Santa's Riverboat Arrival in Petaluma is a classic Sonoma County holiday tradition. Santa and Mrs. Claus give the Holiday Season its characteristic uniquely Petaluma start when the river boat, “Petaluma” chugs into the Historic Downtown Riverfront Harbor about noon for Santa's Riverboat Arrival.

The couple disembarks at the Golden Eagle Shopping Center, hand out hundreds of candies to loads of excited children, Santa and Mrs. Claus board an antique, horse-drawn sleigh, and then at about 1:30 p.m.
join a procession of decorated wagons, horse teams and costumed riders traveling through Historic Downtown.

Santa and Mrs. Claus have come to the area by boat since the time long ago when a thick fog first brought Santa out of the sky and onto the River for his visit to the area.

The procession through historic downtown traditionally features horse-drawn stagecoaches, surreys,
wagons and costumed riders accompanying Santa and the Mrs. as they wind their way along city streets to the delight of the bystanders.

Dedicated procession participants from all over Northern California spend many hours polishing, grooming and traveling to Petaluma to bring this exquisite event to Historic Downtown.

For more than 19 years the annual Antique Wagon and Horse Procession has helped bring in the holiday season as only Petaluma can. The procession creates a spectacular visual experience, enhanced by the rich local history attached to many of the antique wagons and the delightful entries from out of town. The stately turn-of-the-century buildings in Historic Downtown Petaluma contribute to the appeal of the event.