With the arrival of fall, some seasonal farmers markets have closed for the year and some will close soon. With shorter daylight, Novato Farmers Market’s October hours have been shortened to 4-7 p.m. Click here to see the schedule for FM LIFE markets. Click here for the schedule of all Sonoma County farmers markets.
We want to remind CalFresh/EBT customers that the Market Match increase to $15 at markets that normally offer $10 match continues through the end of December, 2023.
Here are upcoming events at farmers markets and beyond.
Sunday, October 1
Sebastopol Farmers Market chef demo: Duck prep with Woodlands Charcuterie
Chef Thibault Dotti, owner and founder of Woodlands Charcuterie, will offer a demonstration on the methods for preparing fresh duck for your culinary delights on Sunday, Oct. 1, at 10 a.m. Dotti is a French-born American who holds a culinary and business degree from Cal Poly Pomona and a culinary degree from the Culinary Institute of America. Thibault has 15-plus years in the hospitality industry and has extensive experience in Michelin star restaurants throughout the North Bay, as well as 7 years of experience in an artisan butcher shop. Woodlands Charcuterie delivers high quality charcuterie to the people by teaming up with ranchers and farmers who believe in sustainable and regenerative practices.
Saturday, October 7
Walnut Park Farmers Market chef demo & book signing: Faith Kramer
Harvest cooking demo and book signing with Faith Kramer, author of 52 Shabbats, Friday Night Dinners Inspired by a Global Jewish Kitchen.
Sunday, October 8
Wellness Fair at Central Market
Enjoy a full day of speakers, classes, sound healers, musicians, vendors, and local food & drink. Local bike shops on site for repair & electric bike conversion. Shirt stamping by Cool Petaluma. Chair & table massage available for additional fee. Included in the ticket you will have access to our documentary screening beginnning at 7:00pm.
Tickets are $25 and can be purchased here https://www.eventbrite.com/e/petaluma-community-wellness-festival-tickets-412675562717
More information: Petaluma Community Wellness Festival | Grand Central Petaluma | October 8, 2022 (happeningnext.com)
Thursday, October 12
Green Living (+ Repair) Fair at Santa Rosa Junior College
Santa Rosa Junior College will host a Green Living Fair and Repair Fair on Thursday, Oct. 12, from 4-6 p.m. The event focuses on repair and reuse. There will also be information tables on a variety of sustainability topics including transportation, zero waste, food and menu choices, home energy, gardening, and composting.
The fair will be on the main quad at the Santa Rosa Campus of Santa Rosa Junior College. Textile mending, bikes, lamps/small appliances repairs will be offered. Click here for more information.
To register an item for repair visit: https://forms.gle/fEVZvvyfHC83LDP96
Registro en español: LINK
*They cannot guarantee your item(s) will be repaired, depending on the existing damage or breakage, ability of volunteer fixers, and availability of materials for repair.
Check out the Reuse Alliance’s website for more upcoming events.
Saturday, October 14
Weekend Along the Farm Trails (Oct. 14-15)
Local farmers and producers will open their gates and barn doors to offer a taste of life on the farm. Meet farmers and producers, pick pumpkins, apples, and flowers, pet farm animals, tour lavender fields, shop from farm stands, and more.
Register for free to receive the link to the online tour directory & map via email. Some stops may be open only one day, require or recommend RSVPs, or charge fees for special offerings.
More information: https://www.farmtrails.org/experience/weekend-along-the-farm-trails/ Register for free to get the map and directory.
Pride Petaluma at Walnut Park Farmers Market
The 2nd Annual Petaluma Pride celebration will be held on Saturday, Oct. 14, from noon to 5 p.m. at the Walnut Park Farmers Market.
(Read more below flyer)
For more about the weekend-long Petaluma Pride celebration, follow the Petaluma Pride Facebook and Instagram, or subscribe to their newsletter.
SRJC Shone Farm Fall Festival
Santa Rosa Junior College’s Shone Farm will hold its Fall Festival on Saturday, October 14 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is free, but there is an entrance fee of $5 per car. Tickets are available online. Activities include organic farm stand, wine tasting (21 and older), flower stand, U-pick pumpkins, apples, and sweet potatoes, kids’ zone including rotten fruit slingshot, sheep shearing, and more. A food court will offer snacks from Green Valley 4-H; chili made by Food for Thought; burgers from Sebastopol FFA; and a whole lot more. Cash preferred. No dogs permitted, except assistance dogs.
