Eyes Wild Open

2015 Sonoma Optics and Nature Festival

You've got eyes like a hawk when it comes to spotting an owl of a good time. So mark your calendar and get up to wine country for the 4th Annual Wine Country Optics and Nature Festival on the Sonoma Plaza. It's free and it's a sight to see! When: Sunday, September 20, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Where: The historic Sonoma Barracks—a California Historical Landmark facing the lively central plaza of Sonoma and within easy walking distance to fantastic wineries, boutique shops, hotels, and restaurants. So what will you see? Owls and hawks and birds galore, bats and falcons and live music and more! Over 50 Northern California nature organizations will be celebrating wildlife, wilderness, and the great outdoors. Check out works by renowned nature artists and enjoy a traditional procession by the Pomo Indians. Meet the people behind WildAid and the Snow Leopard Conservancy, plus get the buzz on the Urban Bee Lab of UC Berkeley. Even Smokey Bear will be there! With so much fun and cool stuff going on, how can you focus?! Very easily, thanks to the ten world-class optics companies who manufacture binoculars and spotting scopes. Leading optics companies including Swarovski, Nikon, and Zeiss will be doing demos and letting you try their latest products. This special event is free … so come to wine country September 20 and see!

The Wine Country Optics and Nature Festival is Sunday, September 20, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., at the historic Sonoma Barracks & La Casa Grande Plaza (20 E. Spain St.), right across from Sonoma's historic plaza and surrounded by wineries, shopping boutiques, hotels, and restaurants. __Celebrate Sonoma's good nature. There is no charge to attend this event. 

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Sponsored

    Redding Lights and Silent Nights

    Give your holiday events calendar a major glow up this winter in California’s sunniest city. Redding is a revelation: Surrounded by iconic scenery like Mount Shasta, Lassen Volcanic National Park, and Whiskeytown National Recreation Area.

    View
  2. A Hike to the Past

    This 5.2-mile redwoods hike through El Corte de Madera Creek Open Space combines a relaxing stroll with unique geologic formations and historical artifacts.

    View
  3. Golden Mile

    Dubbed the Golden Mile, this car-free stretch of road in Golden Gate Park features rotating art installations of murals, sculptures, and abundant bright yellow Adirondack chairs for kicking back to relax. See Naga, the recent new addition here, an impressive sea serpent art installation at Golden Gate Park's Rainbow

    View
  4. Hike at Olompali State Historic Park in Marin

    Historically Serene

    Olompali State Historic Park is a small park that packs big California history. Go on a mostly easy 3-mile loop hike where oak trees, big-leaf maples, and madrones are stunning in autumn.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. The Undead Ghost Town

    Every Halloween, the worlds of the living and the dead blur together. In the “living ghost town” of Randsburg that condition is permanent. This strange gold-rush town near the El P

    View
  2. Montebello Mission

    Adorable animal feeding, peaceful bird watching, and delicious beer drinking? Hello, Montebello! This northeastern city has fantastic views of the hulking San Gabriels and a variety of green spaces, not to mention great spots for beer(s)!

    View
  3. Woman kneeling by the creek at Chino Creek Wetlands

    Wetland Wander-Fall

    Chino Creek Wetlands is proof you don’t always have to go far to find an escape in nature. Located in the heart of Chino in part of the Santa Ana River watershed, the Chino Creek Wetlands has 1.7 miles of trails, but really this is a place to explore without a lot of fuss.

    View
  4. Mulholland's Most Majestic

    Take a leisurely drive along Mulholland Drive to discover beautiful urban scenery and unexpected wild beauty, right in the middle of the city. 

    View