Art Events
First Friday Santa Rosa New this year is the addition of Historic Railroad Square, allowing new venues for temporary in-store art galleries. Most activities will be centered on the 4th Street corridor, Courthouse Square and Railroad Square. Sidewalk musicians will perform at sites throughout the event.
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Designed to showcase local artists and bring people downtown to have a good time, First Friday Santa Rosa is modeled after successful artwalk events in many other cities, including Portland, San Francisco, and Palo Alto. Last year’s inaugural run proved successful with more than 100 artists showing their work in 40 downtown businesses and on Courthouse Square. |
“It’s great how the artists and different merchants come together for this,” says Mike Montague, Vice President of the Historic Railroad Square Association, “We’re thrilled to be a part of First Friday this year. It’s a nice way for people to discover Railroad Square and all of Downtown Santa Rosa.”
While the event is a comfortable walk among downtown restaurants, bars and cafés, event organizers will also be offering free rides on Rosie the Trolley throughout the entire Art Walk area. The Historic Railroad Square Association is providing free carriage rides within in the Railroad Square area.
Participating businesses will be identified by streamers and balloons outside their doors. A map and list of participants will be available each month at the First Friday web site, www.FirstFridaySantaRosa.com
All events are free and participants will change each month. Information booths at Courthouse Square and near the Charlie Brown sculpture on Wilson Street in Railroad Square will offer maps and lists of participants.
First Friday is a collaborative effort of Santa Rosa Main Street, Historic Railroad Square, the Arts Council of Sonoma County, the City of Santa Rosa, downtown businesses and the artists of Sonoma County.
This year’s sponsors include The Bohemian, KRCB-FM, The Press Democrat and Clone Digital Printing.
All First Friday details are available at www.firstfridaysantarosa.com,
or call 707-543-3090 for more information.
Community Events
Heritage Days (Historic Railroad Square (in the month of August): The Art Show is a two day event, SAT & SUN; while the other activities are only on SAT, such as historic tours and talks, cooking demonstrations by our noted RRSQ chefs; Sidewalk Sale; a multitude of historic organization displays [such as Luther Burbank Home and Garden; the Italian Cultural Foundation; Sonoma County Museum, etc]; Northwestern Railroad Historical Society; ongoing live entertainment throughout the day; antique car exhibits; and more! It's bustling!
Santa Rosa Downtown Market
| (Courthouse Square district) Sonoma County's largest and most popular Farmer's Market and street fair. Every Wednesday night, from mid-May thru August, the Downtown Market brings the community together to celebrate and showcase the bounty of Sonoma County by offering fine foods, fresh produce, a wonderful variety of entertainment, and handmade arts and crafts.
Eighteen years ago, the Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce led business and community leaders to San Luis Obispo and brought back the popular idea of a community Farmer's Market. Since its inception, the Santa Rosa Downtown Market (Wednesday Night Market) has been a very popular Santa Rosa community event. It brings all ages together into downtown Santa Rosa to enjoy summer evenings with their families, friends and neighbors. The Market has an attendance of 5,000 to 8,000 Sonoma County residents and tourists who enjoy it each week, making the total season's attendance over 100,000. Admission to the Santa Rosa Downtown Market is free. |
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| Peggy's Sue's Cruise (Courthouse Square District) Peggy Sue's All-American Cruise is a car show for all car enthusiasts with American made modelsdating from the early 1900's to 1976. Sonoma County's largest car show, including the Horseless Carriage, the restored Vintage andAntiquecars and trucks, street stock and street modified. Hotrods, Roadsters and Customs not only take you back in time but show the workmanship and dedication it takes to recreate any one of these classic cars or trucks. Peggy Sue's All-American Cruise is set in beautiful Sonoma County,(Santa Rosa and Windsor) California, surrounded by the coast, redwoods, vineyards and wineries. Come spend the weekend with us and experience some of the finest tours and events in the area. This annual car event is sure to give Dad andthe whole family aweekend to remember.A portion of the proceeds from Peggy Sue's All-American Cruise will be going to theChildren's Diabetes Foundation of the North Bay. |
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| The Rose Parade (Courthouse Square District) Since its rebirth In 1950 the parade has become an annual event on the third Saturdayin May, drawing a strong showing of local school marching bands, floats built by community and service organizations, equestrian teams, and units honoring local veterans. Festival activities, particularly fun and games for children, became a larger part of the day with the 100th anniversary event in 1994. This year's festival will be the best yet, with the Frank Howard Allen Italian Street Painting Gallery, on-going live entertainment and the North Bay Construction’s Kid's 'Quipment Zone among the attractions. |
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Holiday Events
Railroad SCARE (Historic Railroad Square) in the month of October: The day starts in Depot Park with a children's costume parade led by Snoopy, Charlie Brown, Woodstock, and Linus leading the parade. Treats and activities are offered to the children after the parade. In the afternoon, a costumed a Scare-dy Dog Parade takes place in Depot Park, where the dogs march past judges, vying for a winning ribbon in their category. The merchants invite all visitors to Trick or Treat in their shops. The kids, parents and pooch lovers come every year to join in on the fun!
Holiday Open House/Tree Lighting (Historic Railroad Square) This event happens the 1st SAT in December. There is Open House during the day where the merchants provide holiday cookies and hot cider and Memorial Hospice hosts a traditional ceremony at the Rail Depot and a lighting of a distinctive star on Railroad Square's palm tree in Depot Park. FREE Horse & Carriage rides are ongoing throughout the month of December on the week-ends. The rides bring the spirit of the holidays and are fun for young and old alike!
Lights Of Life Tree Lighting (Courthouse Square district) Twinkling lights, holiday decorations, choir music in the crisp night air, families coming together to celebrate community and remember. Complimentary Hot Chocolate, coffee and cookies, Santa’s coming to town!
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A Courthouse Square tradition going back over 20 years, the Lights of Life gathers together hundreds of folks to light the redwood trees in the heart of downtown Santa Rosa. Partnering with Santa Rosa Main Street, the City of Santa Rosa, North Bay Corporation and Sutter VNA & Hospice, this unique home town event includes all of the above plus a sweet candle lighting ceremony to honor and remember those we love who are no longer with us or are far away, thus bringing back the true meaning of the holiday season: sharing and caring about one another. Once the large redwood trees are ablaze with lights, Santa Claus passes out candy canes to all the children in the crowd and stays for family pictures, so bring your cameras! Don’t miss this wonderful tradition, which ushers in the holiday season for all. |
Retail Promotions
Sidewalk Sale: Both the Historic Railroad Square and Courthouse Square districts hold at least one Sidewalk sale during the year. (Dates to be announced).
Sporting Events
| Amgen Tour of California (downtown) A unique week-long “rolling festival” through California that is thought to become one of the nation’s largest and most recognized annual special events. This international, Tour de France-style bicycle (stage) race features Approximately120 professional and Olympic level, world-class cyclists (15 professional teams of 8 cyclists per team) from around the world competing for thehighest prize purse in North America. The Amgen Tour Of California is one of only a few American races listed on the 2006 international professional cycling calendar (2.1 ranking) and, as such, awards important world ranking points to the top finishers. About 30,000 + attended the finish stage in Santa Rosa on February 20th. The inaugural Amgen Tour Of California attracted over 1 million spectators with millions more via television broadcast. Click here for video clips of SR Stage finish |
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