What's happening this week in Sebastopol?
Science Buzz on a chemistry breakthrough; films on D-Day, education and resistance; homespun crafts, and so much more
VFW Memorial Day Event
Monday, May 25, 11 am, at Sebastopol Memorial Lawn, 7951 Bodega Ave., Sebastopol. Free.
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 3919 invites the community to gather in remembrance this Memorial Day, May 25, for a ceremony dedicated to those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country. This year’s observance features a dramatic airplane flyover and patriotic selections performed by the Sebastopol Community Band. A central highlight of the morning will be a special presentation honoring the families of the fallen.
Memorial Day Film: Pressure
Monday, May 25, 2 pm, at Rialto Cinemas, 6868 McKinley St., Sebastopol.
In the tense 72 hours before D-Day, and the fate of the free world hanging in the balance, “Pressure” follows General Dwight D. Eisenhower and Captain James Stagg as they face an impossible choice—launch the largest and most dangerous seaborne invasion in history or risk losing the war altogether.
Science Buzz Cafe - Click Chemistry: Molecules as Legos
Monday, May 25, at 6 pm, at HopMonk (in The Abbey), 230 Petaluma Ave., Sebastopol. $10.
When it comes to simple, elegant reactions, biology has always had an advantage over chemistry. Living organisms seamlessly and effortlessly turn simple, non-toxic building blocks into complex, advanced materials. Sugars snap together to become cellulose and lignin to form giant redwood trees; amino acids join to make proteins that make up all manner of catalysts and functional biomaterials. Human chemists haven’t had this ability until now. Enter Click Chemistry! At the turn of the 21st century, Professor K. Barry Sharpless and his collaborators turned conventional chemistry synthesis upside down by designing a system that treats molecules as Legos—just as nature does. Since then, Click Chemistry has been used to build new materials, map living cells in real time, and revolutionize drugs for cancer treatment. And this clever, fast, and useful framework for creating the molecules humans need to improve our lives only continues to show more promise for the future. Presenter Dr. Karen Frindell Teuscher has been a professor of Chemistry at Santa Rosa Junior College for over two decades.
Produce Exchange
Tuesday, May 26, 5 pm to 5:45 pm, at Sebastopol Grange Hall, 6000 Sebastopol Ave. (Hwy. 12), 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. Learn more. Held on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month, May through October.
General Meeting & Potluck
Tuesday, May 26, 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm, at Sebastopol Grange Hall, 6000 Sebastopol Ave. (Hwy. 12), Sebastopol. Donation: $10.
Everyone is invited to join Grangers and friends at their monthly general meeting. Come for social time starting at 5:30 pm, followed by a potluck dinner and music. Please bring an appetizer, entree, side, or dessert to share (lovingly labeled), and your own dishes and utensils. Meryl has arranged for the Grange to serve Chicken Tikka Marsala, Vegetable Coconut Curry with Greens, and Basmati Rice from Turmeric Cuisine of India. The food is organic, dairy-free and gluten-free. Peter Schurch and Grange musicians will entertain us. Local historian Steven Thomas will share a presentation about “West County Land and Climate.”
The Indivisible Sonoma County Film Series: American Agitators
Wednesday, May 27, 1 pm and 7 pm, at Rialto Cinemas, 6868 McKinley St., Sebastopol. $11.50.
“American Agitators” captures the remarkable story of organizing for social change in the U.S. through the work of Fred Ross, Sr., and many others, such as iconic organizers Dolores Huerta and Fred Ross, Jr., as well as current ones, all of whom have devoted their lives to the pursuit of justice and equality. For over 50 years, Ross led a groundbreaking organizing approach that improved the lives of thousands and reverberates in organizing strategies today. Q&A with filmmakers to follow 7 pm screening!
Peacetown presents: Mae McCoy and her Neon Stars
Wednesday, May 27, 6 pm to 8:30 pm, at HopMonk (in The Abbey), 230 Petaluma Ave., Sebastopol. Free.
Mae McCoy & Her Neon Stars are a Sacramento-based Western Swing and honky tonk band known for their shuffles and high energy. Founded in 2009 and led by Mae McCoy, a bassist, vocalist, and Western Swing Hall of Fame inductee, former Vice President of the Western Swing Society, and recording artist, the band brings classic swing and vintage country to festivals, fairs, and dance halls across the West.
