March 7 - 13

• March 7 - 9 : 30th Annual Russian River Wine Road Barrel Tasting
  To taste, everyone must purchase a tasting glass and event wristband at the first winery they visit, each weekend. 100 wineries welcome you for an exciting weekend of wine tasting and "futures" in the Alexander, Dry Creek and Russian River Valleys. (The gist of barrel tasting events is that you can sample a wine that’s still in the barrel and not yet finished. Then, you can usually compare that to a finished, aged wine. It’s a fun way to educate yourself and your pallet. Plus, if you find promise in what you've tasted, you can "call dibs" on future bottles, and usually get a good deal on them as well.) $1 of each tasting glass sale donated to Redwood Empire Food Bank.
  11am – 4pm; $20; Call for locations; (800) 723-6336

• March 7 : Sonoma Academy hosts Rory Stewart
  Diplomat, author, former deputy governor of two Iraqi provinces and the CEO of Afghanistan’s Turquoise Mountain Foundation, Stewart will speak about his day-to-day dealings with tribal elders, Afghan and western government officials and foreign aid workers, as well as the broader challenges and opportunities encountered in the region today.
  7pm; Free; 50 mark West Springs Rd., Santa Rosa, (707) 545-1770
• March : Live Theater this Weekend
  Boston Marriage in Santa Rosa, Cosi Fan Tutte in Petaluma, and more.
  
• March 7 – 22 : Children’s Theater: The Fairies of Boglewood
  See what happens when a pair of greedy humans try to steal gold form the Fairies. Family fun at affordable prices. (707) 544-5995
  • See listing of local plays in March.
• March 7 – 10 : Artisan Cheese Festival
  Enjoy the finest handcrafted cheeses, foods, wines and beers. Meet award-winning cheesemakers, chefs and cheese experts, and learn how to taste, select, serve and enjoy artisan cheeses. 10% of all festival ticket proceeds will be donated to five nonprofits that support the artisan cheesemaking community and seek to eliminate hunger in the North Coast region.
  Time varies; $35 - $75, packages available; Hosted by the Sheraton Sonoma County-Petaluma Hotel. locations vary; (707) 283-2890

• March 7 – April 13 : Mars, Next of Kin
  Mars, seen in our sky this spring, is considered to be more like planet Earth than any of the other planets, more so in the past and less so now. Join us as we learn about this fascinating world: its past, present, and the possible journey of man to Mars.
  Fridays and Saturdays at 7 and 8:30pm and Sundays at 1:30 and 3pm; at the SRJC Planetarium; 1501 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa (707) 527- 4372
• March 8 : Art Reception at River front Art Gallery
  4pm, 8pm; Free; 132 Petaluma Boulevard North, Petaluma; (707) 775-4278
• March 8 : Sonoma County Bluegrass & Folk Festival
  8th annual event featuring a variety of Bluegrass, Old Time & Folk music. Seven bands, workshops, and lots of space to jam! Indoor festival seating and food & beverage concessions on site.
  1 – 9pm; $27-$32; Sebastopol Community Center, 390 Morris St., Sebastopol; (707) 829-8012
• March 8 : Artists’ Reception at Sebastopol Gallery
  Reception for the spring show, "Forest & Sky," celebrating the rebirth of life and the renewal of light. Meet the artists, view their works, and enjoy refreshments and music.
  5pm – 7pm; Free; 150 North Main St., Sebastopol; (707) 829-7200
• March 8 & 29 : Guided Nature Walk At Bouverie Preserve
  Public access to the beautiful Bouverie Preserve is available one or two days a month through their mild to moderate 2-5 mile hikes led by Bouverie volunteers.
  9:30am – 1:30pm reservation only; $15 suggested donation; Bouverie Preserve; (707) 829-7200
• March 8 – 9 : North Bay Family Expo
  The largest family resource fair in the North Bay. Hands-on activities for kids and entertainment throughout the weekend. Brought to you by California Parenting Institute.
  10am – 6pm; $3 children, $6 adult, $4 seniors; 1350 Bennett Valley Rd., Santa Rosa; (707) 585-6108 x123
• March 9 : The Moody Blues at the Wells Fargo Center
  Join this legendary band with a incredible roster of hits, including "Nights In White Satin", "Ride My See Saw", "The Story In Your Eyes", "Isn't Life Strange", "Question", "I'm Just A Singer" (In A Rock And Roll Band), and "Your Wildest Dreams” etc.
  8pm; $55 - $115; 50 Mark West Spring Road, Santa Rosa; (707) 546-3600
• March 9 : Wildlife Fawn Rescue Open House
  Activities and displays for adults and children to enjoy and learn about living in harmony with wildlife. Learn where their fawns come from, what they eat in the wild and how you can help if you find a fawn.
  3pm – 6pm; Free; Kenwood Depot, 314 Warm Springs Rd., Kenwood; (707) 291-8151
• March 9 : Calabazas Creek Hike
  This outing will give hikers a rare opportunity to experience the Calabazas Creek Open Space Preserve during its transition from winter to spring. Our hike leaders are specialists in Vegetation Management and Salmonid Habitat Restoration.
  9am – 3pm; Call for reservations; Nuns Canyon Rd., Valley of the Moon; (707) 996-0712 x 108
• March 10 : Santa Rosa REI Banff Mt. Film Festival
  REI hosts this special evening of award-winning adventure films and videos from the 2007 festival in Banff, Alberta.
  7pm; $ 15-$18; (707) 540-9025
• March 13 : Café Jazz Seriesat Palette Art Cafe
  7 – 10pm; Free with 2 drink minimum; 235 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg; (707) 433-2788
• March 13 : Magic of Ireland at the Wells Fargo Center
  The show features some of the world's finest dancers accompanied by superb traditional musicians. Experience a spectacular evening of traditional Irish dance, music, and vocals enhanced by stunning costumes, lighting, and sound.
  8pm; $10, $15; 50 Mark West Springs Rd., Santa Rosa; (707) 546-3600
  • See more events for St. Patrick’s Day.
• March 13 : Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas
  Duo with one of Scotland's finest fiddle players and young American cellist with their roots deep in Celtic tradition.
  8pm; $22, $27 premium; Sebastopol Community Center 390 Morris St, Sebastopol; (707) 823-1511