Happy Mother’s Day weekend! Whether you are a mom or you know one, here are a few things you can do for fun this weekend. Included in our list is the Human Race in Santa Rosa, Meals on Wheels Derby Day in Kenwood and the Matsuri! Japanese Arts Festival in Santa Rosa on Saturday. Other events include a film fest, a tour of art studios, a chili cook-off and more. It’s all in our list of things to do.
FRIDAY, May 6
Laguna Garden Volunteer Day This Friday, grab your gardening gloves and head over to Laguna Environmental Center to help maintain and enhance their “outdoor classroom.” Weather permitting, volunteers can be a part of what makes the center’s landscape beautiful, taking part in planting, weeding, spreading wood chips and general cleanup. Tools and snacks will be provided, bring water, gloves and friends.
SATURDAY, May 7
Human Race On Saturday, thousands of do-gooders will be raising funds for the charity of their choice by taking part in a 3K and 10K run or walk through Howarth and Spring Lake Parks. The race starts at 8 a.m. at Herbert Slater Middle School. The event will also include a pancake breakfast, free bike valet, live music, a marketplace and more.
Meals on Wheels Derby Day Wear your Derby-inspired apparel and compete for prizes at the 17th annual Meals on Wheels Derby Day this Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Chateau St. Jean Winery in Kenwood. The event includes live streaming of the Kentucky Derby, a silent and live auction, live music, a raw oyster bar and more. Tickets start at $250 and benefit the Council on Aging.
Matsuri! Japanese Arts Festival Celebrate Japanese arts this Saturday when this annual festival comes to Juilliard Park. From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., the free event will include art exhibits, martial arts demonstrations, Taiko drumming performances, origami and other Japanese crafts, traditional food and clothing and more.
Tour Oakmont Artist Studios This Saturday and Sunday, Oakmont Art Association artists are opening their studio doors to visitors, allowing a personal look at their art process and works of varying media. More than 30 artists will be represented at 24 studio locations. Also May 8th.
FilmFest Petaluma With a chance of showers this weekend, it’s a great time to catch a movie — or 38 of them. The Mystic Theatre in Petaluma is venue to the 8th annual Film Fest Petaluma, showing more than three dozen short films from over 15 countries. Following the shows, filmmakers will take part in post-screening discussions. Show times are noon, 3 p.m., 7:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 for each showing, or $30 for an all-day pass.
Great Petaluma Chili Cook-Off Bring your appetites to the Sonoma-Marin Fairground this Saturday to attend the 19th annual Great Petaluma Chili Cook-Off, Salsa and Beer Tasting event. From 1-5 p.m., enjoy music, dancing and, of course, delicious samples of chili, salsa and beer. Tickets are $25-$45, $10 for kids 5-11 and free for kids under 5.
SUNDAY, May 8
Happy Mother’s Day! If you’re treating Mom to breakfast in bed, be sure to check out these delicious brunch recipes. If you want to take your mom out to brunch, here’s a list of brunch places around Sonoma County. And if you’d rather steer clear of brunches altogether, here are a few alternative Mother’s Day experiences your mom will love.
Mother’s Day Open Garden Bring Mom and the family to the Russian River Rose Company in Healdsburg this Saturday to tour the gardens, peruse the rambling roses and maybe even select a fragrant blossom for Mom to take home. Doors open at 10 a.m. Admission is a $2 donation or $10.95 for tours, and moms will receive a small gift.
Chosen Spot Plant Expo At the Luther Burbank Home & Gardens this Sunday, tour the spring gardens and home, buy plants and bouquets, and learn about plants and bugs at this educational and entertaining expo. The SSU Biology Outreach will conduct a bug hunt for kids, and budding artists can paint clay pots. There will also be live dance performances and more. Admission is $2, or free for kids under 12. Bring a picnic to enjoy on the grounds.
Champagne at Korbel Treat mom to champagne on Mother’s Day. Korbel Champagne Cellars is offering free champagne tasting for moms on Mother’s Day, and will also offer tours of the garden.
Astronaut Lullabies On Mother’s Day, Jim and Kathy Oceans will perform “Astronaut Lullabies” — a star-filled experience at the SRJC Lark Hall Greenhouse (near the Planetarium) that combines live music with a visual space exploration. The adventure starts at 3 p.m., and admission is $10-$15.
More Upcoming Events…
FRIDAY, May 6
Monster Trucks: WGAS Monster Truck Spring Nationals, 7:30 p.m. (gates open at 6 p.m.), Sonoma County Fairgrounds, Santa Rosa. $12-$19.98. (530) 745-0100, wgasmotorsports.com.
Yuja Wang: World-renowned 27-year-old classical pianist, 7:30 tonight, Weill Hall, Green Music Center, Rohnert Park. $40-$90. 866-955-6040, gmc.sonoma.edu.
Kathleen Madigan: ‘The Mermaid Lady Tour’ stand-up comedy, 8 tonight, Luther Burbank Center, Santa Rosa. $35. 546-3600, lutherburbankcenter.org.
