Weekend Planner for Tres, Quatro y Cinco de Mayo in Sonoma

The coincidence of Cinco de Mayo and this premature summer weather makes this the busiest weekend we’ve seen in awhile. You almost need a calendar to keep track of it all, which is not a bad idea come to think of it. Try this one:

Friday May 3rd from 6 to 8 p.m., the Arts Guild of Sonoma has their opening reception for the  annual “Cheap But Grand Works” exhibition at the gallery. It runs from May 3rd to June 3rd at the AGS gallery on 140 East Napa Street in Sonoma.

That same night at the Centre du Vin Bistro, Mexican singer Luna Itzel performs two dinner shows at 6 and 8 p.m. For reservations contact

From 7:30 – 10:00 at Epicurean Connection, it’s the return of singer-songwriter Brandon Hassur for another sure-to-be crowded evening. As usual they’ll be delicious craft beer and wine and artisan cheese plates on the menu; the music is free.

On Saturday, May 4, the Sonoma County Trails Council will host a volunteer trail work day at Jack London State Historic Park. Meet at 9 a.m. at the upper parking lot, look for the white Trails Council tool trailer. Parking passes, Clif bars and beverages will be provided.

Bring a daypack and lunch, gloves, a hat and water that you can take with you while working, and wear long pants, boots or sturdy shoes and sunscreen. No experience necessary; tools and trained crew leaders will be on hand. Work will finish around 3 p.m.

Also Saturday, at 11:00 am it’s time for another Classic Car Cruise-Ins at B.R. Cohn Winery, with featured Car Club the Bay Area Roadster Club. Visitors to the B.R. Cohn tasting room can enjoy pourings of the Classic Car Wine series plus the classic cars on display around the tasting room and patio area. 

Early evening brings the SVHS Booster Bash, 5:30 - 11:00 p.m., at Hanna Boys Center Event Pavilion. We expect a righteous & rockin' BBQ,  silent and live auctions, “Dragon Cocktails” and appetizers, to help raise funds for the SVHS Boosters to benefit all extra-curricular activities at SVHS. Tickets can be purchased online at sonomavalleyhigh.org or make your check payable to SVHS Boosters and mail to P. O. Box 1264, Sonoma, CA 95476. All tickets will be held at Will Call. Tables of 10 are available.

There are two ways to make a night of it on the dance floor. One is salsa dancing at Mambo at the Moose with the Carlos Herrera Band and headliners Batacha, with salsa dance dancing lessons in between. The evening kicks off at 6 p.m. with a no-host bar followed by an enchilada dinner with. For more info, call 799-9000.

Saturday’s other big dance event is dancing in a ballroom style, Dancing with Our Stars 2013 at the Sonoma Veterans Building. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and  the dance floor will be open to the public before the event begins and while the votes are tallied, so bring your dancing shoes. Check out details here, and watch for exclusive Patch coverage from editor-dancer Keri Brenner.

Sunday May 5 - 10:00 am to 2  p.m. The Glen Ellen Community Farmers Market returns to Jack London Village on Sunday, May 5, featuring local produce, food, crafts and gifts. Expect vendors selling anything from heirloom tomatoes to sausage, hummus and honey, along with lots of other seasonal produce and fruit. Jack London Village is located at 14301 Arnold Drive.

Still standing?

Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. there’s the weekend's biggest holiday fiesta, Cinco de Mayo Festival and Tamale Cookoff at Cornerstone Gardens. Mexican folk dancing, tamale tasting, cooking demonstrations, kid’s activities, lunch and more – all included in one $18 ticket price ($8 for kids).

Sunday, May 5 at 3:00 P.M. the newly redesigned Andrews Hall will resonate with music when the Valley of the Moon Chamber Ensemble holds its annual spring concert. Tickets are $20 general admission and $30 reserved seating, and may be purchased online at www.svbo.org or by calling the Sonoma Community Center at 938-4626 ext.1, or at the door if not sold out. 

Also Sunday, at the Sonoma Valley Veterans Memorial Building, there’s the Benefit for Shelly Huybers from 2 p.m. on. The line-up is still being finalized, but expect the Whiskey Thieves, the Noma RockSteady Band, Ian Hinkley, 3 on a Match and more.