Belongings: What We Bring, What We Leave Behind Opening Celebration

Enjoy music, dance, storytelling, and food to honor the many cultures, traditions, and journeys that have shaped our community.
About this Event

Join us for the opening celebration of Belongings: What We Bring, What We Leave Behind, a community exhibition exploring migration, memory, and belonging through the treasured objects and personal stories that connect us across generations.

This joyful evening brings together music, dance, storytelling, and food to honor the many cultures, traditions, and journeys that have shaped our community. Meet exhibition participants, explore the galleries, and celebrate the opening of this community-created exhibition.

The evening will feature:

• A welcome and song by Joe Salinas, founder of the Pomo Dancers
• A vibrant Lion Dance presented by the Sonoma County Vietnamese Association
• A powerful performance by Danza Azteca
• A special proclamation presented by the Mayor of Petaluma
• Palestinian food and refreshments

Everyone is invited to wear clothing that reflects their cultural heritage—or simply come as you are. This celebration is about honoring the stories, traditions, and communities that make Petaluma home.

Admission is free and open to the public.
RSVP is recommended. Donations to help offset the cost of food are appreciated but not required.

We look forward to celebrating with you!

ABOUT THE EXHIBIT
Belongings: What We Bring, What We Leave Behind is on view September 4–October 4, 2026, at the Petaluma Historical Library & Museum. Through meaningful objects, photographs, oral histories, and personal narratives, the exhibition shares the stories of immigrants, refugees, migrants, adoptees, and others who have journeyed to new homes, revealing migration as an enduring human experience that connects us across cultures and generations.

Belongings is made possible through the generous support of California Humanities through its Connecting California grant program. We are also deeply grateful to our community partners and sponsors, including the North Bay Asian American Pacific Islander Coalition, Sonoma County Japanese American Citizens League, Petaluma Arts Center, Life on Art, Zimbabwe Cultural Exchange Project of California, El Día de los Muertos Petaluma, Bolca Avia, Chelsea Antiques, Café Puente, Rustic Bakery, Quality Inn Petaluma, and all of the organizations, volunteers, artists, and community members whose collaboration has brought this exhibition to life.