Sebastopol is gearing up for the return of the Many Moons Festival, a celebration of Asian American, South and Southeast Asian, and Pacific Islander cultures set for Saturday, October 3, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Organizers behind the event have promised deeper community partnerships and expanded cultural programming for this year's gathering, building on a celebration built around music, food, storytelling and dance.
Where and When to Find the Festival
According to AAPIC North Bay, the nonprofit organization presenting the festival, the event celebrates AAPI culture, community, creativity and connection through shared traditions. Event listings from Sebastopol Calendar place the festival at Ives Park in Sebastopol, matching the October 3 date and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. window. AAPIC North Bay is registered as a 501(c)(3) community-based nonprofit, the organization notes on its site.
Notably, the organization's own festival page, as reviewed, still asked visitors to stay tuned for location details, program announcements, vendor applications and volunteer opportunities, even as third-party listings had already zeroed in on Ives Park as the venue. That gap between the official page and outside event calendars leaves the precise rollout of 2026 programming somewhat unsettled for now.
Performances, Food and a Marketplace
Per Sonoma.com, the day is billed as a mix of live performances, cultural demonstrations, food and beverages, local artists, and marketplace vendors. Families can also expect children's and teen activities, wellness and community resources, and the Under Many Moons art exhibit, the listing notes. Food and beverages are among the festival's offerings.
Admission runs $10 for advance tickets and $15 at the gate, with children 12 and under admitted free, the same listing states. Details on the festival are available at manymoonsfestival.com.
An Exhibition Built Around Identity and Belonging
Alongside the festival, organizers are presenting Under Many Moons: Asian and Pacific Islander Art, Identity, and Community, a juried exhibition described by the Sebastopol Center for the Arts as exploring themes of identity, heritage, belonging, and cultural expression. The center frames the broader festival as an annual autumn gathering in Sebastopol that uplifts AAPI culture, creativity and community. The exhibit's themes extend to migration, resilience, joy and cultural continuity, according to the same source.
This year's festival follows a 2025 edition that, per listings reviewed on Sonoma County's site and AAPIC North Bay's own event page, also took place at Ives Park on October 4, 2025, running the same 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. hours. Organizers have said the 2026 edition will bring deeper community partnerships, more cultural programming, and expanded opportunities for connection, learning and celebration compared with prior years.
