What's happening this week in Sebastopol?
Goatlandia Gala, Flynn Creek Circus, AI and film and more
Senior Center Open House
Wednesday, August 21, 4 pm to 6 pm, at Sebastopol Area Senior Center, 167 N. High St., Sebastopol. Free.
Learn more about your Senior Center! Free and open to the community. Invite a friend who hasn't come to the center yet. Register here.
Peacetown concerts at Ives Park
Wednesday, August 21, 5 pm to 8 pm, at Ives Park, 7400 Willow St., Sebastopol. Free.
At this week’s summer Peacetown Concert in Ives Park, hear The Soul Section and Michele Lambert. Friends, food trucks, fun!
Gravenstein Lions Club Speaker Series: Food For Thought
Wednesday, August 21, 7 pm to 8 pm, at the Masonic Lodge, 373 N. Main St., Sebastopol. Free.
Find out how Food for Thought helps the West County community with free, medically tailored nutrition services for thousands of people locally who struggle with food insecurity.
Winemaker Happy Hour with Williams Selyem Winemaker Jeff Mangahas
Wednesday, August 21, 5 pm to 7 pm at Region, 180 Morris St., Sebastopol. $45.
Do you love Pinot Noir? Well, you’re in for a treat. Come to Region for an exclusive evening with Winemaker at Williams Selyem Winery, Jeff Mangahas. Learn more about how a hobby became a passion and a passion became a legend. Started in 1979 by Burt Williams and Ed Selyem, with the first Williams Selyem label vintage in 1984...the rest is history. Meet the Williams Selyem team at Region. Reserve your spot.
Flynn Creek Circus presents ‘The Heavy Lift’
Thursday to Saturday, August 22-24, at the Sebastopol Grange, 6000 Sebastopol Road (Hwy. 12), Sebastopol. $18 and up.
When you enter the classic red and white big top, you are immediately steeped in nostalgia and charm. ‘The Heavy Lift’ is an original, comic, Film Noir circus featuring world-class acrobats, aerialists and variety entertainers. The private detective with his savvy assistant, Patsy, take on a mysterious case that leads them down a delightfully strange path. Bring the family or grab some friends for the outrageous ‘adults only’ version. This show is sure to be the memory-making event of the summer. Beer, wine and light concessions are available for purchase. Get tickets.
Saving Salmon in the Laguna de Santa Rosa Watershed
Thursday, August 22, 6 pm to 7:30 pm, at the Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation, 900 Sanford Road, Santa Rosa. $11.49.
Enjoy this tandem talk with Charlie Schneider of California Trout and Troy Cameron of Trout Unlimited about saving salmon in the Laguna de Santa Rosa Watershed. Reserve your spot.
Introduction to Wilderness First Aid
Friday, August 23, 5 pm to 7 pm, at Ragle Ranch Regional Park at the Gazebo. $10.
Bumps, bruises, and bites, oh my! Learn the basics of wilderness first aid while exploring Sonoma County's beautiful parks. Staff are thrilled to take you out and teach you how to best prepare for your adventures and respond to unexpected situations. Whether you are a seasoned outdoors person or just starting to hit the trails, there will be something for everyone. (Parking in park is $7.) Registration required. Register here.
Wilderness First Aid - Night Adventure
Friday, August 23, 7:30 pm to 9 pm at Ragle Ranch Regional Park at the Gazebo. $10.
Expand your wilderness first aid knowledge while immersing yourself in an evening of adventure! Join park staff in some of your favorite Sonoma County parks for a unique learning experience under the stars. Discover essential skills to handle emergencies in the wilderness, from treating injuries to navigating unexpected situations. With the added challenge of exploring after sunset, this program offers an unforgettable opportunity to enhance your outdoor preparedness. (Parking in park is $7.) Registration required. Register here.
Jazz It Up with The Daniel Bennett Group
Friday, August 23, 8 pm to 10 pm, Sebastopol Community Cultural Center, 390 Morris St., Sebastopol. $20-$25.
Experience an evening of unparalleled musical innovation with New York saxophonist Daniel Bennett, celebrated as one of the most original and unpredictable artists of his generation. The Boston Globe praises Bennett's unique blend of Jazz, Folk, and Minimalism, while Timeout New York describes his music as "hypnotic!" Joining Bennett is master percussionist Koko Bermejo, who brings his exceptional talent on drums and keyboard, and acclaimed six-string bassist Kevin Hailey, completing a trio that promises to deliver an unforgettable performance. Don’t miss this opportunity to witness the cutting edge of contemporary music. Get tickets.
David Luning album release at HopMonk Sebastopol
Friday, August 23, 8 pm, at HopMonk Tavern, 230 Petaluma Ave., Sebastopol. $30.
