Forest Knolls
Stranger Things
Wreckless Strangers bring their self-described “Ameri-Cali Soul” to the historic Paper Mill Creek Saloon for a Friday-night dose of homegrown rock ’n’ roll. The six-piece Bay Area outfit pulls from blues, Americana, funk and the freewheeling San Francisco tradition, with Amber Morris and David Noble sharing lead vocals alongside Joshua Zucker, Mick Hellman, Rob Anderson and Fletcher Nielsen. The band is supporting Dirty Souls, their third studio release with Grammy-winning producer Dave Way, which leans into the ’70s and ’80s rock that helped shape them. The Forest Knolls stop comes just two weeks before Wreckless Strangers head to Golden Gate Park for an appearance at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass. 8:30pm, Friday, Sept. 18, at Paper Mill Creek Saloon, 1 Castro St., Forest Knolls. $15 at the door. 21+. papermillcreeksaloon.com.
St. Helena
Good Health, Good Life
OLE Health Foundation celebrates 40 years of supporting healthcare in Napa Valley with the return of Vida OLE!, a three-day convergence of wine, food and philanthropy. This year’s festivities launch a $5 million capital campaign to purchase and expand OLE Health’s St. Helena health center, nearly doubling its capacity to serve more than 5,000 patients annually. The weekend culminates at Quintessa with a reception featuring Up Valley restaurants and wineries, followed by dinner, live auction and Latin dance music from Grammy-winning Pacific Mambo Orchestra. The foundation will also honor Darioush founder Darioush Khaledi with its 2026 John Shafer Visionary Award for his longtime support of community healthcare in Napa County. 6pm, Saturday, Sept. 19, at Quintessa, 1601 Silverado Trail S., St. Helena. $1,000; Vida OLE! Weekend Pass $1,750. https://communicareole.org/auction/.
Sonoma
Give Peace a Plaza
Sonoma Plaza gets a peaceful takeover when Sonoma Ashram presents Peace in the Plaza, a free community gathering marking the United Nations International Day of Peace. The afternoon mixes contemplation with celebration, including live music from the Sukhawat Ali Khan Band and Vox Populi, guided meditation with Sonoma Ashram founder Baba Harihar Ramji, open-air yoga, Qi Gong, sound healing and a wellness sanctuary offering massage, Ayurveda, acupuncture and Reiki. Families can find yoga, read-alongs, paper-crane making and finger painting, while local civic, faith and community groups gather throughout the plaza. At noon, festivities pause for a minute of silence coinciding with the UN’s global observance—a little quiet in the middle of Sonoma, heard around the world. 11:30am–5:30pm, Monday, Sept. 21, at Sonoma Plaza, 452 First St. E., Sonoma. Free.
Sausalito
Power to the People
What can ordinary citizens actually do to influence American democracy? Bay Area attorney, author and political organizer Gary Lucks takes up the question in We Are the Power: To Win the Future, a practical guide to turning political concern into grassroots action. Lucks comes to Sausalito Books by the Bay for a conversation with former California Senate President pro Tempore and Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg about citizen organizing, the 2026 midterms and political participation beyond the ballot box. The evening includes an audience Q&A and book signing. 6pm, Wednesday, Sept. 23, at Sausalito Books by the Bay, 100 Bay St. sausalitobooksbythebay.com.
Windsor
Sound the Grito
Windsor Town Green comes alive with the sights and sounds of Mexico for El Grito de Windsor, a free celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. Representatives from the Mexican Consulate lead the traditional El Grito ceremony, followed by an afternoon of music and dance featuring Luther Burbank Mariachi, Ballet Folclórico Cali Calmecac, Ballet Folclórico Sarita, traditional dancing horses and a spotlight concert from La Sonora Tropicana. The celebration will also honor Cali Calmecac first-grade teacher Pedro De Luna, recently named Best Teacher/Educator in the Press Democrat’s 2026 Best of Sonoma County Readers’ Choice Awards. Presented by Somos Windsor, the family-friendly fiesta includes free entertainment and food for purchase. 4–8pm, Saturday, Sept. 19, at Windsor Town Green. Free.
Petaluma
Waste Not
One artist’s trash is another artist’s medium at Petaluma Arts Center’s It’s Not Trash: Reclaiming and Transforming. Curated by Lisa Lightman, the exhibition brings together work by 40 artists from Recology San Francisco’s Artist in Residence Program and invited Bay Area artists who turn discarded materials into objects of fascination, reflection and unexpected beauty. The companion North Gallery exhibition, Strictly Local: Piecing It Together in Sonoma County, keeps things closer to home, with Sonoma County artists and community members repurposing fabric, plastic bags, cardboard, clothing, e-waste and other overlooked remnants. Opening night adds some wearable recycling to the mix as participants from Sonoma Community Center’s Trashion Fashion strut creations fashioned from recycled materials and found objects. Guests are encouraged to dress accordingly. 5:30–7:30pm, Thursday, Sept. 17, at Petaluma Arts Center, 230 Lakeville St. Exhibitions run Sept. 17–Oct. 24.
