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Sonoma Events in December 2023: Wine Tasting, Festivals, and Holiday Celebrations
by Jill Loeffler •
Updated: November 5, 2023
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 receive a small commission from some of the links on this page.
Sonoma County Wine Events in December 2023
Here are just some of the wine tasting events during the month of December 2022 in Sonoma County. They are all great fun!
Amista Vineyards: Sparkling Holidays Cocktail Party (12/2) from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. $85 per person.
B.R. Cohn: Holiday Open House (12/3) from 1 pm to 3 pm
Bartholomew Estate: Sip, Swirl & Celebrate Holiday Kickoff Event (12/1)
Buena Vista Winery (sold out): Holiday Open House (12/1), food, wine and holiday cheer
Buena Vista Winery: Exploration of sparkling wines at Buena Vista (12/9)
Cline's Vineyard Estate: Wreath Workshop at Cline (12/2 and 12/3) from 2 pm to 4:30 pm. Event limited to 30 guests, with tickets at $85 per person.
Cline's Vineyard Estate: North Pole Express. A wine-derful holiday event that's sure to get you in the spirit! (12/10)
Dutton-Goldfield Winery: Wreath Making Class at 2 pm (12/3)
Ferrari Carano Winery: Holiday at the Estate tasting experience from 10:30 am to 4 pm (12/2 - 12/3)
Gundlach Bundschu (12/9): Bacchus Club Après Ski Party from 4 to 7 pm
Gundlack Bundschu (12/14): Hi-Fi Happy Hour from 5 to 7 pm. Enjoy wine, records, pizza, and friends in the Barrel Room.
J. Rickards Winery: Wine Club Pick Up Party (12/2) from 11 am to 4 pm.
Jacuzzi Wines (12/1): Feast of the 7 fishes Italian holiday dinner at 6:30 pm
Jordan Winery (12/2): Christmas at Jordan from 1 to 4 pm
La Crema: Sparkling Holiday Soiree (12/30) from 6 pm to 8:30 pm.
Saint Francis Winery (12/10): Holiday Cookie Workshop and Wine Social with pastry chef Marina Medan
Annual Lighting of the Snowmen
Date: 12/2
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 7 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: 12/2
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!
VRBO: You can also find some great places to stay on VRBO. They offer apartments, houses, cottages, and rooms for rent all around Sonoma County. Find some great places to stay here.
Cirque de Boheme Presents "Consolamentum"
Dates: 12/2, 12/3, 12/9, 12/10, 12/16, 12/17, 12/23, 12/24
This year's performance is a new show called "Consolamentum" full of circus acrobatics, mysterious wonders and a bit of clowning around.
The show features a magician, contortionist, juggler, and so much more.
It will run on weekends starting on 11/24. Each day, there are shows at 1 pm, 3 pm and 5 pm with just 100 people per show.
Tickets cost $40 for adults and $30 for kids 15 and under.
Part of the proceeds benefit The Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance.
All shows are at the Cornerstone Sonoma at 23570 Arnold Drive in Sonoma.
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.
12/2 & 12/3: Handmade Holiday Crafts Fair at the Finley Community Complex in Santa Rosa from 10 am to 4 pm.
No event for 2023: Sebastopol Holiday Home Tour & Artisan Boutique for the Pleasant Hill Christian School. The boutique at the school is free to attend. The Holiday Tours feature five decorated homes and the historic school. This event runs on Friday from 5 pm to 9 pm, Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm, and Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm.
12/2 & 12/3: Luther Burbank Home and Gardens Holiday Open House from 10 am to 4 pm. Tickets cost $12 for those 12 and older.
12/7: Windsor Holiday Celebration and Tree Lighting at the Town Green in Windsor from 5 pm to 8 pm.
12/9 & 12/10: Occidental Holiday Crafts Faire at the Occidental Community Center
Gingerbread House Showcase & Competition
Dates: TBD
Head back over to Petaluma for this three-day event on December 17 - 19. 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.
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.
Sonoma Wine Country Bike Tour: Ride through Sonoma Wine Country on this 4.5 hour tour, starts in Santa Rosa and takes you to visit two to three wineries, entire trip is about 16-miles (25.7 km), route is mostly flat, check for availability
Food & Wine Walking Tour: Walking and food tour of Sonoma which stops at several gourmet spots for tastings, check for availability
Comments? Questions? Suggestions?
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It's a great place to interact with me and others who know the area well.
You can ask questions, get advice for your upcoming stay, and then share your photos and advice with others when you return home. It's a great community and the fastest way to get answers to those nagging questions about your visit!