Things to Do in Santa Rosa, CA in November 2026
Election Day, Thanksgiving traditions, big-name shows at the Luther Burbank Center, a holiday musical downtown, and free family days. Here is your month, in date order.
November in Santa Rosa packs a lot into four weeks. The month opens with the clocks falling back and a citywide vote on three City Council seats, rolls through a huge handmade craft show at the Fairgrounds and a free celebration of Sonoma County history, and wraps up with a Thanksgiving morning 5K at Old Courthouse Square and a Tower of Power funk night to burn off the pie.
Every event below is listed in strict chronological order with the venue address and a direct link so you can confirm times and grab tickets before you go.
📌 Key November Dates
The three days that matter most for Santa Rosa residents this month.
📅 November 2026 Calendar
Government, arts, festivals, museums, dining and holiday events, all in date order.
Daylight Saving Time Ends: Fall Back One Hour
Set your clocks back one hour before bed Saturday night. You gain an extra hour of sleep, and sunset moves to roughly 5:00 PM for the rest of the month, so plan evening walks on the Prince Memorial Greenway and Spring Lake trails a little earlier. It is also a good weekend to swap the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
First Sundays Salsa & Bachata Social
Kick off the month on the dance floor. This monthly downtown social opens with a beginner-friendly Salsa and Bachata lesson, no partner required, then turns into an open social with a DJ spinning Salsa, Bachata and Cumbia. City parking garages are free on Sundays, including one right across from the theatre.
2026 General Election Day
Santa Rosa City Council: Districts 2, 4 and 6 are on the ballot. Mayor Mark Stapp holds District 2 and Vice Mayor Jeff Okrepkie holds District 6, with both terms expiring in December 2026. In District 4, which covers parts of downtown plus the McDonald Avenue, Junior College, Hidden Valley and Fountaingrove neighborhoods, Councilmember Victoria Fleming is not seeking another term, so the seat is open.
Schools: City of Santa Rosa High School District Trustee Areas 2, 4 and 6 are also up, along with Sonoma County Board of Education and other local school board seats.
How to vote: Mail ballots must be postmarked on or before November 3 and received within seven days. Missed the registration deadline? California offers same-day conditional voter registration at any vote center. Check your sample ballot for the full list of candidates and local measures in your district.
Thursday Night Live Comedy at the Flamingo
The Flamingo’s weekly indoor stand-up night brings a fresh lineup of comics every Thursday to its retro mid-century lounge. The series wraps on November 19, so November is your last chance to catch it this year. Grab a cocktail and settle in.
Harvest Festival Original Art & Craft Show
Start your holiday shopping early at one of the longest-running juried craft shows in the West. Roughly 200 independent artists and makers fill the Fairgrounds with handmade jewelry, pottery, woodwork, fiber art and seasonal decor, plus a KidZone with art and craft activities for little ones.
Sonoma County Finding History Day 2026
Presented by the Sonoma County Historical Society and co-sponsored by Sonoma County Library, this free celebration gathers dozens of local historical and cultural organizations under one roof to show off archives, photographs, artifacts and upcoming projects. It is a fantastic morning for genealogy buffs, students and anyone curious about how Sonoma County came to be.
Veterans Day
Veterans Day is a federal and California state holiday. Expect many government offices, the post office and some public services to be closed or on modified schedules, so check before you make a trip downtown. It is a meaningful day to thank the veterans in your life and support local veterans organizations.
Second Saturday: Free Family Day
On the second Saturday of every month, admission to the Museum of Sonoma County is free all day. Explore both the art and history buildings, wander the native plant sculpture garden, and join the hands-on family activities. A budget-friendly downtown outing for the whole crew.
Anthony Jeselnik Live
The Emmy-nominated stand-up behind The Jeselnik Offensive and Good Talk brings his famously dark, razor-sharp comedy to Santa Rosa on his national tour. Adult audiences only in spirit, if not by rule: this is not a family show.
Meet Me in St. Louis: Opening Night
Set on the eve of the 1904 World’s Fair, this nostalgic musical follows the Smith family through a year of romance, humor and change. Expect beloved songs like “The Trolley Song,” “The Boy Next Door” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” A perfect bridge from Thanksgiving into the holidays.
In Conversation with Alton Brown
The creator of Good Eats and longtime Iron Chef America host brings his mix of food science, storytelling and quick wit to Santa Rosa just days before Thanksgiving. Bring your turkey questions.
Santa Rosa Turkey Trot 5K
Wobble before you gobble! Santa Rosa’s Thanksgiving morning tradition happens rain or shine, with a flat 5K course looping through downtown and along the Prince Memorial Greenway beside Santa Rosa Creek before finishing back at the Square. Runners, walkers, strollers and costumes are all welcome. Kids under five can join the Tiny Turkey, a quick dash around the square. The race benefits the Redwood Empire Food Bank.
Thanksgiving Dinner at John Ash & Co.
Skip the dishes this year. John Ash & Co., the farm-to-table restaurant founded by the late chef often called the father of Wine Country cuisine, hosts Thanksgiving dining at Vintners Resort each year, surrounded by vineyard views. Tables fill quickly, so call or check the website for the 2026 menu and pricing as soon as it posts.
Thanksgiving Buffet at the Flamingo Resort
The Flamingo has made its Thanksgiving buffet a local tradition, with past spreads featuring roast turkey, prime rib, salmon, ham, sage stuffing and plenty of sides and desserts in a mid-century setting. Confirm 2026 menu, times and pricing directly with the resort and reserve early.
Tower of Power Live in Concert
Work off the leftovers with the legendary Oakland horn band that has been defining East Bay funk and soul since 1968. Expect a brass-heavy, high-energy night that caps Thanksgiving weekend in style.
📋 Event Disclaimer
This guide highlights a selection of November 2026 events in and around Santa Rosa; it is not a complete list of everything happening in the area. Want your event considered for a future guide? Submit it through our contact page.
Event dates, times, prices, menus and venues can change without notice. Always confirm details directly with the organizer or venue before you go. SantaRosaBusinessList.info is not affiliated with, and does not endorse, any event organizer, venue, candidate or business listed here unless clearly stated. Election information is provided for voter awareness only.
Event details confirmed October 2026.
