santa Rosa's Winter Lights
- Holiday Open House at Charles M. Schulz Museum
- Holiday Handmade Craft Fair
Santa Rosa Holiday Light Displays
Santa Rosa's Winter Lights
What to Expect:
City-wide light display and activities
Description:
Santa Rosa's Winter Lights transforms the city into a glowing canvas of holiday cheer. The event spans multiple locations, featuring innovative light installations that reimagine familiar spaces. Interactive displays encourage visitors to become part of the illuminated landscape. This city-wide celebration builds on Santa Rosa's reputation as a hub for public art and community engagement. Explore themed light zones, each offering a distinct atmosphere and experience. The event showcases the creativity of local artists and technicians who bring the displays to life.
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Santa Rosa Holiday Markets and Shopping
Holiday Handmade Craft Fair
What to Expect:
Exclusively handcrafted items from local makers
Description:
The Holiday Handmade Craft Fair showcases the diverse talents of Sonoma County's artisan community. Every item on display is crafted by hand, ensuring a unique selection of gifts and decorations. The fair buzzes with the energy of creativity as visitors interact with makers and learn about their crafts. This event continues the region's long tradition of supporting handmade goods and local artisans. Discover one-of-a-kind pieces that reflect the skill and passion of area craftspeople, from pottery to textiles to artisanal foods.
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Santa Rosa Other Holiday Activities
Holiday Open House at Matanzas Creek Winery
What to Expect:
Wine tasting in a lavender-filled setting
Description:
Matanzas Creek Winery's Holiday Open House offers a unique twist on seasonal celebrations. The winery's famous lavender fields provide a fragrant backdrop for wine tasting and holiday cheer. Guests can sample limited-edition vintages while enjoying the crisp winter air. The event highlights the winery's commitment to sustainable agriculture, a practice that has shaped Sonoma County's wine industry for decades. Explore the beautifully decorated tasting room and learn about the winemaking process from knowledgeable staff.
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Holiday Open House at Matanzas Creek Winery
Luther Burbank Home & Gardens Holiday Open House
What to Expect:
Historic home decorated in Victorian-era style
Description:
The Luther Burbank Home & Gardens Holiday Open House transports visitors to a Victorian-era Christmas. The famed horticulturist's historic home is adorned with period-appropriate decorations, showcasing holiday traditions from the late 19th century. Guests can explore the beautifully preserved rooms and learn about Burbank's groundbreaking plant breeding work. The event honors Burbank's significant contributions to agriculture and horticulture in California. Visitors can stroll through the winter gardens and imagine the holidays as they were celebrated over a century ago.
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Luther Burbank Home & Gardens Holiday Open House
Holiday Open House at Charles M. Schulz Museum
What to Expect:
Peanuts-themed holiday exhibits and activities
Description:
The Holiday Open House at Charles M. Schulz Museum celebrates the season through the lens of the beloved Peanuts characters. Special exhibits showcase Schulz's holiday-themed comic strips and their impact on popular culture. Visitors can participate in Peanuts-inspired craft activities and view rarely displayed artwork. The event honors Schulz's enduring legacy in Santa Rosa, where he lived and worked for decades. Explore how the Peanuts gang has become an integral part of holiday traditions for generations of fans.
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Holiday Open House at Charles M. Schulz Museum
Nearby Events
Charlie Brown Christmas Tree Grove (Windsor)
What to Expect:
Peanuts-themed Christmas tree display
Description:
The Charlie Brown Christmas Tree Grove transforms downtown Windsor into a Peanuts-inspired holiday scene. Dozens of uniquely decorated trees pay homage to Charles Schulz's beloved characters. Visitors can stroll through the grove, spotting their favorite Peanuts personalities reimagined as festive firs. This event celebrates Schulz's local legacy, as the cartoonist lived and worked in nearby Santa Rosa for decades. You'll find trees adorned with Snoopy's doghouse, Lucy's psychiatry booth, and even Charlie Brown's iconic sparse tree.
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Charlie Brown Christmas Tree Grove
Graton Holiday Arts & Crafts Fair (Sebastopol)
What to Expect:
Showcases local artisans and craftspeople
Description:
Graton's Holiday Arts & Crafts Fair spotlights the rich artistic talent of Sonoma County. Local artisans and craftspeople gather to display and sell their unique creations, from handmade jewelry to custom woodwork. The fair hums with the energy of creativity and community spirit. Visitors can chat with makers about their processes and inspirations. This event continues a long tradition of supporting local arts in Graton, a town known for its thriving creative scene. Browse one-of-a-kind gifts while supporting the area's vibrant artistic community.
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Graton Holiday Arts & Crafts Fair
Napa Valley Wine Train’s Santa Train (Napa)
What to Expect:
Christmas-themed journey through wine country
Description:
The Napa Valley Wine Train's Santa Train whisks passengers on a jolly journey through picturesque vineyards. This rolling celebration combines the charm of a vintage train with the spirit of the season. Children can meet Santa while adults savor local wines. The train's route showcases the stunning winter landscape of Napa Valley, a region that has been producing world-class wines since the 19th century. Passengers can indulge in gourmet holiday treats as they chug through the heart of wine country.
