Potluck Produce and Seed Swap
Tuesday, Sept. 1, from 5:30 pm to 8 pm, at Hessel Grange, 5400 Blank Road, Sebastopol. Free.
Bring a dish to share and your surplus garden produce or saved seeds to swap with fellow gardeners over a community potluck. Learn more.
Sebastopol City Council Meeting
Tuesday, Sept. 1, 6 pm, at the Sebastopol Youth Annex, 425 Morris St., Sebastopol, and on Zoom. Free.
The council will tackle several items on the topic of homelessness this week, including a presentation from St. Vincent de Paul on the status of Gravenstein Commons, the new permanent supportive housing for the homeless in North Sebastopol; a Good Neighbor Policy for homeless housing; and presentations from HEART and West County Community Services (WCCS), both of whom have city contracts to provide homeless outreach services. The council will also discuss financing options for water infrastructure projects, including Well 4, the Pleasant Hill loop, and seismic retrofits to the water tank. They will also discuss legal options regarding racist incidents behind Safeway. See agenda and documentation here.
Free Introduction to Square Dancing
Tuesday, Sept. 1, 7 pm to 8:30 pm, at Wischemann Hall, 465 Morris St., Sebastopol. Free.
Looking for a hobby/distraction/place to find joy? Modern Western Square Dancing is a recreational activity that’s fun to learn and fun to dance with this club’s supportive community of square dancers. The caller teaches and sings to a wide variety of music with short breaks during the evening. You’ll be dancing the very first night! The class runs from Sept. 1 to Nov. 3, and the first 2 classes are free. The cost for the whole 10-week class is $50, and the fee is due Sept. 15. Walk-ins welcome. Arrive early for parking and signing in. Register online at redwoodrainbows.org.
Luther Burbank Experiment Farm Work Day
Wednesday, Sept. 2, from 9 am to 12 pm, at the Luther Burbank Experiment Farm, 7777 Bodega Ave., Sebastopol. Free.
Join volunteers preserving and maintaining the historic farm every Wednesday morning. Lots of volunteer opportunities available, including gardening, tours, and the cottage gift shop. All skill and ability levels are welcome.
Peacetown at Ives Park
Wednesday, Sept. 2, 5 pm to 8 pm, at Ives Park, Sebastopol
It’s a Sol Horizon extravaganza at Peacetown. Sol Horizon has been Sonoma County’s premier reggae band for the past 25 years. Anchored by veteran musicians, Sol Horizon fuses roots reggae with dub, rock, funk, and world music. The band is renowned for its energetic live performances and powerful lyrical content centering on themes of peace, positivity, community, sustainability, and the revitalizing power of nature.
Kevin Russell’s Birthday | Peacetown at Hopmonk
Wednesday, Sept. 2, from 6 to 8:30 pm, at HopMonk Sebastopol (the Abbey), 230 Petaluma Ave, Sebastopol. Free.
The Peacetown concert series continues with a birthday celebration for Kevin Russell. The man who books most of the acts at the HopMonk will be celebrating his birthday with a bunch of his many friends, including Joe Craven, Candy Girard, Loralee Christiansen, Dallis Craft, Matt David, Paul Olguin and many surprise guests. Free admission, all ages, partially seated.
Ceramic Garden Poles
Thursdays, Sept. 3 to Oct. 15, from 2 pm to 5 pm, at the Sebastopol Center for the Arts, 282 S. High St., Sebastopol. $325 plus a $45 clay fee.
In this seven-week class, participants use basic hand-building skills—pinching and working with slabs—to create unique pieces of garden art, exploring applied textures, colored slips, and glazes to personalize each piece. Instructor Maura Palmer ran her own garden design business for over two decades before working with clay and concrete. Register here.
Spoken Word Poetry
Thursday, Sept. 3, at 4:20 pm, at Sonoma Chocolatiers, 6988 McKinley Ave., Sebastopol. Free.
Enjoy an evening of spoken word poetry, chocolate and a warm beverage. Call or come into the store to sign up if you’d like to perform. Poetry readings happen at Sonoma Chocolatiers on the first Thursday of every month.
Join & Thrive: a movie and community event at the Rialto
Thursday, Sept. 3, at 6 pm, at Rialto Cinemas Sebastopol, 6868 McKinley St., Sebastopol. $9.
A collaborative community film event exploring what helps a community thrive and the small steps each of us can take to make a difference. This event is hosted by Kiwanis Club of Sebastopol, Sebastopol Grange, Sunrise Rotary, Rotary Club of Sebastopol, Sebastopol Gravenstein Lions Club, Order of the Eastern Star, Sebastopol West 100. Get tickets.
Remembering Dolly
Friday to Tuesday, Sept. 4-8, various times, at Rialto Cinemas Sebastopol, 6868 McKinley St., Sebastopol. $10.
The Rialto is remembering Dolly Parton by showing two of her iconic films, “Steel Magnolias” and “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas,” running Sept. 4-10. Get tickets.
Star Trek 60th Anniversary Celebration
Friday to Tuesday, Sept. 4-8, various times, at Rialto Cinemas Sebastopol, 6868 McKinley St., Sebastopol. $10.
