Don’t let the chilly nip in the air and the smattering of fallen leaves keep you and your family from enjoying outdoor activities. You need not travel far to partake of the harvest, learn something new or even experience a little culture. Halloween is right around the corner and you wouldn’t want to be caught without the perfect pumpkin to carve. Gather up the kids, grab the appropriate outerwear – just in case – and venture out to enjoy as many of the following events as possible.
Kids will learn all about American Indian life from demonstrations by the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria at the Third annual Tolay Fall Festival. Photo by Ryan Lely.
The Third Annual Tolay Fall Festival,
Oct. 9-12 and Oct. 16-19
Children of all ages will revel in the many activities featured at The Third Annual Tolay Fall Festival in Petaluma over the next two weekends. The event, which last year entertained more than 12,000 attendees, is hosted by Sonoma County Regional Parks. Designed to promote Sonoma County agriculture, the weekend will include both educational and recreational activities. The Environmental Discovery Center of Sonoma County will present From Earth to You, an interactive area with plants and animals. Park Rangers will lead hikes and hayrides. Kids will learn about American Indian life, thanks to demonstrations by the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria. This year’s new attraction will be the Nighttime Creatures Barn, which will feature a Creepy Crawly Critter Room and a diorama of regional mammals. The giant straw maze and a pumpkin-seed-spitting contest will keep children busy while parents shop for seasonal decorations and crafts.
Festival hours: 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Thursday-Friday and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. All activities are free. Parking costs $5. Tolay Regional Park is at the end of Cannon Lane off Lakeville Highway, Petaluma. For more information, go to www.sonoma-county.org/parks.
Sonoma Jewish Music and Art Festival, Sunday, Oct. 19
Congregation Shir Shalom presents the first Sonoma Jewish Music and Art Festival, featuring live music by Klezmer band and Red Hot Chachkas, magic by Tobias, arts and crafts vendors and plenty of delicious food. An evening concert with performances by Rabbi Jack and Friends, the Stephanie Ozer Ensemble and Vocolot will follow.
The free festival begins at 1 p.m. at 252 W. Spain St., Sonoma. Tickets for the concert are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. Advance tickets may be purchased at Shir Shalom, Readers’ Books, 130 E. Napa St., Sonoma and Pharmaca, 303 W. Napa St., Sonoma. For more information, call 707.935.3636.
Photo by Ryan Lely.
Hike Through Time, Wednesday, Oct. 22
Docent Lonnie Greenfield will lead a 90-minute evening hike through the aptly named Beauty Ranch at Jack London State Historic Park in Glen Ellen. Participants will view Jack London’s ranch as it was when he lived there in the early 1900s. The hike is a moderate one, mostly shaded by a canopy of tall trees. Along the way, hikers will visit many historic London sites including House of Happy Walls, London’s gravesite, the Wolf House ruins, the lake, the cottage and the gardens. California State Parks and the Valley of the Moon Natural History Association are the event’s co-sponsors. After the hike, creekside picnic tables will be available at Jack London Village for a bring-your-own-dinner-and-lantern gathering.
Hikers are asked to gather at 4:45 p.m. at the upper parking lot at Jack London State Historic Park, 2400 London Ranch Road in Glen Ellen. The hike begins at 5 p.m. The event is free. Parking costs $6. For more information, contact Greenfield at 707.933.8882 or at lonnietots@comcast.net.
Fall Harvest Festival, Saturday, Oct. 25
The Sonoma Ecology Center will host the Fall Festival at Sonoma Garden Park in Sonoma. A fun day of activities is planned for children, including a costume contest, face painting, a sing-along, a raffle and a scarecrow-building contest. Kids and their parents are welcome to explore the lush gardens and purchase fruits and vegetables grown there, as well as plants for home gardens. Pumpkins and decorative gourds will also be for sale.
“I wanted to create an open day for kids to celebrate the autumn harvest,” said garden site manager Rebecca Bossily, who is organizing the event. “We host many events that welcome people of all ages, but the Fall Festival is a way to get kids to explore everything the garden has to offer.”
The festival will start at 10 a.m. and lasts until dusk. Sonoma Garden Park is at 19990 Seventh St. E., Sonoma. The event is free. For more information, go to www.sonomaecologycenter.org.
Photo by Ryan Lely.
Don’t forget the pumpkins!
Picking out pumpkins is a perennial favorite. Every fall, families traipse around various patches, looking for future jack-o’-lanterns. One of the best spots is only a few miles east of Sonoma, off Highway 121 just before you reach Highway 29. The Stanly Lane Market Place, which has its very own little left turn lane, is home to one of the biggest pumpkin patches in the wine country. In addition to all shapes and sizes of pumpkins, lots of other freshly picked seasonal produce is on display beneath a 1,200-square-foot white-and-green tent. Stanly Lane also sells country antiques as well as coffee, sandwiches, cheese and more, which can be enjoyed at picnic tables. Open Wednesday through Sunday, through Nov. 2, 3100 Golden Gate Dr., Napa, on the north side of Highway 121. 707.253.7512.
