What's happening this week in Sebastopol?
Poetry and art events, freedom songs, Sebastopol Walks, speed friending, Peacetown, chickens and more
Unseen: Why we're failing parent caregivers and why it matters
Monday, June 24, 6 pm to 8 pm, at Rialto Cinemas, 6868 McKinley, Sebastopol. $15.
Common Ground Society welcomes you to this special film screening to raise money for the first ever CGS Parent Caregiver Retreat. Enjoy the documentary and a brief conversation afterwards with local Sonoma County parent caregivers of disabled and medically complex children. Buy your tickets today.
Intro to Tween Poetry with Kelly Gray (Grades 6th-8th)
Tuesday, June 25, 4 pm to 5:30 pm, Sebastopol Center for the Arts, 282 South High St., Sebastopol. $25.
Students will dive into the world of poetry as a way of processing the world around them while increasing their emotional and poetic literacy. By studying modern poets, students will be encouraged to flex their voices and write about their interior and exterior worlds. We will twist and turn, explore, go down rabbit holes and come up as more experienced listeners, writers, and thinkers. Emphasis will be given on developing figurative language skills, developing unique voices, and using poetry as a tool for self-care. This class will be a hate-free zone, welcoming to all, queer friendly and inclusive. No previous poetry experience needed, but a love of writing is a plus! Reserve your spot.
Home Gardeners Produce Exchange/Donation
Tuesday, June 25, 5 to 5:30 pm, at the Sebastopol Grange, 6000 Sebastopol Ave. (Hwy 12), Sebastopol. Free.
Meet and chat with other gardeners as you exchange your surplus garden produce and starts of all sorts. (Excess produce will be donated to the local food pantry.)
Grange Monthly Meeting
Tuesday, June 25, 5:30 pm, at the Sebastopol Grange, 6000 Sebastopol Ave. (Hwy 12), Sebastopol. Suggested 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, music, and a presentation, in which Vincent Ajayi will discuss local self-sufficient methods of raising chickens. The Grange will provide Himalayan curry and rice again this month, as it was a hit last month. Vegan and vegetarian options. Please bring food to share and your own dishes and utensils.
Speed Meet Social
Tuesday, June 25, 6:15 pm to 7:30 pm, at Sebastopol Community Cultural Center, 390 Morris St., Sebastopol. $20.
Let’s come together for an evening of play, humor and chances to connect for friendship, business or romance. Speed Meet Socials feature interactive, bite-sized activities designed to break the ice, spark connections and unleash creativity, including: improv get-to-know-you games, singing, other fun activities. Whether you’re seeking new friendships, to expand your social circle, or an uplifting evening, Speed Meet socials deliver. Join us to mingle, giggle and make new friends in a lively and welcoming environment. Ages 40-70. All genders. Limited to 20 people. Get tickets.
Drop-in Compassionate Communication Class and Practice
Tuesday, June 25, 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm, at Ragle Ranch Park (picnic tables west of the playground area), Sebastopol. Free.
Practice compassionate communication (also known as Non-violent Communication) as a tool to get along better with friends, family and others. Are you longing for more meaningful conversations, more depth and fulfillment in your relationships, moving past relationship anxiety and conflict? Beginners welcome! At every meet, this group takes on a new topic and practices with real life situations to hone listening skills to really “get someone’s world,” transform the patterns of communicating from surface level or sticky situations into heart-opening moments, and understand where disconnects happen. Reserve your spot.
Coffee with a Councilmember: Neysa Hinton
Wednesday, June 26, 10 am to 11:30 am at Retrograde Coffee Roasters, 130 S. Main St., Sebastopol. Free.
Join Councilmember Neysa Hinton for the next “Coffee with a Councilmember” event. Come buy a cup of coffee and join the conversation. Ask questions and share your thoughts and ideas. Councilmember Hinton hopes to see you there!
Peacetown Concerts at Ives Park: Pulsators and the Thugz
Wednesday, June 26, 5 pm to 8 pm, at Ives Park, 7400 Willow St., Sebastopol. Free.
Rockin’ rhythm and blues with the Pulsators and tribal hippie underground music with the Thugs at Peacetown in Ives Park. Food trucks, friends, fun!
Poetry Readings: Reverberations 2024
Wednesday, June 26, 5 pm to 7 pm, at Sebastopol Center for the Arts, 282 South High St., Sebastopol. Free, but donations welcome.
An exciting element of the Reverberations Exhibit is the ekphrastic poetry. Come listen to poets read their interpretations of the various art pieces. We guarantee it will enhance your perspective and enjoyment of the artwork. This reading features Kehende Badiru, Fran Claggett-Holland, Susan Gunter, Katherine Hastings, Freeman Ng, JoAnn Smith, Tamsin Spencer Smith, Linda Stamps, Barbara Armstrong, Sarah Ray and Dean Rader. Reserve your spot.
