With fall in full swing, it’s a great time of the year to enjoy all the bounty that the season has to offer, including pumpkin patches, Oktoberfest events and the energy of Fleet Week. There’s also the Sausalito Boat Show to check out, and the Mill Valley Film Festival brings a touch of Hollywood glam to Marin County. Whether you’re looking for art and culture, or a day out in the autumn sun, we’ve got plenty of events in Marin this October.
On the Scene | Festivals & Fairs | Halloween | Arts, Lectures & Theater | Music | Museums | Outdoor Fun | Events
Partner Events
Marin Foster Care’s Blues and Brews, St. Vincent de Paul’s Pennies From Heaven, Lifehouse Annual Awards Dinner, Milagros & Memories, Maker Faire Bay Area
On the Scene: Community Events and Fundraisers
Oct 4 and 5 Marin Foster Care’s Blues and Brews
The Marin Foster Care Association hosts its annual Blues and Brews fundraiser—consisting of two evenings of dining, cocktails, music and a live auction. This year’s festivities are at Pacheco Ranch Winery in Novato. With more than 120 open foster cases in the dependency system each year in Marin, all funds raised directly support Marin’s foster youth and their caregivers. Photos by Chris Constantine.
Oct 6 Exploratorium’s Wonder Funday
Wonder Funday is an epic playdate and vital fundraiser all rolled into one. Spend an inspiring Sunday afternoon with your family and friends while helping to support community access programs at the Exploratorium. Dig deeper into the museum’s exhibits, experience exciting science activities, and enjoy a beautiful afternoon on the Bay.
Oct 10 Marin CASA’s Voices for Hope Gala
Held at the Seminary at Strawberry in Mill Valley, this inspiring evening to benefit Marin CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) promises wine, dinner and a live auction. The organization is also honoring Judge Beverly Woods, a beloved long time dependency judge set to retire. Marin CASA supports 120 youths in the foster care and juvenile justice systems through relationship-based advocacy, plus helps prevent children from entering foster care as well as young individuals as they transition out of the foster care system.
Oct 12 St. Vincent de Paul’s Pennies from Heaven
The St. Vincent de Paul Society of Marin‘s annual Pennies from Heaven gala supports the society’s programs for those in need of food and shelter in Marin County. In 2023, the sold-out gala raised $600,000 for services for homeless and food-insecure people. Photos: Steven Gregory Photography
Oct 18 Lifehouse Annual Awards Dinner
This annual dinner attracts hundreds of people who fill the banquet hall at the Embassy Suites to recognize the outstanding contributions of businesses and individuals standing behind Lifehouse—a dynamic organization serving adults with developmental disabilities for nearly 70 years. Photos by Richard Wheeler.
Oct 19 Resilient Neighborhood’s Party for a Cooler Planet
Marin nonprofit Resilient Neighborhoods is celebrating 13 years of helping Marin residents combat climate pollution and build stronger communities. Its annual fundraiser, Party for a Cooler Planet, offers inspiring speakers, a delicious garden-to-table dinner, and opportunities to connect with other like-minded individuals about their climate actions and efforts to reduce Marin’s climate impact.
Oct 19 Make It Home’s Salvage and Style Gala
San Rafael’s Make It Home has a mission to turn trash into treasure. The nonprofit collects unwanted furniture which is then repurposed into creating livable home environments for low-income individuals and families all over the Bay Area, and just introduced a new recycling program. The evening includes specialty cocktails, a sit-down dinner, live auction and more.
Oct 26 Milagros & Memories: Celebration of Dia de los Muertos
Experience an unforgettable Día de los Muertos evening where tradition meets festivity at the Sausalito Center of the Arts. This vibrant night, benefitting SCA, celebrates the work of iconic Latin American artists local to the San Francisco Bay Area, plus offers delicious Mexican food and drinks through the night. Master magician and comic Jay Alexander serves as master of ceremonies. Photos by Stuart Webb.
Oct 26 SuperNatural at the California Academy of Sciences
Join the California Academy of Sciences for the best Halloween party in the Bay Area, which also serves as the museum’s Fall fundraiser. From a giant pumpkin carving demon-stration, special coral reef dive program, and spooky skulls and specimens, to silent disco, scavenger hunts, and sweets, treats, and libations—this is the costume party your family won’t want to miss.
