Venturing Out: Sonoma County outdoors events for week of Sept. 23 Venturing Out: Sonoma County outdoors events for week of Sept. 23

KAYAK ADVENTURE, SEPT. 23

Santa Rosa: Bilingual introduction to kayaking, 12-2 p.m. at Spring Lake Regional Park, 393 Violetti Road. Registration required, $10 fee and $7 parking. Visit SonomaCountyParks.org, 707-565-1246.

MEDICINAL PLANT WALK, SEPT. 23

Glen Ellen: Learn about the potential health benefits of Chinese herbs from Peggy Schafer of the Chinese Medicinal Herb Farm and Chinese medicine practitioner Sean Fannin, 10 a.m.-noon at Quarryhill Botanical Garden, 12841 Sonoma Highway. Space is limited, registration required. $15 members, $20 non-members. 707-996-3166, quarryhillbg.org

WATERSHED HIKE, SEPT. 23

Windsor: Learn how Shiloh Ranch Regional Park is connected to the Laguna de Santa Rosa watershed during a hike in the rugged foothills of the Mayacamas Mountains 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Meet at Shiloh Ranch Regional Park, 5750 Faught Road. Parking $10. Visit lagunafoundation.org.

TOMATO, PEPPER FESTIVAL, SEPT. 23

Windsor: Taste 40 different varieties of tomatoes and salsa and taqueries from local restaurants, see a pepper display and roasted pepper demonstration and sample Mimosas and Bloody Marys at the Windsor Certified Farmers Market, 701 McClelland Drive at the Town Green 10 a.m.-1 p.m. windsorfarmersmarket.com.

FARM CHORES, SEPT. 23

Petaluma: families or farm chores and learn about the daily care of farm animals 8:30-10:30 a.m. at Tolay Lake Regional Park, 5869 Cannon Lane. All ages welcome, registration required. 707-789-9699, SonomaCountyParks.org

LATINO FAMILY CAMPOUT, SEPT. 28-30

Santa Rosa: Join Sonoma County Regional Parks and REI for a campout at Spring Lake Regional Park, 5585 Newanga Ave., 4 p.m. Friday-2 p.m. Sunday. Potluck meals, salsa contest, night hike, games and recreational activities. New campers are welcome, $5-$15 cost per person or $35 for a family of five or more and includes parking. Space is limited, registration required. SonomaCountyParks.org

ROSELAND UNITY RUN AND HARVEST FESTIVAL, SEPT. 29

Santa Rosa: Unity 5K run 8-11 a.m. and Harvest Festival 12-4 p.m. at Bayer Farm, 1550 West Ave. Free.Registration and details at LandPaths.org or call Guadalupe Casco at 707-544-7284.

WATER BARK, SEPT. 29-30

Santa Rosa: Final weekend for unleashed dogs to swim and frolic in the Spring Lake Regional Park swimming lagoon, 393 Violetti Road. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. $5 per dog for Sonoma County Regional Parks members and $7 for non-members. SonomaCountyParks.org

BIKE TO HOPE, OCT. 19

Petaluma: Registration is open for the City of Hope's Bike to Hope fundraiser at Penngrove Park in Petaluma. The event's proceeds support research and treatment of cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases. SB Architects and Hudson Pacific Properties co-sponsor the event. Participants choose between a course for seasoned or casual bicycle riders on back roads of Sonoma County. A barbecue and entertainment follow the ride that attracts more than 250 people. Call Marguerite Munoz at 415-394-6500 or email Narguerite@GlodowNeed.com for details.