The Occidental Center for the Arts is a small-town arts and event center gem and a sweet jewel of a place set on the north edge of the village of Occidental in beautiful west Sonoma County. It is a heaven for local artists and one of the finest community minded art centers, serving as an Arts and Entertainment Hub.
This excellent medium-sized venue offers a remarkable array of shows and a wide taste in music, with many world-class events and concerts spanning from Renaissance to Jazz, Baroque to Bluegrass. It is perfect for intimate live music occasions with good acoustics and seating surrounded by redwoods. The charming art gallery holds many art exhibitions and juried shows.
The center provides numerous activities including Water Color classes, a Writing Workshop, Figure Drawing Groups, a Tuesday morning Life Drawing class, Literary Events, Reader's Theatre, and Family Fun Nights. It is a pleasant place where people enjoy making and sharing art, with supportive and encouraging individuals. It is located only 35 minutes drive west of Santa Rosa.
The World Music & Dance Festival was a 1-day event. You wouldn't think such a small location could hold more than one could do & see in a single day, but they make extremely effective use of their space, without seeming overcrowded
May 2026
The Occidental Community Choir is such a gift to the area, with music that lifts our spirits, and explores themes that are thoughtful and touching.
July 2025
I really enjoyed myself. The setting was beautiful and the vibe was perfect.