Festivals & Fairs
Oct. 3–13 Mill Valley Film Festival
Our local theaters draw an international audience during these 11 days featuring screenings, discussions and a tribute to actor Jude Law. Venues include theaters in Mill Valley, Larkspur, San Rafael and Berkeley.
Oct. 4–6 Hardly Strictly Bluegrass
A darling of Bay Area music fests returns for its 24th season with a weekend of free music — really good music. See big names like Emmylou Harris, Mavis Staples, rock band Sleater-Kinney and more. You might also find your next favorite artist.
Oct. 6 Castro Street Fair
It all started with Harvey Milk in a dunk tank… Fifty years later, SF’s historic Castro District still hosts its annual street fair, with local artisans, craftspeople, organizations and community members uniting under the rainbow flag.
Oct. 7–14 Fleet Week
Ahoy, sailors. Fleet week doesn’t just consist of the spectacular airshows by flyers like the Blue Angels (on Oct. 11, 12 and 13). There are also concerts by Navy and Marine Corps bands, a veterans art exhibit and the parade of ships through the bay.
Oct. 12 Biketoberfest
Beer, music and bicycles coincide for this festival at the Marin Museum of Bicycling. Help expand Marin’s bicycle infrastructure by purchasing a drink ticket or leaving a donation at this otherwise free festival.
Oct. 18–20 Maker Faire Bay Area
Join Maker Faire Bay Area at historic Mare Island, Vallejo, CA along the scenic Napa River, from Friday, October 18 to Sunday, October 20, 2024.
Halloween
Sept. 28–Oct. 31 Nicasio Valley Pumpkin Patch
A classic pumpkin patch with farm animals, hayrides and plenty of round, orange gourds — all in the heart of Marin County.
Oct. 4–Nov. 3 Fatal Abduction
Dive into the “Terror Vault” at the SF Mint and save the world from alien invaders at this immersive, campy theater-meets-haunted house experience, which was co-founded by beloved SF drag queen Peaches Christ.
Oct. 25 Halloween Paint and Sip
The ticket price will get you paint materials plus drinks and snacks for this family-friendly art event in the Fairfax Pavilion.
Oct. 26 Safe Trick-or-Treat
It’s all treat and no trick at this community Halloween event, when families can go door to door for candy at shops and businesses in downtown Novato.
Oct. 26 Howl-o-Ween
Supermutts, Halloweenies and spooky pups of all stripes are invited to Mill Valley Lumber Yard for its second annual doggy costume contest. Owners can come too.
Oct. 27 Halloween Activity and Graveyard Stroll
Meet scaly critters from East Bay Vivarium before embarking on a stroll through the woods at Lucas Valley Field Office. There will be some ghostly characters afoot, and (including?) our fabulous park rangers.
Oct. 31 Pride and Joy SF Halloween Bash
Do the Monster Mash at this Marin Jazz Halloween event, filled with dancing, a costume contest and music by party band Pride and Joy SF at the Marin Center’s Showcase Theater.
Art, Lectures & Theater
Oct. 9–13 Oakland Style
Oakland’s looking good at this style-themed week of fashion shows, gastronomy and art events. Make a trip out of it: Some Oakland hotels are offering deals and discounts in conjunction with Oakland Style.
Oct. 10–Nov. 3 Yaga
A big-city detective gets caught up in a small-town disappearance and swirling folklore stories. Marin Theatre’s season opener is the U.S. premiere of this play that mixes noir with fairy tale — and not without a healthy dose of humor.
Oct. 11 DSRAD Arts Festival
The Downtown San Rafael Arts District presents its second annual festival featuring local artists and businesses, with added Halloween activities for the season.
Oct. 11–12 Novato Comedy Festival
The Bay Area’s stand-up talents shine at this two-night festival at Novato Theater Company.
Music
Oct. 4 Tito Puente Jr.
Get ready to mambo. Son of the Latin music giant and a remarkable bandleader in his own right, Tito Puente, Jr., plays the very first Marin Jazz show. Puente brings with him a seven-piece band to the Showcase Theater.
