• Our mission: To enhance the quality of our lives and build a positive sense of place through active engagement with the arts. Working in partnership with local businesses, galleries and live theatre, each month we celebrate our region’s inspiration and its creative spark!

  • Year One...2010
  •  Started our monthly Art Night with help from the Central Sierra Arts Council. 5 downtown galleries agreed to host reception nights on the 2nd  Saturday of each month…YEAR ROUND!
  •  By the end of the year Downtown Shoes, Joan’s Boutique and Sonora Joe’s joined.
  • Year Two...
  • By 9/2011 (our First Anniversary Celebration) we had expanded to 14 locations.
  • First poster designed by Judy Grossman.
  • Sponsors: Bob's Greenley Pharmacy, Stage 3, Central Sierra Arts Council, JG Designs & Hive-Arts
  • Linda Emerson launched a Facebook Page.
  • LeeAnn Fox launched our first website.
  • Year Three…
  • By 9/2012 we celebrated our 2nd Anniversary with 22 locations.
  • Judy Grossman designed a new poster
  • Ten sponsors! Bob's Greenley Pharmacy, Stage 3, Central Sierra Arts Council, Sonora Night Out, Hive-Arts, Explore, Building Blocks for Better Business, JG Designs, Umpqua Bank.
  • Expanded our outreach to nine counties.

  • Year Four…
  • In 9/2013 we marked our 3rd Anniversary!
  • In early November a 150th Anniversary Yosemite Birthday Party event was planned for the January 2014 Art Night.
  • Zac Calbert created a very edgy poster for us!
  • The next night BZ was very sick!
  • WITHIN TWO WEEKS A WHOLE NEW AND VERY ENERGETIC AND CREATIVE COMMITTEE WAS BORN! Katie Dunn, Sarah Rogers-Nesper and Laurie Lehmann.
  • In June 2014 2nd  Saturday Art Night started a formal partnership with Sonora Chamber of Commerce
  • New branding and logo design by Gail Segerstrom with a new poster and rack cards
  • Sarah and Laurie started working on the new street banners.
  • Laurie started to retool the website
  • We started working with our downtown merchants to line up their own acts.
  • The idea of AFTER 8 started to take shape with its own logo designed by Gail Segerstrom.
  • ◦       After 8 proceeds would be put in a special fund, The Mountain Performers               Fund, that would exist to help any 2nd Saturday Art Night performer.

  • Year Five…
  • Celebrated our 4th Anniversary
  • In September 2014 we delivered our street banners!
  • In October 2014 we celebrated our 4th Anniversary!
  • In January 2015 we hosted our first 2nd Saturday Art Night AFTER 8 Event.
  • ◦           A film screening of a film called “Nobody’s River.”
  • In April 2015 we hosted our second AFTER 8 Event
  • ◦           With our Songbird Saturday
  •  In July 2015 Tip the Act Campaign launched.
  • ◦           A logo was designed by Laurie Lehmann, a slogan and a Tip Kit were               created and given to each merchant.
                 If You’re Happy and You Know it Tip the ACT!
  •  The Committee split up the participating merchants into 3 groups and designated a new contact person for each group.
  • ◦           Hoping to make booking and advertising work simpler.
  • In September 2015 Our 3rd AFTER 8 Event: A street dance in Coffill Park.
  • ◦            Special permitting was necessary to have a beer garden in the Park. Lots of support from our City Government.
  • The committee dialed in a way to use the After 8 Funds.
  • ◦            The funds to be made available to any participating 2nd Saturday Act and                 available by application. We will create a menu of opportunities. For                         example: Recording opportunity, costume design help, website help,                          business help.
  •  
  • Year Six…
  • Celebrated our 5th year anniversary
  • On September 12th, 2015 we will celebrate our 5th Anniversary and begin our 6th year of Sonora 2nd Saturday ART NIGHT!
  • We gave our first round of Mini Grants to 7 different recipients! at our Song Bird Saturday 2016. 
  • YEAR SEVEN...
  • Celebrated our 6th year anniversary
  • In May we had our 2nd Annual Song Bird Saturday night at Stage 3 theater. In addition to the amazing stories shared by Tim McCafferey, Brian DeMassey, Jill Warren & Steve LaVine, 
  • We gave our first round of Mountain Performers Fund Mini Grants. Seven recipients received $300 each to further their pursuit of their art! The recipients  were Potluck, Sincerely Singers, Kelly Flynn, Peg Reza, Tater Learned, Rock Slide & Josh Weeks. From repairing a vintage Gibson guitar to purchasing recording software, each of these performers will use $300 to advance their professional and artistic prowess. ALL OF THEM have donated countless nights performing for Sonora 2nd Saturday ART NIGHT!
  • Starting YEAR EIGHT
  • Celebrating our 7th year anniversary
  • We gave a second round of Mountain Performers Fund mini grants
  • We had our first year of 2nd Thursday Indie Movie Nights @ the Sonora Opera Hall
  • We started the Linoberg Art Mart (LAM)
  • We started the Coffill Park Summer Concert Series

  • Starting Year NINE
  • Celebrating our 8th year anniversary
  • We gave a third round of Mountain Performers Fund mini grants
  • ​We started our Friday Flix @ the Opera Hall. Interactive Movie Nights. $5 admission with free popcorn!
  • We continue our 2nd year of the LAM
  • We continue our Coffill Park Summer Concert Series and added one extra night!
  • We will celebrate our 100th 2nd Saturday on January 11th
  • Starting Year 10
  • January 12th 2019- Celebrated our 100th Consecutive 2nd Saturday Art Night with an amazingly successful "Little Birdie Scavenger Hunt."
  • Gave out our 4th Round of Mountain Performers Fund Mini Grants
  • Continuing our Friday Flix @ the Opera Hall. Season started with Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.
  • Continuing our Coffill Park Summer Concert Series
  • Continuing with our 3rd year of the Linoberg Art Mart