Find this and other Hopmonk events for this week—School of Rock concerts, Graham Parker and more—at the HopMonk website.
Film: Multiple Choice
Wednesday, May 27, at 6:15 pm, at the Performing Arts Center at the El Molino Campus, 7050 Covey Road in Forestville. Free.
The documentary film, Multiple Choice follows a Virginia district that’s redefining high school with career-based learning, not as a fallback for some, but as a foundation for all. It’s an inspiring look at students gaining real-world skills and discovering purposeful paths, while a community unites around their success. It makes a fantastic case for how schools, parents, and communities can differently prepare students for college and life beyond. Admission is free. This screening is sponsored by the Academy of Innovative Arts in collaboration with MakerEd.org.
(Note: Dale Dougherty, a co-owner of the Sebastopol Times, is also the founder of MakerEd.org.)
Craft and Tinker Workshop
Saturday, May 30, 10 am to 11:30 am, at Ragle Ranch Regional Park Gazebo, 500 Ragle Road, Sebastopol. Free or by donation. (Note that there is a $7 Regionsal Parks parking fee if you don’t have a Parks pass.)
Current Girl Scouts will earn their Craft and Tinker Badge at this workshop by getting hands-on and creating with tools. Kids who are interested in joining Girl Scouts can come try it out. Prospective parents can learn more about the organization and how to join or start a new troop. Girl Scouts welcomes all girls and gender-expansive youth who identify with the girl experience. For kids entering kindergarten through 5th grade for the fall school year. Where: Ragle Ranch Regional Park Gazebo, Sebastopol, CA ($7 parking fee without park pass; free street parking and walk-in). What to bring: water bottle, closed-toed shoes, and sunscreen. Helpful-if-you-have-it are sturdy work gloves. Cost is covered by West Sonoma County Girl Scouts Service Unit 105, but donations are appreciated to cover the cost of supplies. Questions or concerns? Contact su105@scoutsnorcal.org.
4th Annual Occidental World Music & Dance Festival
Saturday, May 30, 10 am to 9 pm, at Occidental Center for the Arts, 3850 Doris Murphy Court, Occidental. $75-$80.
This unique festival of world music celebrates diversity and participation. Think of it as a musical passport where you can experience music and dance from around the world all in one place. There will be more than 40 workshops and performances to choose from. At a time when things seem divisive, music transcends to create unity through a global community. Get tickets and learn more. (See our story on the festival.)
Met Opera Live: El Ultimo Sueno de Frida y Diego
Saturday, May 30, at 10 am, and Wednesday, June 3, 1 pm and 6:30 pm, at Rialto Cinemas, 6868 McKinley St., Sebastopol. $23.95 - $31.95.
American composer Gabriela Lena Frank makes her Met debut with her first opera, a magical-realist portrait of Mexico’s painterly power couple Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, with libretto by Pulitzer Prize–winning playwright Nilo Cruz. Fashioned as a reversal of the Orpheus and Eurydice myth, the story depicts Frida, sung by leading mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard, leaving the underworld on the Day of the Dead and reuniting with Diego, portrayed by baritone Carlos Álvarez. The famously feuding pair briefly relive their tumultuous love, embracing both the passion and the pain before bidding the land of the living a final farewell. Get tickets.
Plein Air Watercolors at Ragle
Saturday, May 30, 10 am to 1 pm, at Ragle Ranch Regional Park in Sebastopol. $65.
Learn to paint landscapes en plein air at Ragle Ranch. In this single-session workshop, participants will learn and practice watercolor while spending time outdoors at our beautiful local park. Students will choose a scene to paint and receive instruction on the basics of landscape painting, including composition, color temperature and value, linear perspective and atmospheric perspective. Gain a new appreciation for the beauty of your surroundings through close observation and careful rendering. All levels of experience are welcome! Feel free to bring a portable easel if you have one and a lightweight folding chair. Otherwise, seating is at picnic tables and park benches or on the ground. All other materials are provided. Reserve your spot.
