What’s Happening in Sebastopol?

Historic Costumed Chorale of European Songs of the Holidays
2023-12-17 15:00 - 16:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Sebastopol United Methodist Church, 500 North Main Street, Sebastopol, CA, 95472, United States
The Old World Carolers present a live choral concert Sunday December 17 at 3 p.m., drawing from past eras of vintage holiday songs from Denmark, Germany, Ireland, and England, under the interior dome of the Sebastopol Methodist Church, 500 North Main Street, Sebastopol, CA (Sonoma County). Suggested donation $10; children free. Songsheets provided for audience PARTICIPATORY sing along to the European carols and holiday standards. Benefit for World Central Kitchen, a non-profit which brings humanitarian food relief worldwide, and church charities. Dressed in clothing of the 19th century, Old World Carolers have been performing since 1985, building a repertoire preserving hundreds of songs from throughout Europe while learning about foreign cultures, languages, and traditions, and return for their 38th year in Sebastopol.

To Paint is to Love Again
2023-12-16 15:30 - 17:30 | Sebastopol Library, 7140 Bodege Avenue, Sebastopol, 95472
Paintings by Linda Kammer, November 21 though January 17, Sebastopol Library Forum Room.
The exhibit includes a reception with the artist on Saturday, December 16, 3:30-5:30.
Linda describes the exhibit: A few years ago my dear husband was diagnosed with dementia. It filled me with grief. So to hold the grief, I began this series of paintings from my garden. From my surroundings. From what I could see from where I was. I thought the paintings will be filled with dark murky shapes. I was, and am, surprised by the joy of loving well.

Sebastopol Lights Parade
2023-12-13 18:30 - 19:30 | Spain
Sebastopol Lights Parade
Wednesday, Dec. 13, 6:30 to 7:30 pm, on some residential streets in Sebastopol.
Lori Jay and friends and other folks from town decorate their cars, trucks, motorcycles and tractors with lights and other decorations and drive slowly around Sebastopol’s residential streets in this fun, unofficial, holiday parade. Read all about it and see a map of their route here.

Luther Burbank Experiment Farm Work Day
2023-12-13 09:00 - 12:00, 2023-12-06 09:00 - 12:00, 2023-11-29 09:00 - 12:00, 2023-11-22 09:00 - 12:00, 2023-11-15 09:00 - 12:00, 2023-11-08 09:00 - 12:00, 2023-11-01 09:00 - 12:00 | 7777 Bodega Ave, Sebastopol, CA, 7777 Bodega Ave, Sebastopol, CA, 95472, United States
Join a cadre of enthusiastic volunteers in preserving and maintaining the Luther Burbank Experiment Farm every Wednesday from 9am to noon. We need volunteers across the spectrum of gardening, leading tours, showing people around the cottage, selling items at the cottage gift shop, and more! All skill and ability levels welcome.

Sebastopol Community Holiday Sing Along
2023-12-10 15:00 - 16:00 | 500 North Main Street, Sebastopol United Methodist Church, Sebastopol, 95472
A Sing Along of the great popular songs of Christmas, for the Sebastopol community and visitors and friends. Under the sonic dome of the century-old Sebastopol United Methodist Church. A PARTICIPATORY event, accompanied by pianist Andy Darrow and vocalist Nancy Berger. Free admission, donations accepted, voices welcomed, lyrics sheets provided. The songs are well-known: from “Deck the Halls” to “Feliz Navidad;” “Let It Snow,” “Walking in a Winter Wonderland” to “Chestnuts Roasting;” “Jingle Bells” to “Hark the Herald Angels.”

NBLA Holiday Open House Fundraiser
2023-12-10 13:00 - 16:00 | North Bay Letterpress Arts, 925d Gravenstein Hwy South, Sebastopol, CA, 95472, United States
We have been having some version of this Holiday Open house event for over a decade. It’s a great time of the year to open up and share our space with the community and our friends, hopefully make some new ones in the process. Our members also share a selection of their own works and available to discuss the process. There will be items for sale ranging from cards, small notebooks to larger framed prints, and everything in between.
In tandem, a portion of our Corita Kent Spotlight Month will remain up through the month, this includes the silent auction fundraiser with 27 items from 9 artists and organizations. The sale of these items are critical in supporting our annual fundraising goal, and there are some amazing pieces featured, including original signed and framed Corita Kent print, and an original Jose Posada print that is over a 100 years old.
For a preview of the silent auction and to bid or buy early, it’s all online at the link below, and end’s 12/13:
https://givebutter.com/c/coritarules
We would love to see some from our community come out and support the notion that “words matter” and the original social media still can get like’s and follows.

