What's happening this week in Sebastopol?
Earth Day events, the Apple Blossom Parade and Festival, Zen garden tour, plant sales, music and more
Earth Care and Community Care in Graton
Tuesday, April 22, 4 pm to 6:30 pm in the Graton Town Square
Join Gratonites this Earth Day in caring for the living earth (which includes ourselves and our communities). Support our land and immigrant communities. The Earth Care Family Program (4 pm to 5:30 pm) includes pollinator education; crafts and face painting; butterfly pea tea and cookies; yoga, song, and storytelling. Wear your wings and bring cash for butterfly-friendly plants. Community Care Program (5:30 pm to 6:30 pm) includes Graton Day Labor Center, Stone Creek Zen, and ReVillage, plus
immigrant safety and support presentation by the North Bay Organizing Project.
Earth Day Climathon: Hatching DIY projects that build community resilience
Tuesday, April 22, 6 pm to 8:30 pm, at the Sebastopol Grange, 6000 Sebastopol Ave. (Hwy. 12), Sebastopol.
At this Earth Day Carbon Conversation at the Sebastopol Grange, we’re inviting community members to bring their grassroots ideas to the table. Grassroots DIY projects are ones that you can do yourself or with a group of colleagues. Recruit some friends to work with you on your idea or join a group that you find interesting. Visit the website to share your idea and/or to RSVP. Only ideas entered online before the Climathon will be shared at the event. Vegan soup and bread dinner will be provided. (Bring your bowl, spoon, plate and drink.) Mix, meet and dine, 6 pm; program, 7 pm. Learn more and RSVP at www.rahus.org/scc.
Horticultural Garden Tour of Osmosis with Michael Alliger + Michael Stusser
Wednesday, April 23, 9:30 am to 11:30 am, at Osmosis Day Spa Sanctuary, 209 Bohemian Highway, Freestone. $28.52.
A two-hour-long guided tour of the Osmosis meditation garden will be conducted by Osmosis founder Michael Stusser and tree pruning expert Michael Alliger. This garden makes extensive use of stone, water and deer-resistant plants to express the tranquil feeling of a Japanese-style design. Visitors will be treated to an in-depth look at the underlying Zen themes built into the rock arrangements and pond layout, as well as information about the planting themes and plant materials. Get tickets.
Handbuilding Wednesdays
Wednesdays, April 23 to May 7, 1:30 pm to 4 pm (3 sessions). Sliding Scale: $55/$65/$75 (limited availability for each price slot)
This course is designed for new and returning students wishing to improve their clay hand-building skills and enjoy being a part of the SebArts clay studio community. Each session will start with a demonstration of a specific project related to functional pottery. Class time will also include unstructured time for students to explore special projects and consult with the instructor as needed. Sculptors are also encouraged to take this class. Week 1: Pinch pots, coils, and texture. Week 2: Slips, slabs, and slump Molds. Week 3: Glazing success strategies. The class fee includes firing and glazing, and five pounds of recycled clay. Reserve your spot.
Music: Laurie Lewis and Nina Gerber
Thursday, April 24, 7:30 pm, HopMonk Tavern, 230 Petaluma Ave., Sebastopol. $30.
Laurie and Nina have been friends and collaborators for over four decades. For fiddler, guitarist, singer, and songwriter Laurie Lewis, the traditions of bluegrass and folk aren’t so much tools in her hands, but burning sources of inspiration that have driven her through a 40+ year career at the forefront of American roots music. Since Nina Gerber’s accompaniment of Kate Wolf first earned her recognition, her acute skills as performer, producer and arranger have continued to deepen. Her contributions to acoustic music have earned her a following as loyal as for the numerous high talents she has accompanied (among them are Karla Bonoff, Greg Brown, Kate Wolf, Dave Alvin, Lucy Kaplansky, Rosalie Sorrels, Mollie O’Brien, and Nanci Griffith). Together, Laurie and Nina weave a rich tapestry interwoven with insightful stories, a good measure of humor, rocking headbangers and a shared musical sensibility. Get tickets.
Gardening for the Good Bugs
Friday, April 25, 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm, at the Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation, 900 Sanford Road, Santa Rosa. $11.50.
