Villa Chanticleer Park (Lower Villa Chanticleer Park) picnic guide

Picnic rules at a glance

Picnicking

Picnics welcome

Bring your own food

Allowed

Alcohol

Not allowed

Purchase required

No

Reservation

Not required

Fee

Free

Groups

4 first-come, first-served picnic tables next to the playground. The Villa building, annex and gazebo garden above are private-event rentals run by Milestone Events Group (707-833-7333), not open picnic space.

Dogs

Off-leash only inside the fenced Villa dog park (one of the City's two off-leash areas); leash elsewhere.

Hours

8 a.m.–8 p.m. summer; 8 a.m.–5 p.m. winter

Season

Open year-round. The Villa hall (not the park) has a booking hold Jan 1–Apr 9, 2027 for a kitchen/bar/ADA modernization.

House rules

Alcohol: Prohibited. HMC 12.28.220(A) bans drinking in any City park except Plaza Park, and an open container counts as evidence of drinking; exceptions only by City Council authorization for a group or event (12.28.220(B)) or City permit (HMC 9.12.170(C)). Alcohol at booked Villa events is handled under the venue's own permits. Park hours posted 8 a.m.–8 p.m. (summer) / 8 a.m.–5 p.m. (winter). Dogs can run off leash only inside the fenced dog park.

What the picnic area is like

The public park below the City-owned Villa Chanticleer event hall has a handful of picnic tables beside a playground, a fenced dog park with new shade structures and tables, and wooded views up Fitch Mountain. The trail into Fitch Mountain Park and Open Space Preserve starts from the lower parking lot, so it pairs well with a short hike.

• Picnic tables
• Playground
• Hiking trails
• Parking
• Wheelchair accessible

Good for: Dogs · Families · Budget-friendly · Quiet

About Villa Chanticleer Park (Lower Villa Chanticleer Park)

A low-key neighborhood park on Healdsburg's east side, best for a picnic before or after a walk up Fitch Mountain or a romp in the dog park. Facilities are modest (a few tables and a playground), and alcohol is not allowed.

• Trail access to Fitch Mountain Park and Open Space Preserve from the lower lot
• Fenced dog park upgraded with shade structures, benches and picnic tables
• Four picnic tables beside a playground
• Low-gradient ADA trail segment built with the Fitch Mountain access project
• No alcohol (City parks rule)

More dog-friendly spots in Sonoma CountyMore family-friendly spots in Sonoma CountyMore free spots in Sonoma County

Pick up picnic food nearby

• Shelton's Natural Foods Market

  Healdsburg · 1 mi

• Journeyman Meat Co.

  Healdsburg · 1 mi

• Costeaux French Bakery

  Healdsburg · 1 mi

More picnic spots nearby

Park

Giorgi Park

Healdsburg· 0.8 mi

Bring your own foodNo reservationNo alcoholShade

Healdsburg's best-equipped city park for a group picnic: shaded tables with barbecues, a bocce court and a playground, close to downtown. It suits birthday parties and family reunions, but it is not a place to open a wine bottle, because City code bans alcohol in every park except the Plaza.

Giorgi Park

Bring your own foodChecked Sep 2026

Own food

yes

Wine allowed

no

Reservation

Not needed

Dogs

not confirmed

Fee

Free entry

Nearest picnic food: Shelton's Natural Foods Market · 0.4 mi

Add to my day: Giorgi ParkDetails: Giorgi Park

Park

Del Rio Woods

Healdsburg· 1 mi

Bring your own foodNo reservationWine allowedDogs OK

A small County river-beach park at the foot of Fitch Mountain, a few minutes east of downtown Healdsburg, with a picnic area and stairs down to the water. Unlike nearby Veterans Memorial Beach, it isn't on the County's alcohol-ban list, so it's the Healdsburg-area riverside picnic where a bottle of wine is allowed by default.

Del Rio Woods

Bring your own foodChecked Sep 2026

Own food

yes

Wine allowed

yes

Reservation

Not needed

Dogs

Yes

Fee

$8–$12 parking

Nearest picnic food: Shelton's Natural Foods Market · 2.3 mi

Add to my day: Del Rio WoodsDetails: Del Rio Woods

Winery

Truett-Hurst Winery

Healdsburg· 1 mi

Bring your own foodPurchase requiredNo reservationDogs OK

Truett-Hurst left its creekside Dry Creek property in 2024 and now pours at a remodeled historic barn on Hudson Street, steps from downtown Healdsburg. Its FAQ allows outside food with a minimum wine purchase for groups of six or fewer; the old creekside chairs and farm animals are now at Aesthete Wines.

Truett-Hurst Winery

Bring your own foodChecked Sep 2026

Own food

yes

Wine purchase

Required

Reservation

Not needed

Dogs

Yes

Fee

No picnic fee

Nearest picnic food: Quail & Condor · 0.4 mi

Add to my day: Truett-Hurst WineryDetails: Truett-Hurst Winery

Park

Healdsburg Veterans Memorial Beach

Healdsburg· 1 mi

Bring your own foodNo reservationNo alcoholDogs OK

Sonoma County's lifeguarded Russian River beach at the south edge of downtown Healdsburg, with shaded tables and lawn above the sand. It is the easiest family swim-and-picnic stop in the Healdsburg area, but it is one of the few County parks where alcohol is banned year-round, so leave the winery bottle in the car.

Healdsburg Veterans Memorial Beach

Bring your own foodChecked Sep 2026

Own food

yes

Wine allowed

no

Reservation

Not needed

Dogs

Outside

Fee

$8–$12 parking

Nearest picnic food: Quail & Condor · 0.7 mi

Add to my day: Healdsburg Veterans Memorial BeachDetails: Healdsburg Veterans Memorial Beach

All picnic spots in Healdsburg, Dry Creek & Alexander Valley →

Frequently asked questions