Film enthusiasts can revisit the eerie world of Alfred Hitchcock’s 1963 thriller The Birds this October when the California coastal village of Bodega Bay hosts its annual Hitchcock Festival. The event celebrates the filmmaker’s cinematic legacy while inviting visitors to explore the real-life locations that helped bring one of Hollywood’s most memorable suspense films to the screen.
Held at the historic Bodega Bay Grange Hall No. 777, the festival begins Friday, Oct. 16, with an anniversary screening of The Birds. Organizers are encouraging attendees to dress in 1960s-inspired fashions for the occasion, adding a nostalgic touch to the evening.
The program continues Saturday, Oct. 17, with screenings of two additional Hitchcock classics, Rear Window and Rebecca. The weekend brings together movie fans, film historians and travelers interested in visiting locations made famous by cinema.
The timing also offers an atmospheric backdrop. Autumn fog often settles over the Sonoma Coast, while flocks of starlings gather above the coastal cliffs, creating a natural spectacle reminiscent of the unsettling imagery in Hitchcock’s film.
Although the movie was released more than six decades ago, many of its filming locations remain recognizable. Visitors can follow a self-guided itinerary through Bodega, Bodega Bay and nearby communities to see places associated with the production.
In the hamlet of Bodega, the historic Potter Schoolhouse remains one of the film’s most recognizable landmarks. The approximately 150-year-old wooden building appeared in scenes involving schoolchildren fleeing the birds. Nearby, St. Teresa of Avila Church, built in 1860, can also be seen in the film’s background.
In Bodega Bay, The Tides Wharf Restaurant remains a popular waterfront destination. The restaurant featured in the movie as a gathering place for characters seeking shelter from the unfolding danger. Today, visitors can enjoy seafood, including locally sourced Dungeness crab, while taking in views of the harbor.
Further inland, Valley Ford offers another connection to the film. The rural Sonoma County community served as the setting for a pivotal scene involving Lydia Brenner, played by Jessica Tandy. The historic Valley Ford Hotel, built in 1864, provides another opportunity to experience the area’s heritage.
Sonoma County’s screen history extends well beyond Hitchcock. Wes Craven’s Scream (1996) used locations around Healdsburg and Glen Ellen, while The Goonies (1985) featured Goat Rock Beach along the Sonoma Coast. George Lucas filmed portions of American Graffiti (1973) in Sonoma and Petaluma, and John Carpenter’s The Fog (1980) drew on the region’s atmospheric coastal landscapes.
With its combination of classic cinema, coastal scenery and historic landmarks, Sonoma County offers film lovers an opportunity to experience familiar movie settings in person. The October festival provides a timely reason to explore the area and rediscover Hitchcock’s enduring influence on suspense filmmaking.