Army Of Snowmen Invades Sonoma's Cornerstone: PHOTOS

SONOMA, CA — In what has become a holiday tradition for many, hundreds from the North Bay and beyond turned out Saturday for the Annual Lighting of the Snowmen at Cornerstone Sunset Gardens and Marketplace in Sonoma.

To the delight of children, their families and other guests of all ages, the snowmen are back in Sonoma through the end of December. Their much-anticipated return was kicked off with a festival and was followed by the venue's first actual lighting ceremony for the army of plastic snowmen.

According to Cornerstonesonoma.com, the event began in 2004 after David Allen, owner of Artefact Design & Salvage at Cornerstone, discovered hundreds of decorative snowmen at a factory in Boston. The factory manufactured the snowmen exclusively but was closing, and Allen decided to purchase the stock to use at the gardens. Since then, the snowmen have been arranged into a creative and stunning display that is different each year.

Saturday's festival featured music, kids’ crafts, wine and beer tasting, warm drinks, food, festive decorations and to the merriment of all, an appearance by Santa Claus himself.

Photos by Al Francis/Napasonomaphotos.com