Blessing of the Olives ceremony
Photos by Ryan Lely
The traditional ceremony of the blessing of the olives took place at the historic Mission San Francisco Solano de Sonoma on Saturday, Dec. 6. The annual ceremony kicked off the Sonoma Valley Olive Festival, which runs December through February. The laid-back affair included speeches on the olive traditions in Sonoma County, live music and refreshments.
‘Magic of Christmas’ gala
Photos by Melania Mahoney
The Lodge opened its doors for “an evening of holiday magic” on Saturday, Dec. 6 as it hosted the “Magic of Christmas” gala, a black-tie fundraiser for the Sonoma Valley Hospital Foundation. The evening kicked off with hosted cocktails and champagne followed by a sumptuous dinner and dancing to the Richard Olsen Orchestra. Celebrity auctioneer Dave Reynolds offered designer-decorated trees, tablescapes, exciting getaways and celebrity chef cooking parties, with all proceeds going towards the hospital’s emergency room.
