THE TOWN OF SEBASTOPOL
Sebastopol is located in the world-renowned wine-growing region of Sonoma County in California, about an hour north of San Francisco. Serving as the hub of Western Sonoma County Wine Country, the town is surrounded by verdant rolling hills and a diverse landscape with a rich agricultural heritage. It also serves as a gateway to the breathtaking Sonoma Coastline and Russian River Redwood Corridor, and is bordered on the East by the Laguna de Santa Rosa Wetlands Preserve. For those looking to enjoy the region’s wilds, the 254 square miles of freshwater wetlands in the Laguna Wetlands Preserve offer hiking trails and ample birdwatching opportunity.
Known for its open, laid-back vibe, its open-minded, artistic denizens, and its proximity to regional wilds, Sebastopol is home to a mix of small-town folk, organic farmers, prize-winning vintners, musicians, environmentalists, old hippies and more artists per acre than could be counted—curious, engaged, opinionated and welcoming to all. Although there are new tasting rooms and farm-to-table eateries opening up in town, the area is still home to quirky shops, multiple vintage clothing stores, and even a prominently-place, 1960s-era sign declaring Sebastopol a “Nuclear Free Zone.”
Sebastopol is settled on the original territory of Coast Miwok and Pomo peoples, and currently sits atop multiple village sites. Today, the town is primarily a grape-growing region, although a far earlier claim to fame the Gravenstein apple, can still be found in town and is still celebrated with an annual Gravenstein Apple Fair. The new wineries, tasting rooms, and restaurants, combined with its eclectic population, have made Sebastopol into a sophisticated wine country destination with a cultural and arts milieu typically associated with more urban areas, including the Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival.
If you are visiting Sonoma County, please be a conscientious traveler. Review the SAFE Travels Promise. Check out the Sonoma County page on Sustainable Travel and look over the Leave No Trace Seven Principles. For updates on the Coronavirus and Travel to Sonoma County, click here.
SEBASTOPOL’S OPENING UP!
This short is a walkthrough of our beloved home, the wonderfully quirky town where we have welcomed filmmakers and audiences once a year for the Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival. As our collective world continues to work towards recovering our health, our wits and our bottom lines, SDFF wanted to honor Sebastopol’s wonderful Main Street as well as other businesses in town. We not only have artists and craftspeople galore here, we also have a uniquely inviting Main Street culture, a bevy of shops in the Barlow and outliers all around town. We have a wonderful sculpture garden being put together by Ned Kahn on the Hotel Sebastopol site. We have many things artisan and a top-notch cinema. On top of all that, we are situated on what very well may be the most naturally beautiful spots on earth…
We hope that the folks who watch our films will take a look and plan a trip to see the wonders for themselves.
Executive Produced by the Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival l Produced by Cynthi Stefenoni and Julia Camp l Directed and Edited by Julia Camp l Spoken Word, Written and Performed by Cynthi Stefenoni
A Very Special Thanks to the Merchants, Artists and City of Sebastopol, Sebastopol Center for the Arts and all who took part in the filming.
VISITING SEBASTOPOL
Sebastopol is located 55 miles north of San Francisco in beautiful Sonoma County, California. The hub of west Sonoma County, Sebastopol is a gateway to the Sonoma Coast and Russian River. It is bordered on the east by the Laguna de Santa Rosa Wetlands Preserve, and on the west by rolling hills rich with apple orchards, vineyards, and redwood forests.
Click here for visitor information provided by the Sebastopol Area Chamber of Commerce.
Click here for visitor information provided by the Sonoma County Tourism Bureau.
Click here for visitor information provided by Experiencesebastopol.com
FILM CO-PRESENTERS
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