Location
Southern Sonoma County, about 40 miles north of San Francisco via US-101, on the Petaluma River.
Sonoma County
Living in Petaluma
A historic river city where downtown, farmland, and the river meet
Petaluma is a historic river city in southern Sonoma County, about 40 miles north of San Francisco, where a preserved Victorian downtown meets working farmland and the Petaluma River. This guide covers what living here is actually like: neighborhoods and districts, schools, parks along the river, downtown dining and shopping, farmers markets, and the annual events that define the town. I have called Petaluma home for more than 16 years, and these are the details I share with buyers before they write an offer.
What's happening now
Right now in Petaluma
A living snapshot of what is on the calendar, what is changing around town, and where the market stands this season, last updated October 30, 2026. Everything below links to the organizer or source page so you can confirm details before you plan around them.
On the calendar, November through December 2026
Thu, Nov 5
Cool Petaluma Shindig 2026
Cool Petaluma's 5th annual stakeholder party, this year doubling as the launch of its Cool Future nonprofit, at Hall of the Above, 199 Petaluma Boulevard North, from 5 to 7:30 p.m.
Wed, Nov 11
Veterans Day Parade & Flyover
One of the largest Veterans Day parades north of the Golden Gate, with a vintage-aircraft flyover over downtown. This year's theme honors America's 250th anniversary: live music starts at noon in Walnut Park, and the parade steps off at 1 p.m.
Thu, Nov 12
Petaluma Arts Center Annual Members Show
The center's juried member exhibition runs November 12 through December 12 at 230 Lakeville Street, with the opening reception on Thursday, November 12, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Mon, Nov 23
Holiday Food & Fun Fair
The 10th annual edition fills the Barber Lee Spirits distillery at 120 Washington Street from 3 to 8 p.m. the Monday before Thanksgiving; free timed reservations are required.
Sat, Nov 28
Santa's Riverboat Arrival
Carols start at 11:30 a.m. at the Turning Basin, then Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive by tugboat on the river, the same day as Small Business Saturday downtown.
Nov 28 - Jan 3
Downtown Holiday Hen Hunt
The 2nd annual downtown treasure hunt: find the decorated holiday hens hiding in shops along the route, mark the free map, and return it to enter the prize drawing. Maps are at participating merchants and the Visitor Center.
Dec 1 - 31
City of Lights Driving Tour
A free self-guided driving tour of Petaluma's most decorated homes and businesses all December. Free maps are available at the Visitor Center, 210 Lakeville Street, and for download from the Downtown Association starting December 1.
Sat, Dec 5
Holiday Shopping Stroll & Light Up the Square
The downtown holiday shopping stroll returns Saturday, December 5, with the tree lighting in Theatre Square Plaza that evening, plus live music and Santa.
Sat, Dec 12
Lighted Boat Parade
Boats leave the Petaluma Marina around 5:30 p.m. and circle the Turning Basin from about 6 to 8 p.m.; free, hosted by the Petaluma Yacht Club and tide-dependent.
Around town: news worth knowing
Petaluma's new General Plan takes effect
Adopted by the City Council in September 2026 and in effect October 15, General Plan 2050 adds land-use designations for maker and microbusiness districts plus more mixed-use categories as the city maps its next 25 years.
High-tech manufacturing lands in Petaluma
In October 2026, semiconductor-diamond maker Diamond Quanta announced a new operations and process-development center in Petaluma, adding a North Bay manufacturing employer to the area.
Highway 37 bridge work begins
Caltrans opened the SR 37 Petaluma River Bridge Preservation Project in October with overnight westbound lane reductions. The project runs into roughly July 2028, so Highway 37 commuters should plan for more overnight closures ahead.
A dependable new diner, plus a bakery-café on the way
Blue Plate, a comfort-food diner open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., opened this August at the former IHOP on Old Redwood Highway North. Stellina's owners have also filed permits for a new bakery-café at 2620 Lakeville Highway.
