Tolay Fall Festival, River Heritage and Spooky Fun Downtown

This weekend, many great events compete for your attention. Here are our picks.

Starting Thursday, downtown merchants are hosting Petaluma Harvest Days, a celebration of the fall with wine tastings, a cupcake competition, pumpkin decorating for kids and live music. 

On Friday, check out the Tolay Fall Festival at Tolay Lake Park off Lakeville Highway at Cannon Lane. See creepy critters in the old "creatures" barn, explore a straw maze, take part in the pumpkin-seed spitting contest, pet the farm animals, make old-time crafts and visit the Native American village. Festival opens Thursday 9am-3pm and continues through Sunday

On Saturday, stop by the David Yearsley River Heritage Center for a free happy hour with music by The Easy Leaves starting 4pm. The celebration is part of the River Heritage Days. Barbeque chicken dinner available for $10.

That evening catch a screening of Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? at 8pm in the barn. $5 donation requested for movie.

At 9pm, head to the nearby Petaluma Arts Center, 230 Lakeville St., for an artist’s reception for the Alas de Vida/Wings of Life exhibit featuring Mexican printmakers Jose Guadalupe Posada and Manuel Manilla. Free.

Sunday, jump onboard the Alma, a historic schooner and sail the Petaluma River, leaving from the Petaluma Marina at 11am and returning at 2pm. Boarding begins at 10:30am and passengers have the opportunity to help raise the sails, as well as learn about the history of the Alma while enjoying the views of Petaluma marsh. Tickets may be purchased in advance at Saturday’s open house. $20 for adults; free for children 12 and under.

Or head to the Adobe Pumpkin Patch to meet master pumpkin carver Ray Villafane who holds the world's record for pumpkin carving and sand sculptures and has carved pumpkins on the Martha Stewart show and the White House. Free 12pm-4pm Sunday. 2478 E. Washington St.

Know of other events? Please let us know by adding them in the comments or by posting them to the events calendar at www.petaluma.patch.com/events.

Have a great weekend, ya'all!