Monte Rio Revival

Continue Rediscovering a Historic Gathering Place

Join us on Friday, October 2nd from 5–9pm for a free, family-friendly celebration of the legacy and future of Monte Rio’s unique historic downtown, once home to a bustling train station, an eight-story hotel, and dozens of local businesses.

This free community event will again transform the Park & Ride at the intersection of Moscow Road and Main Street into a vibrant celebration featuring live music, food vendors, and a local art market. The musical duo Soph & Jake (Soph from the Okay Ultras) will open the evening, followed by The Barn Wreckers rocking us into the evening. We’ll have a return of “Stories Beneath the Trees” for kids, and lots of local artists and vendors including a vintage photo booth where you can take home a print from the evening. 

The large-scale historic photos will continue to be displayed throughout the downtown, and an updated presentation of historic photos and videos from the Russian River Historical Society will be projected on the side of Bartlett’s Market after dark. The event also includes open houses at the Historical Society archive and the Monte Rio Fire Station. Be part of the revival! Additional parking is available across the Monte Rio bridge near the Rio Theater.

This Revival is also a chance to look ahead. We’ll share back what we heard from the community idea walls at the first two events, and open a conversation about the future of the historic downtown — where its boundaries should sit, how we activate and connect it, and how we might build community resilience. 

In the lead up to the event there will be two volunteer workdays focused on brush cleanup and trash removal – first on Sunday September 13th from 9am-11am behind the Monte Rio Amphitheater organized by Nick Thayer from Monte Rio Rec & Park, and again on Sunday September 20th from 9–11am focused on the prepping the historic downtown area for the event. We’re also looking for volunteers help on the day of the event — setup in the morning, traffic control during the event, and breakdown at the end of the night. Please contact Nancy Lopes (415-350-6083 or message on FB) if you can lend a hand.

The Monte Rio Revival is made possible in collaboration with many local organizations including Friends of Monte Rio, Russian River Historical Society, and Monte Rio Recreation & Park District, and is funded, in part, by the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors.

Below are some FAQs — feel free to colin@russianriverhistory.org if you have other questions. 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: Is there an admission fee or cost to attend? A: No, the Monte Rio Revival is completely free and open to all community members. There is no admission fee.

Q: Where should I park for the event? A: Parking is available across the Monte Rio bridge near the Rio Theater and Monte Rio Community Center. Please plan for a short walk to the event location.

Q: Is this event family-friendly? What activities are available for children? A: Absolutely! This is a multigenerational community event. Children will enjoy the art market, the photo booth, the historic photo projections after dark, and a special “Stories Under the Trees” storytelling session. We encourage families to attend together.

Q: What should I bring? A: Just bring yourself, family, and friends! Food and non-alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase from local vendors, along with tables for eating. October evenings by the river get cool once the sun goes down, so bring a warm layer — please bring your own folding chair for maximum comfort.

Q: Can I volunteer or help with the event? A: Yes! There are volunteer cleanup days on Sunday September 13th and Sunday September 20th from 9–11am, where community members can help with downtown cleanup and discuss ideas for continued revitalization. We also need help on October 2nd itself with morning setup, traffic control, and breakdown at the end of the night. Reach out to Nancy Lopes to volunteer at 415-350-6083 or on Facebook.

Q: Will there be any street closures or traffic impacts? A: One block of Main Street, between the firehouse and Moscow Road, will be temporarily closed during the event. Cars will be able to drive around using Fir Rd and Bohemian Hwy. Watch for no-parking signs posted in the days beforehand.

Q: Will there be restroom facilities available? A: Yes, restroom facilities will be available nearby near the tennis courts. Ask any volunteer at the info table and we’ll point you in the right direction.

Q: What happens if it rains? A: The Revival happens rain or shine. If weather looks severe we’ll post an update on our Facebook page and at russianriverhistory.org.

Q: Are pets welcome? A: If you are bringing your furry friend, please keep them on a leash and follow all county ordinances and regulations.