Did you know that over 90% of the bugs you see in your garden are actually good bugs? They’re out there working hard to keep your plants healthy by controlling pests. Encouraging these beneficial insects is one of the easiest and most effective ways to naturally reduce the number of harmful bugs in your garden. Teacher Suzanne Bontempo. Reserve your spot.
AWS Apple Blossom Art Show Reception
Friday, April 25, 7 pm to 9 pm, from Sebastopol Center for the Arts, 282 S. High St., Sebastopol. Free.
AWS Apple Blossom Art Show runs throughout the Apple Blossom festival weekend. There is an artist’s reception at SebArts on Friday, April 25, from 7 pm to 9 pm.
David Outlaw Band and Jonny Mojo
Friday, April 25, 8 pm to 11 pm, at Blue Ridge Kitchen Event Venue, 6770 McKinley St., Sebastopol. $13.79.
The David Outlaw Band blends the best of Southern rock, Americana, and bluegrass, delivering a sound that spans from swampy bluegrass to jam band-style rock. They will be joined by Jonny Mojo on lead and slide guitar. With a foundation in blues, Jonny Mojo transcends genres, blending rock, folk, fusion, bluegrass, jam band styles and more. Get tickets.
79th Annual Apple Blossom Parade & Festival
Get ready to bloom with joy at Sebastopol’s most beloved springtime celebration. Mark your calendars for Friday, Saturday, Sunday, April 25-27, and prepare for a weekend bursting with color, community, and classic small-town charm.
Friday Night Pre-Party starts at 6 pm in Ives Park – Kick off the festivities in style featuring The Luminous Cuttlefish by Sepia Lux, inflatable art sculptures by Astro Botanicals, live music, local flavors, and plenty of pre-parade fun.
Saturday Morning Parade at 10 am – Watch downtown Sebastopol come alive with dazzling floats, marching bands, vintage cars, and plenty of Flower Power spirit. Expect groovy costumes, creative displays, and a whole lot of local love. Starts at Analy High School and runs down Main Street.
Saturday & Sunday Festival – The fun continues at Ives Park with live music, delicious food, local wine & cider, artisan vendors, and family-friendly activities. Saturday from 11 am - 6 pm, Sunday from 11 am - 5 pm. Get tickets for the festival at appleblossomfest.com.
Willowside School Nursery Plant Sale
Saturday, April 26, 9 am to 2 pm, Willowside Middle School, 5285 Hall Road (at Willowside Road), Santa Rosa. Free.
Welcome to the Willowside School Nursery Plant Sale. Join the nursery crew behind the district office off Willowside Road for a day filled with beautiful plants. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, there’s something for everyone at this event. They have thousands of plants, including drought-tolerant perennials, many California natives, a multitude of succulents, grasses, salvias, alstromeria and many beautiful plants to invite beneficial insects, butterflies and hummingbirds into your garden. One-gallon size, $8. Learn more.
Resilient Landscaping: Defensible Space Workshop
Saturday, April 26, 10 am to 12 pm, at the Forestville Library, 7050 Covey Road, Forestville. Free.
This workshop will cover many practical things you can take home and use immediately, including recommendations for fire-wise landscaping in three defensible space zones, with specific plant and design suggestions. Practical ways to reconcile sometimes conflicting guidelines, to achieve a beautiful, biodiverse, and fire-wise landscape. Resources for how to move forward with your landscape and community. Reserve your spot.
End of Frost: Pinot & Pig Palooza
Saturday, April 26, 11:30 am to 3:30 pm, at Emeritus Vineyards, 2500 Gravenstein Hwy. N., Sebastopol. $60 for non-members, $30 for club members.
To celebrate the end of frost season, Emeritus Vineyards is having a hoedown pitting the vineyard, winemaking, and hospitality teams against each other to come up with the best piggy pairing for our Pinots. (Vegetarian options will be available.) Get tickets.
17th Annual Beer Blossom Fest at HopMonk Sebastopol
Saturday, April 26, 12 pm, at HopMonk Tavern, 230 Petaluma Ave., Sebastopol. Free.
Come to Hopmon after the parade for free music, fresh craft beer and some tasty food. Bands include Jason Beard's Bring Joy, Pardon the Interruption, and Bohemian Highway.
