Busy Spring Calendar Taking Shape Across Sonoma Valley

SONOMA VALLEY, CA — A busy spring calendar is taking shape across Sonoma Valley, where food markets, environmental events, live music and preservation fundraisers, and Earth Day events are converging with major public infrastructure upgrades.

Beginning in May, Sonoma’s Tuesday Night Market returns to the historic Plaza every Tuesday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., running through September. The free weekly market brings farmers, prepared food vendors, artisans and live music to the downtown square, while youth programming and Sonoma Jazz Society performances add regular features throughout the season.

The market arrives as several other events draw activity across the valley this week.

At Sonoma Garden Park, the Native Plant Nursery Sale and Saturday Harvest Market continue with a focus on drought-tolerant plants, local produce and regional food growers. On April 25, the inaugural Earth Day Trash Bash at the Sonoma Community Center is set to spotlight environmental cleanup and community stewardship efforts.

At Sonoma Botanical Garden, the “Spirit Guides” exhibition adds an arts element to the spring lineup, alongside programming tied to the work of artist Maija Peeples-Bright.

Later in the season, the third annual Toscano Tea lands May 31 at the historic Toscano Hotel, where the fundraiser will support preservation efforts tied to Sonoma State Historic Park.

The growing event calendar also follows a series of transportation investments expected to ease access around wine country.

Sonoma County supervisors recently approved $12.8 million in contracts to replace aging bridges on Watmaugh Road near Sonoma and Freestone Flat Road in west county. Officials said the projects will strengthen earthquake resilience and improve safety without expanding roadway capacity.

Separately, Napa County officials marked completion of a new bridge on Dry Creek Road between Oakville and Kenwood, replacing a century-old crossing and improving a key route linking Napa and Sonoma counties.

Sonoma County Regional Parks will host a community cleanup Saturday, from 8:30 a.m. to noon, along Sonoma Creek at Maxwell Farms Regional Park or Larson Park. The waterway is home to beavers, coho salmon, freshwater shrimp and more. Tools, gloves, snacks and coffee will be provide. Registration is required: SoCoParks.org/Volunteering

And if Forestville happens to be part of the weekend plans, Sunset Beach River Park will be closed Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. while the Sonoma County Department of Emergency Management hosts a community evacuation exercise and preparedness fair for the Hacienda and Rio Nido communities. The park will open after the event.

Taken together, organizers and officials say the season reflects more than a packed events calendar. It signals a region investing at once in public gathering spaces, environmental stewardship, historic preservation and the infrastructure that connects them.