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Napa Valley Wine Train’s Santa Train
Santa's Riverboat Arrival (Petaluma)
What to Expect:
Santa arrives by boat on the Petaluma River
Description:
Santa's Riverboat Arrival brings a coastal twist to holiday traditions in Petaluma. Instead of a sleigh, Santa cruises into town aboard a festively decorated boat on the Petaluma River. The event harks back to the city's maritime history, when the river was a bustling commercial waterway. Spectators line the riverbanks, eagerly awaiting Santa's unique entrance. Children can wave to Santa as he docks and makes his way to the historic downtown area, kicking off the holiday season in nautical style.
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Gingerbread house showcase & competition (Petaluma)
What to Expect:
Elaborate gingerbread creations by local bakers
Description:
The Gingerbread House Showcase & Competition elevates the humble gingerbread house to an art form. Local bakers and amateur enthusiasts craft intricate, edible structures that push the boundaries of culinary creativity. The air is filled with the spicy-sweet aroma of gingerbread as visitors marvel at the detailed creations. This event celebrates the long history of gingerbread as a holiday tradition, dating back to medieval Europe. Attendees can vote for their favorite designs and even pick up tips for creating their own gingerbread masterpieces.
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Gingerbread house showcase & competition
Holiday Lighted Boat Parade (Sausalito)
What to Expect:
Illuminated boats parading on the water
Description:
The Holiday Lighted Boat Parade illuminates the waterways of Santa Rosa with a dazzling display of floating lights. Boats of all sizes, adorned with twinkling decorations, glide through the water in a mesmerizing procession. This unique event combines nautical tradition with holiday cheer, reflecting the area's strong connection to its waterways. Spectators can watch from the shore as captains compete for the most creative and eye-catching displays. The parade creates a shimmering spectacle on the water, captivating viewers of all ages.
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Calistoga Lighted Tractor Parade (Calistoga)
What to Expect:
Vintage and modern tractors adorned with lights
Description:
The Calistoga Lighted Tractor Parade rolls through town with a unique blend of agricultural heritage and holiday spirit. Vintage and modern tractors, bedecked with thousands of twinkling lights, rumble down the main street. This quirky event celebrates Calistoga's rich farming history and its evolution into a premier wine region. Spectators line the streets to cheer on the illuminated procession, which includes everything from antique tractors to state-of-the-art vineyard equipment. The parade highlights the enduring importance of agriculture in Napa Valley's identity.
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Calistoga Lighted Tractor Parade
Christmas Bird Count (Bodega Bay)
What to Expect:
Citizen science project to count local bird populations
Description:
The Christmas Bird Count engages nature enthusiasts in a long-standing citizen science tradition. Participants fan out across designated areas to tally bird species and populations, contributing valuable data to ornithological research. This event, part of a national effort, has been conducted annually for over a century. The count provides crucial information about bird migration patterns and habitat health in the Sonoma County region. Join experienced birders to learn identification skills and contribute to important conservation efforts.
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Transcendence’s Broadway Holiday Spectacular (Sonoma)
What to Expect:
Broadway-caliber holiday performances
Description:
Transcendence's Broadway Holiday Spectacular brings the glitz and glamour of New York's theater district to Wine Country. Professional performers, many with Broadway credits, deliver show-stopping renditions of holiday classics and contemporary favorites. The show blends the sophistication of Broadway with the warmth of seasonal celebrations. This event showcases Sonoma County's growing reputation as a destination for high-quality performing arts. Experience the power of live theater as talented singers and dancers light up the stage with holiday cheer.
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Transcendence’s Broadway Holiday Spectacular
The Holiday Lights Trolley (Healdsburg)
What to Expect:
Guided tour of holiday lights on a historic trolley
Description:
The Holiday Lights Trolley offers a nostalgic journey through Santa Rosa's most dazzling light displays. Passengers board a vintage trolley for a guided tour of the city's best-decorated neighborhoods and landmarks. The trolley's bell rings out as it travels through illuminated streets, adding to the festive atmosphere. This event combines local history with holiday cheer, as knowledgeable guides share stories about Santa Rosa's past and present. Sit back and enjoy the twinkling sights from the comfort of a charming, old-fashioned trolley.
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Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens' Festival of Lights (Fort Bragg)
What to Expect:
Coastal gardens transformed into a light display
Description:
The Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens Festival of Lights reimagines the natural beauty of the gardens with stunning light installations. Winding paths lead visitors through a landscape of illuminated flora and artistic light sculptures. The event showcases the unique coastal ecosystem of Mendocino, blending nature and artistry. Visitors can explore the gardens after dark, discovering how familiar plants and features take on new life under creative lighting. This festival highlights the gardens' commitment to education and conservation while providing a captivating sensory experience.
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Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens' Festival of Lights
Holiday Make-a-Gift Fair (Cloverdale)
What to Expect:
Hands-on workshops for creating personalized gifts
Description:
The Holiday Make-A-Gift Fair empowers visitors to create personalized presents for their loved ones. A variety of workshops offer guidance in crafting unique gifts, from pottery to woodworking to culinary treats. The fair hums with creative energy as participants learn new skills and express their creativity. This event builds on the region's strong tradition of supporting handmade and locally produced goods. Try your hand at different crafts and leave with one-of-a-kind gifts that carry special meaning for both creator and recipient.