Memorial Day Weekend 2023: 18 Things To Do Near Rohnert Park, Cotati

ROHNERT PARK AND COTATI, CA — This Memorial Day, veterans and the fallen will be honored at ceremonies in Rohnert Park and several other Sonoma County cities. Large crowds are also expected at the 74th annual Healdsburg Future Farmers Twilight Parade — traditionally held the Thursday before Memorial Day weekend — and at the Healdsburg Future Farmers Country Fair through Saturday night at Rec Park.

BottleRock Napa Valley, also traditionally held on Memorial Day Weekend, returns to the North Bay for the 10th year. There is also a Memorial Day Car show along with other events, and veterans and military enjoy free admission to California State Parks.

Memorial Day is a nearly 160-year tradition that pays tribute to military personnel who lost their lives in service to their country.

Here are some Memorial Day ceremonies:

• Petaluma Memorial Day Ceremony, 11 a.m. Monday at Cypress Hill Memorial Park, 430 Magnolia Ave.; free refreshments to follow at the Veterans Memorial Building, 1094 Petaluma Blvd. South
• Rohnert Park Memorial Day Ceremony, 10 a.m. Monday at Rohnert Park Community Center, 5401 Snyder Lane; additionally, the Avenue of Flags will be on display at the Community Center Complex
• 65th Annual Sonoma Valley Joint Memorial Day Observance, 11 a.m. Monday at Sonoma Veterans Memorial Park, 126 1st St. West in Sonoma, followed by lunch next door at the Veterans Memorial Building
• Santa Rosa Memorial Day Ceremony, 10 a.m. at Santa Rosa Memorial Park, 1900 Franklin Ave.
• Shiloh District Cemetery's annual Memorial Day Commemorative Ceremony, noon Monday, 7130 Windsor Road, Windsor
• Memorial Day Service at Sebastopol Memorial Lawns, 11 a.m. Monday, 7951 Bodega Ave., followed by refreshments at Sebastopol Veterans Memorial Building, 282 High St.

As the observance has changed over the years, many families also use Memorial Day as an occasion to visit local cemeteries and leave flowers at the graves of family members, regardless of whether they served in the military.

Memorial Day Weekend is also the unofficial kickoff to summer. Below are more ways to spend the weekend:

• Memorial Day Car Show, 10 a.m.- 2 p..m Monday, Newsong Church, 167 Arata Lane, Windsor. Free, family-friendly event. In addition to classic cars on display, there are food trucks and activities like bounce houses and face painting.
• 74th Annual Healdsburg Future Farmers Twilight Parade, 6 p.m. Thursday
• Healdsburg Future Farmers Country Fair, Thursday night, Friday and Saturday, Recreation Park, 515 Piper St.
• Petaluma Adobe Living History Day, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Saturday, Petaluma Adobe State Historic Park
• SOMOS CUMBIA: Music, food vendors, arts and crafts for all ages, 2 p.m. Sunday at Luther Burbank Center for the Arts in Santa Rosa
• California State Parks offering free admission for veterans, active and reserve military on Memorial Day, Monday, May 29. See a list here of participating parks. Veterans, active duty and reserve military personnel must show a valid military ID, or proof of discharge other than dishonorable or bad conduct, in order to receive the free admission.
• Help place flags at Santa Rosa Memorial Park, 9 a.m. Saturday gather at Veteran's Patio for instructions and proceed with placing flags immediately after. 1900 Franklin Ave., Santa Rosa.
• Cloverdale's Friday Night Live 2023 kicks off at 6 p.m. Friday, May 26, at Cloverdale Downtown Plaza, 113 Broad St.
• Comedy Open Mic Night Memorial Day Event, 8 p.m. Sunday, Hopmonk Tavern Sebastopol
• BottleRock Napa Valley Music, Food, Wine and Brew Festival featuring Post Malone, Duran Duran and Red Hot Chili Peppers, Lizzo, Smashing Pumpkins, more. Friday-Sunday, Napa Valley Expo. Visit the Ticket Exchange.
• According to VisitNapavalley.com: If you can’t score tickets but still want to participate in the fun, check out some of the BottleRock-adjacent parties. Dance the day away at Chateau Buena Vista's Crocodile BottleRock and Be Bubbly's Bubblerock: Bubbles, Drag & DJ , or check out the action at BottleRock After Hours at Solage.
• Picnic At The Pond, Ram's Gate Winery, Sonoma 11:45 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Saturday-Monday

The history of Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, dates back to 1868, when Gen. John A. Logan called for a day of remembrance to honor the Northern lives lost amid battle during the Civil War that had ended just a few years earlier, according to History.com. As time passed, more and more people called it Memorial Day, and it became a federal holiday in 1971.

Waterloo, New York, is considered the birthplace of Memorial Day. The town’s observance on May 5, 1866, predated Logan’s call for a day of remembrance. Local businesses closed and residents decorated the graves of fallen soldiers with flowers and flags.

Until World War I, the holiday honored only those soldiers who died while fighting for the Union in the War, as Southern states honored their war dead on a separate day. After the 116,000-plus American deaths in World War I, the tradition changed to remember all who have died while serving in the military.

Every year, a national moment of remembrance is held at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day. No matter where they are or what they’re doing, Americans are asked to pause for one minute in silence to remember military personnel who have given their lives in service to their country.

According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, the midday time was chosen because it’s a time when many Americans will be enjoying their freedoms on a national holiday.