Petaluma

Join us for one of Petaluma's favorite summer traditions—the 23rd Annual Art &amp; Garden Festival, proudly presented by Sutter Health, on Sunday, July 12, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Historic Downtown Petaluma.

This free, family-friendly event features more than 100 artists, makers, and artisan exhibitors, Live Music on 2 Stages, delicious local food vendors, garden specialists, a Children's Corner with jump houses, face painting, and free hands-on crafts, plus tastings of local wine, craft beer, cider, and handcrafted cocktails.

Admission and parking are free.
For Early Bird beverage tasting tickets and festival information, visit PetalumaDowntown.com.&nbsp;Sponsored by Sutter Health and The Petaluma Downton Association


2026 LIVE MUSIC LINEUP&nbsp;Main Stage
<ul>
 <li>11:00–11:50 | Buckeye Boys</li>
 <li>12:10–1:20 | Feil Young</li>
 <li>1:50–3:00 | CozyCats</li>
 <li>3:30–5:00 | Freestone Peaches (Northern California's premier Allman Brothers Band tribute)</li>
</ul>
Acoustic Stage
<ul>
 <li>COZYMIZZY</li>
 <li>Mike Saliani</li>
 <li>Mitchell Thomas &amp; Faith Waligora</li>
 <li>The Honey Jams</li>
 <li>Chris &amp; Liz</li>
</ul>

Event Details 
📅 Sunday, July 12, 2026 
🕚 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM 
📍 Historic Downtown Petaluma 
🎟️ FREE Admission 
🚗 FREE Parking

Early Bird beverage tasting tickets and festival information: 
PetalumaDowntown.com

Local Event: Art & Garden Festival

Sonoma County

California

Art & Garden Festival

Join us for one of Petaluma's favorite summer traditions—the 23rd Annual Art & Garden Festival, proudly presented by Sutter...

Community Congregational Church

Join award-winning singer-songwriter Bobby Jo Valentine for a free concert featuring hope-filled modern folk music and compelling stories. Experience what critics call a soulful performance filled with intelligent lyrics and world-class musicianship, perfect for fans of Bob Dylan and Cat Stevens.

Local Event: Bobby Jo Valentine

Solano County

Benicia

Bobby Jo Valentine

Join award-winning singer-songwriter Bobby Jo Valentine for a free concert featuring hope-filled modern folk music and...

Benicia Public Library

Carquinez Village will feature Benicia Police Department staff to discuss the upcoming Benicia Citizens Police Academy at 10:30 am on Thursday, July 16, at the Benicia Public Library, located at 150 East L Street.The presentation is offered as part of the Carquinez Village Speaker Series.
CSO Lauren Teel and Detective Shawn Delgado will be the speakers at the presentation. The Academy consists of 10 sessions from 6:30-9:30 pm on Wednesdays from August 19 to October 21, 2026, with two special Saturday sessions scheduled for Sept. 12 and Sept .18. The academy is designed for Benicia residents and individuals that work in Benicia, 18 years of age and older, at no cost.
Teel and Delgado will provide an overview of Academy topics, the history and evolution of the Citizen’s Academy, and provide an opportunity for attendees to ask questions about the program. Topics of the Academy include BPD’s various divisions and teams, and the operations of the communication center and dispatch. Sessions will also review the management of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team, the process of a crime scene investigation and how staff cover patrol duties. There will be updates about crime prevention efforts, and participants the Citizens Police Academy will meet the BPD‘s K-9s as well.
Class space is limited. Individuals may use the link to the BPD website (<a href="https://www.ci.benicia.ca.us/pdspecialevents" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.ci.benicia.ca.us/pdspecialevents</a>), to download the application packet, or applications are available for pick up at the police station 
Individuals may contact Academy coordinator, Sgt. Michelle King, directly by email at <a href="mailto:mking@ci.benicia.ca.us">mking@ci.benicia.ca.us</a>or by calling 707-745-3411 for more information.
Those interested in attending the July 16 presentation are asked to register at the Carquinez Village website: <a href="https://www.carquinezvillage.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.carquinezvillage.com/</a>. There is an option for a person to register to participate by Zoom on the website.
The Dona Benicia room at the Benicia Library has an Assisted Listening System. To get access to this system the city must be contacted in advance. Hearing access can be provided by contacting Suzanne Thorson at 707-746-4382 or by email at <a href="mailto:adacoordinator@ci.benicia.ca.us">adacoordinator@ci.benicia.ca.us</a>
.
The mission of the Carquinez Village is to help Benicia and Vallejo seniors to stay in their homes and to enrich their lives through connecting, supporting, and inspiring them.
More information about the Carquinez Village is available at <a href="https://www.carquinezvillage.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.carquinezvillage.com/</a> or by calling 707-297-2472.

