Not-to-miss March festivals, fun around Sonoma County

It seems the year 2015 has barely started, and yet the second month of it is almost over. And now the spring festival season is coming up on us rapidly. Get ready to march through a busy month of special events.

Whether you’re interested in food, wine, literature, art, music or dance, you’re likely to find something you like in this list of happenings scheduled throughout Sonoma County during March.

Friday, Feb. 27 through Sunday, March 1: Izzy’s 25th annual Tattoo & Blues. Three dozen top tattoo artists, the Wildfire Dancers and live music by Snake Alley, Fire and Wheels and Stevie G & the Blue Collar Blues Band. Opens at noon today, 11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. Flamingo Resort. $20-$35. 848-8300, santarosatattoosandblues.com.

March 6-8 and March 13-15: 37th annual Barrel Tasting. With more than 100 northern Sonoma County wineries participating, you can sample wines from the barrel, talk to winemakers and explore the Alexander, Dry Creek and Russian River valleys. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. Advance ticket sales end at 9 p.m. Monday, March 2: weekend, $40; Sunday only, $30. At the door: weekend, $60; Sunday only: $40. wineroad.com.

March 14: Sonoma County Bluegrass and Folk Festival. The lineup for this 15th annual event includes Si Kahn, Anne and Pete Sibley, the Kathy Kallick Band, Steep Ravine, Bean Creek and Dan Crary, Steve Spurgin and Bill Evans. 1-9 p.m. Doors open at noon. $30 in advance; $35 at the door. Sebastopol Community Cultural Center, 390 Morris St., Sebastopol. 823-1511, seb.org.

March 18-April 19: Art of Gastronomy, a juried art exhibition celebrating food and drink, features 111 works by 72 artists from across the United States. The monthlong celebration also includes literary and culinary events. Exhibition hours: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Healdsburg Center for the Arts, 130 Plaza St., Healdsburg. 337-2422, healdsburgcenterforthearts.com.

March 20-22: California’s Artisan Cheese Festival. It’s so much more than just a topping for a burger. Discover the diversity and excellence of California’s artisan cheeses with three days of tastings, seminars, demonstrations, classes, tours and author appearances. Enjoy the best of cow, sheep and goat milk cheeses, and find out which go best with great wines and beers. $20-$135. Sheraton Sonoma County, 745 Baywood Drive, Petaluma. 837-1928, artisancheesefestival.com.

March 20-21: Pigs & Pinot. Dry Creek Kitchen’s Chef Charlie Palmer invites the public to join him and a stellar cast of master sommeliers and international celebrity chefs for the 10th annual, two-day celebration of pinot noir and pork at the Healdsburg Hotel. $125-$175. Hotel Healdsburg, 25 Matheson St., Healdsburg. 922-5249, pigsandpinot.com.

March 21-22: Savor Sonoma Valley. Meet winemakers, mingle with wine lovers, see original work by local artists and listen to live music when 17 Sonoma Valley wineries showcase 2014 vintage wines, straight from the barrels, and offer samples of new releases. Look forward to great wine and food pairings, too. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. Weekend pass, $65; Sunday only, $50. Various Sonoma Valley wineries. 866-794-9463, heartofsonomavalley.com.

March 25-29: 18th annual Sonoma International Film Festival. More than 90 films, including independent features, documentaries, shorts and a showcase of Spanish-language films, all shown at venues within walking distance of Sonoma Plaza. Cinema pass: $250; cinema soirée pass: $650. sonomafilmfest.org.

March 26-29: Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival. See films on subjects that big-budget commercial features seldom touch when Sebastopol presents its eighth annual celebration of nonfiction, with screenings at the Rialto Cinemas and other venues. Topics range from local to global. All-access pass, $250; opening night, $30; regular films and programs, $10. Headquarters: Sebastopol Center for the Arts, 282 S. High St., Sebastopol. 829-4797, sebastopolfilmfestival.org.

March 28: Battle of the Brews: The boom in craft beers, brewed throughout Northern California on a smaller scale than the big national brands, has raised the profile of this 19th annual event in a region long known for its wine festivals. Sponsored by the Active 20-30 Club of Santa Rosa, the daylong celebration includes beer and food tastings and pairings, a professional brewers’ competition, the ‘Wich Hunt showcase of specialty sandwiches by local chefs, and more. 1-8 p.m. $40-$95. Sonoma County Fairgrounds, 1350 Bennett Valley Road, Santa Rosa. 545-4200, battleofthebrews.com.

You can reach Staff Writer Dan Taylor at 521-5243 or dan.taylor@pressdemocrat.com.