What's happening this week in Sebastopol?
An important Sebastopol City Council meeting, Peacetown, a benefit concert for The Living Room at Hopmonk, world premier of the film 'Sila', and a Copperfield's event on The Odyssey
BiblioBus at the Sebastopol Community Cultural Center
Mondays, July 20 to Aug. 3, 10 am to noon, at the Sebastopol Community Cultural Center, 390 Morris St., Sebastopol. Free.
While the Sebastopol Library is undergoing repairs, the Sonoma County Library’s BiblioBus is bringing books, library cards and other library services directly to the Sebastopol Community Cultural Center. Residents can browse materials, check out books, renew library cards and connect with library staff without visiting a branch.
Come and sing with the Love Choir
Every Monday evening from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm at the Sebastopol Town Plaza. Free.
Come and sing or bring a chair and listen to the Love Choir, which is singing in the plaza every Monday evening this summer. This is an open community choir with just two requirements: 1) show up and 2) sing! Songs are from the Beatles, Bob Marley, classic country, old-time Rock n’ Roll, gospel, and blues. Live band and joyful atmosphere.
Last chance to see ‘Resist and Persist: Social (in)Justice’ exhibition
Tuesday through Sunday, 10 am to 4 pm, at Sebastopol Center for the Arts, 82 S. High St., Sebastopol.
This juried exhibition, curated by Alan Beckstead and Beulah Vega, features artists responding to issues of social justice, equity and civic engagement through painting, photography, sculpture and mixed media. It’s the final week to see the exhibition before it closes on July 26. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Sunday, 10 am to 4 pm. (Read our coverage of this exhibition here.)
Sebastopol City Council meeting
Tuesday, July 21, 6 pm, at the Sebastopol Youth Annex, 425 S. Main St., Sebastopol. Free.
At this week’s Sebastopol City Council meeting, there will be informational presentations on updates to Jerry Threet’s Sebastopol Police Department Audit and crime statistics for 2025-26, plus a public hearing on the development agreement with the Barlow Hotel. Council will also discuss forgiving the loan to Wastewater, a response to the Grand Jury Report, defunct newspaper racks, and city committee work plans. Find the agenda and documentation here.
Family Story Time
Wednesday, July 22, 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.
Handbuilding Wednesdays
Wednesdays, July 22 to Aug. 5, 1:30 pm to 4 pm, at Sebastopol Center for the Arts, 282 S. High St., Sebastopol. Sliding scale $55–$75.
Ceramic artist and studio manager Alice Rathjen introduces new and returning students to pinch pots, coils, slabs and glazing while encouraging creative exploration. The three-session class is designed for anyone wanting to strengthen handbuilding skills in a supportive studio environment. Reserve your spot.
Peacetown Summer Concert Series: Sonoma Shakers & Soul Fuse
Wednesday, July 22, 5 pm to 8 pm, at Ives Park. Free.
Peacetown’s Wednesday evening concerts have become one of Sebastopol’s signature summer traditions, drawing hundreds of people to Ives Park each week for live music, food vendors and community organizations. Sonoma Shakers opens the evening with dance favorites before Soul Fuse—a nine-piece soul, funk and R&B band—takes the stage. It’s an easy summer outing for families, music lovers and anyone looking to spend an evening downtown. More information: Peacetown Summer Concert Series
World Premiere of the film ‘Sila’
Wednesday, July 22, 6 pm to 8:30 pm, at Sebastopol Center for the Arts, 282 S. High St., Sebastopol. $15.
In Greenland (Kalaallit Nunaat), the word Sila holds everything at once: the weather, the breath, the consciousness connecting all living things. This tender, nonlinear documentary follows Inuit women moving through 300 years of Danish colonialism, including a medical program that inserted contraceptive devices into girls as young as 13 without their consent. Q&A with the directors Zaya and Maurizio Benazzo. Get tickets or learn more.
Back pOrchEstra
Wednesday, July 22, 6:30 pm to 9 pm, at Hopmonk Sebastopol, 230 Petaluma Ave., Sebastopol. Free
Back pOrchEstra performs in HopMonk’s Abbey as part of the Peacetown Summer Series, offering another live music option for concertgoers spending the evening in Sebastopol. Original and vintage Roots Rock, Americana, singer/songwriter music by this recently formed West Coast combo of veteran musicians.
Volunteer at Ragle: Mulch Madness
Thursday, July 23, 9 am to noon, at Ragle Regional Park, meet east of the playground. Free.
Mulch protects native trees and plants by preventing soil compaction and by smothering competing invasive weeds. Volunteers will get hands-on and dirty, adding and spreading mulch to help native plants thrive. All tools, gloves, and materials supplied. Snacks and refreshments provided. Dress in layers, wear comfortable, closed-toe hiking shoes, and bring a hat and sunscreen. Registration required. Register here.
Computer: Artificial Intelligence for Creatives
Thursday, July 23, from 6 pm to 10 pm, at Chimera Arts and Maker Space, 6791 Sebastopol Ave., Sebastopol. $103.22.
This introductory class for artists and makers covers using ChatGPT for text and ideation and MidJourney for image generation, including prompt structure, styles, editing, and animation. No technical background is needed, and the session includes hands-on exercises plus discussion of best practices and the ethics of generative AI. Class size is capped at 8 attendees, minimum age is 14, and laptops are available for those who don’t bring their own. Register here.
Life Blueprint Experience with Rei Blaser
Thursday, July 23, 6:30 pm to 8 pm, at Bliss Organic Day Spa, 186 N. Main St. (upstairs), Sebastopol. $20.
