Marin summer fairs and fests return for a season of fun
Mark your calendar for Marin's don't-miss events this spring and summer.
Who’s ready for summer?
With the weather heating up and school soon to be out, it’s a perfect time to enjoy all that Marin has to offer the next few months, from the iconic Marin County Fair to the annual Mountain Play atop Mount Tamalpais to the creative and popular parade that kicks off the Fairfax Festival. Check out some of the fun events happening in Marin the next few months and mark your calendar.
May
Marin Greek Festival
Where: Nativity of Christ Greek Orthodox Church, 1110 Highland Drive, Novato
Admission: Free on Friday; $4 to $5 this weekend
Information: maringreekfestival.org
• The fest celebrates Greek cuisine, culture, music and dance. 5 to 9 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday
Kiddo! Family Carnival
Where: Mill Valley Middle School, 425 Sycamore Ave., Mill Valley
Admission: $36 to $45
Information: kiddo.org
• Family-friendly carnival includes a variety of games and rides. 4 to 10 p.m. Friday; noon to 10 p.m. this weekend; noon to 5 p.m. Monday
Marin Shakespeare Company
Where: Marin Shakespeare Company, 514 Fourth St., San Rafael and Forest Meadows Amphitheatre, Dominican University of California, 890 Belle Ave., San Rafael
Admission: $15 to $75
Information: marinshakespeare.org
• Works by the Bard and beyond. “Much Ado About Nothing,” “The Comedy of Errors” and Poisnivy Circus are at the Forest Meadows Amphitheatre; all other performances are at the Marin Shakespeare Company.
• Laura Jane Bailey’s “The Paris Effect,” Saturday
• “Dr. Tom Pinkson’s Traveling Cosmic Magic Mojo Medicine Show,” May 31
• “Much Ado About Nothing,” June 28 to July 28
• “The Untime,” Aug. 2 to 25
• “The Comedy of Errors,” Aug. 16 to Sept. 15
• Poisnivy Circus, Sept. 21
Monk’s Kettle concert series
Where: The Monk’s Kettle Terra Linda, 655 Del Ganado Road, San Rafael
Admission: Free
Information: monkskettle.com
• Enjoy barbecue and beverages with live music. Shows are from 4 to 7 p.m.
• Matt Lazarus, Saturday
• Casual Coalition, June 15
• Mo’Lasses, July 25
• Poor Man’s Whiskey, Aug. 24
Muir Beach Volunteer Firemen’s Barbecue
Where: Santos Meadow, 2704 Muir Woods Road, Muir Beach
Admission: $10 to $30
Information: muirbeachfire.com/bbq
• Food and live music from Vinyl and Andre’s All-Stars. Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
“Fiddler on the Roof”
Where: Throckmorton Theatre, 142 Throckmorton Ave., Mill Valley
Admission: $28 to $48
Information: throckmortontheatre.org
• The Throckmorton Youth Company performs the beloved musical about Tevye the milkman. Through Sunday
Mill Valley Memorial Day Parade
Where: From Lytton Square to Tamalpais High School, Mill Valley
Admission: Free
Information: enjoymillvalley.com
• Begins with readings from K-12 Memorial Day essay contest winners at 9:45 a.m. Monday in the Lytton Square followed by the parade at 10:30 a.m. from Old Mill Park to Tam High
Day on the Green
Where: Friends Field, 180 Camino Alto, Mill Valley
Admission: Free
Information: kiddo.org
• Celebrate Memorial Day with food, drinks and music by Free Creatures, IrieFuse and PAAM. 1 to 5:30 p.m. Monday
“Torch Song”
Where: Marin Theatre, 397 Miller Ave., Mill Valley
Admission: $36.50 to $72
Information: marintheatre.org
• The Marin Theatre presents Harvey Fierstein’s play about a drag queen looking for love in New York City. Through June 2
“The Book Club Play”
Where: The Barn Theatre, 30 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Ross
Admission: $20 to $35
Information: rossvalleyplayers.com
• Ross Valley Players presents Karen Zacarías’ comedy about life, love and literature. Through June 9
June
Performing Stars youth performance
Where: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Academy, 200 Phillips Drive, Marin City
Admission: Free; donations accepted
Information: performingstars.org
• Performing Stars of Marin presents a tribute to visionaries throughout history in honor of International Children’s Day. 1 to 2:30 p.m. June 1
“Kinky Boots”
Where: Cushing Memorial Amphitheatre, Mount Tamalpais State Park, Mill Valley
Admission: General seating $25 to $50; reserved seating $70 to $190
Information: MountainPlay.org
• The Mountain Play Association presents Cyndi Lauper and Harvey Fierstein’s Tony-winning musical at 2 p.m. June 2, 8, 9 and 16. Dress rehearsal to benefit the Marin Symphony at 2 p.m. June 1
Jazz and Blues by the Bay
Where: Gabrielson Park, downtown Sausalito
Admission: Free lawn seating; reserved table seating available
Information: jazzandbluesbythebay.com
• The annual concert series runs from June 7 to Sept. 13. The shows through August are from 6:30 to 8 p.m. and the September shows are from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
• JeConte and the Salty Dawgs, June 7
• Maria Muldaur and Her Red Hot Bluesiana Band, June 14
• The Stephanie Teel Band, June 21
• Curley Taylor and Zydeco Trouble, June 28
• Bautista, July 12
See full schedule online.
