The Fort Ross Cultural Heritage Day is a throw back to early times in Sonoma County. From 1812 to 1841 Russian American Company Settlement Ross was home to a unique blend of cultural groups: Russians, Creoles, Native Alaskans, and Kashaya and Coast Miwok Native Californians.

Russian trappers migrated from Alaska south and in 1812 landed at Bodega Bay and founded a settlement north from there. They named the fort “Ross,” an old name for “Russia.” In 1836 Father Ioann Veniaminov recorded: "Fort Ross contains 260 people: 154 male and 106 female. There are 120 Russians, 51 Creoles, 50 Kodiak Aleuts, and 39 baptized Indians."

Fort Ross Cultural Heritage Day is celebration of this cultural diversity and the arts, crafts and traditional activities of the inhabitants of Fort Ross.

This festival is well worth the trip up the beautiful Sonoma Coast as Fort Ross is a historical landmark. But in all sincerity, it is the participation of the Russian community that makes this festival so special.

When you go to the Fort Ross Cultural Heritage Day, you will think you are in Russia. The Bay Area Russian Community is out in force and it is wonderful to be surrounded by folks from this culture speaking in their native tongue. It is almost like a mini vacation to a foreign land.

People are friendly and there is a real sense of community which is typified by the traditional Russian folk music and dance during the middle of the day. Everyone joins in and has a playful laugh.