While regarded by Travel + Leisure Magazine and Yahoo News as having one of the best Independence Day celebrations in the country, Sonoma is nevertheless notorious for forgetting to toot its own horn when it comes to the 4th of July.
Why?
Because in a small city of 10,000 enthusiastic residents, when many are in the parade, nobody has time to promote it. We've decided to rewrite that story today, because the more, the merrier! In the spirit of our longstanding tradition of warm, small-town hospitality, we not only invite you to come, but we apologize for waiting so long to extend our hands. Here are some pro tips to make your day memorable. When you party like a local, you're sure to do it right.
10. Pace yourself
The 4th of July in Sonoma is, without a doubt, the best day of our year...and when we mean "day," we mean all day. Harkening back to the old fashioned fun of simpler times, it will pull at your heartstrings with nostalgia and positivity!
Because much of downtown Sonoma is blocked from traffic that day, locals come to set up their picnic gear in the wee hours of the morning, go home, and then return to the plaza around 9 to start their pre-game fun--Sonomans are known for their serious picnicking savoir faire! The parade begins around 10 and lasts about 90 minutes. The City of Sonoma and the Sonoma Volunteer Firefighters Association host a helluva party, selling tickets for hot dogs, corndogs, beer, wine and more. With live music and game booths on our 8-acre plaza, the whole town returns to their picnic spots to celebrates all day long, until 5pm.
The day doesn’t end there. Intrepid partiers then walk down the bike path to General Vallejo’s Field to watch an impressive 45-minute fireworks show, put on by the firefighters. With oohs and ahhs that are sure to rival that of a big city, the fireworks are the end cap on a perfect day! However, for the uninitiated, it can be a long day with more opportunities to eat, drink and be merry than one can possibly imagine. Pick and choose what you want to do, but know that doing it all can make for an even longer day on July 5th.
9. Bring cash
If you want to buy food and beverages at the plaza during the celebration, bringing cash is a fast way to acquire food and drink tickets, and make donations to the Fire Department. Besides, cash is cash is cash is cash…The south end of the plaza is flanked with several banks with ATM machines on Napa Street if you need them.
8. Travel lightly
Picnicking is serious business in Sonoma Valley. So when you see the outpouring of picnic furniture set up on the plaza, from the sturdiest in camping tents and tables to the finest in upholstered sofas (no joke!), you may be tempted to bring more than you need. While hanging out on the plaza all day long with comfortable furniture and optimal picnic gear is a treat, it can make for a big clean-up after you’ve been sipping rosé under the sun all day. Instead, opt for a picnic blanket, a lightweight cooler (if necessary), sunscreen, a hat, and extra layers of clothing for when the Carneros breezes roll in. That’s all you’ll need! You can buy water or refill your empty bottles using the water fountain near the public bathrooms behind the Carnegie Library.
7. Guarantee your invitation for next year
The success of the 4th of July in Sonoma stems from people respecting the rules. All the city asks is no dogs, no pop-up tents to block the views, no generators, and no littering. Easy rules to follow that make such a positive and inclusive impact. There are plenty of garbage, recycling and compost stations throughout the park. Good news: the Sonoma Plaza is one of the few town squares in the country where open containers of alcohol are permitted, so drink to your heart’s content, but please drink responsibly. Make us eager to invite you back!
6. Walk to the celebration if you can
Parking tends to be challenge on the 4th, since the key routes leading in and out of the downtown area are blocked for most of the day. Carpool if you can and park several blocks away, opt for a rideshare or shuttle from your hotel, or walk or bike in if you can. If you need to drive in, there are a few paid parking lots along West Spain Street, sponsored by nonprofit organizations at a reasonable price.
Photos courtesy of Anne-Marie Nordquist.
5. Arrive early, leave early
Any local will tell you to arrive no later than 9 am if you want get a good spot for viewing the parade—an hour before it begins. Claim your spot, get comfy, and then send a member of your party to Sunflower Caffé, the Basque Boulangerie, or The Butcherman at Sonoma Cheese Factory to buy coffee and pastries for your group while you're waiting. Any time after the parade and picnic, when you find yourself getting tired, do yourself a favor and go back to your hotel, inn or vacation rental to take a nap or have a swim. Although the plaza has wonderful shade from large trees, many of which are over 100 years-old, the afternoon sun is real. Take a break. There's no pressure to be a die-hard. You can always come back for more.
4. Take lots of pictures and tag us
Other than sunsets and sunrises over the vineyards, some of our most prized photos of the valley stem from Sonoma’s 4th of July Celebration. Kids having fun, people eating hot dogs and burgers, colorful parade floats and impressive acrobats on stilts. So many memories in the making! Post your photos on social and tag us at @experiencesonomavalley on Facebook or @sonoma_valley on Instagram to share.
3. Cheer like a local
The parade consists of over 60 entries, showcasing floats and people from community organizations from up and down Sonoma Valley. Some are made up of kids, LGBTQ+ groups, law enforcement, classic cars, dancers, singers, vaqueros on horseback, and more. It takes a lot of courage to march in front of your own community. Although you may not know the folks marching, to be here in Sonoma is to be treated like one of our own. Please be sure to show your enthusiasm and support with applause and cheers!
2. Book your lodging ASAP
Our lodging partners tend to book the 4th of July quickly. Browse the Lodging section of our website to see what options are best for you and call immediately for reservations. The closer you can get to the plaza, the less likely you’ll need transportation on the day of the events, but also be sure to ask about shuttle services, rental bikes and electric vehicle charging stations.
1. Consider a donation to Sonoma Volunteer Firefighters Association
If you agree that ours is one of the best 4th of July celebrations in the country, please make sure to thank the many firefighters who are working the event that day. Many will pass around rubber boots, asking you to make a donation. The Sonoma Volunteer Firefighters are responsible for saving downtown Sonoma from the infamous 2017 fires. We owe our lives and our history to them. Any donation you can spare is greatly appreciated and helps facilitate these celebrations for generations to come.