Screaming Good Garden

In the spirit of Halloween season, combine a classic scary movie backdrop with two big deals on the arts scene in the beautiful hamlet of Sonoma. Just a few minutes east of the historic walkable plaza, the Sonoma Community Center may look familiar to movie buffs of the 1996 horror film, Scream. That’s because the center was used as the famed fictitious Woodsboro High School.

Step inside today and you’ll find the Sonoma Community Center a thriving enclave for arts, culture, and creativity of all kinds. There’s even a small theater. Find the stairway where Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) was chased; see the upstairs hallway and classroom from the film (in real life it’s the Printmaking Studio); and check out the commemorative display case of Scream and Woodsboro history. The front of the building will look familiar to “Screamers” too.

Outside, the Sonoma Community Center has some beautiful outdoor gardens for relaxing and taking in a new art exhibit. Meet Moringa and Marigold, life-size sculptures of a mother and her infant elephant, brought to Sonoma as part of The Great Elephant Migration global art exhibit. Located in the front garden, Moringa and Marigold were handmade by artists from The Real Elephant Collective, using lantana—an invasive weed across the globe.

Removing the weeds makes more space for other plants and wildlife. The weeds are then recycled into sculptures and other artwork. You can kiss the elephants, you can hug the elephants, you just can’t climb on them. Our recommendation? Sit among them on one of the benches or chairs in the garden, and just enjoy the quiet beauty of it.

BONUS WINE: Nearby Sojourn Cellars is a boutique tasting room with high-scoring pinots, chardonnays, and cabernets. It's well worth a visit for a friendly patio tasting. Soujourn Cellars is dog-friendly!