Sonoma Arts & Culture
Sonoma County is serious about the arts. Sculpture gardens tucked into hills, intimate performance spaces in quaint small towns and high-end galleries join major performing arts centers like the Green Music Center and Wells Fargo Center for the Arts in bringing the arts to locals and visitors. With thousands of artists and more than 120 performing arts companies, it's been said that Sonoma County has more artists per capita than anywhere else in California.
The Arts
Cloverdale's bulging arts community is one of the major draws to our area. From a full calendar of plays at the intimate, yet state-of-the-art Cloverdale Performing Arts Center, to several art galleries, a history museum, and live music weekly during the summer at Friday Night Live, as well as year-round at many music venues in town, Cloverdale is open for business.
Performing Arts
Founded in 2007, the Cloverdale Performing Art Center provides theatrical, dance, music and performing arts opportunies and education for our community and region. They are located at 209 North Cloverdale Blvd. (707-894-2214)
Live Music & Concerts
The foundation of Cloverdale's music scene is the wildly popular Friday Night Live free concert series. It runs each and every Friday night from Memorial Day until Labor Day weekend and features a wide variety of musical styles. It is produced by the Cloverdale Arts Alliance who works in partnership with the Cloverdale Certified Farmers Market who put on the corresponding farmers market. On a smaller scale, a number of local venues provide live music weekly throughout the year. Vino di Amore Wine Lounge and Art Gallery , Ruth McGowan's Brewpub, Piacere Ristornate Italiano are great venues to check out a wide variety of music. The Jazz Club is the Cloverdale Arts Alliance production of live jazz sounds and it occurs every 2nd Thursday of each month during the fall, winter and spring seasons. It is located at the CAA's new Center for the Arts at 204 N. Cloverdale Blvd (707-894-4410). The jazz music is intermingled with the art displayed throughout the building. A feast to the ears and eyes.
Fine Arts
The Cloverdale Arts Alliance has joined the Geyserville Chamber of Commerce in producing a Sculpture Trail ; an exhibit of sculptures in both Northern Sonoma County communities. The Sculpture Trail is a year-round exhibit with sculptures changing every 9 months. Not only does the CAA maintain a gallery at the Center for the Arts, but they put on Discovering Art, an annual series of art appreciation classes held during the fall and winter. Other galleries in town not to be missed are the Towers Gallery, The Artful Eye and Vino di Amore Wine Lounge and Art Gallery.
History Museum
The Cloverdale Historical Society maintains the Cloverdale History Center and the historic Gould-Shaw House in downtown Cloverdale. Step back in time as you walk through the Gould-Shaw House with its Victorian rooms decorated as they would have been at the turn of the 20th Century. The History Center was opened in 2009 and features exhibits on the native Pomo Indian artistry and artifacts, a Timeline Wall highlighting key episodes in the history of Cloverdale, a vintage mudwagon, tools and machinery. It also features rotating and temporary exhibits, and maintains extensive collections for use by researchers and historians.
Sonoma Festivals & Events
With more than 400 Sonoma wineries, there is always an event happening in Sonoma County. Plan your Sonoma trip around a festival or event. Wine festivals; fairs that celebrate Sonoma County's rich agricultural heritage – Petaluma's Butter & Egg Days, Sebastopol's Gravenstein Apple Fair, the Bodega Bay Fishermen Festival; car shows; history festivals; and others are slated to entice you to experience the best Northern California has to offer. Find all events dates and info on the Sonoma County Calendar of Events.
Annual Events
January
Knights of Columbus Crab Cioppino Feed
January 17th 2015. For more information contact Lee Menicucci at Cloverdale Auto Parts or 707-894-5211.
Annual "All You Can Eat" Lion's Club Crab Feed
For more information contact Lion Chris Vine at 707-894-8580.
February
Cloverdale Citrus Fair
Cloverdale has the distinction of hosting the first fair of the year in California, as well as one of the state's longest-running annual festivals (going on over 120 years). On February 12-15 2016, the annual Citrus Fair will be coming to town. There is a wide variety of pageants, shows, exhibits, live music, carnival rides, art, and food over the four day fair. For more information on the fair please check out their website. The Citrus Fair Parade is on Saturday February 13th, winding through downtown Cloverdale. With antique cars & military vehicles, bands, floats by local businesses, heavy equipment, equestrian riders, pet parade and The Humboldt State Lumberjacks Marching Band.
March - May
Historical Society Speaker Series
There will be discussions on interesting topics that are intertwined with Cloverdale's history. For more information please call 707-894-2067, visit their website.
April
Cloverdale Old Time Fiddle Festival
This annual fiddle festival is scheduled for early April at the Citrus Fairgrounds. Joining the fiddlers will be guitar and mandolin competitions. For more information visit their website or you can contact Director Mark Holgon at 707-829-8012, or 707-894-5529.
May
Cloverdale Ram Sale
Rams and ewes are auctioned off at the Citrus Fair followed by a BBQ, May 2, 2015 at 1:30pm. For more information please contact Marie or Jim Hill at 707-894-5541.
