What's happening this week in Sebastopol?
City council meeting, improv, a klezmer movie, the lights parade, solstice run and holiday singalongs
Jewish Film Festival: The Klezmer Project
Tuesday, Dec. 17, 1 pm and 7 pm, at Rialto Cinemas, 6868 McKinley St., Sebastopol. $15.25.
Argentinian cameraman Leandro makes a living from filming Jewish weddings. At one of his jobs, he falls in love with Paloma, the clarinetist of the wedding band. To seduce her, he pretends to be shooting a documentary film about Klezmer, the traditional Yiddish folk music. What Leandro does not know is that his “fake” film project will take him on an unscripted journey throughout Eastern Europe in search of the last remaining Klezmer melodies. Get tickets.
Sebastopol City Council Meeting
Tuesday, Dec. 17, 6 pm to 10:30 pm, at the Sebastopol Youth Annex, 425 Morris St. or on Zoom.
The city council will divide up committee assignments for the coming year, discuss staff support for the Climate Action Committee, and consider the Sebastopol Fire Department’s stipend policy and fire captain job description and salary range. They will also consider approving a new staffing study and other city council business. See the full agenda.
Santa Rosa Symphony Youth Holiday Show
Tuesday, Dec. 17, 7 pm to 7:30 pm, Sebastopol Library, 7140 Bodega Ave., Sebastopol. Free.
Santa Rosa Symphony Youth Orchestra members perform classic and popular holiday favorites led by Francesco Lecce-Chong, music director of the Santa Rosa Symphony. Join for a fun and festive 30-minute program featuring musicians from Sonoma County’s premiere youth ensemble. If the room meets maximum capacity, we will admit entrance on a first-come, first-served basis.
Intro to Improv
Wednesday, Dec. 18, 6 pm to 8:30 pm, at Music to my Ears, 104 North Main St., Sebastopol. $49.87.
Welcome to this Intro to Improv one-time class. Have you thought about trying out improv but have been a bit wary of committing to a full series? This single class introduction is perfect for getting a sense of what improv is about—and maybe discovering that it’s not as scary as you’d thought. Get tickets.
Mr. Music Holiday singalong at Hopmonk
Wednesday, Dec. 18, 6 pm to 8:30 pm, HopMonk Tavern, 230 Petaluma Ave., Sebastopol. Free.
Mr. Music (Jim Corbett) is keeping a 25-year tradition alive of singing favorite Christmas songs along with Hannukah hits and songs of the season, both sacred and otherwise. He will be joined by the Love Choir and a variety of friends. The finale is the 12 Days of Christmas with audience participation. Bring the kids as Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus will be there. Great food and drink available at Hopmonk Tavern.
The Sebastopol Lights Parade
Wednesday, Dec. 18, starting at 6:30 pm on Belle View Avenue, Sebastopol.
Sebastopol’s homemade holiday celebration, The Sebastopol Lights Parade, will be happening on Wednesday, Dec. 18, starting at 6:30 pm on Belle View Avenue, with Santa in the lead. Want to participate? Just decorate your vehicle with lights, come on over, and join the light parade as it winds through Sebastopol neighborhoods, leaving joy in its wake. Organizer Lori Jay hopes to see lots of smiling faces and waves along the way again this year. See the full route in yesterday's Sunday RoundUp article.
Parks After Dark: Solstice Celebration
Friday, Dec. 20, 5 pm to 7 pm, at Ragle Ranch Regional Park. Meet at the Lions Grove/Redwood Grove Group Picnic Area. $10-$12.
Enjoy a guided sunset stroll and cozy campfire to welcome the winter solstice. Bring a song, poem or story to share around the fire. Hot chocolate and tea will be provided. The cost is $10 for Sonoma County residents and $12 for out-of-county attendees. Registration required. Register here.
The Holiday Project Sextet: Wintertime Jazz
Friday, Dec. 20, 7:30 pm to 10 pm, Soft Medicine Sanctuary, 186 North Main St., Sebastopol. $28-$35.
Holiday music you thought you knew! Experience Christmas pop, Chanukah classics, and timeless spirituals arranged by Michael Smolens. Audiences always recognize the melodies, but through the sensibilities of Maria Schneider, Art Lande, and Bill Evans. Quite a few of the pieces quote other holiday songs, while others cycle through multiple styles, like bobsledding through snow. Get tickets.
Sebastopol Solstice 5k Run
Saturday, Dec. 21, at 9 am, at Analy High School.
A fun family fun run to warm up on the shortest day of the year. Celebrate in Peacetown with this classic path through our community. Come cheer us on in your holiday best! The Solstice Run is a fun joint fundraiser to support Gnomies Preschool and WESCO, the soccer league, so that it can to continue to upgrade the soccer fields at Ragle Ranch. The 5k run, which will begin at 9 a.m., will be an out-and-back from Analy High School along the West County Trail. In addition to the 5k, there will be a littles run for ages 7 and under on the Analy track at 11 a.m. Find out more.
Sebastopol Nutcracker 2024
Saturday, Dec. 21, at 11 am, and Sunday, Dec. 22, at 4 pm, at Analy High School Theater, 6950 Analy Ave., Sebastopol. $20 to $30.
Get ready for this year’s performances of the Sebastopol Nutcracker. Since 1992, the Sebastopol Ballet “Nutcracker” has grown to be a holiday tradition for Sebastopol families and beyond. Our costumes are all hand-made, we have professional guest artists for key roles, and our well-trained students shine on stage. Plus, we infuse our show with comedy and constantly changing surprises to ensure an entertaining performance for all. Get tickets.
Singing into the Darkness: An evening of Taizé and contemplative chant
Saturday, Dec. 21, 5 pm, at St. Stephens Episcopal Church, 500 Robinson Road, Sebastopol. By donation.
An evening of Taizé and contemplative chants with Benjamin Mertz. Taizé prayer is a style of Christian worship that emphasizes simplicity, repetition, and contemplation.
Winter Solstice Sound Bath Experience
Saturday, Dec. 21, 7 pm to 8 pm, Sebastopol Community Cultural Center, 390 Morris St., Sebastopol. $39-$49.
Join The Celestial Voice and Blue Muse with special guest James Fern for a blissful Winter Solstice Sound Bath Experience. The Winter Solstice is a time of transition, a moment when we begin our journey back toward the light. An opportunity to reconnect with your body and align with the gentle slowing down that winter bestows upon us. A time of reflection, releasing what isn’t serving and calling in what will. Get tickets.
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