Film — Knife: The Attempted Murder Of Salman Rushdie
Monday, Oct. 19, 6:30 pm, at Rialto Cinemas, 6868 McKinley St., Sebastopol. $16.
More than 30 years after Iran’s leader Ayatollah Khomeini issued a fatwa, a religious decree calling for the death of author Salman Rushdie over the publication of his novel The Satanic Verses, Rushdie traveled to Chautauqua to speak about the United States as a sanctuary for exiled writers and artists. The event marked the 20th anniversary of a writer-refuge program — a setting meant to celebrate safety and creative freedom. It was there that a young, self-styled Jihadist rushed the stage, intent on killing him with a knife. Using excerpts from Rushdie’s works, including his powerful memoir, Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder,” Alex Gibney’s documentary is both a striking testament to freedom of expression and a defiant response to the attempt on Rushdie’s life. Get tickets.
Olive Klug at HopMonk
Monday, Oct. 19, 8 pm, at HopMonk (The Abbey), 230 Petaluma Ave., Sebastopol. $30.05.
Originally on a career path towards social work, Olive Klug now utilizes singing and storytelling as a means to accomplish lifelong goals of inspiring emotional catharsis and social change. Frail Talk is the opener. Get tickets.
Spinning Local Wool: Drop Spindle Basics
Tuesday, Oct. 20, 10:30 am to 12:30 pm, at Gather Sebastopol, 122 N. Main St., Sebastopol. $115.
Learn to spin wool into yarn with shepherd and woolmonger Marie Hoff of Full Circle Wool. Using a locally made drop spindle and locally grown wool, you’ll experience the transformation from loose fiber to handmade yarn while building the foundational skills to continue spinning on your own. Tip: wear denim, cotton or linen, since wool fibers love to cling. Register here.
See other Gather events here.
Sebastopol City Council Meeting
Tuesday, Oct. 20, 6 pm, at the Sebastopol Youth Annex, 425 Morris St., Sebastopol. Free.
There will be a public hearing on a proposal to split a 2.69-acre lot at 8100 Valentine into 20 lots with up to 39 homes. The council will also consider several important actions related to its water and sewer funds. (This could be very significant, so see the staff report on this item for details.) In addition, Council will discuss whether to pay the city attorney to review police policies on ICE and youth diversion programs—and whether to shift $76,690 in water funds to design a new water pipe loop on Pleasant Hill Road. See agenda and documentation.
Voter Information Night
Tuesday, Oct. 20, from 6 pm to 8 pm, at Analy High School Library and Cafeteria, 6950 Analy Ave., Sebastopol. Free.
Staring at your ballot and wondering what all those propositions actually do? Let Analy’s young civics scholars help. Government students at Analy High have been hard at work preparing presentations on every proposition on the November ballot, laying out the facts and explaining exactly what a yes vote and a no vote would mean. It’s a family-friendly evening, a chance to support local students, and a painless way to walk into the voting booth better informed. Details.
Upcycled Journal Workshop
Wednesday, Oct. 21, 6 pm to 9 pm, at the Sebastopol Center for the Arts, 282 S. High St., Sebastopol. $70
Join mixed media artist Rendell Hourigan for a creative workshop turning recycled cereal/snack boxes into a unique handmade journal with simple book-binding skills using a needle and waxed thread. Examples will be shown throughout the class, and step-by-step instruction with all materials being provided; this class is great for beginners looking to get started in upcycled crafting. Short exercises to boost your creativity and journal prompts are also included. Register.
Met Opera Live in HD: Macbeth
Wednesday, Oct. 21, 1 pm and 6:30 pm, at Rialto Cinemas Sebastopol, 6868 McKinley St., Sebastopol. See website for ticket prices.
Verdi’s take on Shakespeare’s tale of a ruthless couple grasping for power stars baritone Quinn Kelsey as the ghost-haunted Scottish king and Lise Davidsen, widely hailed as today’s reigning dramatic soprano, as the dangerously ambitious Lady Macbeth. Met Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts the striking new production by rising director Louisa Proske, with tenor Freddie De Tommaso as Macduff and bass-baritone Ryan Speedo Green as the doomed Banquo. Settle in with a glass of wine; the performance runs 209 minutes. Get tickets.
