Alexander Valley vineyards at golden hour

Swing Out, Sonoma County

Swing Out, Sonoma County

Swing Out, Sonoma County is a weekend dance event inviting Lindy Hop dancers from across California and beyond to experience the best of Alexander Valley: great music, great dancing, and the kind of unhurried wine country lifestyle that only locals usually get to enjoy.

Dance with usOctober 10 + 11, 2026Healdsburg, CA · Alexander Valley
About the EventThe historic Alexander Valley Hall

Three dancing friends, all Sonoma County locals, had a dream to host a Lindy exchange in their favorite place on earth. When they stumbled upon one of Sonoma County's best kept secrets: a perfectly-preserved WWII-era dance hall nestled among the grapevines, they knew they'd found the perfect home for a weekend of great dancing (with notes of apricot, grass, and grapefruit).

Whether you're a seasoned dancer or just starting out, this is your invitation to dance in a historic dance hall, take workshops from talented instructors, and raise a glass with a community that loves this music and this place.

Brought to you in partnership with the Healdsburg Dance Collective, with fiscal sponsor The Launch Pad Foundation, a 501(c)(3). Contributions to Launch Pad Foundation are deductible for federal income tax purposes to the fullest extent permitted by law.

The Alpha Rhythm Kings
01 / Live Music

The Alpha Rhythm Kings

Dance the night away with swing jazz band The Alpha Rhythm Kings, plus DJ sets throughout the evening.

Matt Richey
02 / Int / Adv Workshops

Matt Richey

Guest instructor Matt Richey leads the intermediate/advanced track on Saturday. Matt will be offering private lessons while he's in town — sign up to be notified.

Brian Smith
03 / Beginner Workshops

Brian Smith

Local instructor Brian Smith leads the beginner track on Saturday — perfect for first-timers and returning dancers.

Sunday Winery Social
04 / Wine Country Hobnobbing

Sunday Winery Social

Gather in the sunshine to unwind, taste local wines, and reconnect with your favorite new dance friends.

The Weekend

What's Happening.

Saturday

October 10
10 – 11AM

Beginner Track / Int–Adv Track

Choose your track. Beginner workshops with Brian Smith; intermediate/advanced workshops with Matt Richey.

11AM – 12PM

Beginner Track / Int–Adv Track

Second workshop hour in your chosen track.

12 – 1:30PM

Lunch Break

Explore Healdsburg's renowned restaurants and tasting rooms, or picnic on site.

1:30 – 2:30PM

All-Levels Class

Everyone back together for an all-levels class to close out the day's instruction.

6 – 10PM

Social Dance — Live Band + DJ

An evening of dancing at Alexander Valley Hall featuring The Alpha Rhythm Kings live, plus DJ sets. Local wines + light snacks provided.

Sunday

October 11
11AM – 2PM

Social Gathering @ Local Winery TBD

Reconnect with your favorite dancers from the night before, taste local wines at a local favorite Sonoma County winery, and soak in the Sonoma County lifestyle at its finest.

All Weekend

Explore the Region

Healdsburg's Plaza, world-class restaurants, and dozens of tasting rooms are minutes away. This area is made for wandering.

Tickets

Join Us.

Full Weekend Ticket

Your Full Weekend Ticket Includes:

  • Three Lindy Hop workshops on Saturday (beginner or intermediate/advanced track)
  • Evening social dance with live band The Alpha Rhythm Kings + DJ (Saturday 6–10pm)
  • Sunday morning winery dance social
  • Local wines + light snacks throughout
  • Area wine tasting discounts and other goodies to create a memorable weekend
  • Access to all events - come to any or all

Space is limited to 120 dancers for the weekend. Get your tickets early!

No refunds, but tickets can be transferred to another dancer up to 48 hours before the event.

Pricing
Early Bird · Until Sept 9

$85

Regular · After Sept 9

$110

Buy Tickets

Secure checkout via Zeffy

Support the Event

Would you like to help make Swing Out, Sonoma County possible? We are a 501(c)(3); tax-deductible donations are welcome - you can add a donation of any amount when you purchase your ticket.

Where to Stay

Lodging.

The Alexander Valley is one of California's most popular wine tourism destinations. There's no shortage of beautiful places to stay. We've partnered with one local favorite, and the wider region offers everything from boutique hotels to Airbnbs.

Wine country lodging⭐ Event Partner - Preferred Rates

Wildhaven

Upscale glamping on the Russian River - think well-appointed yurts, gorgeous natural surroundings, and a truly Sonoma County experience. Just a 3-minute drive from Alexander Valley Hall.

We've arranged preferred rates for Swing Out, Sonoma County attendees.

