What's happening this week in Sebastopol?
Peacetown, a film about poet Mary Oliver, a community wellness fair, and the opening of a new teen center in Sebastopol
Film: Hadestown: The Musical
Monday through Thursday, July 27-30, at 1 pm, 5 pm and 7:45 pm, at Rialto Cinemas, 6868 McKinley St., Sebastopol. $16.
This genre-defying musical blends modern American folk music with New Orleans-inspired jazz to reimagine two sweeping ancient love stories — Orpheus and Eurydice, and King Hades and Persephone. Hadestown invites audiences on a hell-raising journey to the underworld and back. Get tickets.
Film: Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World
Monday through Thursday, July 27-30, at 3:50 pm and 5:45 pm, at Rialto Cinemas, 6868 McKinley St., Sebastopol. $16.
If poetry had a pop icon, Mary Oliver would be it. Celebrated bestseller, Pulitzer Prize winner, lover of dogs and long walks in the woods, openly queer but intensely private, Oliver was America’s unlikely contemporary mystic, stalking the ponds and forests of Cape Cod for nearly 50 years in order to open herself — and her readers — to the known and unknowable world. Get tickets.
Science Buzz Café: What’s Your Story
Monday July 27, 6 pm, at HopMonk (in The Abbey), 230 Petaluma Ave., Sebastopol. $10.
The last “What’s Your Story” event proved so popular, they’re doing it again. Everyone has a story — got 10-15 minutes? You are invited to tell your story. But first, live on-stage stories from life: The Impossible from Dr. Harry Simms; Adventuresome Stories with Dr. Allan Bernstein; Musical Stories with Jim Corbett.
The Crying Hearts at Crooked Goat Brewing
Monday, July 27, 6 pm to 8 pm, at Crooked Goat Brewing in the Barlow. Free, but donations welcome.
Come see The Crying Hearts on their debut tour! The final stop is at Crooked Goat Brewing in Sebastopol. The Crying Hearts are an old-time, Americana and folk music duo from the Central Coast of California.
Preserve the Season: Stone Fruit
Tuesday, July 28, 10 am to 1 pm, at Gather, 122 N. Main St., Sebastopol. $150
Stone fruit season is one of the highlights of summer. Peaches, nectarines, plums, and apricots offer a fleeting window of abundance—and preserving them is one of the best ways to enjoy their flavor long after the harvest has passed. Guided by Christina Connelly of Apple Blossom Acres, you’ll learn the fundamentals of home preservation while working with the freshest stone fruit available that week. Reserve your spot.
Design Review and Tree Board Meeting
Tuesday, July 28, 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm, Sebastopol Youth Annex, 425 Morris St., Sebastopol. Free.
The board will consider local design and signage matters, including continued review of the Bonnie Bagels sign, a Kindred sign permit and proposed amendments to the city’s sign code. The public may attend in person or participate remotely. See agenda and documentation.
Produce Exchange
Tuesday, July 28, 5 pm to 5:45 pm, at Sebastopol Grange, 6000 Sebastopol Ave., Sebastopol. Free.
Bring your extra produce to the Grange to share and take home some of others’ surplus. Anything leftover will be donated. Master Food Preservers will be on hand to answer food preservation questions. Held on second and fourth Tuesdays.
Sebastopol Grange General Meeting and Potluck
Tuesday, July 28, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., Sebastopol Grange, 6000 Sebastopol Ave., Sebastopol. $10.
The Sebastopol Grange holds its monthly community meeting and potluck. Attendees may bring food to share and learn about current Grange activities and community projects. The guest presenter this month will be David Gill, of the Sebastopol Area Time Bank (SATB), explaining how you can get the help you need — and provide the help you can — with no money changing hands. At SATB, the currency is HOURS, not dollars, and with your free membership you’ll find how easy and fulfilling it is for neighbors to help neighbors, as this group has been doing for nearly 10 years.
Planning Commission Meeting
Tuesday, July 28, 6 pm to 9 pm, at the Sebastopol Youth Annex, 425 Morris St., Sebastopol. Free.
The Planning Commission’s agenda includes consideration of a use permit connected with expansion of the Sebastopol Farmers Market. The public may attend in person, watch the livestream or participate by Zoom. See agenda and documentation here.
Poetry Lives! Workshop and Open Mic
Tuesday, July 28, 6 pm to 8:30 pm, at the Sebastopol Center for the Arts, 282 S. High St., Sebastopol. Workshop admission is on a $5–$20 sliding scale; the open mic is free with a suggested $5 donation.
The evening begins with a spoken-word workshop from 6 to 7 pm, followed by a public poetry open mic from 7:15 to 8:30 p.m. Writers of all experience levels may take part, and participation in the open mic is voluntary. Learn more.
Luther Burbank Experiment Farm Work Day
Wednesday, July 29, 9 am to noon, Luther Burbank Experiment Farm, 7777 Bodega Ave., Sebastopol. Free.
Volunteers help preserve and maintain the historic farm through gardening, visitor assistance, tours and work in the cottage and gift shop. All skill and ability levels are welcome. Learn more.
Family Story Time
Wednesday, July 29, 10:30 am to 11 am, at the stage in Ives Park.
The Sebastopol Library may be temporarily closed, but the library’s family story time continues in Ives Park. Join your local librarian in singing, reading, and playing together to build early literacy skills and a joy of reading. Bring a blanket and meet on the main stage at Ives Park.
