Stay Healdsburg, the public-facing arm of the Chamber of Commerce, is making a big deal about the holidays—like most chambers generally do. There are champagne soirees, wreath-making classes, a holiday hit records festival at Little Saint, the Merry Healdsburg tree-lighting in the Plaza and if one can wait long enough, the New Year’s Eve Celebration at Coyote Sonoma.
It adds fuel to the social media fire sparked by last month’s selection of Healdsburg as No. 3 in a national poll of “Christmas Towns,” in Newsweek’s online magazine readers’ poll.
The No. 1 spot went to Grapevine, Texas, for its “magical rides aboard the North Pole Express” and “life-size village that you can walk through” (although both are inside the enormous Grapevine Mills shopping mall, as those features are not otherwise available in Texas). At No. 2 is the small Danish town of Solvang, California, which hosts “Danish Christmas traditions like hunting for gnomes” among other charming mores.
Healdsburg comes in third. Per Newsweek: “From tree lightings and night markets to complimentary carriage rides and photos with Santa, Healdsburg is the perfect place for a Sonoma wine country Christmas. Make your way downtown for the tree lighting ceremony, and then join a holiday wine and restaurant tour that takes you through some of the most festive—and tasty—parts of the city.”
Unmentioned in that list of generalities is something unique to Healdsburg—the world’s largest collection of toy soldiers, at Costeaux French Bakery. In fact it’s fair to point out that if seeing Santa is the main attraction, he’ll be doing breakfast there every Saturday in December, from 9-11am. The lure of checking in on a thousand toy soldiers proved too strong to keep him away; he’s fussy that way.
Turkey Trot
Everyone knows the Holidays begin with Thanksgiving, and Thanksgiving in Healdsburg starts off with the Turkey Trot, a 5k “fun run” cosponsored by Rotary Sunrise, the Healdsburg Chamber and Healdsburg Running Company among other sponsors.
This is the 12th year of the Turkey Trot, which once again is a scholarships fundraiser for disadvantaged kids who want to go to college, and an inspirational reminder of the positive energy that Drew Esquivel brought to everything he did.
So “Live Like Drew”: Get up early—the gun goes off at 8am—and tackle those five kilometers like a winner. For more information, go to 5ktrot.com.
‘Season to Sparkle’
As if on cue, Stay Healdsburg issued their pre-seasonal greeting eblast, with many of those same holiday tricks in a package called “Season to Sparkle,” which started last weekend with a Sparkling Soirée at Barndiva, and continues through the rest of the year at individual businesses and public events.
The eblast also doubled as a recruitment pitch for the Chamber’s Window Decorating Contest, encouraging local businesses to “add even more sparkle to our streets” by taking part in the friendly competition. Shop owners should start decorating now, register their store and be ready for judging in three categories—Best Overall, Most Sparkling and Most Creative—during the first week of December. Winners will be announced on Dec. 9.
“Late night shopping” is planned for the downtown area, with live music and festive treats as all shops stay open until 7pm on four selected days: Nov. 29 (Friday), Dec. 9 (Monday), Dec. 13 (Friday) and Dec. 20 (Friday). No, 7pm is not particularly late, but it does add a couple of valuable shopping hours to the day for most gift stores.
The welcome return of Merry Healdsburg, a recent tradition that has a lock on the first week in December, is on Friday, Dec. 6. Festivities from 5-9pm include a winter whirlwind of carriage rides, live music and a holiday night market all revolving around the tree-lighting ceremony itself. That feat of electronic illumination is generally managed by Santa and several of his civic helpers.
Again this year, the Sugarplums, a tongue-in-chic trio of singers of holiday favorites, from Big Crosby to Phil Spector to Manhattan Transfer, will perform.
The following Friday, Dec. 13, the Chamber’s focusing attention on the Vinyl Valley “Festival Friday Flight” at Little Saint. The holiday hits take a spin on the turntable from DJ Saint Rose Disco, and stills and sparklings from eight Dry Creek Valley wineries lubricate the two-hour celebration, 6-8m. There is a dress code of sorts, “Festive Glam Meets Disco Chic,” which allows for some interpretation. Prepare to enjoy “a night of bubbles, bites, and beat.”
The yearly Holiday Tea tradition at Dry Creek Kitchen returns, with (optional) fancy dress, cups of seasonal teas and plates of house-made pastries, dainty finger sandwiches and other holiday fare. It’s $79 for tea service and food, $97 if with wine or a cocktail, $49 for the kid’s cider or chocolate option. Service is from 1-2:30pm on Saturdays and Sundays in December.
Community Christmas
The 41st annual Senior Appreciation Day celebrates Thanksgiving in December with a free dinner at Villa Chanticleer, on Dec. 8 at 1:30pm. It’s presented with the help of Healdsburg Rotary Noon, Friends of the Senior Center, Healdsburg Community Services and volunteers. Dinner will be delivered to those unable to attend. RSVP by Dec. 2 by calling the Senior Center, (707) 431-3324.
On Sunday, Dec. 8, the Healdsburg Community Band launches its 2024-25 concert series with an Annual Holiday Concert at the Raven Performing Arts Theater, 5pm. Gary Johnson will conduct. Admission is always free, with donations gratefully accepted.
One of the key non-Chamber events is “Noche de Paz”, where Corazón Healdsburg and friends will hand out presents to the kiddies, serve a giant pozole stew and host a classic car show at the Community Center, from 5-8pm on Saturday, Dec. 14. Toy donations, sponsors and volunteers still wanted—contact Monique Gonzalez at mo*****@co***************.org.
Another non-Chamber event is the semiannual appearance of the Klezmatics at the Raven Theater, Dec. 17. This authentically traditional band celebrates Hanukkah with a holiday show built around Woody Guthrie, including several songs the Klezmatics put to music from Woody’s own lyrics: “Happy Joyous Hanukkah,” “Hanukkah’s Flame,” “Hanukkah Gelt” and “Honeyky Hanukkah.” Who knew, right?
Additional events could pop up at various shops, wineries and gift stores over the next month, but one date is already circled: Dec. 31, New Year’s Eve. They call it a “Glitter & Grooves New Year’s Eve Bash” at Coyote Sonoma, featuring the Funky Dozen and their high-energy funk, soul and party classics. Doors open at 6pm, music starts at 9pm, champagne toast comes at midnight. Come dressed to dazzle, and get ready for an unforgettable 2025.