Market note
Market note, late 2026 Median sale price near $914,000
Redfin's snapshot for the three months ending August 2026 puts Petaluma's median sale
price at $914,000, up 1.6% year over year, with homes selling in about 28 days. Its
latest single-month figure, for September 2026, came in around $914,500, up 3.9% from
a year earlier. That matches the figure I track on my market report, which I refresh
each quarter.
Market report
Source: Redfin housing market data for Petaluma, three months ending August 2026 plus the September 2026 single-month figure (redfin.com).
City overview
Petaluma at a glance
Petaluma's identity is the river and the downtown it built around it: brick and cast-iron storefronts, the landmark Clock Tower on Petaluma Boulevard, and the riverfront that carried the town's goods in the riverboat era. It is one of California's oldest cities, and it wears that history lightly: working waterfront, family farms, and a celebrated farm-to-table dining scene.
Population
About 60,000 residents (59,776 at the 2020 Census).
Incorporated
April 12, 1858, making it one of California's oldest cities.
SMART rail
Two stations: Petaluma Downtown and Petaluma North, open since January 2025.
The commute
About 45 to 50 minutes to San Francisco with no traffic, and longer in peak hours. SMART south to Larkspur plus the ferry is the predictable rail option.
Heritage
Branded the Egg Basket of the World in 1918 for its dairy and egg industry, and the filming home of the 1973 classic American Graffiti.
Neighborhoods & districts
One town, several personalities
Petaluma splits broadly into the historic west side, with downtown and the hills, and the newer east side, with the freeway and the big retail corridors. Within that are districts with their own feel; here is the honest tour.
Walkers, food lovers, festival fans
Historic downtown & the riverfront
Petaluma's preserved core: Victorian and Italianate storefronts along Petaluma Boulevard, the landmark Clock Tower, the Theatre District around the Mystic Theatre, the Warehouse District, and waterfront parks at the river's edge. This is where the restaurants, shops, and festivals live.
Read the Petaluma West guide Older character, valley views
The west side hills
Streets climb from downtown into oak-covered hills: Victorians, Craftsman bungalows, and mid-century homes in districts like Oakhill-Brewster, many with wide valley views. A slower pace, bigger character, and downtown just down the hill.
Newer homes, easy freeway access
The east side
The newer half of town around North McDowell Boulevard: the College District and the Adobe District, 1950s ranches and post-1990 subdivisions, bigger lots, more retail, and the closest freeway access of any part of the city.
Read the Petaluma East guide Waterfront life
The river & McNear Peninsula
A roughly 35-acre wild riverfront park, the lawns and the David Yearsley River Heritage Center at Steamer Landing, the marina, and kayak launches all cluster on the peninsula where the river bends through town.
Acreage and county roads
The country edge
Beyond the city limits, farmland and county roads run in every direction. Country properties bring wells, septic, drainage, and property lines into the picture, and that is exactly the territory I know best from my years helping buyers and sellers out in the county.
Schools
Petaluma City Schools
Most Petaluma students attend schools in the Petaluma City Schools system, a shared administration for the elementary and high school districts. Elementary campuses run TK-6, junior highs serve grades 7 and 8, and two comprehensive high schools, Casa Grande and Petaluma High, serve 9-12. Some east-side neighborhoods are served by neighboring elementary districts, like the Old Adobe Union School District, and feed into the same high schools. Boundaries depend on your exact address, so I always confirm the school for the specific home you are considering.
Elementary (TK-6)
McDowell Elementary School
A TK-6 elementary school serving east-side families in the Petaluma City Schools district.
petalumacityschools.org
Junior High (7-8)
Kenilworth Junior High School
Serves east-side students in grades 7 and 8.
petalumacityschools.org
High School (9-12)
Casa Grande High School
The Home of the Gauchos, the comprehensive high school serving the east side.
petalumacityschools.org
Elementary (TK-6)
McNear Elementary School
A west-side elementary campus in the Petaluma City Schools system.
petalumacityschools.org
Elementary (TK-6)
Grant Elementary School
A long-serving west-side elementary campus near downtown.