Local Event: Carquinez Village Presents: An Introduction to the Benicia Citizens Police Academy

Carquinez Village Presents: An Introduction to...

Carquinez Village will feature Benicia Police Department staff to discuss the upcoming Benicia Citizens Police Academy at 10:30...

Carquinez Village Presents: An Introduction to the Benicia Citizens Police Academy

The Little Art Shop

Need a creative reset? This one is basically yoga for your brain. ✍️✨
Join Tracie Wilbur for Zen with a Pen: Zentangle, a relaxing, beginner-friendly drawing class for teens 13+ and adults at The Little Art Shop Studio.
In this class, students will learn the Zentangle Method, an easy-to-learn meditative art form that uses simple, structured, repetitive patterns to create beautiful abstract designs. No prior drawing experience is needed, and because the process is unplanned, there’s no pressure to “get it right.” Just focus, flow, and the quiet satisfaction of putting pen to paper.
Tracie will guide students through a variety of pattern techniques while encouraging creativity, play, and personal style. It’s calming, engaging, and surprisingly addictive in the best possible way.
✨ Beginner-friendly 
✨ Teens 13+ and adults 
✨ Relaxing and meditative 
✨ No drawing experience needed 
✨ All materials included 
✨ Limited to 12 seats
🗓 Thursday, July 16 
🕠 5:30 PM–7:30 PM 
💲 $50
📍 The Little Art Shop Studio 
129 First St., Benicia CA 
Historic Tannery Building next to Bella Sienna’s

Local Event: Zen with a Pen: Zentangle with Tracie Wilbur

Zen with a Pen: Zentangle with Tracie Wilbur

Need a creative reset? This one is basically yoga for your brain. ✍️✨
Join Tracie Wilbur for Zen with a Pen: Zentangle, a...

NY2CA Gallery

Join us at NY2CA Gallery for the Artist Reception for Songs of a Little Bird, a solo exhibition by internationally recognized fiber artist Akiko Suzuki.
The Artist reception will take place Saturday, July 18 from 5–7pm and will feature Performance Art by Akiko Suzuki.
Songs of a Little Bird presents Suzuki’s richly layered textile and mixed-media works, bringing together contemporary art quilting, poetry, stitching, paint, collage, and intuitive mark-making. Her practice bridges visual art, written language, memory, and emotion, giving form to the unseen forces that shape inner experience.
As part of the exhibition, Suzuki presents HOPE DRESS, a performance and video work created in collaboration with music by Kuniyoshi Yamada and filmed at Palazzo Ferrari in Parabita, Italy during the Global Art Project residency in May 2026.
In this work, feathers are cut from a yellow dress. Participants write messages of hope onto the feathers, then sew them back onto the dress. The gesture is simple and deeply human.
Hope is written by hand. Hope is held. Hope is shared. Hope is sewn back into the world.
We invite you to join us for an evening of art, performance, poetry, fiber, memory, and shared hope.
Artist Reception Saturday, July 18, 2026 5–7pm
Exhibition Dates July 16 – August 23, 2026
NY2CA Gallery 617 First Street Benicia, CA 94510
Free and open to the public.

Local Event: Artist Reception: Akiko Suzuki, Songs of a Little Bird

Artist Reception: Akiko Suzuki, Songs of a...

Join us at NY2CA Gallery for the Artist Reception for Songs of a Little Bird, a solo exhibition by internationally recognized...

Artist Reception: Akiko Suzuki, Songs of a Little Bird

Not just a kids craft class — a real studio art experience for young animal lovers. 🐾🎨
Join Kate Sharp for Paint Your Pet - Junior Studio, a fun, beginner-friendly class where kids will paint a custom portrait of their pet on a pre-sketched canvas.
This class is designed to help young artists feel successful from the start. With step-by-step guidance from an experienced artist, students can focus on painting, learning, and having fun instead of struggling with how to begin. It’s a creative experience that’s playful and approachable, but with real artistic guidance in a true studio setting.
✨ Ages 8–12 ✨ Pre-sketched canvas included ✨ All supplies included ✨ Limited to 12 seats
🗓 Monday, July 20 🕘 9:00 AM–11:00 AM 💲 $35
Important: Please email your child’s pet photo to <a href="mailto:studio@thelittleartshop.com">studio@thelittleartshop.com</a> by Friday, July 17 at 5:00 PM so we can prepare the canvas before class.
Parent/Guardian Note: A parent or guardian must remain onsite in the building for the full class. This is not a drop-off program.
📍 The Little Art Shop Studio 129 First St., Benicia CA

