Remembrance events for one-year anniversary of Sonoma County fires

SANTA ROSA, Calif. -- Events are being planned to observe the one-year anniversary of the deadly wildfires in Sonoma County next month.

Sonoma County and the city of Santa Rosa are planning a ceremony at Courthouse Square on Monday Oct. 8 that includes a memorial bell ringing for the 24 people who died in the Sonoma Complex fires.

The 6 p.m. ceremony will feature a reading by Sonoma County Poet Laureate Maya Khosla and a firefighter memorial bell ringing.

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Participants are welcome to express their grieving, healing and reflection through public chalk art on sidewalks around Courthouse Square from 4 to 8 p.m. on Monday Oct. 8 and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday Oct. 9.

Some events are planned in advance of the one-year anniversary.

The Santa Rosa Holistic Chamber of Commerce is holding a free Sonoma Strong Healing Fair from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday Sept. 29 at the Santa Rosa Veterans Building (1351 Maple Ave.). Admission and healing therapies are free.

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The event includes speakers, vendors, a silent auction, raffle, live music and a kids' area.

The fires burned some areas of Sonoma County Regional Parks, which is holding a free community healing gathering at Shiloh Ranch Regional Park (5750 Faught Rd.) in Windsor from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday Oct. 6.

It features art, music, guided hikes, face painting, crafts, drop-in counseling, a fire ecology hike and a meditation walk.

Other events are listed at SonomaCountyRecovers.org.