What’s happening this week in Sebastopol?
Ives Pool 85th anniversary celebration, library book sale, Bike-to-Work Day, plus lots of music and art events and classes
Science Buzz Cafe: Emergency Communications Systems
Monday, May 11, 6 pm, at HopMonk (in The Abbey), 230 Petaluma Ave., Sebastopol. $10.
Skip Jirrels will discuss Family Radio Service (FRS) and General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS). When the cell towers go down, what do we do? FRS is a 2-watt neighbor-to-neighbor-level communication protocol. To complement this low-power and low-range system, 5-watt GMRS operators are needed nearby. That neighborhood/area GMRS operator can then reach a ‘hub operator,’ a 50-watt GMRS radio in the area, to help solve problems or find info during an emergency. Join the discussion.
Ives Pool 85th Anniversary Celebration
Tuesday, May 12, 12 pm, at Ives Pool, 7400 Willow St., Sebastopol. Free.
Come celebrate the 85th anniversary of Ives Pool, which was donated to the town by San Francisco philanthropist Katherine Ives in 1941. Local poohbahs and other lovers of Ives Pool will be there to celebrate.
Jewish Film Festival: The Last Spy
Tuesday, May 12, 1 pm and 6:30 pm, at Rialto Cinemas, 6868 McKinley St., Sebastopol. $16.
“The Last Spy” is the riveting biography of 102-year-old CIA spymaster Peter Sichel, telling for the first time the epic and unvarnished history of the US foreign intelligence service from the inside. With a good dose of wit and humor to boot, Sichel unpacks the obscured roots of conflicts that plague today’s world and the toll espionage took on his personal life. Get tickets.
Produce Exchange
Tuesday, May 12, 5 pm to 5:45 pm, 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.
Friends of Sebastopol Library Book Sale
Wednesday through Sunday, May 13, 5 pm to 8 pm, varied times, at at the Sebastopol Library, 7140 Bodega Ave., Sebastopol. Free.
The sale includes adult/children/teen books. Most books are bargain-priced at $1, even the newest fiction. Most children's and teen books are 25-50 cents. The sale is open to all. Proceeds help the Sebastopol Library continue its mission of providing great reading, wonderful free programs and fantastic services to West County. Cash or check. Opening night is Wednesday, May 13, from 5 pm to 7:30 pm. All day bargains on Thursday, May 15, 10 am to 6 pm. Half-price day on Friday, May 15, 10 am to 6 pm. $5 per bag day is Saturday, May 16, 10 am to 2 pm; Free books day on Sunday, May 17, 10 am to 1 pm.
Exhale: Community Bathhouse Night
Wednesday, May 13, 6 pm to 9 pm, at Bliss Organic Day Spa, 186 N. Main St., Sebastopol. $35.
Soften, unwind, and reconnect at this Community Bathhouse Night for men and women. Exhale is a cozy, community-centered bathhouse evening designed to help you reset your nervous system and come back to yourself. Move at your own pace through a series of restorative offerings—soak in the tubs, brave the cold plunge, sweat it out in the sauna or steam room. Throughout the night, enjoy live ambient music by Tha Spyryt. Get tickets.
Robyn Hitchcock - Live And Electric - Full Band
Wednesday, May 13, at HopMonk (in The Abbey), 230 Petaluma Ave., Sebastopol. $48.18.
With a career now spanning six decades, Robyn Hitchcock remains a truly one-of-a-kind artist—surrealist rock ‘n’ roller, iconic troubadour, guitarist, poet, painter, and performer. An unparalleled, deeply individualistic songwriter and stylist, Hitchcock has traversed many genres with humor, intelligence and originality over 30 albums and seemingly infinite live performances. Get tickets.
Other Hopmonk events this week include Rose City Band, Chum (a Phish tribute band), TOPS and more. See details here.
Bike to Work Day
Thursday, May 14, throughout Sonoma County.
Join Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition, along with thousands of folks throughout the Bay Area, and participate in a host of cycling activities, events and challenges throughout the month of May, including Bike to Work Day, Thursday, May 14. Get outside, save money, have fun, and maybe even win some prizes. There will be energizer stations at Community Market and the head of the Joe Rodota Trail at Petaluma Ave. Take the Bike to Work Day pledge here.
Outwatch Film Series: The Serpent’s Skin
Thursday, May 14, 1 pm and 6:30 pm, at Rialto Cinemas, 6868 McKinley St., Sebastopol. $16.
After escaping her transphobic hometown, Anna meets goth tattoo artist Gen. They bond over shared supernatural abilities, but Gen’s tattoo work accidentally conjures a demon before their romance can bloom. Get tickets.