Husary Olive Oil Tour and Tasting with Slow Food Russian River
Saturday, April 26, 12 pm to 2 pm, 10211 Green Valley Road, Sebastopol. $24.
Enjoy this delightful olive oil tour and tasting event with Slow Food Russian River. The event will take place at 10211 Green Valley Road, where you can immerse yourself in the world of olive oil production. Husary Olive Oil began in 2009 after a trip to Palestine. Olive cultivation is a very ancient tradition in the Middle East, and trees can live 2000 years. Husary’s olive groves have many different types of olives, but it became a passion to also grow the olives native to Palestine. With the help of UC Davis, Husary’s has Nabali and Souri olive trees, and you can purchase an olive tree on site. Their olive oil is organic and handcrafted by the family-owned and operated business. Get tickets.
Heirloom Fruit Tree and Plant Sale
Saturday, April 26, 1 pm to 3 pm, at Luther Burbank Experiment Farm, 7777 Bodega Ave., Sebastopol. Free.
Join the folks at Luther Burbank Experiment Farm on Saturday afternoon to enjoy spring blossoms and beautiful plants. Our public garden and picnic tables are free to use and provide a lovely place to bring your own picnic after the Apple Blossom parade. Stroll through our three-acre demonstration farm and learn about Luther Burbank and his impact on our culinary and gardening world. At 2 pm, our skilled docents will be providing a free walking tour of the farm, sharing stories of the rich botanical history created in Sebastopol. Fruit trees, perennials, succulents, and more will be available for purchase. Locally grown and Luther Burbank-created varieties, suitable for our Sonoma County environment, will be for sale. Fruit tree experts will be on hand to answer your questions and help you select the perfect tree or plant for your yard.
Hot Buttered Rum plus The Sam Chase
Saturday, April 26, 8 pm to 9:45 pm, at the Sebastopol Community Cultural Center, 390 Morris St., Sebastopol. $35.
Hot Buttered Rum, a souped-up, left-coast string band, is the brainchild of uniquely gifted musicians who weave their love of bluegrass, folk, jazz and soul into a riveting strain of Americana. Get tickets.
Murmur: Winged Belonging – workshop and dance performance
Sunday, April 27, 1 pm to 3 pm, at Ragle Ranch Park, 500 Ragle Road, Sebastopol. Free.
Arrive at 1 pm for a free bird language workshop facilitated by Weaving Earth. The dance program, Murmur, begins at 2 pm. Experience a wild, immersive journey where dance merges with flight, blurring the lines between bodies and birds, movement and wind, stage and sky. Our dancers don’t imitate birds; they become them—channeling the wild, the threatened, and the fierce. Get tickets.
Family Dance
Sunday, April 27, 2 pm to 4:30 pm, at Wischemann Hall, 465 Morris St., Sebastopol. $5-10 for adults; $10-20 for families.
A dance party for the whole family. All ages welcome. Our caller will teach easy-to-learn dances from American and British Isles folk traditions with live music by fabulous local musicians. Snacks provided. Bring your water bottle. Sponsored by North Bay Country Dance. Fourth Sundays from 2 pm to 4:30 pm (3/23; 4/27; 5/25; 6/22). Learn more.
Dinner and a Movie: Tampopo at Rialto Cinemas
Sunday, April 27, 5:30 pm, Rialto Cinemas, 6868 McKinley St., Sebastopol. $75 includes dinner, movie, gratuity and tax. Film only, $9.
Join us on a cinematic and culinary adventure as Rialto Cinemas owner Ky Boyd and chef and author Michele Anna Jordan combine their expertise to take diners on six unique cinematic celebrations. See the Tampopo menu and get tickets here.
Spring Plant Sale
Saturday, April 26, 9 am to 4 pm, at Hallberg Butterfly Gardens, 8687 Oak Grove Ave., Sebastopol. Free.
A current list of plants for sale can be found on our website. Hallberg focuses on California native plants suited to support our local pollinators, especially butterflies and moths. After finishing your appointment at the nursery, feel free to take a self-guided tour of the garden. Appointments can be booked up to 90 days before sale. By appointment only due to parking restrictions. Book your appointment.
See What’s Happening Sonoma County for more music listings.
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