Celebrate La Posada with Us!

Join us for La Posada, a cherished tradition that brings our community together in the spirit of love, hope, and celebration. This festive event symbolizes the journey of togetherness and hospitality while embracing the vibrant cultural heritage that unites us.

Enjoy delicious food, music, and activities that the whole family will love like the symbolic candlelit procession and piñatas.

All proceeds and support from this event help sustain our programs and services, ensuring brighter futures for the community we serve.

We can't wait to see you there! 🕯️🪅🎊

Holiday Karaoke Choir: No Talent? No Problem!

Get ready to sing your heart out at our Holiday Karaoke Choir—a festive edition of our favorite sing-along event! Whether you’re a shower soloist, tone-deaf diva, or just love to belt out holiday classics, this is your time to shine.

No talent required, no judgment allowed—just pure, unfiltered fun. Grab your friends, embrace the holiday spirit, and join us for a night of laughter, music, and questionable harmonies and dance moves.

All are welcome, so let’s make some merry memories together! 🎤🎄🕺💃

Monthly Game Night: Food, Fun, and Friendly Competition!

Join us for Monthly Game Night, where neighbors come together for an evening of laughter, games, and great company. Bring your favorite board or card games, a dish to share for the potluck, and whatever you’d like to sip on—it’s BYOB!

It’s the perfect chance to unwind, make new friends, and enjoy some friendly competition. Whether you’re a strategist or just there for the snacks, all are welcome.

Play, laugh, and share some good times! 🎲🍴✨

Hey there Supper Clubbers,

We're back at the Monte Rio Community Center on Monday, December 2nd, with Jay's Taste of India and the Stella Health Trio. Please gather with us to support these incredible people and to keep creating community now that the cold season is upon us. We are excited to see you there!

As before, doors open at 5:45pm and dinner is served at 6pm. 

Jay's Taste of India: https://www.instagram.com/jaystasteofindia/

The Stella Heath Trio: http://www.stellaheathmusic.com/
 

Introducing... Monte Rio’s Community Connections Raffle!
 

Celebrate the incredible talents of your Monte Rio neighbors while supporting a great cause. This exciting new initiative will shine a spotlight on the local talents of our neighbors, who are generously donating their skills to benefit our community. Prizes will include personalized cooking classes, expert gardening consultations, private music lessons, and much more. Hosted by Friends of Monte Rio, this raffle is a tribute to the creativity and generosity that make our town truly special.

Featured Prize for Supper Club on December 2nd:
 

Win a private Italian cooking lesson in your home for 6, courtesy of Lorenza Graziosi, our new Monte Rio neighbor and friend. Born and raised between Rome and Umbria, Lorenza is passionate about cooking authentic Italian meals. Among her family staples are ragù bianco, risotto, and tiramisù. Enjoy an unforgettable evening with friends, delicious Italian cuisine, and the warmth of a true Italian cooking experience!

Día de Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a vibrant tradition in Latin culture where we joyfully honor and remember our departed loved ones. Our event will feature traditional Mexican cultural elements, including a community ofrenda adorned with photos, mementos, and more.

This year we invite everyone to help build the altar starting at 10am on the day of the event. You can contribute by adding photos, flowers, and personal mementos.

If you're interested in volunteering or need more details, please reach out to Fran at fran@friendsofmonterio.org.

At 1 pm, the celebration begins with activities for all ages, such as face painting, paper flower making, and music provided by DJ Delgade and returning band from last year, Efecto Diferente.

And don’t miss out on DELICIOUS TAMALES!

This event is sponsored by Friends of Monte Rio, Monte Rio Recreation Park District, and River to Coast Children’s Services, We also extend our gratitude to The County of Sonoma & the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence for their financial support.

The event is free to attend, though donations are warmly welcomed.

KARAOKE CHOIR - BRAND NEW EVENT!
Wednesday June 26 | 6 to 8pm | Monte Rio Community Center

Love to sing but too shy to do a solo?  Wish you could be in a chorus but can’t read music?  Love to sing along with your favorite bands? Come join the Karaoke Choir!  Sing along, just for the heck of it, with a big group of other wannabe singers, to the music videos (with lyrics!) of all your favorite songs! Sing the lead, sing the backup parts, sing along with the instrumentals, just sing for the sheer fun of it!  Bring whatever you like to drink and come on down to make some joyful sounds!

For more information on how you can get involved, contact Rose.

Join Us for RioFest – A Celebration of Community and Music!
Saturday, June 15 | Noon to 6PM | FREE | Monte Rio Amphitheater (across from Bartlett’s)

Presented by the Friends of Monte Rio and the Monte Rio Recreation and Parks District, RioFest is a vibrant all-day outdoor event held at the scenic Monte Rio Amphitheater. Best of all, it’s FREE and perfect for the whole family!

Please consider making a donation to support this event

RioFest began as an event to celebrate the reawakening and re-gathering of our community after the long isolation of the pandemic and continues as a way to welcome summer and new neighbors and visitors each year.

