Featured Events in Santa Rosa in May, 2025 (August Updated)

Seasonal, ephemeral, and largely unknown to the average passersby, vernal pools are scattered across the Santa Rosa Plain and host an astonishing diversity of native flora and fauna. During this morning adventure we will visit the beautiful vernal pools located near the Sonoma County Airport where we will marvel at the tiny blooming botanical wonders and talk about vernal pool conservation goals and challenges. On this outing we are likely to see many different native vernal pool flowers and grasses, including the endangered Burke’s goldfields. We will have to watch our step to avoid the dozens of Pacific Chorus Frogs we are also likely to meet! Walking distance will be relatively short over uneven terrain with frequent kneeling and crouching to look at the small plants.  (Location of outing subject to change due to conditions. Exact meeting location and instructions will be sent after registration.) Information Source: Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation | eventbrite

SANTA ROSA -- Copperfield’s Books welcomes bestselling author Sarah Penner to Santa Rosa for the launch of her new novel - The Amalfi Curse: A Bewitching Tale of Sunken Treasure, Forbidden Love, and Ancient Magic on the Amalfi Coast . The discussion will be followed by a Q&A and book signing. This is a free event, registration recommended. "Sarah Penner transported me to the sea-swept cliffs of Positano and introduced me to characters I'll never forget. A magical read " --Emilia Hart, New York Times bestselling author of Weyward Powerful witchcraft. A hunt for sunken treasure. Forbidden love on the high seas. Beware the Amalfi Curse... Haven Ambrose, a trailblazing nautical archaeologist, has come to the sun-soaked village of Positano to investigate the mysterious shipwrecks along the Amalfi Coast. But Haven is hoping to find more than old artifacts beneath the azure waters; she is secretly on a quest to locate a trove of priceless gemstones her late father spotted on his final dive. Upon Haven's arrival, strange maelstroms and misfortunes start plaguing the town. Is it nature or something more sinister at work? As Haven searches for her father's sunken treasure, she begins to unearth a centuries-old tale of ancient sorcery and one woman's quest to save her lover and her village by using the legendary art of stregheria , a magical ability to harness the ocean. Could this magic be behind Positano's latest calamities? Haven must unravel the Amalfi Curse before the region is destroyed forever... Against the dazzling backdrop of the Amalfi Coast, this bewitching novel shimmers with mystery, romance and the untamed magic of the sea. Author: Sarah Penner is the New York Times and internationally bestselling author of The Lost Apothecary and The London Séance Society . Her books have been translated into more than forty languages and her debut, The Lost Apothecary , has sold over one million copies worldwide. A graduate of the University of Kansas, Sarah spent thirteen years incorporate finance and now writes full-time. In her free time, Sarah enjoys hiking, yoga, and cooking. She also sits on the Board of Directors at her local animal shelter, Friends of Strays. Sarah and her husband, Marc, live in Florida. To learn more, visit SarahPenner.com Information Source: Copperfield's Books | eventbrite

From the producers of the popular, sold out Drag Brunch at The Flamingo Resort & Spa comes a brand new Vegas-style drag show: DRAG BRUNCH SPECTACULAR - Battle of the Queens! Three fabulous queens will flip, twirl and death drop their way to the title of Miss Flamingo. Who will win - YOU decide! Our dancing divas will try their tucking (and rolling) hardest to win the audience's vote as you enjoy a three course brunch by celebrity Chef Chris Ricketts. This brand new production includes new sets, new costumes, sexy back-up dancer and each month we will be introducing a baby queen in their drag debut! We'll be snatching crowns every first Sunday of the month, so get your tickets today for Drag Brunch Spectacular at The Flamingo Resort and Spa before they sashay away! Information Source: Vintage Space at the Flamingo Resort & Spa | eventbrite

Join Teresa and Miles Tuffli for an exciting opportunity to explore the bird-rich location of Delta Pond (typically closed to the public). We’ll walk along Santa Rosa Creek Trail to access the pond entrance, then slowly meander the loop around the large pond. Spring is a terrific time to visit Delta Pond -- we'll be on the lookout for the high variety of birds who make the area their home for the breeding season. All levels of birding experience are welcome! Along the way, we'll touch on a variety of topics, such as: getting the most out of your binoculars, techniques for locating birds, what sorts of details to notice when observing a bird, species identification, bird vocalizations, and bird behavior and habitats. Please note: We will be covering up to 3-4 miles on foot. Though we’ll be walking slowly, for those with mobility issues, please be aware that we will be on unpaved trails and some slight inclines. Depending on recent rainfall, the trail may be muddy. Instructor Bio: Miles and Teresa Tuffli are avid birders from Sonoma County. They especially love helping fellow nature-lovers and “bird-curious” folks take the next step of getting into the field to enjoy the bird world! They’ve led guided bird walks for the Point Reyes Birding & Nature Festival, LandPaths, Marin Audubon Society, and Point Reyes National Seashore Association’s Field Institute. Learn more about them at their website: I’m Birding Right Now There is no charge for this outing, which is made possible by the voters of Sonoma County who fund the work of Ag + Open Space with a quarter-cent sales tax. Information Source: Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation | eventbrite