Western Sonoma County Historical Society Olive Oil Orchard Tour and Tasting
Friday, May 15, time TBA, at Gold Ridge Organic Farms, 3387 Canfield Road, Sebastopol. Free.
The Western Sonoma Historical Society is sponsoring a free private tour at Gold Ridge Organic Farms on the afternoon of Friday, May 15. Attendees will have a guided walk through orchards and olive groves at the spectacular Gold Ridge property, and end with a tasting of olive oils and apple cider syrup. Please register by emailing Alex at wschsdouglas@gmail.com. Exact time will be provided upon registration. Note that walking surfaces are uneven. Please wear comfortable shoes, bring sun protection, and carry a water bottle.
Ping Zhong: Borrowed Clay exhibition
Friday, May 15, 4 pm to 6 pm, at Sebastopol Center for the Arts, 282 S. High St., Sebastopol. Free.
Experience the culmination of Ping Zhong’s residency at SebArts. SebArts director Serafina Palandech predicts that Zhong may become one of the premier clay artists of our time.
Bilingual Portable Container Garden Workshop: Grow Anywhere
Friday, May 15, 4:30 pm, at the Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation, 900 Sanford Road, Santa Rosa. Free.
Learn how to create your own mini garden that you can take anywhere and grow fresh greens anytime! Join the Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation and Ag and Open Space for a hands-on workshop led by the UC Master Gardener Program at the Laguna Environmental Center. Learn how to grow fresh vegetables, herbs and flowers using simple portable containers that are perfect for patios, balconies and other compact areas. No experience is needed. All materials are provided and you will take your planted garden home with you. This event is limited to the first 50 participants. Reserve your spot.
Velocity: Light and Motion Handbell Concert
Friday, May 15, 7:30 pm, at Community Church of Sebastopol, 1000 Gravenstein Hwy North, Sebastopol. By donation.
The acclaimed Bay Area handbell ensemble Velocity will present “Light and Motion,” featuring the premier of “Five Spacetime Movements” by Artistic Director Christian Guebert. Join us in celebrating Velocity’s 25th Anniversary in Sebastopol—an evening that promises to be both inspiring and memorable. RSVP.
Pancake Brunch 2026
Saturday, May 16, 9 am to 12 pm, at Pleasant Hill Christian School, 1782 Pleasant Hill Road, Sebastopol. $15 for adults and older children, kids under 5 free.
Pancakes, eggs, sausage, biscuits-n-gravy, fruit, beverages, plus a silent auction and raffle to benefit Pleasant Hill Christian School. Buy tickets online or at the door.
Free Organic Compost
Saturday, May 16, 9 am to 12 pm, behind the Sebastopol Youth Annex, 425 Morris St., Sebastopol. Free.
Get up to a half-cubic yard of organic compost per household. Please be prepared to wait your turn in line, with your car turned off to minimize hydrocarbon emissions. Vehicles will be directed to the pile as places open up. Bring gloves, shovels, buckets, bags, tarps, and good spirits. First-come, first-served: compost will be given out until the pile is gone. We could use a few volunteers, especially from 9 am to 10 am. This event is coordinated by volunteers from the Sebastopol Climate Action Committee.
Sourdough from Scratch
Saturday, May 16 10 am to 1 pm, at Gold Ridge Organic Farms, 3387 Canfield Road, Sebastopol. $125.
Want to learn the ins and outs of making sourdough bread? Come to this three-hour, hands-on sourdough making class at Gold Ridge Organic Farms, led by Monica Flaherty of the Sebastopol Sourdough Company. Monica will walk you through everything you need to know — how wild yeast and fermentation work, why sourdough differs from commercial yeast bread, and how to read your dough. You’ll also cover starter care and feeding, mixing and hydration ratios, shaping and scoring techniques, and the secrets to achieving that perfect crust and open crumb. Every guest will leave with an active starter, a feeding schedule and care guide, a shaped dough in a banneton ready to bake at home, and a keepsake apron. Reserve your spot.
Small Greens, Big Flavor: A Microgreens Workshop
Saturday, May 16, 10:30 am to 12:30 pm, at Gather Sebastopol, 122 N. Main St., Sebastopol. $105.
Learn how to grow and use microgreens at home in this hands-on workshop. From set up to harvest, you’ll explore simple techniques for growing fresh, flavorful greens. In this workshop, you’ll learn how to grow microgreens using a simple home kit; practice soil preparation, seed spreading, and setup; taste a variety of microgreens and explore their flavor; and learn how to use microgreens in everyday dishes. Each participant will take home a Teeny Greeny Microgreens immunity kit with radish, broccoli, and sunflower seeds ($60 retail value). All materials included. No experience required. Reserve your spot.