Handel's "Messiah" Open Sing Along, 29th Year in Sebastopol
2023-12-09 13:00 - 15:30 | St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 500 Robinson Rd, Sebastopol, CA, 95472, United States
An open participatory event, for singers and listeners of all abilities: Handel’s oratorio “Messiah,” chronicling in vocal and instrumental music the birth and resurrection of Jesus Christ, known for its rousing “Hallelujah” chorus. Composed and first performed in 1741, this presentation in Sebastopol is the 29th year under conductor John Maas; with string quartet and trumpet, and lead singers Christa Durand, Elizabeth Henry, and Benjamin Mertz. Concert on Saturday, Decemer 9 from 1 to 3:30 p.m. at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 500 Robinson Road, Sebastopol. Sheet music available for those who do not have their own; parking on site. Open rehearsal Monday December 4 7:30-8:30 p.m. at the north side dining room of Sebastopol Center for the Arts, 282 South High Street.
Conductor John Maas has a particular focus on involving communities in singing, and written more than 50 choral works performed throughout California, the United States and Canada, including by Occidental Community Choir, UC Berkeley Repertory Choir, Pacific Edge Voices/Pacific Mozart Ensemble, Redwood Chorale, Sonoma County Chamber Singers, and Santa Rosa Junior College Choir.

Occidental Community Council Hosts 37th Annual Holiday Craft Faire
2023-12-09 10:00 - 17:00 | Spain
WHAT: 37th Annual Holiday Craft Faire, nestled in the redwoods in the historic town of Occidental, produced by the Occidental Community Council.
Amazing arts and crafts from over 30 local vendors. Great for all your gifting needs, plus a one-of-kind bucket raffle to help celebrate the holiday season. Performances by the Occidental Community Choir, West County Ukulele Club, and a visit from Santa himself!
Check our website for a schedule of events: www.occidental-ca.org
Delicious lunch and baked goods for sale.
Free admission
WHERE: Occidental Community Center
3920 Bohemian Highway
Occidental, CA 954645
WHO: Occidental Community Council is an all-volunteer, non-profit corporation whose purpose is to meet the unmet needs of people living in and around Occidental. Established in 1986, the Council is governed by a board elected annually from the membership. Each year during the second full weekend in December, the Council sponsors the Annual Holiday Crafts Faire. All proceeds from the Faire are put back into the community.
WHY: A great way to spend the day, support local artists, and build community while celebrating the season.

bijoux 14th Annual Fine Arts & Crafts Holiday Sale and Open House
2023-12-02 - 2023-12-03 | 583 HarrisonStreet, 583 Harrison Street, Sebastopol, 95472
Don’t miss local artists and designers as they set up shop in Sebastopol for this two weekend event. Thoughtfully curated fine arts and crafts include jewelry made from unexpected materials, and enamel on sterling silver and copper; hand sewn Frida dolls; assemblage boxes; handcrafted art cards fit for framing; ornaments and magnets; collage candles, paintings of tongue-in-cheek Saints for all occasions; novels written with verve, spirit and soul; and oddities!

Mideast Peace Silent Vigil
2023-11-29 18:00 - 18:15, 2023-11-22 18:00 - 18:15, 2023-11-15 18:00 - 18:15, 2023-11-08 18:00 - 18:15, 2023-11-01 18:00 - 18:15 | Living Peace Wall, 6868 McKinley St, Sebastopol, CA, 95472, United States
In memory of all victims of the Middle East war. No speeches, no music, no poems, no flags, no signs during the vigil. Conversation/ discussion to follow at the circular benches in the plaza.
Wednesdays from 6 pm to 6:15 pm at the Peace Wall at the corner of McKinley and Laguna Parkway, Sebastopol. Free.

