Experience the festive magic of Petaluma with our holiday event guide. From longtime Petaluma residents to temporary visitors, our guide is your passport to yuletide adventures.
One of the highlights of the season is the Lighting of the Sonoma Plaza, where the community gathers to witness the enchanting illumination of the plaza, creating a warm holiday atmosphere. Another captivating experience is the Winter Lights Tree Lighting Celebration in Downtown Santa Rosa, where lively festivities and cheerful entertainment turn the downtown streets into a winter wonderland. And the Santa’s Riverboat Arrival & Small Business Saturday is something you definitely don't want to miss, as Santa arrives by riverboat, kicking off the holiday shopping season. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Holiday Events In and Around Petaluma
- Winter Lights Tree Lighting Celebration in Downtown Santa Rosa (Santa Rosa)
- Lighting of the Sonoma Plaza (Sonoma)
- Santa’s Riverboat Arrival & Small Business Saturday
- Transcendence’s Best Night Ever: Broadway Holiday (Sonoma)
- Petaluma Downtown Holiday Marketplace & Merchant Open House
- FREE Outdoor Holiday Shows Presented by Sonoma Clean Power (Santa Rosa)
- Holiday Open House at Luther Burbank Home & Gardens (Santa Rosa)
- Light Up a Life in Petaluma
- Penngrove Winter Fest (Penngrove)
- The Petaluma Chorale Presents – Season of Lights – A Holiday Concert
See these and even more events listed below!
Petaluma Holiday Light Displays
Lighting of the Sonoma Plaza
What to Expect:
Vibrant light display with live music and local food vendors.
Description:
Thousands of lights illuminate Sonoma's historic plaza, accompanied by musical and dance performances, hot cocoa, cookies, beer, wine, and hearty fare from local food trucks.
Where: Sonoma | More Info: Lighting of the Sonoma Plaza
Winter Lights Tree Lighting Celebration in Downtown Santa Rosa
What to Expect:
Season-long holiday fun with a skating show and Santa photos.
Description:
Join us in Downtown Santa Rosa for the 40th Annual Tree Lighting Celebration at Old Courthouse Square. Enjoy family-friendly activities, live entertainment, delicious holiday drinks and treats, photos with Santa, and the official lighting of the Courthouse Square tree with a skating show by Redwood Ice Theatre Company featuring Snoopy on skates.
Where: Santa Rosa | More Info: Winter Lights Tree Lighting Celebration in Downtown Santa Rosa
Light Up a Life in Petaluma
What to Expect:
Commemorative lighting ceremony honoring loved ones.
Description:
Light Up a Life in Petaluma is an annual community event where hundreds of bright, clear lights illuminate the Light Up a Life tree at Walnut Park. Each light symbolizes the life, hopes, and dreams of loved ones remembered over the past year.
Where: Petaluma | More Info: Light Up a Life in Petaluma
Theater Square Holiday Celebration
What to Expect:
Live music and laser light show.
Description:
Join Theater Square for a lively holiday celebration featuring live music performances, Santa's Mailbox, and a laser light show. Enjoy the evening with family and friends in a festive atmosphere.
Where: Petaluma | More Info: Theater Square Holiday Celebration
Ghirardelli Square Christmas Lights
What to Expect:
Holiday light display with live music and Santa visit.
Description:
Ghirardelli Square transforms into a holiday spectacle with festive lights, a performance by the SF Boys Chorus, and a visit from Santa. Enjoy holiday-themed activities and decorations throughout the square.
Where: San Francisco | More Info: Ghirardelli Square Christmas Lights
Petaluma Holiday Markets and Shopping
Petaluma Downtown Holiday Marketplace & Merchant Open House
What to Expect:
Live holiday music and local vendors selling unique gifts.
Description:
The Petaluma Downtown Holiday Marketplace & Merchant Open House features live holiday music, face painting, and Santa & Mrs. Claus for photos. Local vendors and businesses showcase unique gifts, and downtown restaurants offer delicious meals.
Where: Petaluma | More Info: Petaluma Downtown Holiday Marketplace & Merchant Open House
Holiday Open House at Luther Burbank Home & Gardens
What to Expect:
Historic home tours with old-fashioned holiday finery.
Description:
Visit Luther Burbank Home & Gardens for a holiday celebration featuring historic home tours, unique gift shopping, and family-friendly activities.