Local Event: Junior Studio: Paint Your Pet with Kate Sharp

Junior Studio: Paint Your Pet with Kate Sharp

Not just a kids craft class — a real studio art experience for young animal lovers. 🐾🎨
Join Kate Sharp for Paint Your Pet -...

Looking for a relaxed way to build your watercolor skills and actually keep painting? 🎨💧
Join Tracie Wilbur for Strait Watercolors, a welcoming watercolor studio night for teens 13+ and adults at The Little Art Shop Studio.
This is not a stiff formal class and not just an open studio either. It’s a supportive, artist-led space where beginners through experienced painters can gather every other Thursday evening to paint, share, learn, and stay connected to their watercolor practice.
Bring your own supplies, settle in, and enjoy a creative evening in community. New to watercolor? You’re welcome too. Tracie is there to help, encourage, and make the process feel approachable.
✨ Beginner-friendly 
✨ Teens 13+ and adults 
✨ Low-pressure, artist-led studio night 
✨ Great for building a regular watercolor practice 
✨ Limited to 12 seats 
🗓 Thursday, July 23 
🕠 5:30 PM–7:30 PM 
💲 $25 per session

📍 The Little Art Shop Studio 
129 First St., Benicia CA 
Historic Tannery Building next to Bella Sienna’s

Local Event: Strait Watercolors with Tracie Wilbur

Strait Watercolors with Tracie Wilbur

Looking for a relaxed way to build your watercolor skills and actually keep painting? 🎨💧
Join Tracie Wilbur for Strait...

Four Fools Winery

Welcome to Wizards &amp; Wine: A Harry Potter Inspired Market!
Grab your house crew and join us for an afternoon of magic by the bay!
Wizards &amp; Wine transforms Four Fools Winery into a spellbinding marketplace filled with themed vendors, handcrafted treasures, mystical goods, art, candles, crystals, books, treats, and enchanting finds around every corner.
<ul><li>Sip wine with a waterfront view</li><li>Shop magical makers &amp; small businesses</li><li>Dress in your house colors (costumes encouraged, never required)</li><li>Snap photos and soak up the vibes</li></ul>
Whether you’re a bold Gryffindor, a clever Ravenclaw, a loyal Hufflepuff, or a slightly dramatic Slytherin with excellent taste — this market is for you. 🦁🐍🦅🦡
Bring your friends. Bring your family. Bring your inner wizard.
Show up ready for some magic!

Local Event: Wizards & Wine: A Free Harry Potter Inspired Market

Contra Costa County

Rodeo

Wizards & Wine: A Free Harry Potter Inspired...

Welcome to Wizards & Wine: A Harry Potter Inspired Market!
Grab your house crew and join us for an afternoon of magic by the...

Wizards & Wine: A Free Harry Potter Inspired Market

Create something meaningful, personal, and beautifully your own. ✨📖
Join Reba Halverson for Create a Vision Journal, a welcoming, beginner-friendly workshop designed to spark creativity, connection, and self-discovery.
In this relaxed mixed-media class, students will create a personal journal using whatever mediums speak to them: paint, collage, photographs, poetry, found papers, or simple words. No artistic experience is needed, just curiosity, openness, and a willingness to explore.
Your journal can become a:
<ul>
<li>
Vision Board journal
</li>
<li>
Life Purpose exploration
</li>
<li>
Scribble Bucket List
</li>
<li>
Quotes That Spark Joy collection
</li>
<li>
Daily Art journal
</li>
<li>
or something uniquely your own
</li>
</ul>
By the end of class, you’ll leave with a meaningful handmade journal that reflects your voice, your questions, and your unfolding story.
✨ Beginner-friendly 
✨ Adults + teens 13+ 
✨ All materials provided 
✨ Relaxed, community-oriented studio setting 
✨ Limited to just 8 seats
🗓 Tuesday, July 28 
🕠 5:30 PM–7:30 PM 
🎟 Limited to 8 seats
📍 The Little Art Shop Studio 
129 First St., Benicia CA 
Historic Tannery Building next to Bella Sienna’s

Local Event: Create a Vision Journal with Reba Halverson

Create a Vision Journal with Reba Halverson

Create something meaningful, personal, and beautifully your own. ✨📖
Join Reba Halverson for Create a Vision Journal, a...

