Sonoma Events in December 2018

Wine Tasting, Festivals, and Holiday Celebrations

Top Sonoma events in December include several wine tasting activities, festivals, and tree lighting ceremonies. You can also wineries parties with special holiday twists.

This month's calendar includes options in Sonoma Valley, Petaluma, Healdsburg, Santa Rosa, and other towns around the county.

Disclaimer: I recieve a small commission from some of the links on this page.

Sonoma County Wine Events in December 2018

Amista Vineyards: Amista Sparkling Holidays (12/1)

Benziger Family Winery: Holiday Sip, Sample & Shop (12/1 & 12/2), sample wines, get discounts and try their tasty olive oils

Buena Vista Winery: Holiday Open House (12/2), food, wine and holiday cheer, bring along a gift for Toys for Tots for 10% off wine purchases, $20 per person, Complimentary tickets for members and up to 3 guests

Chateau Diana: Ugly Sweater Holiday Party (12/8), 12pm to 5pm

DeLoach Vineyards: Holiday Open House (12/1), celebrate the season with food and wine, bring along a donation for Toys for Tots too, 4pm to 7pm, $15 per person, members get up to 4 tickets free

Coppola: Holiday Open House (12/1 & 12/2), festive weekend of wine and shopping, free admission, reservations are not required, 11am to 6pm

Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards: Holiday Crab Feed (12/8), kick off the holiday season at this annual event at Gloria Ferrer, from 6:30pm to 9:30pm enjoy a crab feast and sample their bubbly wines

KORBEL Champagne Cellars: Holiday Shopping Spree (12/7-12/9), get your holiday shopping done in early December at KORBEL, sample ciders and cookies, enjoy caroling from 1pm to 3pm, and say hi to Santa from 2:30 to 4 pm, event runs from 10am to 4:30pm, complimentary and no reservation required

Imagery Estate Wines: Sip, Sample & Shop (12/1 & 12/2), holiday treats, entertainment and wine, 10am to 5:30pm both days

Sonoma-Cutrer: Holiday Open House (12/15), from 12pm to 4pm, complimentary bites paired with wines, music provide by the Dickens' Carolers, rare wine specials, complimentary and reservations are not needed.

Annual Lighting of the Snowmen

Date: 12/1

Sunset Magazine's Cornerstone lighting of the Snowmen has become an annual treat and must see event. This festival starts at 4 pm on Saturday and ends at 8 pm. The light display will stay up at Cornerstone Sonoma throughout the holidays and incorporates hundreds of snowmen displayed in different scenes each year.

Food, drinks, kids' craft and decorations will be available for purchase as the festival is free.

Downtown Holiday Open House in Petaluma

Date: 12/1

This one-day free event, starts at 11 am and ends at 5 pm. The pretty city of Petaluma invites anyone that wants to experience it while enjoying events like horse and carriage rides, caroling, drinking hot cider and buying local goods from downtown merchants. Make sure to take your time as you stroll around the town and explore everything Petaluma has to offer.

Stay in Sonoma this December

One of the best ways to enjoy these Sonoma events in December is to spend a few days in this gorgeous wine county area. Click the links below to find the perfect hotel for your stay today.

Booking.com: Save on your Hotel in Sonoma with Booking.com, Planet Earth's #1 Accommodation Site. No booking fees ever!

TripAdvisor: What's the #1 hotel in Sonoma County? Read reviews & find hotel deals on TripAdvisor!

Cirque de Boheme Presents "Yesterday"

Dates: 11/23 - 12/16

This amazing annual event is not to be missed if you enjoy physical and mental feats that go beyond anything you can imagine! Located at Sunset Magazine's Cornerstone Garden, you will experience jugglers, tight rope walkers, acrobats, aerialists, trapeze artists, and so much more as you venture back into the 1930s during this classic circus event.

>> Visit their site for ticketing information

Santa Rosa Events in December

Here are just a few of the top Sonoma events in December in Santa Rosa.

