Things to Do in Sonoma, CAJuly 2026
Fireworks over the Plaza, farmers markets under the oaks, and Broadway under the stars in California’s most historic small town.
There is no better place to spend an American summer than Sonoma. This is the town where the California Bear Flag was first raised in 1846, and the red, white, and blue still runs deep here. This July the eight acre Sonoma Plaza becomes the heart of the season, with a hometown Fourth of July parade, weekly markets, free concerts, and world class music just minutes away. Here is your month at a glance, in date order, so you can plan your visit.
A little local history worth knowing before you go: Sonoma is the birthplace of the California Bear Flag, first raised on the Plaza on June 14, 1846. Just weeks later, on July 9, 1846, the Stars and Stripes were raised over the Sonoma Barracks for the first time. You can still walk that exact ground today at Sonoma State Historic Park. It is fitting that this small town throws one of the most celebrated Fourth of July parties in the entire country.
Mark Your Calendar
Dated events for July 2026, listed earliest first.
M.F.K. Fisher Month Exhibit at the Toscano Hotel
Catch the final days of this exhibit honoring legendary food writer M.F.K. Fisher, presented by the M.F.K. Fisher Foundation inside the historic Toscano Hotel at Sonoma State Historic Park, just off the Plaza. A quiet cultural stop before the fireworks begin.
Event details →Sonoma City Council Meeting
Sit in on city business at the regular City Council meetings, held at 6 p.m. on the first and third Wednesday at Council Chambers, 177 First Street West, steps from the Plaza. Meetings are also live streamed and aired on Sonoma TV, Comcast Channel 27. Agendas are posted ahead of time on the city portal.
City Council info →Old-Fashioned Fourth of July Parade, Celebration & Fireworks
The biggest day of Sonoma’s year, and one of the most celebrated Fourth of July parties in the country. The 2026 theme is “250 Years of the Red, White, and Blue,” marking America’s 250th birthday, with members of the U.S. Armed Forces serving as Grand Marshals. The hometown parade circles the historic Plaza starting at 10 a.m., followed by an old-fashioned festival with food, drink, and game booths run by local nonprofits, plus live music through the afternoon. As dusk settles, all eyes turn to the fireworks show over General Vallejo’s field. Organized by the Sonoma Volunteer Firefighters Association. Free to attend.
Parade & fireworks details →Sonoma Sundays on the Plaza
Bring a blanket and a picnic for free outdoor concerts at the Grinstead Amphitheatre on the Plaza, presented by Music in Place. The summer series runs Sunday afternoons from June through early October with regional and national acts. July Sundays fall on the 5th, 12th, 19th, and 26th.
Concert schedule →Sonoma’s Tuesday Night Market
Sonoma’s beloved weekly gathering takes over the historic Plaza every Tuesday evening, 5 to 8 p.m., from May through September 8. Walk rows of local produce, flowers, honey, baked goods, and artisan crafts, grab dinner from the food trucks, and enjoy free live music at the Grinstead Amphitheatre. July dates: the 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th. Produced with the Sonoma Valley Chamber of Commerce.
Market info →Broadway Under the Stars by Transcendence Theatre Company
Transcendence Theatre Company returns for its 15th season of Broadway Under the Stars, with accomplished Broadway performers, live music, and dynamic dance at the Field of Dreams in Sonoma. The evening starts with a Wine Country picnic on the lawn (picnic opens at 5 p.m.) before the show under the stars. A July run lands on the 10th through the 12th.
Tickets & schedule →Valley of the Moon Music Festival
Sonoma’s premier chamber music festival returns for its 12th season, July 11 to 26, with a program titled “Postcards from Dvořák.” World renowned and emerging musicians perform classical and Romantic works on historical instruments at intimate venues across Sonoma. Beyond the main stage concerts, look for pay what you wish outdoor performances and a family program at the Sonoma Community Center. Many concerts close with a complimentary wine reception.
Full schedule & tickets →Rhinefarm Afterhours at Gundlach Bundschu
Spend a summer evening at Gundlach Bundschu, California’s oldest continuously family owned winery (founded in 1858), for its Rhinefarm Afterhours series, held the third Friday of the month from 5 to 8 p.m. Expect a featured wine, vinyl sets, wood fired pizza, and one of the best sunsets in the valley. The July date falls on the 17th. Check the winery calendar to confirm and reserve.
Winery events →Napa to Sonoma Half Marathon & Rosé 5K
One of the most scenic race weekends in the country finishes right at the historic Sonoma Plaza. The Rosé 5K loops the Plaza on Saturday, July 25, and the point to point Half Marathon runs from Napa into Sonoma on Sunday, July 26, both capped by a Post-Race Wine and Music Festival on the Plaza. Even if you are not running, the finish line festival is a fun reason to be downtown.
Race & festival details →
Open All Month in Sonoma
Sonoma classics you can enjoy any day or week in July.
Sonoma State Historic Park & Mission San Francisco Solano
Walk through California history right off the Plaza. The park spans six historic sites, including Mission San Francisco Solano, the Sonoma Barracks, the Toscano Hotel, and General Vallejo’s home, and it is the birthplace of the California Bear Flag. Sites are open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with docent led tours and Bear Flag Revolt history talks typically offered on weekends. A perfect, low cost stop that ties right into Sonoma’s Fourth of July spirit.
Park info & hours →Sonoma Valley Museum of Art
Just south of the Plaza, SVMA presents rotating modern and contemporary exhibitions as part of its 2026 season, “A Year of Joy Through Art.” On view this summer are Norma I. Quintana’s “Paradise of Memory / Paraíso de la Memoria” (through September 6) and John Paul Morabito’s “Dancing in the Night.” Admission is free on Wednesdays. Check the website for current hours.
Exhibitions & hours →Sonoma TrainTown Railroad
A Sonoma family favorite since 1968, one mile south of the Plaza. Ride the quarter scale steam train on a 20 minute trip through tunnels and over bridges to the miniature town of Lakeview, with a petting zoo, carousel, Ferris wheel, and more. Open daily 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the summer season (June 13 through August 16). Parking and grounds admission are free; ride tickets are sold on site.
Park hours & info →Mass at St. Francis Solano Catholic Church
Visitors are welcome at this longtime Sonoma parish at 469 Third Street West, a short walk from the Plaza. Sunday Mass is offered at 7:30, 9, and 11 a.m. in English and 1 p.m. in Spanish, with a Saturday vigil at 5 p.m. in English and 7 p.m. in Spanish. Daily Mass is at 8:30 a.m., Monday through Saturday.
Parish & Mass times →Saturday Harvest Market at Sonoma Garden Park
Run by the Sonoma Ecology Center at the leafy Sonoma Garden Park, this Saturday market (9 a.m. to 1 p.m.) offers produce, flowers, and eggs from the park’s own sustainable garden alongside local honey and olive oil. A relaxed, shady stop a little east of the Plaza, and a nice low key alternative to the busier Plaza markets.
Market details →We do our best to keep this guide accurate, but not every Sonoma event is listed here, and details, dates, and times can change. Please confirm with the organizer before heading out. The Inventor’s Velocity is not affiliated with these events or their organizers and does not guarantee event details. Hosting an event we missed? Submit an event and we may add it.