Lecture: Reverberations 2024 Artists
Thursday, June 27, 10:30 am to 12 pm, at Sebastopol Center for the Arts, 282 South High St., Sebastopol. $25.
Join Linda Loveland Reid for a slide presentation and lecture to learn more about the artists represented in the Reverberations 2024 Exhibit. We will explore the artists’ backgrounds, struggles and desires, which will enhance our understanding and perspective on the amazing artwork they produce. Reserve your spot.
Spike Sikes & His Awesome Hotcakes
Friday, June 28, 8 pm, at Sebastopol Community Cultural Center, 390 Morris St., Sebastopol. $15 advance, $20 at the door, $40 VIP (seating in VIP section)
Buy your tickets today to join us at the Sebastopol Community Cultural Center for an incredible performance by Spike Sikes & His Awesome Hotcakes. Soul. Swing. Rhythm & Blues. Jazz. Jump. It’s a sound that’s classic and simple, but when it’s done right, it hits the spot. Come enjoy the biggest dance floor around. Get tickets.
Walk to a Winery Saturday
Saturday, June 29, 9 am. Meet at the downtown plaza. Free.
We will walk across the summer crossing bridge through the Laguna to the back door gate of the Balletto Vineyards winery. There we will meet Hospitality Director Jim Morris, who is offering us compli- mentary "splashes " of two different Balletto wines. Jim will explain to us the history of the winery and how they make their wines. We will return to the Plaza on a slightly different trail. The total walking distance is a little less than 4 miles (approx 2 hours of hiking) but if folks would like to walk only half the distance, our friend Robert will car-shuttle them back to the Plaza. Leader: Anne & Simon Lowings.
Tailgate Gift Away and Clothing Swap
Saturday, June 29, 9 am to 1 pm, at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, 500 Robinson Road, Sebastopol. Free.
Please join us for this fun, free event. It is like a large yard sale where everything is free. Click here to sign up for a spot or to bring things to the Clothing Swap.
Sebastopol Hardware Customer Appreciation Day
Saturday, June 29, 11 am to 2 pm, at Sebastopol Hardware, 660 Gravenstein Hwy. N., Sebastopol. Free.
Sebastopol Hardware is throwing a special event just for you! Join them for food and pie samples, fun games, raffles, and cool product demos.
Crochet Jam with Ramekon O'Arwisters
Saturday, June 29, 1 pm to 4 pm, at Sebastopol Center for the Arts, 282 South High St., Sebastopol. Sliding scale.
Crochet Jam, hosted by sculptor Ramekon O'Arwisters, uses the folk-art tradition of crocheting strips of fabric into free-form and organic soft sculptures to foster social interaction, creativity, and liberation. There are no rules or patterns to abide by. Crochet Jam is an opportunity for play, experimentation, and for allowing the material to transform naturally without any expectations nor any attempt to control the outcome. Check out Crochet Jam here.
Singing for Harriet Tubman
Sunday, June 30, at 4 pm at St. Stephen’s Church, 500 Robinson Road, Sebastopol. Suggested donation: $10-20.
A performance and singalong of songs of freedom by Harmonia, the resident choir of Sebastopol Center for the Arts, directed by John Maas, with Benjamin Mertz, the leader of Joyful Noise Gospel Singers. This performance is part of the nationwide Freedom Festival, which honors the dream of Opal Lee, the civil rights activist known as the “Grandmother of Juneteenth,” that this national holiday be celebrated from Juneteenth to July Fourth, representing freedom for ALL. The festival invites people from all walks of life to bring who they are and to build together something humanizing. See all festival events at FreedomFestivalUSA.org. All funds will go to World Central Kitchen, with a portion donated to the Freedom Festival for their ongoing work.
Into the Woods: Intro to the Music to My Ears adult theater program
Sunday, June 30, at 6 pm at Main Street Theater, 104 N. Main St., Sebastopol. Free.
Join Music to My Ears for a special, free screening of the enchanting musical “Into the Woods” on screen. This event is a preview of what's to come for their adult theater program this fall. Bring your own food and drink: Enjoy your snacks and beverages in our comfortable, air-conditioned theater. Get a taste of the adult musical theater class, which culminates in a full performance of the show with costumes, lights, and all the usual theatrical magic. Dip your toe into theater in a safe and supportive space. All skill levels are welcome, from beginners to professionals. Even though the event is free, we ask that you sign up so we know how many people are coming. Register here.
Teen Film Festival Accepting Submissions
Are you a young amateur filmmaker? Has TikTok or YouTube awakened your passion for cinema? All Sonoma County teens ages 12 to 19 are invited to compete. Take some time over summer break to shoot and edit your own 6-minute masterpiece. Prizes will be awarded for the top films. Accepting submissions June 1 through July 31. Learn more. Sponsored by Sonoma County Library.
For a more complete musical schedule for Sebastopol, see happeningsonomacounty.com and choose Sebastopol from the dropdown.
SUBMIT YOUR EVENT to the official Sebastopol Community Calendar, one of the many sources I use to put this column together.