Fruit Wine Making Workshop
Wednesday, Oct. 21, from 6 pm to 8 pm, at Sebastopol Grange Hall, 6000 Sebastopol Ave. Hwy 12, Sebastopol. Free. 21+
Grange member Vi Epperson has been making wines from her fruit trees for over 10 years and will show how you can, too. She has made over 800 bottles of wine from a wide variety of fruits. She uses a non-tech, kitchen-oriented approach to winemaking that is non–intimidating. She will demonstrate the preparation, home equipment, ingredients, fermentation steps, bottling and labeling of fruit wines. Wine tasting will follow. Open to the public, ages 21 and up. Details.
Film: Roads of Fire
Wednesday, Oct. 21, 1 pm and 7 pm, at Rialto Cinemas, 6868 McKinley St., Sebastopol. $11.50.
“Roads of Fire” examines the global migrant crisis through the lens of the $35 billion human smuggling trade, tracking a smuggler as he transports a family to the mouth of the cartel-controlled Darién Gap; a young mother fighting for asylum in New York City; and volunteers on the front lines of an escalating humanitarian emergency. Panel discussion to follow 7 pm screening. The Indivisible Sonoma County Film Series presented by Rialto Cinemas. Get tickets.
Evan Hatfield at Laguna Lab
Thursday, Oct. 22, 7 pm to 11 pm at Laguna Lab, 117 Morris St., Sebastopol. $37.
Evan Hatfield has become an inspiring new talent within the world of electronic music. He has become known for his high-energy live performances where he combines his sitar with a variety of synthesizers, drum machines, and sequencers for a truly exquisite and unique musical journey. Get tickets.
Grand Opening of the 10th Annual Holiday Pavilion at Sebastopol Hardware
Friday, Oct. 23, 9 am to 6 pm, 660 Gravenstein Highway North, Sebastopol. Free entry.
Yes, we know you’re thinking about Halloween, but the folks at Sebastopol Hardware have their eyes set firmly on Christmas. This is the 10th anniversary for their annual holiday pavillion filled with hand-selected ornaments, decor, lights, gifts and more. There will be bingo from 2-4 pm, treats from the Sebastopol Cookie Company, raffles and more.
Live Music Fridays at Pax Wines with Karen Joy Brown
Friday, Oct. 23, from 5 pm to 7 pm, at Pax Wines, 6780 McKinley St. #170, Sebastopol. Free.
Join Northern California-based singer-songwriter Karen Joy Brown, known for her soulful voice and genre-blending acoustic pop, jazz, and Americana music. This event is free to attend. Wine is available for purchase. Walk-ins are welcome, but seats are limited. More info.
Marty O’Reilly (Quartet) with Pat Byrne
Friday, Oct. 23, 8 pm, in The Abbey at HopMonk Tavern, 230 Petaluma Ave., Sebastopol. $25 plus fees. 21+
Join Marty O’Reilly for a night of Americana, inspired by giants like Woody Guthrie, Howlin’ Wolf and Sister Rosetta Tharpe. His years of nonstop touring have earned him a devoted following, along with stages shared with Shakey Graves and a slot at BottleRock. Pat Byrne opens. Mostly standing. Get tickets.
Waste Tire Collection Event
Saturday, Oct. 24, 9 am to 12 pm, at the Sebastopol Charter School parking lot, 1111 Gravenstein Hwy., Sebastopol. Free for City of Sebastopol residents.
The City of Sebastopol is holding a free Waste Tire Collection Event to help keep our city clean. City residents may dispose of up to nine tires per vehicle. Multiple trips are allowed. Tires mounted on rims are accepted. Proof of residency is required, and tires from commercial businesses cannot be accepted.
Sonoma County Fungi 101 (AGVWC Fall Quarterly Gathering)
Saturday, Oct. 24, 10 am to 12 pm, at Lions Grove Picnic Area, Ragle Ranch Regional Park, 500 Ragle Road, Sebastopol.
The Atascadero/Green Valley Watershed Council hosts David Healy of the Sonoma County Mycological Association for a beginner-friendly talk covering basic mushroom vocabulary, four local trees that host mushrooms, and some of the most important species growing in our area. More info.
The Art of Broom Making
Saturday, Oct. 24, 10 am to 1 pm, at Gather Sebastopol, 122 N. Main St., Sebastopol. $150.