Where: Santa Rosa | More Info: Holiday Open House at Luther Burbank Home & Gardens
Penngrove Winter Fest
What to Expect:
Seasonal revelry with St. Nick and Krampus.
Description:
Penngrove Winter Fest is a holiday celebration in downtown Penngrove where merchants, makers, and restaurants offer cookies, cocoa, photos with St. Nick and Krampus, and giveaway gift baskets. Enjoy local maker pop-markets while sipping and shopping.
Where: Penngrove | More Info: Penngrove Winter Fest
Petaluma Holiday Shows and Entertainment
Transcendence’s Best Night Ever: Broadway Holiday
What to Expect:
Broadway-style production with local food and wine.
Description:
Transcendence Theatre Company presents a spectacular Broadway Holiday event, featuring a night of joyous and uplifting performances in the picturesque setting of Sonoma Wine Country. The evening includes a pre-show picnic experience, live music, and local food and wine, all set against the backdrop of Jack London State Park.
Where: Sonoma | More Info: Transcendence’s Best Night Ever: Broadway Holiday
FREE Outdoor Holiday Shows Presented by Sonoma Clean Power
What to Expect:
Professional holiday ice skating show with Snoopy.
Description:
Enjoy a spectacular holiday variety show featuring professional figure skaters and dancers, including a special guest appearance by Snoopy, at the historic Snoopys Home Ice rink.
Where: Santa Rosa | More Info: FREE Outdoor Holiday Shows Presented by Sonoma Clean Power
The Petaluma Chorale Presents – Season of Lights – A Holiday Concert
What to Expect:
A mixed vocal choral group performing a holiday concert with a collaborative pianist.
Description:
The Petaluma Chorale presents a holiday concert featuring a diverse repertoire of songs, showcasing the ensemble's musical excellence.
Where: Petaluma | More Info: The Petaluma Chorale Presents – Season of Lights – A Holiday Concert
Petaluma Other Holiday Activities
Santa’s Riverboat Arrival & Small Business Saturday
What to Expect:
Santa's unique riverboat arrival in Petaluma.
Description:
Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive in Petaluma by sailing up the Petaluma River on a Lind Marine tugboat, docking at River Plaza Shopping Center. Families enjoy live entertainment while waiting for the Christmas couple, who are welcomed by costumed dancers from the Petaluma School of Ballet’s “Nutcracker.” Santa and Mrs. Claus are available for family photos in their festive tent outside Taps Restaurant. The event concludes with a short walk to historic downtown Petaluma for Shop Small special offers and activities.
Where: Petaluma | More Info: Santa’s Riverboat Arrival & Small Business Saturday
Fairmont San Francisco Holiday Tea
What to Expect:
Traditional holiday tea service with fine loose-leaf tea and house-made scones.
Description:
Savor the sophisticated charm of Laurel Court with family and friends over steaming pots of fine loose-leaf tea, house-made scones, tea sandwiches, luscious pastries, and sweets.
Where: San Francisco | More Info: Fairmont San Francisco Holiday Tea
Festive Fun in Nearby Cities!
Discover Holiday events in hundreds of cities worldwide. Check out these nearby locations for more festive fun!
- Rohnert Park (8 miles)
- Santa Rosa (15 miles)
- San Rafael (19 miles)
- American Canyon (21 miles)
- Vallejo (22 miles)
- Windsor (24 miles)
- Hercules (24 miles)
- San Pablo (24 miles)
- Richmond (26 miles)
- El Cerrito (28 miles)
- Benicia (29 miles)
- Martinez (31 miles)
- Berkeley (32 miles)
- Suisun (32 miles)
- Fairfield (32 miles)
- Chinatown (33 miles)
- San Francisco (34 miles)
- Mission District (35 miles)
- Noe Valley (35 miles)
- Oakland (36 miles)
- Vacaville (36 miles)
- Pleasant Hill (37 miles)
- Lafayette (37 miles)
- Concord (37 miles)
- Daly City (38 miles)
- Visitacion Valley (38 miles)
- Alameda (38 miles)
- Walnut Creek (38 miles)
- Bay Point (39 miles)
- South San Francisco (42 miles)
- Pittsburg (43 miles)
- San Bruno (43 miles)
- Pacifica (44 miles)
- San Leandro (44 miles)
- Danville (45 miles)