October Events in Sonoma County: Fall Festivals, Food, Music & More

October is one of those months when Sonoma County gives you almost too many reasons to leave the house.

Harvest is underway. Pumpkins are ready for picking. Small towns are hosting festivals. Local farms are welcoming families. Food and wine events fill the calendar, and live music gives you plenty of options once the sun goes down.

The best part? No two weekends have to look the same.

You could spend one Saturday at a farm in the Russian River Valley, the next tasting wines in Healdsburg and another wandering through downtown Geyserville looking at vintage cars.

If you're wondering what to do in Sonoma County in October 2026, we've rounded up a few events worth putting on your calendar.

Many Moons Festival | October 3

📍 Ives Park, Sebastopol

October starts with a celebration of the many cultures that make the North Bay home.

The second annual Many Moons Festival takes place Saturday, October 3, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Ives Park in Sebastopol.

Presented by the Asian American Pacific Islander Coalition of North Bay, the festival celebrates Asian American, South and Southeast Asian, and Pacific Islander cultures.

Expect live entertainment, cultural performances and demonstrations, food and beverages, artists, makers, marketplace vendors, wellness and community organizations, and activities for kids and teens.

The accompanying Under Many Moons art exhibit at the Sebastopol Center for the Arts runs September 26 through October 11.

Advance admission to the festival is $10, admission at the gate is $15, and children 12 and younger are free.

It's a great way to begin the month while experiencing some of the food, art, music and traditions represented throughout the North Bay.

Learn more about Many Moons Festival here

Pick Pumpkins at Beltane Ranch | Select Dates October 4–31

📍 Glen Ellen

A Sonoma County fall list wouldn't be complete without pumpkins.

The Pumpkin Patch & Fall Festival at Beltane Ranch returns on select dates throughout October, beginning October 4 and continuing through Halloween.

You'll find ranch-grown pumpkins, farm animals, a hay maze, food and plenty of space to settle in and enjoy a fall afternoon.

Adults can also enjoy estate wine and beer while they're there.

This is a particularly good option if you're looking for something that feels seasonal without needing to commit an entire day to a large festival.

Check the ranch's current schedule before going, as the pumpkin patch isn't open every day of the month.

Learn more about the Pumpkin Patch & Fall Festival at Beltane Ranch here

Sonoma County Harvest Fair | October 10

📍 Sonoma County Fairgrounds, Santa Rosa

The Sonoma County Harvest Fair has celebrated the county's agriculture, food and wine for more than 50 years.

For 2026, the celebration takes a different form.

Red, White & Sparkle! takes place Saturday, October 10, from 6 to 9 p.m. in Grace Pavilion at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds.

The one-night event brings together award-winning Sonoma County wines and culinary bites from local restaurants and food producers. Guests will also get to see the announcement of the top Sweepstakes Wine Competition winners.

If you've attended the Harvest Fair in years past, don't assume the format is the same. This year's event is an evening tasting celebration rather than the traditional multi-day fair.

For anyone who loves Sonoma County's food and wine scene, this is one of October's signature nights out.

Learn more about Sonoma County Harvest Fair here

Shone Farm Fall Festival | October 10

📍 Shone Farm, Forestville

Looking for something the whole family can enjoy during the day?

Head to Shone Farm Fall Festival on Saturday, October 10, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Santa Rosa Junior College farm celebrates fall with pumpkin U-pick, face painting, family portraits, hayrides, an organic farmstand and farm-animal meet-and-greets.

And then there's the rotten fruit slingshot.

Yes, really.

Food, wine tasting and additional activities round out the day.

It's a fun way to experience Sonoma County's agricultural roots while giving younger family members plenty to do.

Learn more about Shone Farm Fall Festival here

Healdsburg Crush | October 11

📍 Bacchus Landing, Healdsburg

Harvest season and Sonoma County wine naturally go together, and Healdsburg Crush brings dozens of producers together in one place.

This year's event takes place Sunday, October 11, at a new location: Bacchus Landing.

More than 60 California wine producers will pour limited-production Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and sparkling wines during the open-air tasting.

VIP admission begins at noon, followed by general admission from 1 to 4 p.m.

The event is presented by and benefits the Boys & Girls Clubs of Sonoma-Marin, with net proceeds supporting programs for local youth.

Keep in mind that Healdsburg Crush is a 21-and-over event.

If you want to experience Sonoma County during harvest without trying to plan visits to multiple wineries, this gives you a lot to explore in one afternoon.

Learn more about the Healdsburg Crush here

Harvest Hoedown | October 15

📍 Healdsburg

Ready for something a little different?

On Thursday, October 15, Harvest Hoedown brings live music and line dancing to a 102-year-old barn at ru's Farm.

Dustin Saylor & The Stowaways provide the live music, while Grapevine Dance leads line-dancing lessons.

It's exactly the kind of fall event that fits Sonoma County: a historic barn, harvest season, music and an excuse to put on your boots.

If your ideal October evening involves more dancing than wine tasting, put this one on the calendar.

Learn more about the Healdsburg Harvest Hoedown here

Petaluma Gap Wind to Wine Festival | October 17

📍 Petaluma

Sonoma County's wine regions each have their own personalities, and October gives you a chance to learn more about the Petaluma Gap.

The Petaluma Gap Wind to Wine Festival returns Saturday, October 17.