Songs of the Soul
Where: Westminster Presbyterian Church, 240 Tiburon Blvd., Tiburon
Admission: $70 to $90
Information: ias.org/songsofthesoul
• The International Association of Sufism presents an evening of poetry and sacred music. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 8
Novato Art, Wine & Music Festival
Where: Grant Avenue between Redwood and Seventh, downtown Novato
Admission: Free
Information: novatochamber.com/2024-art-wine-music
• Annual festival features live music, art vendors, children’s activities and food and drinks. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. June 8; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. June 9
Fairfax Festival and EcoFest
Where: Contratti Park Ball Field, Peri Park and downtown Fairfax
Admission: Free
Information: fairfaxfestival.com
• The 45th festival celebrating sustainability, community and fun kicks off with a parade at 10 a.m. June 8 starting at the Good Earth to Peri Park. The event features a flea market, live music, food and drinks, children’s activities and much more on June 8 and 9. Music is from noon to 6 p.m. A movie night is at 8 p.m. June 7 at the Contratti Park Ball Field.
Mill Valley Music with Marinfidels: Beatles vs. Stones
Where: Throckmorton Theatre, 142 Throckmorton Ave., Mill Valley
Admission: $28 to $41
Information: throckmortontheatre.org/events/mil-valley-music
• Mill Valley Music celebrates its 16th anniversary at the Throckmorton with Marinfidels performing songs by the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. 8 p.m. June 8
Corte Madera Summer Concert Series
Where: Piccolo Pavilion in Corte Madera
Admission: Free
Information: cortemaderacommunityfoundation.org/corte-madera-summer-concerts
• The Corte Madera Community Foundation continues its long-standing tradition of sponsoring music for the community. Shows are from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Sundays from June 9 through Aug. 25.
• The Zydeco Flames, June 9
• The Corte Madera Town Band, June 16
• The Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra, June 23
• Bubba’s Taxi, June 30
• The Sam Chase & the Untraditional, July 7
• George Barrett and Friends, July 14
• Spike Sikes and His Awesome Hotcakes, July 21
See full schedule online.
Juneteenth Freedom Festival
Where: Tamalpais High School, 700 Miller Ave., Mill Valley
Admission: Free
Information: millvalleyrecreation.org/953/Freedom-Festival
• Mill Valley Recreation and the City of Mill Valley celebrate Juneteenth with live music, food and a basketball tournament. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 15
Summer Kickoff BBQ
Where: The Fork, 14700 Shoreline Highway, Point Reyes Station
Admission: $175
Information: pointreyescheese.com/pages/summer-kick-off-bbq
• Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company serves barbecue, oysters, gourmet cheeses and other delicacies. Noon to 3 p.m. June 15
Comedy in the Plaza
Where: Depot Plaza, 87 Throckmorton Ave., Mill Valley
Admission: Free
Information: cityofmillvalley.org
• Laugh along with comedians Gary Michael Anderson, Jeff Applebaum, Giulio Gallarotti, Dauood Naimyar and Michael Yo. 6 p.m. June 20
Marin Art and Garden Center Summer Concert Series
Where: 30 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Ross
Admission: $20; free for children under 17
Information: maringarden.org/summerconcerts
• Summer live music series on Thursdays (except July 4) from June 27 through Aug. 29. June 27 event is on the Gazebo Lawn from 5 to 6 p.m.; July 11 through August 1 events are on the Gazebo Lawn from 5 to 7 p.m., Aug. 8 through 29 events are at the Redwood Amphitheater from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
• Family concert with Megan Schoenbohm, June 27
• Dirty Cello, July 11
• Andre Thierry & Accordion Soul, July 18
• Jinx Jones & the KingTones, July 25
• Wreckless Strangers, Aug. 1
• Catia Machado and BEBE, Aug. 8
See full schedule online.
July
Marin County Fair
Where: Marin County Fairgrounds, 10 Avenue of the Flags, San Rafael
Admission: $15 to $30; $65 for reserved concert seating and admission
Information: marinfair.org
• “Make a Splash!” is the theme of the annual fair, which includes concerts, competitive exhibits, carnival rides, food, pig racing, a petting zoo and much more. 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily from July 3 through 7. Musical acts include:
• En Vogue, July 3
• Splashback Music Fest with ’70s and ’80s tribute bands, July 4
• Daya, July 5
• Ziggy Marley, July 6
• Los Lonely Boys, July 7
Sunday Daydream Vol. 3
Where: McNears Beach, 201 Cantera Way, San Rafael
Admission: $29 to $149
Information: eventbrite.com
• Former Marin resident Phil Lesh celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Grateful Dead’s 1974 Hollywood Bowl set with friends such as harpist Mikaela Davis and his son Grahame Lesh. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. July 21
Beatles in the Park
Where: Creek Park, San Anselmo
Admission: $12 to $35
Information: sananselmoarts.org/beatles-in-the-park-2024
• The Liddypudlians play the songs of the Fab Four for the 20th installment of the San Anselmo Arts Commission’s annual outdoor Beatles tribute. 6 to 9 p.m. July 27
August
“A Midsummer Night’s Dream”
Where: Old Mill Park Amphitheatre, 375 Throckmorton Ave., Mill Valley
Admission: Free
Information: curtaintheatre.org
• The Curtain Theatre puts on a production of one of William Shakespeare’s most beloved comedies. 2 p.m. weekends and Labor Day Monday from Aug. 10 through Sept. 2
September
Ember Stomp
Where: Marin Civic Center Fairgrounds, 3501 Civic Center Drive, San Rafael
Admission: Free
Information: firesafemarin.org
• This timely wildfire prevention festival features live music, food trucks, goats, wildfire exhibits and demonstrations, and activities for children. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 7