Community Calendar

A Woman’s Place Was Everywhere:
How Working Women Shaped Mendocino
Exhibit Runs October 2, 2025– March 29, 2026
Opening Reception Honoring Local Businesswomen: Saturday, October 11, 4pm – 5:30pm
While men wielded the axes that built the town of Mendocino, women built the community that made it last. Look beyond the big trees and lumber mills to discover the vibrant world of “women’s work.” Through their own diaries, photos, and oral histories, this exhibit tells the lesser-known stories of entrepreneurs, nurses, artists, teachers, madams, and philanthropists who laid the foundation for the Mendocino we know today. Discover how their creativity, resilience, and hard work—both paid and unpaid—shaped the legacy of the Mendocino Coast in ways history books often overlook. Nominate your own local heroine, past or present during your visit. Bring a photo if you have one.
Museum Hours:
October – December: Thurs – Mon, 11am – 3pm
January – March: Fri – Sun, 11am – 3pm

Join us for the Holiday Open House 2025 and Wine Club Pick Up Party! We’re hosting this event at our West Road Facility, located at 11700 West Road in Redwood Valley, CA 95470. Saturday November 22, 2025 11am-5pm. Complimentary wine tasting (Please Bring Your Own Glass, We will have a limited supply for purchase of $10 each). There will also be food for purchase from “Its a Bao Time" and featuring lots of vendors of locally crafted wares. Free to the public, family friendly, see you there!

Take a guided tour of the MCBG Mushroom Collection! The Gardens is home to more than 160 species of wild mushrooms during fall and winter. Mushrooms are the fruiting bodies of Macrofungi. Generally hidden underground, these reproductive structures lie dormant until the rainy season, when they sprout above the soil from organic material.

​Enjoy this introduction to mushroom identification followed by a guided walk with Naturalist and Mycologist, Mario Abreu each Monday from November 17 through December 22. Mario will begin with an approximately 45-minute introduction followed by a 2-hour guided field walk that involves standing for long periods of time, and venturing off the main trails. Please remember, mushrooms found at Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens should stay at Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens... DO NOT PICK OR COLLECT from our botanical collection!

Attention all chili lovers! Join us for our 3rd Annual Chili Cook Off. Compete or just come to taste different chilis from some of the best local cooks. The event is on November 22nd from 4-7 pm at Anderson Valley Senior Center (AVSC) in Boonville.. It's free to enter or pay $20 to test/judge all entries. Includes hot dogs, bowl of chili & all the fixins’ plus dessert. Enjoy good food, good drinks (beer/wine/margaritas), good company and good times while supporting AVSC. Modest prizes for contestants, 50/50 raffle, No host bar. Deadline for entires is November 8th.

English Country Dance is Fun, Friendly Folk Dance for All. "Take a Dance", our ECD orchestra, provide lovely, and lively music for our dancing pleasure. All dances taught and prompted by alternating local and guest callers. Newcomers always welcome, first time is FREE. Dancers aged 30 and under FREE. Just watching and listening FREE! Please wear comfy, low-heeled shoes. Shoes that slide are better than shoes that grip. For more information visit our website at www.mendoecd.org.

This is a community dance where a caller instructs dancers in the moves of the dance for a half hour (7:30-8) before the dance begins. There is a live band and the caller calls each dance throughout the evening. No partner is needed and everybody dances with everybody. It is a friendly and fun gathering using traditional British Isles folk dance moves that have been evolving over the centuries. Lot of fun with great music and friendly people.

We welcome folks to come experience the joy of English Country Dance with live music every fourth Saturday of the month. Newcomers and 30 and under are free. A caller teaches the basic dance steps from 7:30-8 and the dance begins at 8pm, and continues til 10 with a break in the middle. It's a very friendly dance environment with more experienced dancers helping those coming for the first time. It's fun, good exercise for the body and soul. Come on out and meet your neighbors and join in a delightful community event

Live band, with caller to teach steps used in simple country dances. Come before 7:30 to get signed in. Instruction begins promptly at 7:30. Wear comfortable clothes and smooth-soled shoes. Friendly folks, no partner necessary, everybody dances with everybody. Soooo much fun!!

English Country Dance is a fun, friendly, folk dance for everyone. Newcomers are always welcome, There is a caller who teaches the steps to the dances at 7:30-8PM, and calls each dance throughout the evening
(8-10PM). The "Take a Dance" Band plays for the monthly dances. Find more information and calendar of upcoming dances at our website, www.mendoecd.org
Bring your water bottle and wear comfortable, smooth-soled shoes. Mask wearing is optional. Of course, if you do not feel well, please stay home. You don't need a partner; everybody dances with everybody. Come join us.

Willits Center for the Arts Small Works Call to Members

Time to get ready for Small Works!

Willits Center for the Arts is looking for member artists to exhibit smaller pieces (2D pieces 12" x 16" or under) for sale during our annual Small Works Show in December. It’s only $30 and up to become a member/renew and that can happen at the curator drop off in December! Paintings, sculpture, fabric, glass, prints, photographs, sets of greeting cards and more are welcome. Please plan to deliver your art to the gallery on Tuesday December 2, 2025, between 10am and 2pm. Show opens on December 6, 2025. For questions about submissions, please contact the Gallery Curator at margi@mcn.org