Things to Do in Sebastopol, CA in August 2026
Golden evenings, Gravenstein apples at their peak, free concerts in the park, and one last glorious stretch of summer in Sonoma County’s favorite small town.
August is when Sebastopol shows off. The Gravensteins are ripe, the light turns to honey by 6 pm, and the whole town seems to be outside — dancing at Ives Park, wandering the Sunday market, and gearing up for the biggest apple party in Northern California.
This is our verified, locally sourced guide to what’s happening around Sebastopol in August 2026 — festivals, live music, art openings, community walks, city meetings, parks, and everything in between. Dated events are listed in chronological order, followed by the weekly happenings you can count on all month long. Soak it up: this is the sweet, sun-warmed end of summer, west county style.
August 2026 Event Calendar
Mark these dates. From psychedelic soul to the 53rd annual Gravenstein Apple Fair, here’s what’s on the Sebastopol calendar this month, in order.
Monophonics Live at HopMonk Sebastopol
Kick off the month with San Francisco’s heavy psychedelic soul powerhouse. Monophonics bring their vintage horns, fuzzed-out guitars, and dance-all-afternoon energy to HopMonk’s outdoor setting for a Saturday show starting at 4 pm. Grab food and a cold one from the tavern and settle in for a big summer sound.
Tickets & Info at HopMonk
Peacetown Summer Concert Series at Ives Park
Sebastopol’s beloved Wednesday-night tradition rolls on all August long. Every week, Ives Park fills with live bands on two stages, food trucks, Lagunitas beer, local wine, kids dancing on the grass, and pure Peacetown good vibes — completely free to the community. The 2026 season runs June 3 through September 9, so August gives you four full chances to join the party: August 5, 12, 19, and 26. Companion Peacetown sets also happen in the Abbey at HopMonk on Wednesday evenings.
See the Full Band Lineup
🍎 53rd Annual Gravenstein Apple Fair
This is the weekend Sebastopol was made for. The 53rd Gravenstein Apple Fair takes over Ragle Ranch Regional Park with this year’s theme, “Where Joy Takes Root.” Expect all things apple, top regional live music, the shaded Artisan Tasting Grove with 30+ local producers, farm animals and ag demos, kids’ fun for every age, and the best local food and drink in the county — all benefiting the nonprofit Sonoma County Farm Trails, which has produced the fair since 1973. The fair has run 95% zero waste since 2018, and it’s been voted the Bohemian’s Best Festival year after year.
Advance tickets (good for either day): adults $23, kids 6–12 $10, ages 5 and under free, and a $55 online family pass through August 7. Prices go up fair weekend, so buy early.
Get Apple Fair Tickets
“Collaborative Practices” — Kate Haug Opens at SebArts
Sebastopol Center for the Arts presents a retrospective of Bay Area artist Kate Haug, whose work engages the region’s history of technological innovation, political activism, and social experimentation — often stepping outside the gallery walls entirely. The exhibition runs August 8 through September 6, 2026, with related talks and programs throughout its run. While you’re there, browse SebArts’ August class lineup, including a six-session Sunday watercolor series that begins August 9.
Exhibit Details at SebArts
La Luz with Spacemoth at HopMonk
Cap off Apple Fair Saturday with something moodier: La Luz brings their dreamy, surf-noir guitar sound to HopMonk Sebastopol, with the swirling art-pop of Spacemoth opening. An 8 pm show in one of the coziest listening rooms in Sonoma County — the perfect nightcap after a day at Ragle Ranch.
Tickets & Info at HopMonk
City of Sebastopol Public Meetings
Want a say in how Sebastopol grows? August is a busy month at City Hall. The Climate Action Committee meets Tuesday, August 11 at 3:30 pm at Sebastopol City Hall (7120 Bodega Ave), followed by the Planning Commission at 6 pm at the Sebastopol Youth Annex (425 Morris St). The Planning Commission meets again Tuesday, August 25 at 6 pm, with the Design Review / Tree Board that same afternoon at 3:30 pm. Meetings are hybrid, so you can attend in person or join by Zoom — agendas and links are posted on the city’s meeting calendar.
View the City Meeting Calendar
Camino de Sonoma Caminata: “Peace Town” Sebastopol Walk
Lace up for a morning of moving meditation. The Camino de Sonoma — a 75-mile walking route stretching from the Sonoma Mission to Fort Ross — hosts a community caminata right here in Sebastopol on Saturday, August 15 from 8 am to noon. It’s a friendly, pilgrimage-style group walk celebrating our town’s peace-loving spirit, and walkers of all paces are welcome. RSVP and get the starting point and route details on the Camino de Sonoma calendar.