Rialto Cinemas is hosting a 5-day celebration of Star Trek’s 60th anniversary. To honor this classic franchise, the first four original Star Trek films will return to theatres from Sept 4 through Sept. 7, with unique double-feature bills paired with thematic Star Trek TV episodes. On Tuesday, Sept. 8, Star Trek Day, there will be a marathon of all four films and episodes. Get tickets.
Harvest Cooking: Learn and Lunch with Stephanie Klassen
Friday, Sept. 4, from 10:30 am to 1 pm, at Gold Ridge Organic Farms, 3387 Canfield Rd, Sebastopol. $80.
Celebrate the flavors of the Mediterranean with this relaxed seasonal lunch menu. Learn how to make the most of your backyard or farmer's market bounty with this demonstration class taught by local cookbook author Stephanie Klassen. She'll show you how to turn those overflowing baskets of veggies into a cool Gazpacho, a colorful Provencal Vegetable Galette and Green Bean-Feta Salad. After the demo, sit down together for an al fresco lunch overlooking the Gold Ridge orchards. Reserve your spot.
Live Music Fridays at Pax
Friday, Sept. 4, from 5 pm to 7 pm, at Pax Wines, 6780 McKinley St. (in The Barlow), Sebastopol. Free.
Spend a casual Friday evening with live music from Sean Slavin and enjoy local wines for purchase at this small, family-owned winery in The Barlow. No reservations required.
Wolf Pack: Out of the Dust
Friday, Sept. 4, 9 pm, at HopMonk Sebastopol, 230 Petaluma Ave., Sebastopol. $13.99.
The Wolf Pack started as a monthly audio, social and animalistic experiment by Sonoma County natives and Bay Area rave veterans. Founded at the now defunct 3rd Pig Bar in Sebastopol in June 2023, it grew from a free, small and sweaty dance den to a rabid wild party filled with national touring acts and local talent. Think of it as the North Bay hub for filthy tech-house. Age 21 and up. Get tickets.
See other Hopmonk events here.
Seasons Turning: Watercolor Basics
Saturday, Sept. 5, 10 am to 4 pm, at the Sebastopol Center for the Arts, 282 S. High St., Sebastopol. $130 plus a $40 materials fee.
Welcome the change of season with a day of watercolor inspired by Sonoma County in September—late-summer tomatoes, ripe figs and pears, sunflowers, dahlias, grapes, and the earthy golds, deep greens, and dusty blues of the shifting landscape. Learn wet-on-wet painting, controlled washes, layering, color mixing, and texture while building strong compositions. All materials provided; space is limited to 12 students. There’s a discussion break at 12:30 pm, so bring a brown-bag lunch. Taught by Lynn Zachreson. Reserve your spot.
Introduction to Letterpress
Saturday, Sept. 5, 10 am to 3 pm, at North Bay Letterpress Arts, 925 Highway 116 South, #D, Sebastopol. $165.
Get hands-on with the art of letterpress in this beginner-friendly workshop. Explore the basics of printing on a press, from setting up a design to inking and pulling your very first prints. Along the way, you’ll learn about the history of letterpress, the different kinds of presses, and the tools and materials that bring this centuries-old craft to life. Reserve your spot.
Sourdough Bread Basics
Saturday, Sept. 5, from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm, at Gather Sebastopol, 122 N. Main St., Sebastopol. $165.
Ready to start baking sourdough at home? In this hands-on workshop, Tawnya Deeths of The Peaceful Acre Baker will guide you through the essential techniques for creating beautiful, flavorful sourdough bread in your own kitchen. Reserve your spot.
Opening Reception: Spirit of My Homeland by Gloria Armstrong
Saturday, Sept. 5, 3 pm to 5 pm, at Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation, 900 Sanford Road, Santa Rosa. Free.
Celebrate the work of Gloria Armstrong, whose nature-inspired art and poetry reflect kinship, healing, and connection to the land. Armstrong is a self-taught artist and poet of Southern Pomo, Mishewal Wappo & Coast Miwok descent and is a tribal citizen of the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria. Her unique freehand designs are deeply inspired by the beauty and sacredness of nature, creating imaginative, biomorphic shapes that vibrantly express her reverence and spiritual connection to the land. A lifelong artist, she emerged as one of the first contemporary California Indian artists in the 1960s—at a time when Native representation in the arts was almost nonexistent. Learn more.
Night of Illusion: Harlow Rose
Saturday, Sept. 5, 7 pm to 9 pm, at Subud Hall, 234 Hutchins Ave., Sebastopol. $10; children 12 and under free.
Magician Ray Hoey brings his magic and illusion back to the Sirens stage, joined by guest performer Harlow Rose in her solo debut. No stranger to belly dance or magic, Rose promises an evening of vitality and flair. Proceeds support Sirens Studio as a fundraiser. Get tickets.
PEEK INTO NEXT WEEK: Porchefest returns to the porches of Sebastopol on Sept. 12 from noon to 6 pm in the Belmont Terrace neighborhood, located behind the Community Church of Sebastopol. Find out more here.
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.