More Sonoma Events in December

Here are a few additional holiday Sonoma events in December to check out during your visit.

12/1 & 12/2: Handmade Holiday Crafts Fair at the Finley Community Complex in Santa Rosa

12/1 & 12/2: Monte Rio Holiday Craft Faire at the Monte Rio Community Center from 10am to 6pm both days

12/1 & 12/2: Luther Burbank Home and Gardens Holiday Open House

12/6: Windsor Holiday Celebration and Tree Lighting at the Town Green in Windsor starting at 5pm

12/8 & 12/9: Occidental Holiday Crafts Faire from 10am to 5pm both days at the Occidental Community Center

12/16: Holiday Crafterino in Petaluma at the Petaluma Veterans Memorial Building from 10am to 4pm

TBD: Christmas Craft Fair at the Faith Lutheran Church of Sonoma Valley

TBD: Artisan Craft Faire and Holiday Festival at the Center for Spiritual Living in Santa Rosa

TBD: Festival Holiday Wreath Workshop in Petaluma at Garden Valley Ranch

Gingerbread House Showcase & Competition

Dates: 12/7, 12/8 & 12/9

Head back over to Petaluma for this three-day event on December 7-9. Enter your best gingerbread house for the competition or stop by to admire those that do! The event is being held at the Petaluma Hotel at 205 Kentucky Street. It's free to enter, so make sure to stop by this weekend.

 

Glen Ellen Stroll

Date: TBD

This year's Glen Ellen Stroll will be held in downtown Glen Ellen. Sample wines from local wineries and mingle with local winemakers and wine lovers. It's another one of the Sonoma events in December that will donate all proceeds to those impacted by this year's Northern California fires.

A Vintage Christmas Hosted at Trione Winery

Date: TBD

Trione Winery presents the world premier of A Vintage Christmas starting on 12/1. Dominic's family has been in the wine business for over 100 years, but he is thinking of selling the business and moving on. Much like It's a Wonderful Life, Dom's grandfather returns to show him what life would be without the business.

There is a special Opening Night Bubbly celebration on 12/1 for the release of the film. Cast and crew will be available following Sunday shows to answer your questions. A Vintage Christmas starts at 8 pm each night. Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors, $10 for students with ID, and $12 for Thursday night shows.

All shows are at the Trione Winery at 19550 Geyserville Avenue in Geyserville.

>> Visit the Trione Winery site for ticketing details

Additional Activities in Sonoma

Are you visiting for one of these Sonoma events in December? If so, make sure to check out some of the other fun things to do this month. You can head out on a hot air balloon ride, bike around the region, or go hiking. Here are just a few of my favorites this month.

• Hot Air Balloon Ride: Admire Sonoma County from above on a Hot Air Balloon Ride, you will spend an hour cruising high above the vineyards as you learn more about the region, the entire experience is about 3 to 4 hours with set up, an hour in the balloon, landing and deflation, and a champagne toast to celebrate the day, find discount availability for this tour on Groupon


• Sonoma Food Tour: Sample some of Sonoma's tastiest dishes on this 3-hour food walking tour around the Sonoma Square, it will include tastes at up to seven stops, tours are available Tuesday - Saturday and start at 11am, find discount availability on Groupon


• Healdsburg All Day Biking & Wine Tasting Tour: Enjoy a day wine tasting near Healdsburg around Dry Creek Valley, during the tour you will ride a hybrid bike around 20 miles (32km) at a leisurely pace, stop by 3 to 4 wineries, learn more about each one and eat a picnic lunch at one of them as well, leaves daily at 10am and returns around 3:30pm, tasting fees not included, find availability for this tour on Viator

*Note: Most Groupon deals last for 120 days after purchase, so make sure to check the exact terms before purchasing.

More Things to Do in Wine Country

Napa in December	Top Sonoma Wineries	Tours from San Francisco

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