RSVP for the Caminata
Another Trip Around the Sun: Grateful Dead & Jam Band Night
The Sebastopol Community Cultural Center hosts an evening of Grateful Dead and jam band magic on Friday, August 21. Doors open at 6 pm and the music starts at 6:30 pm in the Main Hall — high ceilings, a real dance floor, and yes, a disco ball. Bring your dancing shoes and your tie-dye; this one is pure west county.
Details at the Cultural Center
WITCH (We Intend To Cause Havoc) at HopMonk
Send summer out with a piece of rock history. WITCH — Zambia’s legendary 1970s Zamrock pioneers — bring their fuzz-drenched, funk-heavy psychedelic rock to HopMonk Sebastopol for an 8 pm show on the last Saturday of the month. Cult-classic vinyl collectors and first-timers alike, this is a rare one for a town our size.
Tickets & Info at HopMonk
Every Week in August
No tickets, no planning required. These Sebastopol staples run all month long — perfect for slow Sundays, hot afternoons, and spontaneous end-of-summer outings.
Sebastopol Farmers Market
Sundays · 9 am–1:30 pmEvery Sunday (August 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30) the Sebastopol Plaza on Weeks Way fills with local farmers, bakers, flowers, prepared food, and live music — rain or shine, year-round. August means one thing here: Gravenstein apples at their absolute peak. Come hungry.
sebastopolfarmersmarket.org »Luther Burbank Experiment Farm
Daily · Dawn to Dusk · FreeWalk the three historic acres at Gold Ridge (7777 Bodega Ave) where the famed “Plant Wizard” developed hundreds of fruit, flower, and tree varieties. Free self-guided tours every day, an honor-system plant nursery, and volunteer activity on Wednesday mornings. A quiet, only-in-Sebastopol treasure.
wschs.org/farm »West County Museum
Sat & Sun · 11 am–2 pm · FreeHoused in Sebastopol’s restored 1917 railroad depot at 261 S. Main St, this volunteer-run museum tells the story of west county — Pomo heritage, apple industry history, Luther Burbank, and rotating exhibits. A perfect 30-minute stop before Sunday brunch downtown.
wschs.org/museum »Swim at Ives Pool
Open Daily · Ives ParkBeat the August heat at Sebastopol’s solar-heated saltwater community pool at 7400 Willow St, serving the town since 1941. Lap swim is offered seven days a week, plus public swim sessions, aqua aerobics, and lessons. Check the current schedule before you head over.
ivespool.org/schedule »Eat, Sip & Shop The Barlow
Open Daily · DowntownSebastopol’s open-air market district keeps growing in 2026 — award-winning restaurants, craft breweries, tasting rooms, maker shops, and newcomers like Genero’s Delicatessen. Families: catch the free weekly kids’ story time at 10 am and Barlow Builders craft hour from 10:30 to 11:30 am. Check their calendar for pop-ups and live music.
thebarlow.net »Catch a Film at Rialto Cinemas
Daily Showtimes · 6868 McKinley StWhen the afternoon sun gets serious, duck into Sebastopol’s beloved independent movie house. Rialto Cinemas has spent two decades bringing the best first-run, art house, and special-event screenings to Sonoma County — air conditioning and real butter included.
rialtocinemas.com »Sunday Worship at Community Church of Sebastopol
Sundays · 10 amThe Community Church of Sebastopol (United Church of Christ), an open and affirming congregation at 1000 Gravenstein Hwy N, welcomes everyone to Sunday worship at 10 am — in person or via livestream. This is the congregation behind one of Sebastopol’s sweetest legacies: a decades-long apple pie tradition that runs deep in apple season.
uccseb.org »Back-to-School Season in West County
Mid–Late AugustAugust means backpacks come off the shelf. Students across west county — including Analy High School and West Sonoma County Union High School District campuses, plus Sebastopol’s elementary schools — head back to class for the 2026–27 year this month. Families should check their district’s official calendar for exact start dates, registration, and orientation schedules.
wscuhsd.org »
📝 A Note About Events & Listings
We do our best to highlight great local happenings, but this guide may not include every event taking place in and around Sebastopol. Hosting something we missed? We’d love to hear about it — send us your event here for consideration in a future edition.
Event information, dates, times, prices, and locations may change after publication. Please verify all details directly with the event organizers before making plans. This site is not affiliated with the events or organizers listed above and cannot guarantee the accuracy of event details. Information verified as of publication, 2026.