Peacetown: Fleetwood Macramé and Gas Money
Wednesday, July 29, 5 to 8 p.m., at Ives Park, 7800 Willow St., Sebastopol. Free.
Here’s Jim Corbett’s description for this week’s Peacetown: “Peacetown folks should come early and set up their chairs for what could be the biggest show of the season. Fleetwood Macramé will be bringing the classic songs of Fleetwood Mac to the Peacetown stage from 6:30 to 8 pm at Ives Park. This group always lights up the crowd and gets them singing and dancing the whole night through. Opening the show will be Gas Money, absolutely the Best Young Band in the county. Formed by four teenagers, Gas Money has quickly become a local favorite, captivating audiences with their unique blend of alternative rock and infectious energy. Showing that rock and roll isn’t dead, they play all your favorite tunes, ranging from Stevie Wonder to Metallica, ensuring a musical journey you won’t forget.”
Peacetown at HopMonk: The Occasionals
Wednesday, July 29, 6:30 pm to 9 pm at HopMonk (in the Beer Garden), 230 Petaluma Ave., Sebastopol. Free.
The Occasionals, under the direction of Kevin Russell, will play Americana, rockabilly, pop and rock music dipped in the blues. Johnny Cash and Carole King get into a car with Willie Dixon and Big Mama Thornton, crank up the radio and rock it all the way home.
Ceramics class: Intro to Wheel Throwing with Naomi and Jack
Thursdays, July 30 to August 27, 2 pm to 5 pm, Sebastopol Center for the Arts, 282 S. High St., Sebastopol. $245.
This five-week ceramics course introduces wheel throwing through demonstrations and individual instruction. This course is designed for students who are new to the potter’s wheel and eager to discover the fundamentals of wheel throwing. With an emphasis on core technique, each session builds a solid foundation in the essential skills of centering, opening, pulling up walls, trimming and glazing — the building blocks that every potter returns to again and again. Reserve your spot.
Talk with Your Mouth Full: Gender and Identity 101
Thursday, July 30, dinner at 5 pm and program at 5:45 pm, at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 500 Robinson Road, Sebastopol. Free.
Presenters from Positive Images will discuss gender identity, sexual orientation, pronouns and inclusive language, with an emphasis on helping adults support LGBTQIA+ young people. The published RSVP deadline was July 23, so prospective attendees should check whether space remains: 707-823-3281. Dinner and childcare provided.
Potluck Community Picnic Dinner with Slow Food Russian River
Friday, July 31, 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm, at Ragle Ranch Park, Lions Grove Picnic Area, 500 Ragle Road, Sebastopol. Free (parking $7 within the park, or park outside and walk in).
Join Slow Food Russian River for a fun community potluck dinner at Ragle Ranch Park. Bring your favorite dish to share, plus your own plate, utensils, and reusable beverage cup. Drinking water will be provided. A shaded venue, good food, and good company — all are welcome. Please cancel if your plans change to make room for others. Register here.
Introduction to Letterpress
Saturday, August 1, 10 am to 3 pm, at North Bay Letterpress Arts, 925 Gravenstein Hwy S, Sebastopol. $165.
Get hands-on with the art of letterpress in this beginner-friendly workshop. We’ll explore the basics of printing on a press, from setting up a design to inking and pulling your very first prints. Along the way, you’ll learn about the history of letterpress, the different kinds of presses, and the tools and materials that bring this centuries-old craft to life. Reserve your spot.
Community Wellness Fair hosted by Community Market
Saturday, August 1, 10 am to 5 pm, at Sebastopol Center for the Arts, 282 S. High St., Sebastopol. Advance tickets are $10 through July 27. Tickets will be $15 at the door.
This year’s fair brings together local practitioners, educators, makers, and wellness-focused businesses for a day centered around care, discovery, and well-being. Guests will have the opportunity to explore a wide range of offerings, including one-on-one wellness services, educational speakers, local vendors, a curated wellness boutique, food, drinks, and more. The Community Wellness Fair is a chance to connect with local wellness providers, learn about different approaches to health and well-being, discover new resources, and spend time in community. Whether you are looking for support, inspiration, education, or simply a meaningful way to spend the day, the fair offers something for anyone interested in wellness and self-care. Learn more.
Fusion Teen Center opening
Saturday, August 1, 5 pm to 6 pm, Sebastopol Christian Church, 7433 Bodega Ave., Sebastopol.
The creators of this new teen center are having an open house event at their soon-to-open Teen Center in Sebastopol. Even though it is hosted by Sebastopol Christian Church, the teen center is not religious. Everyone is welcome to attend. For more info about the Teen Center, check out their website.
Free Movie Night: “Toy Story”
Saturday, August 1, film begins at 7:30 p.m., Polly Field at Ives Park, Sebastopol. Free.
The Sebastopol Area Chamber of Commerce presents an outdoor screening of “Toy Story.” Food, popcorn, candy, beer, wine and nonalcoholic drinks will be available for purchase, including a vegan hot-dog option.
Jerry’s Birthday Bash
Sunday, August 2, 6 pm to 9 pm, at Sebastopol Center for the Arts, 282 S. High St., Sebastopol.
Celebrate Jerry Garcia’s Birthday at Sebastopol Center for the Arts with a night of Grateful Dead Music. Learn more.
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