‘Bob – A Life in 5 Acts’: One man’s genuine-yet-comedic search for ‘greatness,’ opens 8 tonight, Main Stage West, Sebastopol. $15-$25. 823-0177, mainstagewest.com.
‘My Fair Lady’: Triumphant musical opens 8 tonight, 6th Street Playhouse, Santa Rosa. $15-$37. 523-4185, 6thstreetplayhouse.com.
SATURDAY, May 7
Cinco de Mayo Fiesta: Live music and entertainment, Mexican street food and beer, 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Saturday, Carneros Brewing Co., Sonoma. Free admission. 938-1880, facebook.com/carnerosbrewing.com.
Moonalice: Psychedelic, roots-rock band, plus Sebastopol hometown band Dream Farmers, 8:30 p.m. Saturday, HopMonk Tavern, Sebastopol. $12. 829-7300, hopmonk-sebastopol.ticketfly.com.
SUNDAY, May 8
Mother’s Day Piano Concert: Jack London Piano Club with vocalist Laura Benward, 2-4:30 p.m. Sunday, Jack London State Historic Park, Glen Ellen. $20 includes parking. 938-5216, jacklondonpark.com.
Mother’s Day Champagne Brunch: Tours aboard the African Queen or brunch only, 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Safari West, Santa Rosa. $18-$75. 579-2551, safariwest.com/wild-about-mom.
Mother’s Day Bubbles & BBQ: Slow-cooked barbecue, sparkling wines, live music, noon-2 p.m. Sunday, Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards, Sonoma. $45-$70. 933-1917, gloriaferrer.com.
‘On the Wing’: Sonoma Bach program of poetry and music depicting birds and angels, plus avian guests, 3 p.m. Sunday, Saturday Afternoon Club, Santa Rosa. $15-$25. sonomabach.org.
Occidental Community Choir: ‘A West County Home Companion’ of song and stories, 3 p.m. Sunday, Glaser Center, Santa Rosa. $15-$20. 874-8622, occidentalchoir.org.
MONDAY, May 9
Santa Rosa Symphony: ‘Jazzy Impressions’ with pianist Gabriela Martinez, 8 p.m. Monday, Weill Hall, Green Music Center, Rohnert Park. $20-$80. 546-8742, srsymphony.org.
TUESDAY, May 10
Connie Guttersen: Registered dietitian and ‘The Love Diet’ co-author, 7 p.m. Tuesday, Book Passage, Corte Madera. Free. (415) 927-0960, bookpassage.com.
WEDNESDAY, May 11
‘Wines & Sunsets in Paradise’: Weekly outdoor music series opener, through Oct. 26, 5:30 p.m.-sunset, Wednesday, Paradise Ridge Winery, Santa Rosa. $10-$15. 528-9463, prwinery.com.
Jazz Orchestra: Sonoma State University Jazz Orchestra and Santa Rosa Junior College Jazz Band, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Green Music Center, Rohnert Park. $8. 866-955-6040, gmc.sonoma.edu.
THURSDAY, May 12
Popovich Comedy Pet Theater: Thirty-plus performing pets, from cats and dogs to mice and geese, 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Luther Burbank Center, Santa Rosa. $12-$17. 546-3600, lutherburbankcenter.org.
‘The 16TH ’: The Imaginists’ production, 8 p.m. Thursday, The Imaginists, Santa Rosa. $5-$25; sold out. Five more shows through May 21. 528-7554, arts-people.com.
FRIDAY, May 13
Pilobolus: Diverse modern dance company known for its ‘Shadowland’ production, 8 p.m. Friday, Luther Burbank Center, Santa Rosa. $20-$50. 546-3600, lutherburbankcenter.org.
Holly Near: Singer-songwriter and social activist, plus musicians Barbara Higbie and Jan Martinelli, 8 p.m. Friday, Occidental Center for the Arts. $20-$23. 874-9392, occidentalcenterforthearts.org.
‘Secrets’: Opening night of the Santa Rosa Junior College Spring Dance Show, 8 p.m. Friday, Burbank Auditorium, Santa Rosa campus. $10-$17. 527-4343, santarosa.edu/dance.
Friedman/Hart Quartet: Jazz standards and Latin jazz at ‘Jazz in the Neighborhood,’ 6 p.m. Friday, Copperfield’s Books, Healdsburg. Free. 433-9270, copperfieldsbooks.com.
‘Godspell’: Cinnabar Young Rep production of the timeless musical, opening night 7:30 p.m. Friday, Cinnabar Theater, Petaluma. $10-$15. 763-8920, cinnabartheater.org.
SUNDAY, May 15
Press Democrat North Coast Wine Challenge: Sample Gold Medal-winning wines, plus food tastings, 1-4 p.m. Sunday, Sonoma Mountain Village, Rohnert Park. $25-$95. northcoastwineevent.com.
Amanecer Flamenco: Two 45-minute sets of passionate Spanish flamenco song and dance, 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Cinnabar Theater, Petaluma. $15-$25. 763-8920, cinnabartheater.org.