EVENTS CELEBRATE FOOD, WINE, MUSIC, MORE – The Press Democrat

Call it tradition, or basic human instinct, but this time of year, as the weather cools and days start to get shorter, we all seem to crave celebration.

And the Bay Area’s traditionally warm, sunny September weather creates a craving to be outdoors just a few more times before the gray rains of winter.

We soak up the outdoor warmth with myriad festivals — celebrating food, wine, arts, music, community and life itself.

This fall’s roster includes the old favorites: The Kendall-Jackson Heirloom Tomato Festival, the Russian River Jazz and Blues Festival, the B.R. Cohn Fall Music Festival, the Sonoma County Book Festival, the Sonoma County Harvest Festival.

There are also some newer entries: The second annual Unity Festival on the Russian River and the first Petaluma Palooza.

So take a look at your calendar, whether it’s on your wall or on your phone, and run through the lineup:

Sept. 14-15

* “It’s difficult to think anything but pleasant thoughts while eating a homegrown tomato,” writer Lewis Grizzard once said. Celebrate the tasty tomato at the Kendall-Jackson Heirloom Tomato Weekend at the Kendall-Jackson Wine Center, 5007 Fulton Road, Fulton. kj.com/tomato-weekend. The weekend includes:

* Chef Tables in the Vineyard dinner, hosted by celebrity chefs Guy Fieri and Mario Batali, at 6 p.m. Sept. 14. $350, including festival admission the following day.

* The 16th annual Heirloom Tomato Festival, featuring more than 175 heritage varieties of tomatoes grown in the winery’s estate culinary gardens. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sept. 15. $60.

Sept. 14-16

* The Unity Festival on the Russian River — “celebrating the sacred through music, art, dance and community” — from noon to 10 p.m. Sept. 14, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sept. 15, and 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sept. 16. Guerneville Lodge, 15905 River Road, Guerneville. The festival offers three days of food, camping and live music by some 20 bands, including Arden Park Roots, Rootman J & Zionyouth Crew and the Thugz. $95-$325. trueunityfestival.com.

Sept. 15

* Here’s a new event this fall. Catch the first Petaluma Palooza: A Community Expo, with classes on health and wellness, adult learning, personal growth and sustainable living, as well as arts and crafts, entertainment and presentations on local small businesses and nonprofits. 2-6 p.m. Petaluma Arts Center, 230 Lakeville St., Petaluma. (888) 988-2787, petalumapalooza.com.

* Old Grove Festival. Relax among the redwoods and listen to live music by Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks, Solid Air, the Mighty Chiplings and Gordon & D’Orazi. Gates open at 4 p.m. and music starts at 7 p.m. Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve, 17000 Armstrong Woods Road, Guerneville. $10-$40. 869-9177, oldgrovefestival.org.

Sept. 22

* Russian Riverfest, an annual celebration of the River featuring an outdoor dinner, live music, wine tasting and silent auction. Burke’s Canoe Trips, 8600 River Road, Forestville. 4-7 p.m. $25-$35. russianriverfest.eventbrite.com.

* Sonoma County Book Festival. Appearances by, and panel discussions with, well-known local and Bay Area writers, including Ianthe Brautigan-Swensen, Jonah Raskin, Gerald Haslam and more. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Santa Rosa’s Downtown Courthouse Square and Central Library. Free. socobookfest.org.

* Healdsburg Art Festival. See arts and crafts including ceramics, clothing, glass, jewelry, leather, mixed media, painting, photography, print making, sculpture, textiles, wood. 10 a.m-5 p.m. Healdsburg Plaza in downtown Healdsburg. Free. 431-1970, healdsburgcenterforthearts.com.

* Earlefest, “a celebration of Americana music,” offers roots music by Rodney Crowell, Carolyn Wonderland, Poor Man’s Whiskey and the David Luning Band, starting at 11 a.m., at the Earle Baum Center for the Blind, 4539 Occidental Road, Santa Rosa. $25 in advance; $30 day of show; under 10 free. 523-3222, earlebaum.org.

Sept. 22-23

* Russian River Jazz and Blues Festival. Where else can music fans float on the river or lounge on the beach while hearing top musicians play? On Saturday, it’s George Benson and Tower of Power. On Sunday, it’s George Thorogood, Robert Randolph and Taj Mahal. Opens at 10 a.m. both days. $50 per day; $80 two-day pass; ages 6-12, $10 per day. Johnson’s Beach, Guerneville. 869-1595, omegaevents.com/russianriver.

* The “Much Ado About Sebastopol” Renaissance Faire transforms Sebastopol’s Ives Park into a fictional 16th-century English village called Fenford, with music and theatrical performances on two stages, parades, wandering musicians, jugglers and more. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sept. 22, followed by merriment at the Pip ‘n’ Vine Tavern; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 23. 7400 Willow St. $7-$12 per day; $10-$20 for the weekend; children under 6 free. muchadoaboutsebastopol.org.

Oct. 5-7

* Sonoma County Harvest Festival. This traditional fall fest invites you to “Taste the Best of Sonoma County,” with wine and food tastings, and the ever-popular Grape Stomp contest. Noon-7 p.m. Oct. 5; 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Oct. 6-7. General admission: adults, $10 ($7 Friday only); children, $5; 6 and under, free. Sonoma County Fairgrounds, 1350 Bennett Valley Road, Santa Rosa. harvestfair.org.

Oct. 6-7

* B.R. Cohn Fall Music Festival. The 26th annual outdoor festival features big names from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days:

Oct. 6: The Doobie Brothers with Michael McDonald (reunited for the first time in six years), Buddy Guy, War, the Turtles, Lara Johnston, Scars on 45.

Oct. 7: Doobie Brothers, Kenny Loggins, Dave Mason, the Turtles, Zen Road Pilots, Tyrone Well, Pat Simmons Jr.

15000 Sonoma Highway, Glen Ellen. General admission: $85; $150 for both days. (800) 330-4064, brcohn.com.

You can reach Staff Writer Dan Taylor at 521-5243 or [email protected]. See his ARTS blog at http:// arts.blogs.pressdemocrat.com.