Local phenom David Luning brings his consummate storytelling skills and musical ingenuity to his third album, Lessons, which he is debuting at this concert. Get tickets.
Sea to Sip at the Barlow
Saturday and Sunday, August 24-25, 11 am to 4 pm, at The Barlow, 6770 McKinley St., Sebastopol. $55-$100.
Seafood, wine, live music—the best way to celebrate the summer season! Come to the Barlow’s “Sea to Sip” first annual Seafood and Wine Festival, a delightful celebration of the finest local wineries and seafood vendors. Savor the fresh, exquisite flavors of the sea paired perfectly with a diverse selection of wines from some of our region’s top vineyards. Live music from the Good Time Collective (playing covers to the top funk and soul hits) on Saturday at 12 pm and from Foreverland (Michael Jackson Tribute band!) on Sunday at 12 pm. Ticket includes a complimentary bite from each participating food vendors and a complimentary wine pour from each participating winery. Get tickets.
Crooked Goat Brewing's 8-year anniversary party
Saturday, August 24, 11:30 am to 11 pm, at Crooked Goat Brewing, 120 Morris St., Sebastopol. Free.
Great food from Galvan’s Eatery, live music from Velvet Fog and Rock Candy, beer floats with ice cream from Two Dog Night Creamery, special beer releases, fun activities, and a whole lot of celebrating. Learn more.
Heirloom Apple Fest
Saturday, August 24, 12 pm to 5 pm, Sebastopol Community Market, 6762 Sebastopol Ave., Sebastopol. Free.
Heirloom Apple Fest is all about celebrating our community’s apple heritage! Family fun, kids booth, face painting, live music, artisan crafts, apple treats, apple products, local produce, snow cones, and ice cream. You can also order a dinner picnic from the deli and enjoy the tunes of Sakoyana until 7 pm.
The Great Goatsby! A Benefit Gala for Goatlandia
Saturday, August 24, 4:30 pm to 10 pm, at Goatlandia Farm Animal Sanctuary, 1567 Cunningham Road, Sebastopol. $99-$199.
Step back into the glamorous 1920s era with Goatlandia as they commemorate the 99th anniversary of the book, The Great Gatsby, at this gala fundraiser. General admission tickets are $99 each. Don your most dazzling ensemble – envision bob haircuts, flapper dresses, elegant pearls, sharp pinstripe suits, dapper bowties, and classic spats. Enjoy an enchanted cocktail party under the sky, including live ’20s era jazz by Campbell’s Jazz Soup, gourmet delights from Goatlandia Kitchen and sparkling wine flowing all night long! Get tickets.
Does Film Survive AI?
Saturday, August 24, 6 pm to 7 pm-presentation/film, 7 pm to 7:30 pm-Q&A, at Sebastopol Center for the Arts, 282 S. High St., Sebastopol. $15-$40.
Sebastopol Film Society presents a film presentation and conversation with Director Quinn Halleck and Sundance Film Festival Director Emeritus John Cooper. Quinn Halleck is a director and thought leader at the forefront of the AI-powered revolution in both narrative and documentary genres. His newest short-film, “Sigma_001”, defines a new relationship between AI and independent filmmakers by employing AI as a collaborator across all aspects of the workflow. Get tickets.
Summer Music Series with Brian Francis Baudoin
Sunday, August 25, 12 pm to 3 pm, at Emeritus Vineyards, 2500 Gravenstein Hwy. N., Sebastopol. $40.
It’s the last in our summer music series, so come out with your favorite pooch and enjoy the summer rays. No tickets are required—just reserve a Summer Music Series tasting during this time and come enjoy some live music. Reserve your tasting.
1965 Roomful of Music, a film screening - Pete Seeger, Joan Baez, and more
Sunday, August 25, 2 pm to 4:30 pm, at Sebastopol Regional Library, 7140 Bodega Ave., Sebastopol. Free.
“The Roomful of Music” concert was a house concert done in 1965 in Boston during the fight for desegregation of the schools. Pete Seeger invited friends to jam informally and share music from different parts of the world. Sharing their music was a very young Joan Baez and Bernice Johnson Reagan, who was a college student/civil rights activist at the time. Also Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee, folk and blues singers; Jean Carignan, a fabulous Canadian fiddler; Alameda Riddle singing ballads from Appalachia; and special guests, the McPeake Family from Ireland. Please come and enjoy the music and history.
For a more complete musical schedule for Sebastopol, see happeningsonomacounty.com and choose Sebastopol from the dropdown.
Want us to feature your event in “What’s happening this week in Sebastopol?” Submit your events to the Sebastopol Community Calendar, which is back online. This is one of the many resources I use to put this column together.