A Year with Frog and Toad
Saturday and Sunday, May 16-17, 1 pm to 1:30 pm, at Main Street Theater, 104 N. Main St., Sebastopol. $10.
Join us for a heartwarming adventure through the seasons with “A Year with Frog and Toad.” In this charming production, a talented cast of performers ages 5–9 brings these beloved characters to life with joy, humor, and friendship. Audiences of all ages will delight in this sweet celebration of loyalty, warmth, and year-round fun. Get tickets.
Tea Tasting at Many Rivers
Saturday, May 16, 2 pm to 3:30 pm, at Many Rivers Books & Tea, 130 S. Main St., Sebastopol. Free.
Experience the “Rhythms of Tea” series with Stuart Goodnick and Rob Schmidt. This month, we’ll continue the theme of paying attention to the effects that different teas may produce in our bodies and try to sort out how the many rhythms of tea production may be responsible for the experiential results that we can discuss together.
Ecstatic Dance and Live Concert
Saturday, May 16, 6 pm to 10 pm, at the Sebastopol Youth Annex, 425 Morris St., Sebastopol. $20-$25.
Join us for an epic night of Ecstatic Dance and Live Music. Hedflux and local artists Fllow & Lummingbird will bring magical vibes you won’t forget. Get tickets.
OutWest 15th Anniversary Dance: Queer Prom Night
Saturday, May 16, 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm, at Wischemann Hall, 465 Morris St., Sebastopol. $10-20 sliding scale.
Non-gendered partner dancing (LGBTQIA+ and everyone welcome.) Dress up, dress down, dress fun. Treasure hunt, photo booth and more. From 6:30-7:30 pm, there will be a beginner country 2-step lesson. From 7:30-9:30 pm, enjoy partner and line dancing. Beginners are always welcome. No partner needed. Enjoy a mix of country 2-step & waltz, East and West Coast swing, nightclub 2-step, and line dancing.
Intimate Cello Sound Journey
Saturday, May 16, 7 pm to 9 pm, at 790 Hurlbut Ave., Sebastopol. $37.05.
An immersive live cello experience held in a quiet, intentional space for presence, stillness, and reconnection to your essence. This is a guided sound journey through cello and voice, inviting you to soften into yourself and meet a deeper quality of inner awareness beyond thought and daily noise. Rather than a performance, this is a shared field of listening—where sound becomes a doorway into clarity, simplicity, and direct experience of being. Get tickets.
SCCC Presents: 2nd Annual Bloom Hip Hop Festival & Car Show
Sunday, May 17, 11 am to 6 pm, at the Sebastopol Community Cultural Center, 390 Morris St., Sebastopol. $10-$15 adults, kids free.
A community celebration of youth and culture in support of the Sebastopol Community Cultural Center’s youth programming. Featuring live DJs, dance and emcee battles, live graffiti mural, lowrider and hot rod car show, arts and crafts vendors, local eats and more. Learn more.
Paint & Plant at Sebastopol Hardware Center
Sunday, May 17, 11 am to 1 pm, at Sebastopol Hardware Center, 660 Gravenstein Highway N., Sebastopol. $7.18.
Join the folks at Sebastopol Hardware for a relaxed, hands-on workshop where creativity meets greenery. Each participant will paint their own 6-inch terra-cotta pot and then choose two plants to style and take home. All supplies are included—just come ready to unwind, get creative, and leave with something beautiful for your home or to gift. Get tickets.
Unlocking the Power of Your iPhone Camera
Sunday, May 17, 12 pm to 4 pm, at Sebastopol Center for the Arts, 282 S. High St., Sebastopol. $85.
The powerful, always-accessible iPhone camera makes it easier than ever to document your life all while enhancing your creativity. In this workshop, we will explore the full potential of your iPhone camera. Through discussion and hands-on demonstrations, we will cover camera settings and adjustments; filters, exposure, and focus; shutter speed and lens options (best use of all the lenses); techniques for panoramas, macro shots, close-ups, and portraits; compositional strategies to elevate your photography. Throughout, we’ll emphasize the creative and artistic aspects of photography—how to think about composition, lighting, and storytelling to enhance your images. Reserve your spot. Reserve your spot.
Flora & Fauna: A 6 -week watercolor course
Sundays, May 17 to June 21, 1 pm to 4 pm, at Art & Soul, 755 Petaluma Ave., Sebastopol. $300.
In this 6-week course, participants will learn a unique approach to watercolor, intended to alleviate the frustration that many experience when learning this beautiful yet challenging medium. The class will focus on strengthening one’s observational skills, giving the artist a foundation off of which to build their paintings in a step-by-step layering process that trains the artist to see value and color. Reserve your spot. Reserve your spot.
FARTHER AFIELD: 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.
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