Fun foodie events around Sonoma County
Harvest Fair Time! The big event this weekend is, of course, the annual Sonoma County Harvest Fair, taking place from Friday through Sunday. This is the fair’s 41st year.
The fair celebrates Sonoma County food, wine and agriculture and offers everything from grape stomps and chef demonstrations to olive workshops, live music, cooking competitions, a marketplace, pumpkin carving, a classic car show, an art show, a wine label competition and more.
New this year is the Wine Clearance Blow-Out Sale, a special Monday event when all remaining wines will be sold at 20 percent off.
For complete details and ticket prices, visit harvestfair.org.
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The Coast in October: Bodega Bay is gorgeous in the fall and there are two upcoming events that warrant the drive. First is the final $1 Oyster Night at Gourmet au Bay (913 Highway 1, Bodega Bay) of the year, where Northwest Catering begins shucking at 4 p.m. and continues until the oysters are gone.
They also offer other nibbles and wine is available for purchase.
On Tuesday, Oct 6, Gourmet au Bay hosts another session of its ongoing “Science Uncorked” series, which features presentations by and discussions with scientists from the nearby UC Davis Bodega Marine Lab.
Happy Hour starts at 5 p.m. and the presentation begins at 6 p.m. Wine is $5 a glass, beer $3. Other dates this year are Oct. 20, Nov. 3 and 17 and December 1 and 15.
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Calabash! This Sunday, Oct. 4, Food For Thought (6550 Railroad Ave., Forestville) presents the 15th Annual Calabash, a Celebration of Gourds, Art and the Garden. It takes place from 1 to 5 p.m. and is co-presented by the Occidental Arts and Ecology Center.
At the heart of the event is the silent auction of art, gourds transformed in breathtaking ways by dozens of artists. The event also includes tours of Food For Thought’s extravagant gardens, a sale of handcrafted garden art and book art and special pieces from the organization’s antique shop, located in south Sebastopol.
Throughout the event, volunteers wearing whimsical hats decorated with tiny gourds circulate through the crowd with delicious nibbles. There is plenty of Sonoma County wine, too. Live music played on hand-made gourd instruments provides the event’s entertainment.
Tickets are $45 in advance and $50 at the door. Snag yours at fftfoodbank.org, by calling 887-1647 ext. 101 or by emailing KarenG@FFTfoodbank.org.
Food For Thought provides food and nutritional services, along with other services, free of charge to hundreds of local men, women and children affected by HIV/AIDS and other critical illnesses in Sonoma County.
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‘Tis the Season of Pumpkin Patches: Fall pumpkin patches are opening throughout the county, many open daily, some with special events and others with options for birthday parties and other private events.
Muelrath Ranches Pumpkin Patch (3800 Walker Ave., Santa Rosa) opened last weekend and will be open daily through Halloween. Their attractions include free hay rides, a pumpkin cannon, a pumpkin slingshot and a huge array of products and decorations for sale, including 21 varieties of pumpkins, mini pumpkins, winter squash, ornamental corn, corn stalks, sunflowers, gourds, hay bales and more.
On Friday and Saturday nights from 6 to 9 p.m., the ranch hosts “Campfire in the Corral,” with roasted hot dogs and marshmallows, hot cider, cookies and a night-time hay ride. Admission is $12 per person; kids 3 and under attend free.
There is an antique hot dog cart through the day on weekends.
Admission to the pumpkin patch is free of charge whenever the ranch is open. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. For more information, visit muelrathspumpkins.com. For reservations for special events and for Friday and Saturday evenings, call 585-2195. Please note that animals are not allowed; leave your pampered pup, no matter how well behaved, at home.
The Santa Rosa Pumpkin Patch (5157 Stony Point Rd., Santa Rosa), which launched its 2015 season on Sept. 26, is open Sunday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. This location includes the county’s largest corn mazes, eight acres of pumpkins, a hay bale pyramid and maze, tether ball, trike races, farm animals, hay rides and more.
Admission varies based on what you’d like to do. If you want to spend hours exploring everything, you’ll pay $18. Foods and drinks are available for purchase, as well. There will be special activities each weekend through Halloween.
You can also simply stop by to purchase pumpkins and other decorations. For more information, visit santarosapumpkinpatch.com.
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