Rotary Club BBQ
Delicious luau dinner served Saturday, May 9th from 5:00-7:30pm, followed by live music in the Cloverdale Plaza. Beer, wine and desserts for sale. Buy tickets from any Rotarian, or call the Chamber of Commerce 894-4470. Benefit for Project Graduation and the Rotary Foundation.
Mother's Day Breakfast
May 10th at 8:00 am at the Cloverdale High School auditorium. Brought to you by the Kiwanis Club, Laurie 894-3222.
Relay for Life Walk
The annual Relay for Life Walk takes place in downtown Cloverdale and raises funds for the American Cancer Society. There is a team registration fee and it goes from 10am-10pm on May 30, 2015. Call 707-546-6720 for more information, or visit their website.
June - August
Friday Night Live/Farmer's Market
The foundation of Cloverdale's music scene is the wildly popular Friday Night Live free concert series. It runs each and every Friday night from Memorial Day until Labor Day weekend and features a wide variety of musical styles. It is produced by the Cloverdale Arts Alliance who work in partnership with the Cloverdale Certified Farmers Market who put on the corresponding farmers market.
June
Lion's Father's Day Breakfast
On Sunday June 15th, the Lion's Club puts on an annual Father's Day breakfast at the City Park. For more information call Sam Beeson at 707-894-2165 or visit their website.
July
Community 4th of July Picnic.
Fun for the entire family, 1:00 pm at the Cloverdale City Park. Brought to you by the Lions Club, Kiwanis Club and the Knights of Columbus. For more information call Laurie at the Mail Center 894-3222.
Lion's Club Fire Works
Fireworks are displayed at dusk at the CHS football field on the 4th of July. There is no charge, but donations are appreciated.
September
Car & Motorcycle Show
The fun starts the first Friday night after Labor Day with a Cruise down Cloverdale Blvd and is followed by live music and dancing in the Cloverdale Plaza. On Saturday over 200 classic cars and motorcycles will line the Boulevard. There will be fun for the whole family: live music and dancing on Friday night, food booths and vendors, a Kid Zone and much more in store for Saturday. For more information you can contact the Chamber of Commerce at 894-4470, or visit the Car Show website.
Pancake Breakfast - Cloverdale Senior Center
Welcoming Car Show attendees and the general public, the Senior Center hosts a pancake breakfast the Saturday morning of the show. Please contact Brooke Green for more information at 707-894-4826.
Cloverdale Volunteer Firefighters Association BBQ & Dance
Saturday evening after the Car Show the Firefighters Association hosts a BBQ and dance. It is at the Citrus Fair, and please contact Javier Lopez at 894-3545 for more information.
September - November
Historical Society Speaker Series
There will be discussions on interesting topics that are entwined with Cloverdale's history. For more information please call 894-2067, visit their website.
October
Oktoberfest
Come to downtown Cloverdale and enjoy German food (bratwurst, sauerkraut, potato salad, apple crisp), wine and beer tasting, live music, silent auction, children's activities, Courtney's' Pumpkin Patch, and more! A seasonal tradition that's fun for the entire family. It is the first weekend in October, at the Cloverdale City Plaza. Contact Laurie Kneeland at 328-2147 for more information.
Asti Tour de Vine Bicycle Tour
Join your hosts, the Cloverdale Rotary for the annual Asti Tour de Vine, a 25k, 50k, 100k, or 100m (century) bicycle tour. The tour is held in mid-October, and takes place in Northern Sonoma County, California's breathtaking wine country. Ride on uncrowded routes through charming rural valleys, past autumn-hued vineyards, alongside the meandering Russian River, and on pathways overlooking Lake Sonoma. This bicycle tour is a fundraiser for the Rotary Club of Cloverdale. They use the proceeds from this event for local scholarships for students, and support for many local and international projects. For more information please visit the website.
December
Kiwanis Cold Crab Feed
Cloverdale's first Crab Feed of the season, you need to buy your tickets beforehand, as typically no tickets are available at the door. Contact Gene Gianoli at 707-894-3124 for more information.
Christmas Tree Lighting
Join the live carolers and Santa for the annual lighting of the City Plaza Christmas Tree. Hot coco and cookies will be served and Santa will be on hand to hear your Christmas wishes. It is sponsored by the Lion's Club and the Chamber of Commerce. 707-894-4470 for more information.
Cloverdale Historical Society's Gingerbread Christmas
Horse and carriage rides, storytelling for the kids, tours of Gould-Shaw House and refreshments. For more information visit their website or call 707-894-2067.
Healdsburg Community Band Annual Holiday Concert
The full band plays all your holiday favorites. At the Citrus Fair Auditorium, contact Jim DeMartini at 707-894-5000 for more information.
McMillian Invitational Boys Basketball Tournament
Kick off basketball season with this popular tournament. First weekend in December, Cloverdale High School. CHS website, or contact them at 707-894-1900.
