Sunday RoundUp: What a day!
Pics from the Apple Blossom Parade and Festival, a new exhibit opens at the West County Museum, and more
Skipping down the Yellow Brick Road at the Apple Blossom Parade
Despite the chilly weather, this year’s Apple Blossom Parade seemed bigger and better than ever, with large, enthusiastic crowds and elaborate handmade floats.
The “Blossoms of Oz” theme proved inspiring, and Main Street was thick with Dorothys, witches, scarecrows, tin men, lions, and even tornadoes. (Our Faces of West County columnist Steve Einstein got into the act as the crabby apple tree that pelts Dorothy and friends with apples.)
There were school bands, lots of hot rods and vintage tractors, horses, VFW flags, beauty pageant winners, teachers of the year, and lots of tie-dye. In other words, it was a classic, old-time, small-town spectacle with that special Sebastopol twist.
We’re working on a comprehensive photo essay on the parade, which we’ll publish later this afternoon, but here are some of the best shots of the day. (Photos below by Lawson Gaylord, who was at the north end of the parade, and Laura Hagar Rush, who was at the south end.)
At the Apple Blossom Festival
The Apple Blossom Festival continues today with bands on two stages, kid rides, the AWS Art Show, lots of new food options, craftspeople, and, fingers-crossed, a little more sun. Here are today’s musical offerings:
Front Stage
12:30-2:00 Swifty
2:30-5:00 Porchfest Presents:
2:30-2:50 Lady Bloom
2:55-3:15 Bill DeCarli
3:25-3:50 Brittany Aquamarine
4:00-4:30 Pasaflora
4:40-5:10 Quami
Back Stage
12:00-1:30 Freestone Peaches
2:00-3:30 Poor Man’s Whiskey
4:30-6:00 Fleetwood Macramae
New museum exhibit on Sebastopol grocery stores opens today
One of the hottest topics in Sebastopol right now revolves around a new grocery store—Grocery Outlet—that might be coming to town, though not if a coalition of local independent groceries and concerned residents have anything to say about it.
With impeccable timing, the folks at West County Museum are mounting a new exhibit looking at the history of Sebastopol grocery stores from the 1890s to the present day. According to curator Mary Dodgion, the longest-running grocery store in town today is Safeway, which opened as Cash & Carry in 1925 and changed its name to Safeway in 1929. It’s been in five different locations over the years. Andy’s Market, which celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2024, has been in its current location from the beginning, when it opened as a roadside fruit stand. Pacific Market, once called Fiesta, was built on the site of a former Christmas Tree lot.
What’s your favorite local grocery store? Find out about its history at the West County Museum. There’s an opening reception for this new exhibit today, Sunday, April 26, starting at 11 am. The museum is open Saturdays and Sundays from 11 am to 2 pm.
Farewells
Richard James “Rico” Felciano
Richard James “Rico” Felciano, composer, pioneer in electronic music, and Professor Emeritus of Music at the University of California, Berkeley, died peacefully in San Francisco on February 21, 2026, at the age of 95.
Jerry Keith Samples
Jerry Keith Samples was born on April 29, 1937 to Robert and Hazel Samples in Hilrose Colorado. He enlisted in the Navy Kiddie Cruise in 1955. In 1960, he married Nancy J Kissler. They moved to Santa Rosa CA to join his parents in the family business, Roto Rooter Sewer Service. In 1981, they moved to Sebastopol.
Week of April 20-25
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I'm all for a grocery outlet! We have plenty of expensive grocery stores in this town. Trader Joe would be my first choice...
It was a lovely parade despite the cold weather — what about a shot or two of the :”Rebel Appliance” vehicle? The strangest and yet one of the most creative “floats”?