Hi! This local Budget Guide is a work in progress, meaning, I’m always looking for contributions. So, if you know of a way to save a little—or a lot—of money in Santa Rosa and Sonoma County, send me a note at santarosa.guide@about.com. Or, if you have a specific question about specials in this area, just ask and I’ll try to find the answer.
Meal Deals
Movies on the Cheap
- Free Outdoor Movies:
Many towns in Sonoma County (specifically Santa Rosa, Windsor, Petaluma and Cotati) offer free outdoor movies during the summer. You bring something to sit on and something warm to wear, and then socialize and see a flick for free.
--Click to see a listing and details of Free Outdoor Movies
- $3 Kids/Family Movies:
During the summer, kids and their parents/guardians can catch a $3 flick at 3rd Street Cinema in downtown Sand Rosa and the Airport Cinema close to Windsor.
--Click to see the movie listing and details for the Kids’ Movie Series. - Matinees and the Tuesday Special
All local theaters offer matinee prices on movies that show before 6pm, plus they all have reduced rates Tuesdays, all day (as low as $4.50).
--See more information about Santa Rosa Movie Theaters -
Each month, Video Schmideo selects a different genre and rents movies from that group for $1 per movie for a week. Otherwise, movies are $4 for new releases, $3 for library titles, rent two get the third free every day.
Video Schmideo, 4910 Sonoma Hwy (at Middle Rincon), Santa Rosa, (707) 539-8500 [/p
Free Live Music
Ah, exceptionally good and free music abounds in Sonoma County. Some of the top places to see it are at the Healdsburg, Windsor and Santa Rosa Farmers’ Markets. Also in Santa Rosa, you can catch the Live at Juilliard Park series on Sunday afternoons (July 13 to August 18, 2008). And many wineries offer free music, notably St. Francis Winery, in Santa Rosa, just west of Kenwood.
- Music schedule for the Healdsburg Farmers’ Market
- Music schedule for the Windsor Farmers Market
Swimming
- Spring Lake offers a huge lagoon with sandy beach, public restrooms and showers, BBQ areas and snack bar. It’s free to swim but parking is $6. Other local, public pools include the ones at Finley, Ridgley and YMCA.
--See more info about public swimming in Santa Rosa - Also, the Flaming Hotel has a couple of great swimming pools that they periodically open to the public, for free, during special events. See the “Hot Deals/Upcoming Events” list to check if any such events are coming up soon.
Museums
Many museums throughout Sonoma County offer free admission. Of the ones that do charge admission, all of them offer special free days which will be announced in the “Hot Deals” section above. Sonoma Valley Museum of art offers free admission every Sunday.- See a listing and more information about museums in Santa Rosa.
- See museums throughout Sonoma County.