Book at Wildhaven ↗
Hotels, Inns & Rentals

More Options Nearby

Healdsburg's charming Plaza is about 10 minutes away and offers boutique hotels and inns. Santa Rosa (30 min) and Cloverdale (15 min) have more options at various price points.

This is a popular wine tourism region - we recommend booking early, especially for an October weekend.

Search Nearby Hotels ↗
Home stay

Stay with a Local Dancer

Want to host an out-of-towner? Or are you looking for a homestay with a local dancer?

See FAQ below ↗
Getting Here

Alexander
Valley Hall.

The address

5512 Highway 128
Geyserville, CA 95441

From San Francisco

~77 mi · 1.5 hr

About 77 miles / ~1.5 hours via US-101 North - a beautiful drive through Sonoma County wine country. Take US-101 North through Petaluma and Santa Rosa, continue north through Healdsburg, exit at Geyserville and follow Hwy 128 east. Venue is on the right - parking on site.

From the East Bay / Sacramento

~2 - 2.5 hr

Allow approximately 2–2.5 hours depending on your starting point. Take I-80 West to US-101 North via Novato. Continue north past Santa Rosa and Healdsburg. Exit at Geyserville, follow Hwy 128 east.

Parking

Free · On site

Free parking is available on site at Alexander Valley Hall. Carpooling from Healdsburg is easy and encouraged - it's only about 10 minutes away.

Who We Are

Your Hosts.

Allie Hartley, Brian Smith, and Gillian Kieser are local Sonoma County residents who have all been part of the greater Bay Area Lindy Hop scene for over 20 years. Their enthusiasm for swing dance and their love of their Sonoma County home inspired them to invite dancers from across California and beyond to experience the lifestyle of wine country as the locals do, with a weekend of swing dancing in the heart of Alexander Valley.

Illustration of swing dancers at the historic Alexander Valley Hall
In partnership with:Healdsburg Dance Collective
FAQ

Questions?
We've Got Answers.

The Event
Not at all! We offer a dedicated beginner track on Saturday with three workshops designed to get you on the dance floor with confidence. We welcome absolute beginners - everyone starts somewhere, and this community is famously welcoming to newcomers.
Nope - just bring a good attitude! Lindy Hop is a social dance and we rotate partners throughout the workshops. There will be plenty of friendly dancers of all skill levels to dance with all weekend.
Wear comfortable clothes you can move in. October in Sonoma County is still the tail end of summer - warm days, mild evenings - and dancing gets warm, so dress in layers you can shed. Many dancers love to dress up in vintage-inspired outfits, but it is absolutely not required. Wear what makes you feel good!

Shoes: We strongly recommend shoes with leather or suede soles, or "dance socks" worn over your regular shoes. Rubber-soled shoes make it very hard to turn and slide on the dance floor.
We offer two tracks: a Beginner track for those new to Lindy Hop, and an Intermediate/Advanced track for dancers with existing experience. Specific topics and instructors to be announced soon.
Local wines and light snacks will be available throughout the weekend. For lunch during the Saturday workshops and dinner before the evening social, we recommend exploring the local restaurant scene - this corner of Sonoma County is known for exceptional food and wine, so don't miss the opportunity to indulge!
Travel & Getting Here
About 77 miles - roughly 1.5 hours via US-101 North. It's a beautiful drive through the heart of Sonoma County wine country. From the East Bay or Sacramento, allow 2–2.5 hours.
Yes! Free parking is available on site at Alexander Valley Hall. If you're staying in Healdsburg, carpooling is easy and encouraged - it's only about 10 minutes away.
Lodging
Yes - and it's wonderful. Our event partner Wildhaven offers upscale glamping (think cozy yurts) on the Russian River, just 3 minutes from the venue. We've arranged preferred rates for attendees. Book here ↗
Healdsburg (10 min away) has excellent boutique hotels and inns around its charming central Plaza. Santa Rosa (30 min) and Cloverdale (15 min) offer more budget-friendly hotel options. October is a busy time in wine country - book as early as you can.
Thank you so much for your generous hospitality! Please share the details of your available space here.
Tickets & Support
Your ticket covers the full weekend: all three Saturday workshops (in your chosen track), the Saturday evening social dance (6–10pm) with live band The Alpha Rhythm Kings and DJ sets, and the Sunday winery dance social. Come to any or all events - it's your weekend.
We don't offer refunds, but if you can no longer attend, you're welcome to transfer your ticket to another dancer - just let us know up to 48 hours before the event.
Yes! We gratefully accept donations to help keep this event affordable and sustainable. When you purchase your ticket you will have the option to add a donation in any amount. Thank you for your support!
Yes, full and partial financial aid is available for this event, thanks to generous donations from our dance community. Apply for financial aid here.