Oct. 11–12 Zepparella
A powerhouse Led Zeppelin tribute band made up entirely of women musicians, this San Francisco group crosses the bridge to bring their headbanging covers to Sweetwater Music Hall.
Oct. 12–13 Brahms and Beach
Marin Symphony opens its season with a Brahms piano quartet and a flute and string quartet by American composer Amy Beach. Two performances are split between Novato’s Marin Country Club and Mill Valley’s Mount Tam Methodist Church.
Oct. 20 The Horszowski Trio
An ensemble in residence at Bard College, the Horszowski Trio is a celebrated American group that has demonstrated their skill on international stages. Chamber Music Marin welcomes the group back for a set of Smetana and Mendelssohn.
Museums
Oct. 1–6 Nexus: SF/Bay Area Black Art Week
Organized by Museum of the African Diaspora, this inaugural week of Black art will unite galleries, institutions and artists for discussions, community building and a culminating Afropolitan Ball.
Oct. 5–Jan 2025 Mary Cassatt at Work
This Legion of Honor exhibit focuses on Impressionist Mary Cassatt’s method and process, as brush, pastel and even fingertips created her captivating paintings of contemporary women in daily life.
Oct. 12–Feb. 9 Tamara de Lempicka
It’s the first major retrospective on the works of this Art Deco painter, who blended cubism with neoclassical techniques. Looking for more Lempicka? A documentary about the painter will also play at Mill Valley Film Festival on Oct. 11 and 13.
Oct. 5–Dec. 21 Opening the Mountain
Inspired by a journey by a group of Beat poets around Mount Tam, this exhibit joins artists who work near or in the metaphorical shadow of Marin’s tallest peak, winding a story of place and counterculture at MarinMOCA’s San Rafael annex.
Oct. 26 Marin History Museum Gala
Support the historical preservation done by Marin History Museum at their gala at Mill Valley Community Center. Beyond its fundraising efforts, the event will also spotlight history-making women of Marin.
Outdoor Fun
Oct. 13 Italian Heritage Parade
North Beach will be even more red, white and green than usual for this annual celebration of Italian American culture — the oldest parade of its kind in America. Try to plan ahead and reserve the best seats, from outdoor tables set up by restaurants along the parade route.
Oct. 14 San Francisco Indigenous People’s Day
Before it was San Francisco, or Yerba Buena, that land was called Yelamu, home to the Ohlone Ramaytush people. On Indigenous People’s Day, Yerba Buena Gardens hosts an afternoon celebration with Native American art, music and vendors for the holiday.
Oct. 26 Leap Sandcastle Classic
Ponder the structural integrity of sand and water at this fundraiser for arts education in Bay Area public schools. Local companies partner with elementary school kids to co-design and sculpt sand masterpieces.
Events
Oct. 4 Drag Dinner Extravaganza
One Market Restaurant in San Francisco’s downtown hosts a First Fridays event through the end of the year, featuring fabulous drag queens and a mouthwatering multi-course menu.
Oct. 4–6 Sausalito Boat Show
Clipper Yacht Harbor fills with music, food, entertainment and, oh yeah, BOATS for this second annual celebration of Sausalito’s maritime heritage and community.
Oct. 6 Stinson Beach Classic Car Show
Benefiting Stinson Beach’s volunteer firefighters, this car show fills this beach town’s downtown streets with vintage wheels aplenty.
Oct. 11–12 Nostalgia Days
Downtown Novato’s annual Nostalgia Days attracts loads of car aficionados, who drive in their retro vehicles from all over California to participate. The Nostalgia Days weekend includes two events. On Oct. 11, you can watch hundreds of classic cars drive through downtown during the Classic Car Cruise. Then, the 28th annual car show commences on Oct. 12. The city shuts down ten blocks of downtown for this famous show, which features food vendors, music and drinks, plus a grand prize for the best car.
Give Back When You Go Out: Volunteer
Looking for more ways to give back to our community by volunteering your time? Here’s a list of Marin County nonprofits supporting a variety of causes — ranging from helping our most vulnerable residents to keeping our environment healthy — where your assistance can really make a difference.