The Art of Wet Felting: Sculptural Wool Vessel
Saturday, May 30, 10:30 am to 12:30 pm, at Gather, 122 N. Main St., Sebastopol. $100.
Wet felting is a tactile, meditative process that transforms loose wool into strong, sculptural fabric using water, soap, and movement. In this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn the basics of wet felting while creating a small bowl-shaped vessel. Taught by local educator and fiber artist Hanna “The Wool Witch,” and working with locally sourced wool, we’ll explore how fibers bond and shrink to form durable shapes, guiding the material from soft and loose to structured and finished.
Foliage Funk Fest
Saturday, May 30, 11:30 am to 3:30 pm, at Permaculture Artisans, 2185 Hwy. 116, Sebastopol. $0 to 23.18.
Come groove with the Neighborhood Garden Initiative (NGI) at the third annual Foliage Funk Fest fundraiser at Permaculture Artisans. It will be a day filled with lush greenery, amazing vendors, and fabulous vibes. Get ready to dance in this beautiful Sebestapol garden and enjoy live music from local artists. Whether you’re a plant enthusiast or just looking for a fun time, this event is perfect for everyone. All proceeds for the event will go to helping NGI install more gardens for our community. Get tickets.
Wildcraft Workshop Gatherings
Saturday, May 30, 3 pm to 6 pm. Address upon registration. $60 for a single workshop, series passes available at varied prices.
A year-round series of hands-on homestead crafts for women, set on a magical seven-acre farmstead in Sebastopol. In May, we’ll learn the art of infused oil, honey, glycerine & alcohol tinctures. Learn the art of infusing oils, honey, vegetable glycerine and spirits with healing herbs and botanicals—the foundation of the home apothecary and endlessly useful in everyday life. Reserve your spot.
Kombucha and Jun Fundamentals
Saturday, May 30, 4 pm to 6 pm, at Gather, 122 N. Main St., Sebastopol. $150.
Learn how to brew and flavor kombucha and jun in this hands-on fermentation workshop. You’ll explore the full process—from brewing tea to bottling—while working with these traditional fermented beverages. Reserve your spot.
Sip & Stroll: Tasting Fundraiser for Graton Town Square
Saturday, May 30, 4 pm, at Graton Town Square, 9155 Graton Road, Graton. $25.31.
Guests will enjoy an immersive stroll with local wine tastings, seasonal bites and dips by Preservatory, paired with fresh produce from local farmers. The event will preview the vision for Graton Town Square, including design and build plans, future gathering spaces, gardens, festivals, community programs, and the path ahead. There will also be a mini farmers market featuring local produce and plant starts available for purchase. Get tickets.
Fashion Show at Launch
Saturday, May 30, 5 pm to 7 pm, at Launch Recycled Clothing, 971 Gravenstein Hwy., Sebastopol. Free.
You are invited to Launch’s very first in-store fashion show where you will get an exclusive first look at our favorite picks for the summer! All garments are from Launch and will be available for purchase after the show. Be the first to snag these hot pieces. Reserve your spot.
Tender Wild: A QTBIPOC Party
Saturday, May 30, 5 pm to 10 pm, at Sebastopol Community Cultural Center, 390 Morris St., Sebastopol. $31 to $47.
Tender Wild is an immersive queer cultural gathering centering Black, Brown, Indigenous, Trans, and Gender-Expansive artists and community. Through drag, ballroom, deep bass, live art, ritual, and embodied expression, this event creates a space where QTBIPOC folx can alchemize grief, amplify joy, and be fully seen, celebrated, and held. All are welcome. Ages 21 and over. Get tickets.
Sonoma County Folk Society JAM
Sunday, May 31, 1 pm and 5 pm, at the Sebastopol Grange Hall, 6000 Sebastopol Ave. (Hwy 12), Sebastopol. $10.
Enjoy the communal experience of making music together with the Sonoma County Folk Society. Jams are fun and great for improving your skills.
Want us to feature your event in “What’s happening this week in Sebastopol?” Submit your events to the Sebastopol Community Calendar. This is one of the many resources we use to put this column together. Submitting your event to the community calendar doesn’t guarantee that your event will make it into “What’s Happening this Week,” but it means that we will see it and consider it.