Join us for a presentation about these iconic and elegant wading birds, often spotted at the stunning Laguna de Santa Rosa. Discover the fascinating natural history of species tracked by the Heron and Egret Project , from the majestic Great Blue Heron to the striking Snowy Egret. We'll dive into their anatomy, behavior, and unique adaptations, all while uncovering the secrets of their courtship and nesting habits. As the Laguna is home to the largest heronry in the North Bay , we’ll also talk about local nesting population trends and what makes this area a birdwatcher’s paradise. Don't miss this chance to get up close with nature’s most graceful creatures! Presenter Bio: Emiko holds a master's degree in biology/landscape ecology from Sonoma State University and dual bachelor's degrees in biology and environmental studies from UC Santa Cruz. Her research focuses on how spatial patterns in human-altered landscapes affect biological communities. Her graduate work examined the role of host woodland patterns in sudden oak death dynamics. At the Cypress Grove Research Center, she manages long-term biological monitoring projects and collaborates on conservation research. Emiko is also an active member of the local conservation GIS community. Information Source: Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation | eventbrite

Information Source: Nyah | eventbrite

Please join us for an afternoon of honoring some outstanding leaders in our community! The 2025 Leaders of the North Bay Honorees are: Murray Legacy Leadership, Lifetime of Leadership: Diana and Roger Rhoten , Sebastiani Theatre United We Stand, Community Building: Bank of America Paint the Community Green , Environmental Stewardship: Sonoma Clean Power The “Light Bulb” Went On, Innovative/Entrepreneurial Spirit: Generation Housing Closing the D.E.I. Gap, Leadership involving uplifting unheard voices: Kaiser Permanente San Rafael From Red Tape to Red Carpet, Leadership in Government: Anne Richman , Transportation Authority of Marin In addition to the awards ceremony, NBLC will recognize 2 Youth Leaders in our community and present scholarships to them all. Thank you to our wonderful sponsors: Information Source: North Bay Leadership Council | eventbrite

Curious about how AI (artificial intelligence) can help your work, beyond the headlines and hype? Join us for a fast-paced, high-level introduction to ChatGPT and the latest AI tools, tailored for professionals, small and medium-sized business owners, team leaders, and anyone looking to get more done with less effort. Since ChatGPT launched in late 2023, a lot has changed. With the release of GPT-4o and AI reasoning models, new capabilities go far beyond just chatting. We’ll explore how to take advantage of these powerful tools, right inside ChatGPT. We’ll cover: How to prompt effectively to get better, more useful responses Choosing the right model (GPT-4o, 4.5, reasoning models like o3, o4-mini, and when to use additional tools) 4o Voice + Vision features Generating and editing custom visuals and graphics Coding and troubleshooting Uploading and analyzing files, PDFs, spreadsheets, images, and links The power of Deep Research Using tasks to turn ChatGPT into a smart assistant Creating your own Custom GPTs, no coding needed Practical use cases others are using today Live Q&A session Whether you’re just starting out with ChatGPT or have used it casually and want to unlock its full potential, this 60-minute session will give you a clear overview of what’s possible, and how to start getting real value from AI tools in your day-to-day work. · Time: 60 minutes · Includes live Q&A · No tech background needed Presenter Shaun Ralston is a 25-year business development executive with experience spanning VC startups (WebVan), healthcare tech (Sutter Health), and artificial intelligence (OpenAI). He is currently a contractor in API business development and onboarding commercial clients with artificial intelligence solutions. Hillary Lyons is a marketing consultant who helps startups and small businesses turn emerging tech into practical tools for growth. With 13 years of experience building standout brands across food, wine, nonprofits, and tech, she now designs custom AI systems that fit seamlessly into organizations’ existing workflows. Information Source: coLAB | eventbrite

Starts at 7pm! Walter Etc. Dillon Forsyth Mitchell Buckley Jovan Gurrola Izzy Lilly Information Source: eventbrite

NAMI Sonoma County - Celebrating 40 Years Come join us for a special event as we celebrate 40 years of NAMI Sonoma County! We are thrilled to host this in person gathering at Balletto Vineyards . It's a time to reflect on our achievements, honor our community, and look forward to the future. Let's come together to share stories, enjoy good company, and raise a toast to the incredible journey of NAMI Sonoma County. Don't miss out on this milestone celebration! Information Source: NAMI Sonoma County | eventbrite