Curious about Happening’s transitions over the last few months?
Here’s the story from founder Deborah Wiig:
The short version
• From 2016 to 2025, Happening in Sonoma County grew as it connected residents and visitors to local entertainment, arts, and recreation in our communities.
• The project was labor-intensive and consistently underfunded.
• Last fall, another entity took over its publication, but soon closed.
• The original Happening in Sonoma County is back and needs your support to survive (See below for how you can help).
The longer story
I started Happening in Sonoma County in 2016 as a love letter to my new home. I had published a similar project in my hometown of Denver, and this website was a great way for me to learn about cultural life and resources in Sonoma County and to share that with others.
By 2025, the website had an average of 25,000 visitors each month, and a popular weekly newsletter and social media pages. Local organizations, venues, and performers shared their events on our calendar, and residents and visitors could find out about all the exciting things to do in Sonoma County.
The project survived fires, floods, and a pandemic that shuttered it for a year when nothing was “happening in Sonoma County” and we couldn’t go out!
But as it grew, it became more labor-intensive and was consistently understaffed and underfunded. My 50-hour work weeks were unsustainable, even with a part-time assistant. Our income did not cover the ever-increasing costs.
Last year, a local non-profit offered to take it over. The transition was challenging and the new project suffered. Then, just as I was beginning to experience my new semi-retirement (and a major health crisis to overcome and a new grandchild to enjoy), the organization closed completely, ending the publication of Happening.
Not willing to see it end, I rushed to restore and relaunch Happening in Sonoma County. (Many thanks to the heroic efforts of Linton Hale/Your WebDawgs.) It’s been a challenging and expensive effort. I’m committed to seeing it flourish, but I need all the help I can get from all of you.
It takes a village
❤️ Here’s how you can help:
• Visit the website often
• Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, share our posts, post positive reviews on our social pages
• Sign up for our weekly newsletter
• Leave a positive review on our Google Business Profile.
• Volunteer to help produce Happening.
If you have a couple of hours a week or more available and basic computer skills, we can use your help.
Help us with calendar management.
Help distribute our cards in local venues and businesses.
Experienced AI users: Could you help us adopt this technology to help us automate some of our labor-intensive tasks and reduce our costs?
• Donate: a little or a lot, one-time or monthly, it will go a long way to help! (Link coming soon.)
• Businesses:
Advertise on Happening. Our very large audience loves to support local.
If you host or organize entertainment, arts, or recreation events, list your events on our calendar
Link to HappeningSonomacounty.com on your website or in your newsletters.
Lend expertise or share resources