2026 Wine Country Marine Corps Birthday Ball

Brigadier General Andrew T. Priddy will join a Sonoma Valley tradition more than four decades in the making when Wine Country Marines hosts its 2026 Marine Corps Birthday Ball on November 7 at Jacuzzi Family Vineyards. As Guest of Honor, the Commanding General of the 1st Marine Division will help mark the Corps’ 251st birthday in a community that has made this gathering its own.

A career infantry officer and 1995 U.S. Naval Academy graduate, Priddy assumed command of the division in May 2026. His presence carries forward a history of distinguished military guests while keeping the evening rooted in the fellowship that began here in 1985.

That heritage belongs to Sonoma Valley as much as to the Marines who return to celebrate it. Founded by local Marines and their supporters, the Ball brings generations together around an enduring conviction: “Once a Marine. Always a Marine.” It reflects a lifelong commitment to fellow Marines and the community that welcomes them.

The celebration also supports Wine Country Marines’ work assisting service members, veterans and their families through hardship. For military families, veterans and friends of the Corps, November 7 offers an occasion to share that pride. Explore tickets and reservations at WineCountryMarines.org.