Weekend fun: Parades, monster trucks, wine tasting

There's plenty to do this weekend around Sonoma County, with parades in Petaluma and Sebastopol, the annual Passport wine tasting in Dry Creek Valley and the thrills of monster trucks at the fairgrounds. Here's a guide to weekend highlights.

SEBASTOPOL APPLE BLOSSOM FESTIVAL

The Apple Blossom Festival revolves around an old-fashioned parade complete with baton-wielding drum majors, marching bands and beauty queens. The festival runs 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at Ives Park and the Sebastopol Veterans Memorial Building, 282 High St. The parade is 10 a.m. to noon Saturday along Main Street, where the theme is “Wild West Blossoms.” Parade is free; admission to the festival is $7 for adults, $5 for seniors and students 11 to 17. For further information, visit www.sebastopol.org

BUTTER & EGG DAY PARADE & CELEBRATION

In Petaluma, the Butter & Egg Days parade and celebration runs 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Admission is free. The parade runs through downtown Petaluma, from D Street to Washington Street, from Fourth Street to Water Street. It has grown so huge that for the first time, there will be a parallel parade for children only, beginning at 11:30 a.m. at Walnut Park. A cutest chick contest — for costumed entrants 6 years or younger — will be held at 10:15 a.m. at the Kentucky Street Stage. Adults can test their athletic mettle in a Cow Chip Throwing Contest at 10:15 a.m. Saturday, in front of McNear’s. For more information, call 763-0344

MONSTER TRUCKS

Have tons of noisy fun during the monster truck races, at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday in the Chris Beck Arena, Sonoma County Fairgrounds, 1350 Bennett Valley Road, Santa Rosa. $5 to $18 advance; $7 to $20 day of show. For further information, call 528-8497 or go to monsterjamonline.com.

CHICKENQUE

This is the annual fund-raiser for Sonoma County 4-H: A barbecue with live music and dancing, along with informational booths. It will held 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday at the Lyttle Cow Palace and Sheep Barn at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds. Tickets at the door are $8 a plate.

PASSPORT TO DRY CREEK VALLEY

Passport weekend is the time to drink in the offerings of the Dry Creek Valley. About 45 wineries will be open, and the event is so popular — expecting to draw more than 4,000 participants — it already is sold out. For information about participating wineries, call 433-3031 or visit www.wdcv.com.