Your Local Petaluma Guide
Things to Do in Petaluma
Fireworks over the river, downtown festivals, weekly farmers markets, and live music on warm summer nights. Here is your friendly, easy guide to the best of small-town Petaluma this July, as the nation marks America’s 250th birthday.
July is Petaluma at its finest. The historic riverfront downtown fills with art, music, and shoppers, the parks host morning walks and markets, and the whole town turns out to watch the fireworks light up the sky. Whether you live here or you are just passing through Sonoma County, here is everything worth circling on your calendar this month, from one big celebration to the dependable weekly favorites.
Mark Your Calendar
Special dates to plan around this month, listed in order.
Fireworks Over Petaluma
Petaluma rings in Independence Day with its signature high-elevation fireworks show, launched from the Petaluma Fairgrounds and visible from parks and neighborhoods all over town. This year carries extra meaning as the country celebrates its 250th birthday. Grab a blanket, find an open view, and look to the skies after dark. A reminder from the city: personal fireworks, including sparklers, are not allowed anywhere in Petaluma.
Art and Garden Festival
One of downtown’s most beloved summer traditions returns with more than 100 booths of original art, garden finds, jewelry, home decor, food, wine, craft beer, and live music. Admission is free, with tasting packages available, and festival headquarters sits in the garden court of the Petaluma Historical Library and Museum. It is a sun-filled, family-friendly day spread across Kentucky, Fourth, and B Streets.
The Stinkfoot Orchestra at the Mystic Theatre
Spend a summer evening at the Mystic Theatre, the North Bay’s premier music venue inside a beautifully restored 1911 vaudeville house in the heart of downtown. This date brings an evening with The Stinkfoot Orchestra, a high-energy celebration of the music of Frank Zappa featuring Napoleon Murphy Brock. Please note this is a 21-and-over show.
Petaluma City Council Meeting
Want to know what is happening in town and have a say in it? The Petaluma City Council meets on the first and third Mondays of the month, which in July means the 6th and the 20th. Meetings are open to the public, with the regular session beginning at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber at City Hall. Agendas, packets, and virtual viewing options are posted ahead of time on the city’s meetings page, so check there to confirm before you go.
Petaluma Music Festival, 19th Annual
Petaluma’s biggest music day of the year fills the fairgrounds with 14 bands across three stages, including national names like 10,000 Maniacs, The Smithereens, Chuck Prophet, Cherry Poppin’ Daddies, and Alejandro Escovedo. It is a true community celebration: this nonprofit festival donates all proceeds to music education programs in every Petaluma area public school. Kids 12 and under get in free with a paying adult, and there is local beer, food, and shaded seating on site.
The Great Summer Sidewalk Sale
Petaluma’s historic downtown shops spill out onto the sidewalks for four days of summer deals. Stroll the brick-lined streets, hunt for bargains from local boutiques and stores, and make a day of it with lunch at one of the many riverfront restaurants. It is a relaxed, only-in-Petaluma way to support small business and beat the heat with a little browsing.
Every Week in Petaluma
The dependable summer favorites you can count on all month long.
East Side Farmers Market
A year-round Petaluma favorite at Lucchesi Park, with more than 20 local farmers and vendors selling fresh produce, eggs, meats, baked goods, coffee, hot brunch and lunch, and handmade goods, plus weekly live entertainment. An easygoing, friendly way to start the week and stock the kitchen.
Walnut Park Farmers Market
On Saturday afternoons from spring through fall, leafy Walnut Park downtown hosts a certified farmers market with flowers, grass-fed meats, seafood, fresh fruit and vegetables, and baked goods, while musicians play from the central gazebo. Bring a bag, grab a treat, and settle in for the afternoon.
Petaluma River Park Walks
Get outside at the new Petaluma River Park. Join a relaxed group walk around the 1.4-mile loop every Tuesday morning, or take part in the free 10-week Summer Walking Group on Thursdays (July 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30) that meets at Grand Central Petaluma with Blue Zones Project ambassadors and park docents. All paces are welcome.
Summer Reading at the Library
The recently renovated Petaluma Regional Library runs Sonoma County Library’s Summer Reading program for all ages through August 1, with free fun, prizes, and events to keep minds active over the break. During the summer, kids can also read out loud to the gentle therapy dogs of the PALS program. Check the branch page for storytimes and special programs.
Dining and Live Music at Brewsters Beer Garden
For an easy summer night out, Brewsters Beer Garden on the downtown riverfront serves Southern-style barbecue and California produce alongside more than 30 rotating craft beers, with a fire pit, bocce, a kids’ play area, and a dog-friendly patio. Through the summer there is live music on the outdoor stage most weekends. It is a relaxed, only-in-Petaluma spot to gather.
Live at Lagunitas Concert Series
Lagunitas Brewing Company’s free summer concert series brings touring artists to the intimate outdoor amphitheater, with food trucks and TapRoom-only beers on hand. Shows are free but require a ticket, released about three weeks before each date, and they go fast. The 2026 lineup is announced one act at a time, so check ahead. This is a 21-and-over series, and proceeds support the local SPCA.
City Summer Camps and Swim Lessons
School is out, so the City of Petaluma Parks and Recreation department fills July with youth summer day camps, classes, and programs, plus swim lessons and recreation swim at the city pools. It is a great resource for local families looking to keep kids busy, active, and out of the house while the sun is shining.
Historic Churches Welcome Visitors
Petaluma’s historic downtown is home to welcoming congregations. The landmark twin-spired St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church is worth a look for its architecture alone and holds regular Sunday Mass, while Elim Lutheran Church on Stanley Street is well known around town for its community service and outreach. Visitors and newcomers are warmly received at both.
★ Good to Know
We work hard to keep this guide complete and current, but we cannot list every single happening around town. Are you hosting a Petaluma event in July? Send it our way at tiv360.com/contact-the-inventors-velocity and we will consider adding it.
Dates, times, prices, and details can change, so please confirm directly with each event or venue before you head out. petaluma-ca-directory.com is not affiliated with the organizers of these events and cannot guarantee event details.