petalumacityschools.org
Junior High (7-8)
Petaluma Junior High School
The west-side junior high serving grades 7 and 8.
petalumacityschools.org
High School (9-12)
Petaluma High School
Petaluma's original high school and the comprehensive school serving the west side, home of the Trojans.
petalumacityschools.org
Elementary (K-6)
Sonoma Mountain Elementary
A highly regarded public charter elementary in the Old Adobe Union School District, serving east Petaluma families.
petalumacityschools.org
Parks & outdoor recreation
Water, wetlands, and ridgetops
Petaluma's best days happen outdoors: paddling the river, walking the wetlands, or hiking the oak ridges that frame the valley. These are the places locals go.
The town's spine and its playground
The Petaluma River
The river that made the town now shapes its weekends: kayak and paddleboard launches, waterfront parks, riverside walking paths, and the historic Balshaw Bridge. It runs from downtown out through the wetlands to San Pablo Bay, with Shollenberger Park and the bay trail waiting at the south end.
Official page165 acres of wetlands and one famous loop
Shollenberger Park
A river-wetland park on the south edge of town with a level, roughly 2.25-mile loop trail that is wheelchair and stroller friendly and briefly parallels the river. More than 200 bird species have been recorded here, from snowy egrets and avocets to wintering bald eagles.
Official pageHelen Putnam Regional Park
A Sonoma County regional park on the western city edge with about six miles of ridgetop trails, sweeping views across the valley, a fishing pond, and a playground.
Walnut Park
Downtown's busiest community park, at Petaluma Boulevard and D Street, with a large playground and the gazebo that anchors the Saturday farmers market.
Lucchesi Park
The east side's big community park: a pond, playground, tennis and pickleball courts, the Petaluma Swim Center, a skate park, and the year-round Tuesday farmers market.
Steamer Landing Park
Riverfront lawns on the McNear Peninsula, home of the David Yearsley River Heritage Center and a favorite for riverside strolls and the annual Rivertown Revival.
Petaluma River Park
A wild, undeveloped riverfront park right in the heart of downtown, open dawn to dusk with dogs on leash.
Kenilworth Park
A community park that doubles as the home of the Petaluma Regional Library and a teen center.
Dining & shopping
Downtown's table
Downtown Petaluma has one of the best small-city dining scenes in the North Bay: farm-to-table restaurants, bakeries, oyster bars, and historic saloons within a few walkable blocks. Start with my longtime pick.
Della Fattoria Downtown Café
A beloved bakery and café on Petaluma Boulevard North, famous for its wood-fired breads and pastries.
143 Petaluma Blvd N
Wild Goat Bistro
A farm-to-table bistro on Petaluma Boulevard North with a rotating menu built on local Sonoma County ingredients.
6 Petaluma Blvd N
McNear's Saloon & Dining House
A historic downtown saloon and restaurant, a local landmark on the Boulevard.
23 Petaluma Blvd N
The Shuckery
A waterfront oyster bar and kitchen at the river end of Washington Street.
100 Washington St
Trattoria Roma
A cozy Italian trattoria on 2nd Street downtown, a long-running favorite.
140 2nd St
Pearl
A sleek farm-to-table restaurant on 1st Street near the river.
500 1st St
Grand Central Petaluma
Coffee, empanadas, and chocolate in a charming Weller Street spot.
226 Weller St
River Front Cafe
Riverfront dining on B Street with a classic downtown view.
224 B St
Shopping, downtown and beyond
Downtown's independent shops sit alongside the big grocery and retail corridors on the east side. The mix is one of the pleasures of living here.
Petaluma Market
An independent, full-service grocery and deli on Western Avenue, a genuine west-side institution for decades.
210 Western Ave
Acorn
A curated downtown shop on 4th Street for home goods, gifts, and local finds.
1 4th St
Opera House Collective
A home-and-lifestyle shop on Kentucky Street in the heart of the downtown shopping district.
145 Kentucky St
Lucky Supermarket
A full-service grocery on Petaluma Boulevard North, convenient to the west and north sides.