Love landscapes, but not the pressure of painting every leaf and blade of grass? Good. 🎨
Join Ebbie Navas for Make &amp; Take: Beginning Abstract Landscapes, a beginner-friendly class where students will create two expressive landscape paintings in one session.
This class is designed for adults who want to explore landscape painting in a looser, more intuitive way using color, layering, atmosphere, and expressive brushwork. Instead of chasing realism, students will learn how to capture mood, light, and place in a way that feels personal, creative, and freeing.
It’s a great fit for beginners, returning painters, and anyone who wants to experiment with landscapes in a supportive studio setting.
✨ Beginner-friendly 
✨ Adults 
✨ Create 2 paintings in one class 
✨ Landscape-inspired, expressive, and approachable 
✨ Limited to 8 seats
🗓 Tuesday, July 29 
🕐 1:00 PM–3:30 PM 
💲 $45 class fee
Optional Premium Materials Kit: $35 
Includes two 20" x 20" stretched canvases and a Lukas Cryl Studio Enamel Set.
📍 The Little Art Shop Studio 
129 First St., Benicia CA 
Historic Tannery Building next to Bella Sienna’s

Local Event: Make & Take: Beginning Abstract Landscapes with Ebbie Navas

Make & Take: Beginning Abstract Landscapes with...

Love landscapes, but not the pressure of painting every leaf and blade of grass? Good. 🎨
Join Ebbie Navas for Make & Take:...

Make & Take: Beginning Abstract Landscapes with Ebbie Navas

Online

<h2>ARE YOU SET UP TO BE FINANCIALLY SECURE FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE?</h2>
Financial Freedom 101 is an experiential online immersion event where in just 3 days, you’ll get the skills, tools and money systems you need to become financially free forever!
You’ll discover how to become financially free in 5 years or less with $10k+ per month in passive income so you don’t have to depend on your business, a job, a partner, the government or anyone else for money.

Local Event: Financial Freedom 101

Financial Freedom 101

ARE YOU SET UP TO BE FINANCIALLY SECURE FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE?
Financial Freedom 101 is an experiential online immersion...

Waterfront Park

National Night Out Martinez 2026&nbsp; Tuesday, August 4 from 5:30 PM to 9 PM Martinez Waterfront Park 245 N Court Street, near the Marina
Spend the evening dancing to the music of the premier Eagles tribute band Midnight Flyer!&nbsp;
Bring your own chairs, your best dance moves, and all the good vibes for a night the whole family will love... FREE &amp; Family-Friendly Celebration! Police &amp; Fire Dept. Demos&nbsp; First Responder Displays Free Child ID Program CERT Disaster Preparedness Info Kids’ Entertainment Delicious Food Trucks Exhibits, Giveaways &amp; More! Reserve your&nbsp;<a href="https://NationalNightOut2026.eventbrite.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">FREE tickets </a>Hosted by Downtown Martinez &amp; Co. Hello@NNOMartinez.com National Night Out Martinez is a 501(C)(3) non profit organization EIN #41-4701113 <a href="https://nationalnightout2026.eventbrite.com/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExUzhmUHhqcDNGbDdCNW9yQnNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR5s1RyNQL3kugp6VHnRAftmJlkU40s4nld9WcKRWJmewEFrN37ldSAtWd66dg_aem_FIBKE1XWY4ejK7U3EExFoA" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener"></a>

Local Event: Midnight Flyer Rocks National Night Out Martinez

Martinez

Midnight Flyer Rocks National Night Out Martinez

National Night Out Martinez 2026  Tuesday, August 4 from 5:30 PM to 9 PM Martinez Waterfront Park 245 N Court Street, near the...

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Events and Things to Do in Benicia, CA

Sunday, July 12

Art & Garden Festival

JUL

12

11:00 AM

Petaluma, CA

Also around town...

Please confirm event details with the organizers before attending

Sunday, July 12

Wednesday, July 15

Thursday, July 16

Saturday, July 18

Monday, July 20

Thursday, July 23

Saturday, July 25

Tuesday, July 28

Wednesday, July 29

Friday, July 31

Tuesday, August 4

Art & Garden Festival