Alexander Film Society Summer Drive-In Series 4 EPIC FOOD, WINE AND BEER EXPERIENCES THIS SUMMER
Sipping a smooth pinot noir in the Sonoma Valley. Eating alfresco in Healdsburg. Hiking through the open meadows of Glen Ellen. Sonoma is one of the most fabulous and family-friendly places to spend summer in Northern California. Not only is it stunning — open space, rolling hills and thousands of acres of vineyards to woo your spirit — but there are a ton of activities of the food, wine and beer variety. And in typical Sonoma fashion, most of them are laid-back and feature fabulous entertainment. Russian River Vineyards progressive dinner
Start with a tour in the winery’s edible organic garden, nibbling fresh, pickled and marinated vegetables with head farmer Kayta Brady. Then head to the crush pad overlooking the vineyard, where pastry chef Victoria Madrigal will serve freshlybaked naan from the pizza oven with local cheeses and canapes, and founding winemaker Gio Balistreti will pour tastes of the 2017 vintage, which is still in the barrel. The culmination of the evening is executive chef Ben Davies’ seated family-style dinner in the original family farmhouse.
DETAILS >> 3 to 7 p.m. June 24 at Russian River Vineyards, 5700 Highway 116 North, Forestville. $250 per person; www.russianrivervineyards.com
Pack up the family and head to the grounds of the Cloverdale Citrus Fair for a warm Sonoma night of cult classic movie screenings and food from Falafel Fix and Fruity Moto, wines from the AVFS cellar and beer from Bear Republic Brewery and Cloverdale Ale. “Jaws” and “Grease” sold out last year. We have a feeling this summer’s lineup will, too.
DETAILS >> 6:30 p.m. to midnight. “Back to the Future” (July 21) and “The Wizard of Oz” (Aug. 18). 1 Citrus Fair Drive, Cloverdale. Cars $40, individual tickets (bring your own chair) $12 in advance; www.avfilmsociety.org
Friday Nights at Charles M. Schulz Museum
The museum devoted to the work of Peanuts creator Charles M. Schulz is rolling out a series of 21-and-older Friday night events that’ll delight hipsters of the foodie variety. Beer and wine drinkers? You’ll like it, too.
The series, which runs through July, pairs Peanutsthemed food (May’s Pigpen in a Croissant Blanket was adorable) with local wine and beer and creative activities, like cartooning and animation. Upcoming purveyors include The Whole Pie and St. Florian’s Brewery. Guests also will enjoy access to the museum galleries and an outdoor fire pit. Good grief — need we say more?
DETAILS >> 6 to 9 p.m. June 29 (a taco bar for Tacos, Tequila and Trivia) and July 27 (Pies and Pints) at Charles M. Schulz Museum, 2301 Hardies Lane, Santa Rosa. Members $24, nonmembers $30; schulzmuseum.org
Lagunitas Beer Circus
To celebrate its 10th anniversary, this beer-tacular spectacle is hitting the road, heading for Seattle, London and beyond. But you can still catch the festivities at its original home in Petaluma on Sept. 8. Tickets are now on sale and will likely sell out, so if you have a hankering for burlesque performers, aerialists, live music and roaming marching bands with your suds, better hops to it, get it?
DETAILS >> Noon to 5 p.m. Sept. 8, Sonoma Marin Fairgrounds, 175 Fairgrounds Drive, Petaluma. $40; lagunitas.com/beercircus