More info: https://shonefarm.santarosa.edu/farm-events or email shonefarm@santarosa.edu
Follow their Facebook Event at https://fb.me/e/6LakzK5xC
Children’s Garden Jamboree
The UC Master Gardener Program of Sonoma County will host a free, family-focused event on Oct. 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to celebrate the official opening of garden at Los Guilicos. The event honors the many volunteers and donors who contributed to the garden’s restoration after the 2020 Glass Fire. The garden features a vegetable and pollinator-themed garden.
(Read more below flyer)
The Jamboree will showcase Master Gardener projects across the county and include youth “Make and Take” activities, garden demonstrations, and presentations. Susan Gorin is our guest speaker. A “Tree and Wildflower Walk and Talk” (11 a.m.) and “All About Irrigation Systems” presentation (1 p.m.) are also on the agenda.
Click here for more information and to register for the event.
Sunday, October 15
Sebastopol Farmers Market Chef Demo: Making the Perfect Pizza
Chef Dennis Vosaitis, longtime chef of San Francisco and Santa Rosa-based pizzerias, will prepare a stone-fired pizza for all to see and taste (!) at Sebastopol Farmers Market on Oct. 15, at 10 a.m. Come learn from the pizza man himself, and sample free bites of delicious pizza topped with farm-fresh ingredients from the market!
Sunday, October 22
Sebastopol Farmers Market — Judge the farmers and vendors’ carved pumpkins
Who carves the best pumpkin of them all? From Oct. 22 to Oct. 29, the farmers at the Sebastopol Farmers Market will carve pumpkins to put on display for a chance to win a dinner for their family! And YOU, our community, gets to be the judge of the best design. We’ll treat the winning farmer or vendor to a $100 certificate to their favorite restaurant! Let’s support our farmers and friends!
Wednesday, October 25
Last Fairfax Farmers Market of the season.
Saturday, October 28
Halloween Parade at Petaluma Walnut Park Farmers Market
Petaluma Walnut Park Farmers Market will hold its annual Halloween Parade with the cutest results. Follow the market’s Facebook or Instagram accounts for updates on this and other happenings.
Healdsburg Farmers Market Annual Pumpkin Festival
Join the fun and enter a competition, or just show up and judge the entries, and enjoy the show! There are three competitions, with each contest divided by age groups (7 and under; 8-15; and 16-adult).
- Pumpkin decorating with wheels
- Pumpkin carving contest
- Costume competition
Registration: 8:30-9:30am (Decorated Car Racers) 10:30 (Costume Competition and Carving Competition)
Judging: 9:30-9:50 (Race Cars) 10:45 (Carved Pumpkins and Costume Competition)
Decorated Race Pumpkin winners announced: 9:55
Pumpkin Car Races: 10am-10:30am
Costume voting/winner announced: 10:40am-10:50am
Carving winners announced: 11am Carving Must Be Finished by 10:45 to qualify for judging.
For more information, check out the market’s website.
Sunday, October 29
Sebastopol Farmers Market — Judge the farmers and vendors’ carved pumpkins
Who carves the best pumpkin of them all? From Oct. 22 to Oct. 29, the farmers at the Sebastopol Farmers Market will carve pumpkins to put on display for a chance to win a dinner for their family! And YOU, our community, gets to be the judge of the best design. We’ll treat the winning farmer or vendor to a $100 certificate to their favorite restaurant! Let’s support our farmers and friends!
Tuesday, October 31
Trick or treat at the Petaluma East Side Farmers Market
Halloween falls on a Tuesday this year so of course, Petaluma East Side Farmers Market is going to make it special. Head over to the market for trick or treat. The market is open year-round every Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at 320 N McDowell Blvd., Petaluma.
Follow the market’s Facebook or Instagram accounts for updates on this and other happenings.
Trick or treat at the last Novato Farmers Market of the season
Don’t miss the last Novato Farmers Market day of the season, which happens to fall on Halloween this year, and will of course have trick or treat. Novato market’s hours are 4-7 p.m. during the month of October.