Jill Morgan Brenner & Christa Durand in Concert: A Night of Soprano Splendor with Collaborative Pianist: Paul Dab
2023-11-18 19:30 - 21:30 | 104 N. Main Street, Sebastopol, 104 N. Main Street, Sebastopol, 94931
Journey through the rich and dramatic world of opera as Jill and Christa masterfully perform a curated selection of magnificent duets and spellbinding arias. Whether you’re an avid opera aficionado or new to the genre, you’ll find yourself enchanted by these powerhouse performers.
Jill Morgen-Brenner, Dramatic Soprano
Hailed for her “vivid tone and expressive elegance” by the San Francisco Chronicle, soprano Jill Morgan Brenner channels a deep sense of connection to music and poetry, allowing her to communicate with conviction and nuance. Transitioning into the dramatic repertoire, hers is a voice opening into the repertoire of Verdi, Strauss, and Wagner while still maintaining the supple flexibility to perform works by composers such as Mozart and Massenet.
Originally an instrumentalist, Jill’s singing evolved from her extensive background as a violinist and pianist. She is a recipient of the Paul L. & Phyllis Wattis Foundation Scholarship, the Anna Freeland Memorial Prize, and the Vocal Department Award at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance from Syracuse University’s Setnor School of Music and a Master of Music degree from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. In addition to performing, she also maintains a private studio.
https://www.jillmorganbrenner.com/
Christa Durand, Lyric Soprano
A versatile lyric soprano praised for her clarity and warmth of tone, Christa Durand has performed in hundreds of concerts and shows in the greater San Francisco Bay Area. A native of Santa Rosa, California, Ms. Durand is recognized as a gifted performer who is equally comfortable in a classical recital hall as she is in an intimate cabaret venue.
Ms. Durand was a recipient of the Everett B. Person Scholarship for Vocal Studies at Sonoma State University, where she received her classical training and her Bachelor of Arts in Music. During her studies, Ms. Durand became an avid enthusiast of new works and composers. She works, and has worked with, many composers to help bring their opera, folk, jazz, and new-age visions to life. In January 2019, Ms. Durand and her husband, Evan Bowers, purchased Music to My Ears in Cotati. They hope to continue the almost two decades of tradition as a community and family music center offering private lessons in voice and most instruments, musical and opera productions, acting classes, and musical groups. They endeavor to make it a safe and supportive space for students of all ages and abilities to explore music and theater arts.
https://www.christadurand.com/
Paul Dab, Piano
Paul Dab currently teaches private piano and works in classrooms as a teaching artist with the San Francisco Opera Guild. Co-founded and performs regularly on the Fete Concert Series in venues around the Bay Area. MM (2014) San Francisco Conservatory of Music, principal teacher, Dr. Sharon Mann. BM (2011) Vanderbilt University, principal teacher, Dr. Craig Nies.
At Vanderbilt, Paul was awarded the Gall-Martin Collaborative Arts Scholarship and was part of a trio that won the Tennessee Music Teachers Association chamber music competition. He has studied at conservatories in Vienna, Austria and Glasgow, Scotland and participated in festivals in New York and North Carolina. In addition to private teaching, Paul is passionate about engaging the community in classical music and has worked in educational outreach at the Contemporary Jewish Museum, the Cypress String Quartet, and the Nashville Symphony.

Nina Gerber & Chris Webster
2023-11-11 19:30 - 22:00 | Sebastopol Community Cultural Center – Main Building, 390 Morris Ave, Sebastopol, Ca, 95472, United States
Perennial Sebastopol favorites guitarist Nina Gerber and singer Chris Webster return to the Sebastopol Community Center, with the Bezhenar Sisters as the opening act. Get tickets.
Saturday, Nov. 11, from 7:30 to 10 pm at Sebastopol Community Cultural Center, 390 Morris St., Sebastopol. $30-35.

Opera Gems: Stunning Opera Arias and Duets from Singers in Sonoma County
2023-11-04 19:30 - 21:30 | 104 N. Main Street, Sebastopol, 104 N. Main Street, Sebastopol, 94931
Get ready to experience opera like never before at ‘Opera Gems: Stunning Opera Arias and Duets from Singers in Sonoma County!’ Nestled in the heart of wine country, we’re offering an evening that transcends traditional opera, fusing world-class artistry with an atmosphere as casual and inviting as Sonoma itself. Unbutton that collar and let your hair down as we curate a handpicked selection of opera’s greatest hits, performed by our own local vocal luminaries. Whether you’re an opera aficionado or a first-timer, ‘Opera Gems’ is your ticket to an enchanting night where the music is stirring, the vibe is laid-back, and opera is fun.
​See you there!

