September 11
​10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Sonoma Plaza

Sonoma Plein Air Festival

The annual Sonoma Plein Air Festival is held in September, bringing nationally acclaimed artists to Sonoma for a week to paint, show and sell their work to benefit youth art education in Sonoma.

The Festival is produced by the all-volunteer Sonoma Plein Air Foundation. The Art Show and Sale and a Gala Dinner event are the primary source of funding to provide art education for public school students in the Sonoma Valley.

Sonoma Plein Air Foundation

The Sonoma Plein Air Foundation facilitates artists, art organizations, public schools and the community to create, appreciate and understand the importance of visual arts.

We seek to engage youth through art education, foster artistic excellence, nurture a vibrant local arts community and bring people together for experiences that inspire a creative exchange of ideas.

We welcome volunteer participation.

News About Sonoma Plein Air Festival 

The 2021 Festival has been given the green light to proceed by the City of Sonoma and State of California! We are excited to welcome back the artists that were juried in for the 2021 show.

The artists arrive on Monday, September 6 for a week of painting in Sonoma and surrounding counties. See the schedule here.

This will be an outdoor, Covid-compliant event.

Artist Debra Huse painting at the Sonoma Plein Air Quick Draw event.

Since 2002, $1,622,490 has been granted
to youth art programs in Sonoma Valley.

Painting by Eric Jacobsen, 2015 Artists' Choice Award Winner