My girlfriend Yolanda's birthday happened to fall on the same day as Rotary Club sponsored Sonoma Community Center's annual summer's City Party, providing the most fabulous backdrop for her gathering of pals at the historic plaza.
Packed in like sardines, everyone and his mother from tiny newborn babies and grandparents in wheelchairs were out on the town with all sorts of elaborate, pot-luck picnics, group gatherings, even whole turkeys and prime rib on one or of the two plaid-clothed, heavily laden tables towards the back of the square by the Cheese Factory and wine with sufficiently prestigious labels to make your mind boggle.
That's because this is one event in the heart of wine country that is intended primarily for the locals, winery owners, vineyard workers, ordinary moms and dads and teens, all vying politely (SoCo-style) for dance space from 5.30 to 8.30 in front of the old city hall in the center of the plaza.
Nor Cal's top party band Crossfire rocked the crowd, on what must have been one of the coolest evenings, temperature-wise in Sonoma during the summer season, for years.
Though the balmy weather was missing, community spirit, plenty of vino, blankets and three hours of toe-tapping entertainment put the little city of Sonoma on top for one of the best free summer-time gatherings in the county.
Not free, but a bargain for its all-day value, don't miss Petaluma's upcoming Music Festival, a nine-band fundraiser on August 7th for music programs in all of the city's public schools. Local? Look for my full article on the Petaluma Music Festival in this week's (July 29, 2025) Argus Courier.
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