A la carte: Celebrate in Sonoma County with these food and wine events

SONOMA COUNTY

Farms open doors this weekend

Get a taste of the fall harvest on Saturday and Sunday during the Sonoma County Farm Trails’ annual “Weekend Along the Farm Trails” open house at fruit, flower, cheese, animal and vegetable farms across the county.

Guests can harvest their own pumpkins, apples, eggs and roses; learn how to make jam and build compost; meet baby goats and chicks; take part in tastings and talks; and make farm-to-table purchases.

The annual event, held 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days, is free, but reservations are required: farmtrails.org. Some stops will offer snacks and picnic opportunities. Guests are encouraged to pack a cooler to bring their lunch and take home products.

SEBASTOPOL

Women in food, farming

A Women’s Food and Farming Symposium will be held on Saturday at the Permaculture Skills Center in Sebastopol.

The third annual symposium organized by Caiti Hachmyer of Red H Farm includes education and an intergenerational dialogue that addresses issues of leadership, policy, advocacy, justice, art and farming.

Tickets are available on a sliding scale ($30-$75) and are all inclusive. To reserve, go to permacultureskillscenter.org. ?2185 Gravenstein Highway South.

HEALDSBURG

Raise a glass to Pinot on the River

Pinot-philes will gather at the Healdsburg Plaza from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 21 for the 15th annual Pinot on the river event.

The afternoon includes wine tastings, food vendors, a silent auction and raffle. Tickets are $100, to benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Sonoma County.

To reserve: bgccsc.org/events/pinot/

HOPLAND

Get into the spirit of harvest

Hopland will host a string of harvest events from Oct. 19 to 21 in and around the Mendocino County town.

An Experience Rosé winemaker dinner at 6 p.m. Oct. 19 will be held at the Jaxon Keys Winery and Distillery. Tickets are $45 to $85.

The Hopland harvest Days tasting will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 20 under the big tent at Brutocao Cellars Schoolhouse Plaza in downtown Hopland.

The event includes wine, beer and cider tastings; a harvest table and food truck; plus art and live music.

The party continues with a Harvest Open House on Oct. 21 at local wineries and vineyards.

For more information, go to destinationhopland.com

SONOMA

Celebrating fall at Cornerstone

The second annual Cornerstone Harvest Festival + Pumpkin Patch welcomes kids of all ages from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 20 and 21 at Cornerstone Sonoma.

In addition to the pumpkin patch, there will be a hay bale pyramid, kids’ crafts and games and various craft project for adults, from succulent pumpkin centerpieces ($15 and up) to flower crowns ($25 per crown.) Live music by the Bloodstones, vineyard tours and tasting with Meadowcroft Wines, beer and food, an ice cream cart and seasonal sweets and treats round out the festivities.

Admission is free. 23570 Arnold Drive. cornerstonesonoma.com

PETALUMA

Seasonal fun at Tolay Fall Festival

The Tolay Fall Festival will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and Oct. 20 and 21 at Tolay Lake Regional park.

The seasonal celebration of nature-based, old-fashioned fun includes a “Nighttime Creatures Barn,” a “Creepy Crawly Room,” hayrides to a pumpkin patch, gunny sack races and more.

Admission is $5 adults, $3 for kids 12 and younger. Parking is $7. Regional Parks members get free, one-time admission for two adults and two children and free parking by showing their parking pass.

HEALDSBURG

SHED’s bread education weekend

Get ready for a weekend of bread education at the Healdsburg SHED on Oct. 20 and 21 with two educational events.

“Women in Bread; A Conversation, “featuring rising, young women farmers, millers and bakers, will be held from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Tickets are on a sliding scale, ?$5 to $20.

There will be a free Mobile mill Demo and Tasting from 2:30 to 4 p.m. healdsburgshed.com. 25 North St.

SEBASTOPOL

Get spooked at Muir’s Tea Room

During the month of October, Muir’s Tea Room will be decked out in lavish Victorian Halloween decor and will offer all kinds of special treats.

Muir’s Annual Black Hat Society Tea and Tarot evening will be held Oct. 19 and 20, featuring a plant-based dinner and a personal tarot reading.

The dinner includes Spiced Carrot and Ginger Soup, Quinoa and Kale Salad, Roasted Pumpkin and Cashew Phyllo Strudel and a dessert plate with choice of tea.

Tickets to the dinner are $85. For reservations: muirsteatarot.brownpapertickets.com. 330 South Main St.

NORTH BAY

Final 5-cent wine sale of year

BevMo! is offering the final 5-Cent Wine Event of the year through October, featuring 600 different wines, and has re-introduced the “mix and match” option.

For the semi-annual sale, shoppers can buy select bottles at full price and receive a second bottle of any featured wine for a nickel.

This year, more than 20 of the 50 new wines introduced were chosen by a shopper tasting panel.

Bill Hayes, head wine buyer at BevMo!, has also hand-selected a number of new wines, including Josh Rosé, Chateau Ste. Michelle Chardonnay and Blackstone Merlot.

For information, go to bevmo.com

You can reach Staff Writer Diane Peterson at 707-521-5287 or diane.peterson@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @dianepete56.