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Sonoma Events in December 2021: Wine Tasting, Festivals, and Holiday Celebrations
by Jill Loeffler •
Updated: November 5, 2021
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 2021
Here are just some of the wine tasting events during the month of December 2021 in Sonoma County. They are all great fun!
Buena Vista Winery: Holiday Open House (12/5), food, wine and holiday cheer
Larson Family Winery: Holiday Open House & Photos with Santa (12/4), taste wines, eat small bites, and get your photo taken with Santa from 11 am to 3 pm
Longboard Vineyards: "Z" Sparkling Party, enjoy delicious wines paired with small bites, live music and more, RSVP required
Tasting Events in 2019
These are all events from 2019 when more were on the calendar. I anticipate most of these will return but probably not until 2022!
Amista Vineyards: Amista Sparkling Holidays (12/7)
The Family Coppola: Holiday Open House (12/7 & 12/8), festive weekend of wine and shopping, free admission, reservations are not required, 11am to 6pm
Family Wineries Dry Creek Cooperative: Holiday Open House (12/7), enjoy small bites, wine, and complimentary tastings all day, from 12:30 pm to 4 pm
Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards: Holiday Crab Feed (12/7), kick off the holiday season at this annual event at Gloria Ferrer, enjoy a crab feast and sample their bubbly wines in their wine cave, from 6:30pm to 9:30pm, prices at $135 for general admission and $125 or $130 depending on club level
KORBEL Champagne Cellars: Holiday Shopping Spree (12/6 - 12/8), get your holiday shopping done in early December at KORBEL, sample ciders and cookies, enjoy caroling from 1 pm to 3 pm, and say hi to Santa from 2:30 pm to 4 pm, event runs from 10am to 4:30pm, complementary and no reservation required
Red Car Wine: Red Car Holiday Dinner (12/7), food, wine and fun
Sbragia Family Vineyards: Holiday Cocktail Party (12/6), holiday celebration including food, wine and more, prices to be decided
Sonoma-Cutrer: Holiday Open House (12/14), from 12 pm to 4 pm, complimentary bites paired with wines, music provide by the Dickens' Carolers, rare wine specials, and reservations are not needed.
Annual Lighting of the Snowmen
Date: TBD
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: 12/4
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 "Behind the Mirror"
Dates: 11/26 - 12/26
This year's performance is a new show called "Behind the Mirror." It features music, mystery, and poetry.
The show features a magician, contortionist, juggler, and so much more.
It will run on weekends starting on 11/26. Each days, there are shows at 1 pm, 3 pm and 5 pm with just 100 people per show.
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.
12/4 & 12/5: Handmade Holiday Crafts Fair at the Finley Community Complex in Santa Rosa
TBD: Monte Rio Holiday Craft Faire at the Monte Rio Community Center from 10am to 6pm both days
12/4 & 12/5: Luther Burbank Home and Gardens Holiday Open House
12/2: Windsor Holiday Celebration and Tree Lighting at the Town Green in Windsor starting at 5pm
12/11 & 12/12: Occidental Holiday Crafts Faire from 10am to 5pm both days at the Occidental Community Center
TBD: Holiday Crafterino in Petaluma at the Petaluma Veterans Memorial Building from 10am to 4pm
Gingerbread House Showcase & Competition
Dates: 12/17 - 12/19
Head back over to Petaluma for this three-day event on December 13 - 15. 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
Foodies on Foot: Walking and food tour of Sonoma which stops at top-rated restaurants, check for availability on Groupon
*Note: Most Groupon deals last for 120 days after purchase, so make sure to check the exact terms before purchasing.