Join Alissa Kaplan, maker and founder of Zizland Atelier, for a class in crafting your own Wrapped Hawk Tail Whisk. You’ll learn a bit of hand-broom history, how to choose and prepare broomcorn, and the traditional Shaker and Appalachian techniques for binding and wrapping it into shape. Perfect for lovers of heritage crafts and anyone who enjoys making beautiful, useful things by hand. All materials and tools are supplied; some hand strength is needed. Register here.
Growing Great Garlic Class
Saturday, Oct. 24, from 10:30 am to 11:30 am, at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 500 Robinson Road, Sebastopol. Free or by donation.
Fall is garlic-planting time. Join the Community Seed Exchange for this event exploring the rich world of garlic. Learn how to nurture a healthy crop through its nine-month growing season here in Sonoma County, so you’ll have plenty of homegrown bulbs come summer. More info.
Julia Moss Meet & Greet for her new picture book, Wanderers
Saturday, Oct. 24, at 12 pm, at Copperfield’s Books, 138 N. Main St., Sebastopol. Free.
Sebastopol native Julia Moss, now an elementary school teacher in Berkeley, celebrates her debut picture book, Wanderers: A Walk Through Time and Transportation, illustrated by Toshiki Nakamura. Bring your kids to meet the author and get a copy signed. RSVP here.
Finely Crafted: Opening reception for a new exhibition at SebArts
Saturday, Oct. 24, from 2 pm to 4 pm, at Sebastopol Center for the Arts, 282 S. High St., Sebastopol. Cost not listed.
Join in the Sebastopol Center for the Arts celebration of the Handwork 2026 American Year of Craft. Our exhibition, Finely Crafted, focuses on objects exemplifying true craft: “Works that are original, uniquely expressive, created with skilled hands, inspired by the material itself, all the while having utility in their heritage.” More info.
Spooky Species: Creatures of the Night / Especies Espeluznantes
Saturday, October 24, 5:30 pm to 8 pm, at the Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation, 900 Sanford Road, Santa Rosa. Free.
What goes bump in the night out on the Laguna? Find out at this family-friendly evening of creepy-crawly fun from the Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation and Ag + Open Space. Kids can craft shimmering salt spiderwebs and test their nerve by reaching into mystery boxes. From 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm, Classroom Safari brings live tarantulas and snakes for an up-close look at these misunderstood creatures. Then, as dusk settles in, the group heads out into the Native Plant Garden to watch for bats taking wing. Costumes are encouraged! The event is free thanks to Sonoma County voters, whose quarter-cent sales tax funds Ag + Open Space. Bilingual (English and Spanish). Register here (Going fast!)
Firefighters’ Pancake Breakfast
Sunday, Oct. 25, 7 am to 11 am, at Sebastopol Fire Station, 7425 Bodega Ave., Sebastopol. Free.
The Gold Ridge Fire Protection District invites everyone to a free community breakfast, a chance to get to know your neighbors and the firefighters and staff who keep West County safe. More info.
The Art of Paste Paper
Sunday, Oct. 25, 10 am to 3 pm, at North Bay Letterpress Arts, 925D Gravenstein Hwy. S., Sebastopol. $135.
Paste paper is one of the oldest decorated papers used by bookbinders, and can be found in books that are centuries old. Hundreds of years ago, bookbinders would sometimes use up their leftover bookbinding paste by adding pigment to the mixture and brushing it out on surfaces to make decorative papers used in bookbinding. Join Bettina PaulyIn this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn the history of Paste paper, mix up your own paste recipes, make your own mark-making tools and experiment with color blending and texture. Papers need time to dry, so plan a later pickup. Register.
Family Circus Arts & Juggling Workshop
Sunday, Oct. 25, 10:30 am to 1 pm, at Sebastopol Community Cultural Center, 390 Morris St., Sebastopol. $20 for one, $35 for two, $55 for three tickets.
The Community Center invites kids and grown-ups to tumble into a joyful few hours of circus arts together. Families will try their hands at juggling, clowning, acrobatics, hula hooping and balloon twisting, plus movement games and teamwork challenges, all in a supportive, giggle-friendly setting. No experience is needed. Have fun, try something new, build a little confidence and make some memories as a family. Proceeds support the Community Center. Register here.
