A Kelley House Museum Fundraiser
MURDER, SHE WROTE FESTIVAL FAQ
Friday, May 2nd – Sunday, May 4th, 2025
Here is a short FAQ to help plan your trip.
Where should I stay? Check out our guide to local lodging. All of these inns have helped make this festival possible, so patronize them and help Mendocino thrive. If you don’t want to drive much, make sure to book lodging within the town of Mendocino.
Where should I eat? Mendocino only has a handful of restaurants in town so it is a good idea to call ahead and make reservations. Please book your reservation early enough to allow yourself enough time to get to the next event. If you get stuck, our local market, Harvest at Mendosa’s, always has some prepared food for takeout. Here’s a fairly comprehensive guide to Mendocino restaurants, just doublecheck the location if you are trying to dine in the town itself, since some of these require driving in a car to get to them.
How long will it take to get to Mendocino? If there’s one thing all first-time visitors learn, it’s that it takes longer to get here than your Google Maps tells you. The roads are windy, and you’ll want to stop for a stretch, a bite, and to admire the view. Bring carbonated beverages or Dramamine if you are prone to car sickness. These are the general driving times and do not account for traffic:
- 4 hours from Sacramento Airport
- 4 hours from San Francisco and Oakland Airports
- 5 hours from San Jose Airport
- 2.5 hours from Santa Rosa Airport
Where and when do I check in?
If you are a FULL Festival Pass Holder (see the red poster), you will check in on Friday at the Welcome Event on Friday, May 2nd from 5-7pm at The Wharf Restaurant, a Murder, She Wrote filming location. If you miss the Welcome Event, you will able to check-in at noon on Saturday at Preston Hall in Mendocino. If you know you won’t make the Welcome event, email us to let us know so we can let you know what time your walking tour will be.
If you are a JUNIOR Festival Pass Holder (see the yellow poster), you will check in at at noon on Saturday at Preston Hall in Mendocino.
For all passes, if you have the receipt from your pass purchase, please bring it (but we also have all ticket holder names so can check if you forget). If you are arriving the same day, give yourself plenty of time to make the journey, check-in to your hotel, and get to your first event.
Will there be food at the Welcome Event? The Wharf Restaurant is providing some small bites, and a complimentary beverage. But the restaurant itself is closed that night for a private event, so plan to dine out elsewhere afterwards. There are some excellent restaurants in Noyo Harbor (aka “Cabot Cove Harbor”) and in Fort Bragg.
Will there be Festival merchandise? We heard this request loud and clear from fans last year. We will have T-shirts, tote bags, mugs, stickers, books, and other fun items for sale. Festival merchandise will be for sale at the Tea Tasting, Jessica House Reception, and the Kelley House Museum. There will also be amazing one-of-a-kind merchandise at the Silent Auction on Saturday.
Are there any surprises? Why, yes, there’s a big one, but since you are mystery lovers we are not going to reveal it! But you should definitely stop by the Tea Tasting and Author signing event.
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