All Day Activities:

• Live Music: Enjoy performances by The Bohemian Highway, Spike Sikes & His Awesome Hotcakes and The Tumbling Dice on the main stage, along with a special opening act from a local kids’ band from Monte Rio School, Papa Dulce & The Combo Bites

• Artisan Market: Explore local artisans showcasing their talents and crafts

• Community Booths: Learn more about local organizations and initiatives making a difference in our community

• Food Trucks: Indulge in delicious treats from a variety of food trucks offering something for everyone — Tacos Costa, Lata’s Indian Cuisine, Mondo’s Shave Ice & More!

• Kids’ Korner: Delight in our highly popular dedicated Kids’ Korner featuring games, storytelling under the redwoods, face painting, snow cones, and more!

• Community Vibe: Immerse yourself in the beauty and warmth of the lower Russian River community, where you can join local hula hoopers, admire extravagant costumes, dance amidst bubbles, and soak in the lively atmosphere.

Supporting Our Community:

• Raffle and Silent Auction: Participate in our raffle and silent auction, with all proceeds and donations directly benefiting our community funds. These funds enable us to continue offering free and low-cost programs and events throughout the year, including Supper Club, Spring Festival, Dia de Muertos, Water Safety/Swim Lessons, and more.

Get Involved:

• Volunteer: As an event run entirely by volunteers, we welcome community members to join us as volunteers. Your time and effort help make RioFest a success!

• Donations/Sponsorships: We rely on the generosity of local businesses and individuals to support RioFest and our ongoing community initiatives. If you’re interested in contributing or becoming a sponsor, please reach out to Megan Gatlin for more information.

• Stay Connected: Sign up for our mailing list to stay updated on RioFest and other Friends of Monte Rio events and initiatives.

Join us for the 4th annual RioFest, where we come together to celebrate community, music, and the spirit of giving back!

Contact Megan for any inquiries.

Celebration of Life for Peter Andrews, the founder of The Friends of Monte Rio.

Below is a message for the community from Peter’s granddaughter Stephanie.

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To All My Grandpa’s Friends, 

I look forward to meeting each of you at his Celebration of Life on Thursday, June 6 at the Monte Rio Community Center, with doors opening at 2 and service beginning at 3.

I have many fond and funny memories of my grandpa, I’m sure many of you do as well and I’d love to hear them! 

If anyone has any pictures of him from over the years that they would be okay with sharing I would very much love to see them. I will have a lot of pictures up at the celebration, both digital on the projector and tangible old school photos. If you have any please feel free to email them to me, you can also let me know if you have a tangible one that you want to put up and of course take home after. 

My email is skysandwater@gmail.com 

If you have any questions or input on the celebration and what I should do, please feel free to let me know. I do work full time and look after my grandma so I may not get back to you right away, but I will get back to you! 

Thank you everyone!

:) Stephanie Andrews 

BI-MONTHLY SUPPER CLUB

Monday April 1 | 6 to 8:30pm | Monte Rio Community Center
Join us at the Monte Rio Supper Club for dinner prepared by our featured chef, Helena from Baked on the River. Doors and dinner open at 6 pm, with live music from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. Due to limited capacity, please arrive early to secure your spot. Bring your own beverage to enjoy, and wine glasses will also be available for purchase, with proceeds going toward supporting Friends of Monte Rio programs throughout the year.

For more information on how you can get involved, contact Zoe.

ANNUAL SPRING CELEBRATION
Saturday March 30 | 11 to 2pm | Monte Rio School & Monte Rio Bridge

The Spring Celebration is a family-friendly event that includes an egg hunt, games with prizes, an egg toss from the Monte Rio bridge, a silly parade (where costumes are encouraged), music, and appearances by the Easter bunny and friends. It's a fun-filled day for children and families alike!

For more information on how you can involved, contact Renata.

KARAOKE CHOIR - BRAND NEW EVENT!
Thursday March 21 | 6 to 8pm | Monte Rio Community Center

Love to sing but too shy to do a solo?  Wish you could be in a chorus but can’t read music?  Love to sing along with your favorite bands? Come join the Karaoke Choir!  Sing along, just for the heck of it, with a big group of other wannabe singers, to the music videos (with lyrics!) of all your favorite songs! Sing the lead, sing the backup parts, sing along with the instrumentals, just sing for the sheer fun of it!  Bring whatever you like to drink and come on down to make some joyful sounds!

For more information on how you can get involved, contact Rose.

Autumn is fully upon us, and we can't think of a better way to welcome in the Winter Season than with you! See you at our next Supper Club on Monday, 12/11, with doors opening at 5:30pm.

Our chefs will be the illustrious Ori and Gal from Lightwave Cafe (https://www.instagram.com/lightwave_cafe/), and playing for us will be Joyride (https://joyridedotblog.wordpress.com/) . 

As always, this event is first-come, first served, tickets are $15, and this is a BYOB & glass affair. Can't wait to gather and enjoy one another's company.

Please contact Zoe on how you can get involved: zbkoehler@gmail.com

SAVE THE DATE!

For more information, contact Fran.

Download Poster Here!

Contact Zoe or Amanda for more information and volunteer opportunities!