This structured workshop has a goal of supporting attendees to explore why they make the choices they make and leave with greater conscious awareness of the meaning behind those choices—whether daily choices or one leading to a greater goal. Please bring a journal for organizing your thoughts. Questions? Feel free to email me at hello(at)flourishwithrei.com.
Benefit for The Living Room Sonoma County at HopMonk
Thursday, July 23, 7:30 pm, at HopMonk Sebastopol, the Abbey, 230 Petaluma Ave., Sebastopol. $22.28.
This benefit concert features sets from the Okay Ultras, Ellie James and the Electric Dreams, Sloan Irving, Sunny Mitchell, and Sophia Kandler. Proceeds go to The Living Room Sonoma County, which for more than 30 years has provided basic needs, safe housing, meals, and support to women and children at risk of or experiencing homelessness. The show is all ages and mostly standing. Get tickets.
See other Hopmonk events this week.
Intro to Wheel Throwing
Fridays, July 24 to Aug. 28, 5 pm to 7:30 pm, at Sebastopol Center for the Arts, 282 S. High St., Sebastopol. $250.
Beginning potters learn the fundamentals of wheel throwing in this six-week course. The class is intended for adults who want a solid introduction to making functional ceramics. Reserve your spot.
There is also an intermediate class, Wheel Throwing II, starting this week as well.
Copperfield’s Presents: Phil Cousineau, The Wisdom of the Odyssey
Friday, July 24, 7 pm to 8 pm, at Copperfield’s Books, 138 N. Main St., Sebastopol. Free.
Copperfield’s Books is honored to welcome author and filmmaker Phil Cousineau to Sebastopol in celebration of his new book, The Wisdom of the Odyssey: Twenty-Four Life Lessons from Homer’s Epic! For nearly 3,000 years, Homer’s Odyssey has captivated audiences with its tale of Odysseus’s perilous journey back to his family after the Trojan War. It is a story of perseverance, transformation and the longing for home. In The Wisdom of The Odyssey, cultural historian Phil Cousineau distills the epic into twenty-four chapters that mirror Homer’s original books and reveals why readers from around the world deeply identify with the poem to this day. There will be a reading, Q&A, and book signing.
The new film, The Odyssey, is also playing at the Rialto.
‘Engineering Wonders of Sebastopol’ Walk
Saturday, July 25, 9 am to 11:30 am, at the Sebastopol Downtown Plaza, 140 Weeks Way, Sebastopol.
Peter Schurch leads this 1.8-mile Sebastopol Walk exploring the engineering and infrastructure that helped shape the city. The route follows Zimpher Creek to the Laguna through The Barlow before returning past the West County Museum, HopMonk and Ives Park, highlighting the history and design of familiar landmarks. History enthusiasts and longtime residents alike are likely to discover details they’ve never noticed before.
Dumpling Making Workshop with Lani Chan
Saturday, July 25, 10 am to 1 pm, at Gold Ridge Organic Farms, 3387 Canfield Road, Sebastopol. $128.
Join us for a 3-hour, hands-on dumpling workshop led by Lani Chan, founder of Hei Ma, where you’ll learn to make dumplings entirely from scratch — wrappers, fillings, and all. You’ll start by making the dough. From there, you’ll form and cook vegetarian dumplings, learn to make scallion pancakes, and pair everything with Hei Ma chili crisp and a special dipping sauce made with Gold Ridge Organic Farms Apple Cider Balsamic Vinegar. Reserve your spot.
Miso & Koji: A Hands-On Japanese Fermentation Workshop
Saturday, July 25, 10 am to noon, at Gather Sebastopol, 122 N. Main St., Sebastopol. $150.
Discover the magic of traditional Japanese fermentation in this hands-on workshop with chef and teacher Hiroko Kurosaki. Together we’ll explore the art of miso and koji, two foundational elements of Japanese cuisine that bring depth, flavor, and nourishment to everyday meals. Reserve your spot.
See other Gather workshops this week.
Community Seed Exchange: Cultivating Living Soil in the Garden
Saturday, July 25, 10:30 am to 11:30 am, at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 500 Robinson Road, Sebastopol. Free.
Longtime gardener and Community Seed Exchange volunteer Peggy Rose shares practical techniques for building healthy soil, using ideas from The Living Soil Handbook, John Jeavons’ 50/50 rule and OAEC’s process-based restoration. Participants are encouraged to bring a jar of soil from their own garden, making this a practical session for both beginning and experienced gardeners.
PeaceRoots Alliance Farm Family Festival
Saturday, July 25, 2 pm to 8 pm, at Ives Park, Sebastopol.
Enjoy a fantastic day of live music, mouth-watering food, community connection and exciting prizes at the PeaceRoots Alliance Farm Family Festival. It will be a day filled with joy and camaraderie as we come together to support important causes that make a difference in our community. Learn more.
Tai Chi As We Age class
Sunday, July 19, 10 am to 11 am, at Ragle Park/Lions Grove. $17-$20 sliding scale.
Beginners are welcome to drop in to this ongoing class on Qigong & Tai Chi fundamentals. Prioritize your health for an hour a week and build a lifelong practice to age well without injuries. Focused mindful movement with good posture on stable feet, supporting knees and a relaxed lower back, strengthening the hips and legs.
Songs for the Living
Sunday, July 26, 3 pm to 5 pm, at Sebastopol Center for the Arts, 282 S. High St., Sebastopol. $15.
Bay Area singer-songwriters Katie Phillips and Karen Joy Brown, joined by Chelsea Coleman, bring an afternoon of songs that fearlessly explore the most quintessentially mortal experience: loss. Listeners will experience the uplifting power of community in a performance that doesn’t shortchange the human need to feel the full range of emotion surrounding the grieving process, from tears to laughter. This concert is connected to SebArts’ Resist and Persist exhibition. Get tickets.
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