1000 Petaluma Blvd N
Petaluma Village Premium Outlets
Outdoor outlet shopping on Petaluma Boulevard North with dozens of brand stores.
2200 Petaluma Blvd N
East Washington Place
A large community center right at the 101 interchange with Target, Sprouts, and more.
401 Kenilworth Dr
Farmers markets
Three markets, every week
Petaluma runs three farmers markets across the week, so fresh local food is never far. Seasonal dates shift a little each year, so confirm the current season on the official pages before you plan around them.
Petaluma Farmers Market
Saturdays, roughly mid-May through mid-November
Saturday afternoons, 2-5 p.m., at Walnut Park in the heart of downtown: produce, flowers, crafts, and live music from the gazebo.
Walnut Park, 4th & D Streets
East Side Farmers Market
Tuesdays, year-round
Rain or shine at Lucchesi Park, roughly 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., with 20-plus vendors selling produce, eggs, flowers, and hot food every week of the year.
320 N McDowell Blvd
Theatre District Wednesday Market
Wednesdays, June through August
An evening market from 4:30 to 8 p.m. on 2nd Street between B and D Streets, right in the downtown Theatre District, that turns the block into a summer dinner-and-shop destination.
2nd Street between B & D
Community events & traditions
The rhythm of Petaluma
Petaluma keeps its heritage alive all year, from the spring parade celebrating the town's egg-and-dairy past to riverfront festivals and a downtown that comes out every First Friday.
April
Butter & Egg Days Parade & Festival
Petaluma's iconic free spring celebration: a vintage downtown parade and festival that honors the town's dairy-and-egg heritage. The single best weekend to see Petaluma's character in one place.
May
Cruisin' the Boulevard
A classic-car event along Petaluma Boulevard that celebrates the town's American Graffiti legacy, with restored classics, cruisin' cars, and the old Main Street feel.
Monthly
First Fridays Arts Alive
A downtown arts, music, and gallery celebration that brings the west side out every First Friday.
Year-round
Mystic Theatre
A beautifully restored 1911 vaudeville house, the North Bay's premier live-music venue, and the theater where American Graffiti held its 1973 premiere.
Summer
Rivertown Revival
An annual riverfront festival of music, art, and food at Steamer Landing Park along the Petaluma River.
June
Sonoma-Marin Fair
The Petaluma fair runs every June at the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds, from carnival rides to livestock and the town's famously quirky competitions.
Late November
Santa's Riverboat Arrival
Santa arrives by riverboat and downtown Petaluma celebrates Small Business Saturday, the town's holiday kickoff.
Year-round
Petaluma Historical Library & Museum
A free local history museum in the 1904 Carnegie Library, with docent-led historic downtown walking tours most Saturdays from spring through fall.
Practical local info
How Petaluma actually works
Getting around and commuting
US-101 is the town's main artery: about 45 to 50 minutes to San Francisco with no traffic, and longer in peak hours through Marin. SMART trains stop at Petaluma Downtown and Petaluma North, running south to the Larkspur ferry, a roughly 90-minute train-and-ferry option to downtown San Francisco that trades the steering wheel for predictable timing.
East side, west side
Petaluma splits into the west side (94952), the historic core and hills, and the east side (94954), the newer residential and retail corridors. The two sides are a short drive apart, but the housing stock, the commutes, and the daily routine differ enough that the choice deserves real thought.
The river and the country
The river runs through downtown and out to the bay, and weekend paddling is a way of life for many locals. Beyond the city limits, farmland and county roads take over: properties there bring wells, septic, drainage, and property lines into the picture, which is where my country-property experience earns its keep.
Schools and daily life
Petaluma City Schools serves most of the city, with chunks of the east side in neighboring elementary districts that feed the same high schools. Grocery and retail gather along the East Washington, North McDowell, and Petaluma Boulevard corridors, and downtown's independent shops cover the rest.
Thinking about making Petaluma home? Good choice.
I have lived in Petaluma for more than 16 years and know every corner of this town. Tell me how your life actually works, and I will help you find the side of the river that fits.