Screaming Good Garden

Screaming Good Garden

In the spirit of Halloween season, combine a classic scary movie backdrop with two big deals on arts scene in the beautiful hamlet of Sonoma. Just a few minutes east of the Sonoma’s historic walkable plaza, the Sonoma Community Center may look familiar to movie buffs of the 1996 horror film, Scream. That’s because the center was used as the famed fictitious Woodsboro High School.

Step inside today and you’ll find the Sonoma Community Center a thriving enclave for arts, culture, and creativity of all kinds. There’s even a small theater. Find the stairway where Sidney Prescot (Neve Campbell) was chased; see the upstairs hallway and classroom from the film (in real life it’s the Printmaking Studio); and check out the commemorative display case of Scream and Woodsboro history. The front of the building will look familiar to “Screamers” too.

Speaking of the building, Sonoma Community Center has some beautiful outdoor gardens to stroll and relax and take in a new art exhibit. Meet Moringa and Marigold, life-size sculptures of a mother and her infant elephant brought to Sonoma as part of The Great Elephant Migration global art exhibit. Located in the front garden, Moringa and Marigold were handmade by artists from The Real Elephant Collective, using lantana—an invasive weed across the globe.

Removing the weeds makes more space for wildlife and nature, and is recycled into art and sculpture. You can kiss the elephants, you can hug the elephants, you just can’t climb on them. Our recommendation? Sit among them in one of the benches or chairs in the garden, and just enjoy the quiet beauty of it.

BONUS WINE: Nearby Sojourn Cellars is a boutique tasting room with high-scoring pinots, chardonnays, and cabernets. It's well worth a visit for a friendly patio tasting. Soujourn Cellars is dog-friendly!

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Afternoon on the Island

    What is it about tiny islands in the middle of lakes? There’s something that just draws you in. It’s even more fun when getting there is half the adventure because you have to reach it by canoe, kayak, paddleboat, or a ranger-guided boat tour!

    View
  2. Golden Gate's Blue Heron

    Golden Gate Park’s Blue Heron Lake is home to birds of many feathers, turtles lounging on rocks, visitors from afar, and locals who love this urban oasis in San Francisco. Try the "Boats and Breakfast" rowboat or pedal boat deal.

    View
  3. Rio Del Mar-velous

    Rio Del Mar State Beach in Aptos might be one of the best places for a treasure hunt. Its location between two other beaches makes for a good stroll featuring a spectacle of wildlife as you search the sand for sea glass and seashells.

    View
  4. Aloha from California

    Say Aloha without leaving California with a 7-mile out-and-back hiking adventure to Lake Aloha in El Dorado National Forest. You can also camp here, a premier place for stargazing.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Gentle Giants

    Some people visit national parks to marvel at the iconic sights, while others come seeking solitude in nature. With visitation on the rise, it can be hard to find both. But in Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, this pair of trails offers both....

    View
  2. Walking the Los Angeles River Trail Through Frogtown

    Frogtown Strutter’s Stroll

    Don’t go dismissing the Los Angeles River as merely a 51-mile concrete channel. It’s a genuine urban artery that links real neighborhoods, and its riverside bike/ped paths endear i

    View
  3. Griffith's Golden

    With over 4,200 acres and hundreds of trails, Griffith Park is the gold standard. Opt for the lesser-hiked northwestern end of the park and visit the 2.25-mile Skyline and Oak Canyon loop from Travel Town.

    View
  4. Sponsored

    Fall for It All in Reno Tahoe

    The best kind of getaway? Less time on logistics, more time on memory-making. Jackpot! You’ve got Reno Tahoe.

    View