Swap, Fix, Repeat: Windsor's Fall Calendar Runs Through Huerta Gym

Between now and the first week of December, the Town of Windsor holds three free reuse events at the same building, Huerta Gym at 9291 Old Redwood Highway. Each one is set for a different point in the season. The first is a costume and decoration exchange the week before Halloween trick-or-treating. The second is a seasonal décor and clothing swap in early November. The third adds repair volunteers in early December, just as holiday lights, lamps, and bikes come out of the garage.

Taken in order, they work as one plan. Clear out a bin in October, restock in November, and fix what's left in December. Below is how each step works, along with the Town Green dates that fall in between.

The three dates

All three events are listed as free, or show no admission price. The order is what helps you plan. Each event takes what the one before it couldn't, so nothing needs to sit in the garage until spring.

October: empty the costume bin before you need it

The Green Halloween Party runs Friday, October 16, from 3 to 5 p.m. at Huerta Gymnasium. It's part of North Bay Zero Waste Week, co-hosted by the Town of Windsor and Sonoma County Resource Recovery. Bring gently used costumes, decorations, and plants to the community exchange. There's also a repurposed crafts corner and snacks and drinks, so bring your own cup. If you bring a shirt, tote, or other fabric item, they'll screen print it with the Zero Waste Week logo. The organizers are also looking for volunteers for the costume exchange, the craft area, and check-in. Spanish-speaking volunteers will be on hand.

The timing matters. Eight days later, on Saturday, October 24, the Town's Trick or Treat Trail runs from noon to 4 p.m. at Keiser Park, 700 Windsor River Road. It's free and meant for children under 12 with an adult chaperone, and you have to preregister. A child who has outgrown last year's costume can trade it on the 16th and have a different one in time for the trail. If you're planning to go to Keiser Park, register first, since walk-up spots aren't promised.

November: the swap moves on to the next season

On Saturday, November 7, the Seasonal Decoration and Clothing Swap returns to Huerta Gym from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. This time the Windsor Garden Club co-hosts with the Town. The Town's listing names "fall decorations and costumes" along with "regular clothing," and invites people to trade, drop off, and pick up items.

So November is a second chance for anything that didn't find a taker in October. It's also the first swap that takes everyday clothing, which makes it a good stop for a closet cleanout as the weather turns.

The November listing is shorter than the others. It doesn't set a donation limit, condition rules, or a list of excluded items, and it doesn't say whether you need to bring something to take something. The December event spells out those rules, and they make a reasonable standard to follow until the Town says otherwise. Bring clean items in good condition, and leave out undergarments and socks.

Between swaps, the Town Green fills up

Windsor's other fall calendar runs a few blocks away on the Town Green. That's where you'd use the November swap finds and look for gifts before December.

Trecini Winery opened a tasting room at 9071 Windsor Road in Town Green Village on September 25, with indoor and outdoor seating. Kyle and Christina Cameron own the wine brand, according to the Press Democrat. The same report said tastings are free through November 1, 2026, which leaves about three weeks from today.

The Downtown Wine Walk is Thursday, November 19, from 5 to 8 p.m., rain or shine. The Windsor Chamber of Commerce caps it at 450 tickets, and tickets go on sale October 22. Your ticket covers a logo glass, food and wine tastes, a map of stops, and shopping specials. The Chamber says more than 20 wineries and food vendors will take part, and part of the proceeds goes to a local nonprofit. You'll need ID at check-in. Since 450 tickets cover the whole Town Green, plan to buy on October 22 rather than closer to the date.

Spur Saloon, at 9000 Windsor Road, is now part of the evening options too. Owners Eric Foster and Christina Keeney Foster opened it in August in the former Windsor Brewery space, according to Sonoma Magazine.

The Letters to Santa mailbox on the Town Green takes letters from November 23 through December 16. The Town's fall recreation guide asks families to include a self-addressed return envelope so Santa can write back. That window opens about two weeks before the Repair Fair, which brings the season back to Huerta Gym.

December: bring the broken things

The last event adds the step the first two can't offer. At the Repair Fair and Seasonal Swap on Saturday, December 5, volunteers and specialized repair professionals work on lamps, small appliances, textiles, bags, and bikes. The Town co-hosts with the Reuse Alliance. Zero Waste Sonoma's listing also names Zero Waste Sonoma as a sponsor and Windsor We Act as a supporter.

The repair table doesn't do quick drop-offs. Organizers ask you to stay with your item while it's being fixed. That way you can pick up maintenance tips, learn how to shop for repairable goods, and maybe learn to do the repair yourself next time.

Some jobs are off the list. Volunteers can't work on microwaves, fix phone or computer screens, or do welding or brazing, but they'll refer you to professionals who can. The textile table can't replace zippers, repair shoes, leather, or vinyl, alter garments, or replace rivets and grommets. It also can't hem certain fabrics. Repairs aren't guaranteed, since they depend on the damage, the volunteers available, and whether parts are on hand.

The swap at this event has the clearest rules of the season. Donations are limited to one bag per person, clean and in good condition, with no undergarments or socks. You can take as much as you'd like. The Town's event page adds: "You are not required to bring items to participate in the swap."

Check the start time before you go. The Town lists 1 to 4 p.m. Zero Waste Sonoma's listing for the same event says 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The two windows overlap only at 1 p.m., so confirm with the Town in the week before. The event page lists the Town's sustainability contact, [email protected].

Getting a repair item ready

1. Register the item ahead of time through the Reuse Alliance, the link on both the Town and Zero Waste Sonoma listings. Registering lets the volunteers prepare for your item.
2. Check the exclusions above. A microwave or a cracked phone screen won't be accepted.
3. If you want something hemmed, pin it to the length you want before you arrive, as the registration form asks.
4. Plan to stay at the table while the repair happens.
5. Bring one bag of décor or clothing for the swap if you have it. If not, come anyway.

Putting the season on one calendar

For a household working through the garage between now and December, the order looks like this:

• October 16: trade outgrown costumes and Halloween décor at Huerta Gym.
• October 22: Wine Walk tickets go on sale.
• October 24: Trick or Treat Trail at Keiser Park, preregistration required.
• November 1: last day of free tastings at Trecini, according to the Press Democrat's opening report.
• November 7: fall décor and clothing swap with the Windsor Garden Club.
• November 19: Downtown Wine Walk on the Town Green.
• November 23 to December 16: Letters to Santa mailbox on the Town Green.
• December 5: Repair Fair and Seasonal Swap. Register repair items first and confirm the start time.

One date is still unconfirmed as of mid-October. The Town's online Holiday Celebration page still shows 2025 details, so watch for the 2026 announcement rather than counting on last year's date.

If this fall's cleanout is also the start of getting a Windsor home ready to sell, the swap-and-repair approach carries over to listing prep. You decide what goes, what stays, and what's worth fixing, one step at a time. Michael Pellegrini can walk you through a step-by-step prep plan, no pressure, so you know what to fix before photos and what to leave alone.