The event brings together wines from the Petaluma Gap American Viticultural Area, giving attendees an opportunity to taste the region in one place and meet some of the people behind the wines.

For locals, events like this can be a fun reminder that you don't need to travel very far to discover something new about an area you may drive through all the time.

Learn more about the Petaluma Gap Wind to Wine Festival here

Geyserville Fall Colors Festival & Vintage Car Show | October 25

📍 Downtown Geyserville

For a classic small-town fall festival, head north.

The Geyserville Fall Colors Festival & Vintage Car Show takes place Sunday, October 25, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in downtown Geyserville.

This community tradition celebrates the area's agricultural heritage while supporting local schools and nonprofits.

Spend the day checking out vintage cars, browsing craft vendors, listening to music, watching Ballet Folklórico performances and grabbing something to eat.

Downtown businesses, restaurants and tasting rooms give you even more reasons to stick around after you've explored the festival.

This is one we'd put on the list for families, car lovers and anyone who likes an old-fashioned hometown festival.

Learn more about the Geyserville Fall Colors Festival & Vintage Car Show here

Make a Farmers Market Part of Your October Weekend

Not every fall outing needs a ticket.

October is also a great month to visit one of Sonoma County's farmers markets.

The Santa Rosa Farmers Market at Farmers Lane Plaza operates year-round, including Wednesday and Saturday mornings, with local farms, food producers, artisans and live music.

In Petaluma, farmers markets offer another opportunity to shop locally and make an ordinary weekend morning feel a little more like an outing.

Grab coffee, shop for dinner, pick up some fall produce and see what looks good.

Sometimes that's enough of a plan.

Don't Forget the Music

If festivals aren't your thing, or you want somewhere to go afterward, October's live music calendar has plenty happening too.

Sonoma County Tourism's October calendar includes performances ranging from jazz and singer-songwriters to orchestral music and larger shows.

October 11, for example, brings jazz pianist Cyrus Chestnut and his trio to Healdsburg. Other October performances and live-music events are scheduled throughout Santa Rosa, Healdsburg, Rohnert Park and the surrounding communities.

Because new shows are continually added, check the local event calendar before the weekend. You may find something you didn't know was coming.

Make October Your Excuse to Explore Somewhere New

One of the things we like most about Sonoma County is how different one part of the county can feel from another.

Sebastopol isn't Healdsburg.

Healdsburg isn't Petaluma.

Petaluma isn't Geyserville.

And Santa Rosa gives you something entirely different again.

That makes October a good month to get outside your normal routine.

Pick one event and build a day around it. Go to the festival, but also have lunch somewhere you've never tried. Walk around downtown. Stop at a farmstand. Take a different road home.

You don't have to fit everything into one weekend.

October 2026 Sonoma County Events at a Glance

October 3: Many Moons Festival - Sebastopol

October 4–31, select dates: Pumpkin Patch & Fall Festival at Beltane Ranch - Glen Ellen

October 10: Shone Farm Fall Festival - Forestville

October 10: Sonoma County Harvest Fair's Red, White & Sparkle! - Santa Rosa

October 11: Healdsburg Crush - Healdsburg

October 15: Harvest Hoedown - Healdsburg

October 17: Petaluma Gap Wind to Wine Festival - Petaluma

October 25: Geyserville Fall Colors Festival & Vintage Car Show - Geyserville

Dates, times, ticket availability and event details can change, so always check with the event organizer before heading out.

Fall Is a Good Time to Be Local

It's easy to think of Sonoma County as somewhere people travel to for a weekend.

When you live nearby, it's also your backyard.

October gives us a good reason to enjoy it that way.

Take the kids to a farm. Meet friends at a festival. Listen to live music. Spend a morning at the farmers market. Discover a Sonoma County town you haven't visited in a while.

At EO&A, we help people buy and sell homes throughout Sonoma County and Northern California. But knowing a community goes beyond its housing market. It's also about knowing the traditions, gathering places and experiences that make each community feel like home.

So pick an October weekend, choose somewhere on the map and go see what's happening.

Frequently Asked Questions About October Events in Sonoma County

What are some of the best things to do in Sonoma County in October 2026?

October events include the Many Moons Festival in Sebastopol, Shone Farm Fall Festival, Sonoma County Harvest Fair celebration, Healdsburg Crush, Petaluma Gap Wind to Wine Festival and Geyserville Fall Colors Festival & Vintage Car Show.

Are there family-friendly fall events in Sonoma County?

Yes. The Many Moons Festival, Shone Farm Fall Festival, Beltane Ranch Pumpkin Patch & Fall Festival and Geyserville Fall Colors Festival all offer options for families. Age restrictions apply to some wine-focused events.

Are there pumpkin patches in Sonoma County in October?

Yes. Beltane Ranch in Glen Ellen hosts a Pumpkin Patch & Fall Festival on select dates from October 4 through October 31, 2026.

When is the Sonoma County Harvest Fair in 2026?

The 2026 Sonoma County Harvest Fair celebration, Red, White & Sparkle!, takes place Saturday, October 10, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds in Santa Rosa.

When is Healdsburg Crush in 2026?

Healdsburg Crush takes place Sunday, October 11, 2026, at Bacchus Landing in Healdsburg. VIP admission begins at noon and general admission runs from 1 to 4 p.m.

Are there free things to do in Sonoma County in October?

Yes. Farmers markets and some community events provide free or low-cost options. Individual event admission varies, so check with organizers before attending.

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