Falling Leaves Festival
2023-11-04 11:00 - 15:00 | Sunridge Charter School, 7285 Hayden St, Sebastopol, CA, 95472, United States
Join us for the return of SunRidge Charter School’s beloved Falling Leaves Festival.
Live music, food, treats, crafts to make, games, and a handmade Marketplace.
Saturday November 4th
11am-3pm
Open to the public and free entry.

Water Resiliency Carbon Conversation
2023-11-01 19:00 - 20:30 | Sebastopol Grange, 6000 Sebastopol Ave, Hwy 12, Sebastopol
Learn how Climate Change is impacting how we manage our water supply here in Sonoma
County – from the Russian River Watershed to individual water wells tapping groundwater – and
our role in developing a Sustainable and Equitable Water Plan.
Ryan Pedrotti, with Sonoma Water, will describe the Russian River Watershed System, managed by Sonoma Water, which supplies water to many municipalities in Sonoma County and North Marin, and some steps being taken adapting the system to
the impacts of climate change.
David Noren, with EBA Engineering and a member of the Santa Rosa Plain Groundwater Sustainability Agency Advisory Committee, will share details of the state’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (2014), the state of our local aquifers, progress being made toward developing a Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP), status of Sebastopol’s well
water system, tips for property owners toward resilient well water practices, and opportunities for community members to engage in shaping a sustainable and resilient water plan.
Additional information on water conservation measures being taken to improve water resilience will be shared.
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Parks After Dark: Howl-O-Ween
2023-10-31 17:30 - 19:30 | Ragle Ranch Regional Park, 500 Ragle Road, Sebastopol, CA, 95472, United States
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to hike Sonoma County parks at night? Join park staff for a special treat on Halloween to explore the howlers of darkness. During this exclusive after-hours program, we will hike 1 to 2 miles over moderate terrain, discovering nocturnal critters and bravely embracing moonlit spooks! The cost is $10 for Sonoma County residents and $12 for out-of-county attendees. For more information, contact Emily Bell at communityengagementprograms@sonoma-county.org. Registration required. Register now.

Midnight Masquerade
2023-10-29 14:30 - 16:30 | 104 N. Main Street, Sebastopol, 104 N. Main Street, Sebastopol, 94931
Are you ready to get spooky?
Our second year doing our ever popular Midnight Masquerade!
Your favorite musical theatre numbers that are Halloween themed or that give you a fright with a live orchestra featuring some of the most talented singers in the bay area!
​Hosted at Music To My Ears Sebastopol at 104 N Main Street, this revue is sure to give you a fright, a good time, or both!
Just off our hit show, the Role Reversal Revue, North Bay Productions is excited to be partnering with Music To My Ears again at this beautiful venue.

Midnight Masquerade
2023-10-28 19:30 - 21:30 | 104 N. Main Street, Sebastopol, 104 N. Main Street, Sebastopol, 94931
Are you ready to get spooky? Our second year doing our ever popular Midnight Masquerade! Your favorite musical theatre numbers that are Halloween themed or that give you a fright with a live orchestra featuring some of the most talented singers in the bay area!
​Hosted at Music To My Ears Sebastopol at 104 N Main Street, this revue is sure to give you a fright, a good time, or both! Just off our hit show, the Role Reversal Revue, North Bay Production is excited to be partnering with Music To My Ears again at this beautiful venue.

Halloween Costume Contest and Ghost Hunt
2023-10-28 13:00 - 17:00 | Toyworks, 6940 Sebastopol Ave, Sebastopol, CA, 95472, United States
Find a ghost in downtown shops. Fill out your Ghost tracker. If you find them all, you’ll win a Gift Certificate to Toyworks! Pick up your Ghost tracker at Silk Moon Gallery and drop off completed form at The Chamber of Commerce at 265 S. Main St.
Open to children and adults.
This event is sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce and Sebastopol Downtown Association. Good Luck!
Contest is Saturday, Oct. 28, 1 pm at Toyworks. Ghost Hunt is 10 am – 6 pm in downtown.

Halloween Dog Costume Contest @ Sebastopol Paw Spa
2023-10-28 10:00 - 17:00 | 916 Gravenstein Hwy S, Sebastopol, 95472
Halloween Dog Costume Party @ Sebastopol Paw Spa. Win a prize in 3 categories (most creative, silliest, and best handler/pet duo). Best overall will win a basket worth $200.
Walk in nail clinic from 11-2 put on by Grateful Dog Grooming (cost is $25).
Snacks and beverages
