Where to go on New Year’s Eve in Sonoma County

From A Charlie Brown kids party to major multi-band bashes, you have plenty to choose from for your New Year’s Eve celebration.|

Time travels fast during the holidays, so it’s not too surprising if you find yourself on the day before New Year’s Eve with no particular plans for the big night.

Sonoma County celebrations range from intimate to massive, with plenty of live music and dancing planned. You’ll want to check first to make sure there’s still room for you, but here is a baker’s dozen of local New Year’s Eve celebrations planned for Saturday that you might consider:

1. Kids like to celebrate, too, and they don’t have to stay up past bedtime to do it. The “Happy New Year, Charlie Brown!” celebration, running from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., includes hands-on crafts for children, balloon drops at noon and root beer toasts at noon and 3 p.m. Charles M. Schulz Museum, 2301 Hardies Lane, Santa Rosa. $5-$12. 579-4452, schulzmuseum.org.

2. Enjoy an early evening with a classical flare at the Petaluma Museum’s New Year’s Eve Gala Concert. A classical music ensemble, with pianist Elizabeth Walter and mezzo-soprano Karen Clark, performs from 6 to 8 p.m. 20 Fourth St., Petaluma. $40-$70. 778-4398, petalumamuseum.com.

3. If you don’t drink but you do like to dance, try the Santa Rosa New Year’s Eve Contra Dance, an alcohol-free event with dance caller Warren Blier and live music by the Wingnuts. 8 p.m.-midnight, with a free beginner’s dance lesson at 7:30 p.m. The evening includes a buffet and a midnight toast with sparkling apple cider. Presented by the North Bay Country Dance Society. Monroe Hall, 1400 W. College Ave., Santa Rosa. $8-$20. nbcds.org.

4. Enjoy a mellow and joyous mood starting at 8 p.m. at the Peacetown New Year’s Eve Party, with headliners Soul Fuse and The Rhythm Rangers and a special midnight ceremony. Sebastopol Community Cultural Center, 390 Morris St., Sebastopol. $18-$25. 823-1511, seb.org.

5. Santa Rosa’s Luther Burbank Center for the Arts introduces a new event this year with the inaugural Bubble Ball, a gala benefitting Greenacre Homes and featuring live music by local favorites Wonderbread 5, Kingsborough and the Pat Jordan Band, 8 p.m. 50 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa. $95. 546-3600, lutherburbankcenter.org.

6. If you crave a little New Year’s Eve glamour, dress in your best and join the party at Ramekins Culinary School. The event runs from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m., and includes beer, wine, champagne, savory bites, a midnight toast and late-night snacks. Live music by The French Disconnection. 450 W Spain Street, Sonoma. $125. 933-0450, ramekins.com.

7. Celebrate in old world splendor at “A Night in Vienna.” Waltz to a live orchestra and enjoy a gourmet Viennese buffet and fine wine. Black-tie optional. Sponsored by Sky Hill Cultural Alliance in conjunction with the San Francisco Waltzing Society. 8:30 p.m. Hermann Sons Hall, 860 Western Ave., Petaluma. $150. 778-4398, petalumamuseum.com.

8. Local folk-bluegrass band Hot Buttered Rum plays, with Bad Apple String Band opening at 9 p.m., at the HopMonk Tavern’s New Year’s Eve bash. 230 Petaluma Ave., Sebastopol. $35. 829-7300, hopmonk-sebastopol.ticketfly.com.

9. Among the most ambitious events this year is the Rivertown Ball, a benefit for the Friends of the Petaluma River, with soul band the Monophonics topping a live-music line-up that includes Oddjob Ensemble, El Radio Fantastique and Tobias the Mystic Man. 9 p.m. Petaluma Veterans Memorial Building, 1094 Petaluma Blvd. S., Petaluma. $55-$70. somoconcerts.com.

10. Or you could go for a cozy setting at the Redwood Cafe’s New Year’s Eve Party, with dancing to the music of The Pulsators. 9:15 p.m. 8240 Old Redwood Highway, Cotati. $25. brownpapertickets.com.

11. For those who enjoy a night at the theater, you can attend opening night and still party past midnight. Petaluma’s Cinnabar Theater presents Tony Award nominee Sharon McNight in “Red Hot Mama,” a one-woman tribute to singer and comedian Sophie Tucker, at 9:30 p.m., followed by a New Year’s Eve celebration. 3333 Petaluma Blvd. N.. $60-$75. The play runs through Jan. 29. 763-8920, cinnabartheater.org.

12. The New Year’s Eve Bash at Petaluma’s Mystic Theatre is always a good bet. This year the attraction is Foreverland, a 14-piece Michael Jackson tribute band. 9:30 p.m. 23 Petaluma Blvd. N. $40-$50. 765-2121, mystictheatre.com.

13. Here’s another theatrical alternative that is also available Friday.Dec. 30 The 6th Street Playhouse in Santa Rosa’s Railroad Square district. Bay Area duo Richard and Sandy Riccardi presents the “New Year’s Eve Cabaret,” filled with songs and jokes, at 8 p.m. Friday and 7 and 10 p.m. Saturday. $25-$50. 52 W. Fifth St. 523-4185, 6thstreetplayhouse.com.

UPDATED: Please read and follow our commenting policy:
  • This is a family newspaper, please use a kind and respectful tone.
  • No profanity, hate speech or personal attacks. No off-topic remarks.
  • No disinformation about current events.
  • We will remove any comments — or commenters — that do not follow this commenting policy.