Marin is heating up with outdoor festivals and events. If you’re feeling nautical, why not drive up the coast for a Fisherman’s Festival? Or you can set out on foot to see Marin’s art galleries open their doors for Marin Open Studios. Film festivals and captivating museum exhibits are also happening this month. Whatever you do, you can’t lose. You’ll be seeing us at Mill Valley Music Festival.
Partner Events
On the Scene: Community Events
Date TBD Marin Magazine Celebrates Remarkable Women
The annual gathering, which also commemorates the magazine’s May issue, brings together accomplished women from all walks of life. Enjoy lively conversation, cocktails and tasty bites. Photos by Steven Gregory Photography.
May 2, 2025 Exploratorium’s Phenomenal Ball
The Exploratorium’s largest fundraiser of the year is a sensory celebration with live musical performances, exploration of the interactive exhibits on the museum floor and a cocktail reception and dinner. The glitzy, glamorous after-party, Science of Cocktails, provides music, dancing, science demonstrations, cabaret shows, and specialty cocktails.
Date TBD Bridge the Gap’s Vines and Vision Gala
Sausalito’s Bridge the Gap hosts its annual Vines & Vision Gala to support its work on educational justice. The evening features a wine tasting event and live auction to gather financial resources towards the nonprofit’s mission to provide educational, social and emotional resources to underserved students in Marin City and Southern Marin.
Date TBD Beyond Differences’ Bridge to Belonging Fundraiser
Beyond Differences, an Marin-based organization fostering social acceptance and a culture of belonging amongst middle schoolers, holds its annual benefit to raise support for its inclusivity programs in schools across the country.
Date TBD Spring has Sprung Walking Tour Benefitting MarinHealth’s Adolescent Clinic
The Raccoon Branch of MarinHealth Medical Center hosts a “Spring has Sprung” walking garden tour in Belvedere. Participants will peek into elegant courtyards and meander through blooming gardens on the tour, and conclude with a garden inspired sip & shop boutique at the San Francisco Yacht Club along with a boxed salad lunch. Proceeds will help fund the new Adolescent Behavioral Health Outpatient Clinic in Greenbrae, which provides Marin County adolescents accessible, affordable, and essential support for mental wellness.
Date TBD In Celebration of Mothers: Supporting the Center for Domestic Peace
The Center for Domestic Peace’s annual fundraising luncheon, In Celebration of Mothers, lifts up women’s roles in nurturing the growth of children, families, communities and nations.
Date TBD UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals’ Notes and Words Concert
UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals’ Notes & Words benefit returns to Oakland’s Fox Theater to raise funds through music and prose. The hospital provides not only clinical care for children but also addresses their developmental and emotional needs with programs like music, art classes, therapy dog visits and more.
Date TBD Ritter Center’s Under the Stars
Join Ritter Center for its annual signature fundraiser, Under the Stars. The family-friendly event includes dinner, community awards, a live auction and fund-a-need drive. All funds raised will support Ritter Center’s healthcare, housing support and food pantry services. Photos: Sierra Jansen Photography
Date TBD Springtime at The Redwoods
The Redwoods senior center’s annual benefit includes a cocktail reception, live music, a scrumptious dinner, and a heartwarming program, all on the beautiful patio under the stars. Proceeds will help The Redwoods create a brand-new memory care center, ensuring its beloved residents can age gracefully in the place they call home. Photos: Fred Larson
Date TBD Step up Marin!
Local residents, advocates and elected officials gather for Step Up Marin!, an event to raise funds for Community Action Marin’s anti-poverty movement. Resources generated will help put people on a path of stability and greater hope while transforming systems toward justice. Photos: Nano Visser
Date TBD Take Me to the Trees: A Redwoods Celebration
Save the Redwoods League presents Take Me to the Tree: A Redwoods Celebration—a benefit to protect and restore California’s iconic redwoods and connect people to the joy and beauty of the forests. Guests will enjoy craft cocktails and dine on conifer-inspired appetizers and sweet and savory food stations, plus have the opportunity to raise their paddle for redwoods adventure auction packages.
Date TBD Woofstock at Marin Humane
Gather with hundreds of animal lovers and their four-legged friends on Marin Humane’s extensive grounds for Woofstock, a beloved music event that benefits the shelter’s animals. Guests can enjoy food, beer and wine, animal-themed vendors, a wide array of raffle items and the main attraction—a rocking music show. Photos by Lisa Bloch, courtesy of Marin Humane.
Date TBD Walk for Moms Benefitting the Postpartum Support Center
The Annual Walk For Moms is an event dedicated to mobilizing support and raising critical funds for the Postpartum Support Center in San Rafael—which helps moms challenged with maternal mental health issues. Although there is no cost to participate in the walk, the organizers encourage a suggested donation of $10 per individual or $20 per family, which goes towards the campaign’s goal: offering comprehensive, year-round support services to families at no charge.
Date TBD Celebration of Heart by the Challenged Athletes Foundation
The yearly Celebration of Heart, put on by the Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF), raises money to empower individuals with physical challenges and enable them to access programs and adaptive sports equipment. Guests from all walks of life are invited to stand behind dozens of local athletes and their families, including grant recipients who will take the stage as the evening’s featured athletes.
Events
2025 Date TBD DocLands Documentary Film Festival
San Rafael is rolling out the red carpet for Marin’s own nonfiction film festival. Whether you want to watch or make a documentary, DocLands has an exciting slate of events spearheaded by the California Film Institute.
2025 Date TBD “Aren’t You…?”
Humor and history unite in this one-man show by actor Fred Pitts as he visits every California Mission. Along the way, he encounters person after person who swears he looks just like … Barry Bonds. Will Smith. Obama?! You get the idea. Catch it in San Rafael for one night only.
2025 Date TBD May the Fourth Marathon
Trivia, games and 21+ hours of Star Wars films play back-to-back at San Francisco’s Alamo Drafthouse. This year’s May 4 “holiday” marks 25 years since the release of Star Wars: Episode I. Stay caffeinated with unlimited coffee, and maybe you too will love pod racing!
2025 Date TBD Jane Cook, New Paintings
Mineral pigments create colorful, abstract landscapes in Jane Cook’s new works, on display at Robert Green Fine Arts. Influenced by the works of Rothko and de Kooning, Cook paints natural forms in a world devoid of humans — all through the subtle mixture of pigment and water.
2025 Date TBD Artisan Spring Pop Up
Marin is fortunate to have a robust community of artists and craftspeople. Pick up some earrings or artworks from Downtown Fairfax’s Pavilion building during this popup art market.
2025 Date TBD Bodega Bay Fisherman’s Fest
Experience the best of Sonoma Coast’s seafood, wine and music during this annual event celebrating Bodega Bay’s fishing culture. Feeling crafty? Set sail (or swim) during the wooden boat building contest.
2025 Date TBD 31st Annual Marin Open Studios
Guide yourself through two weekends of art, when 250 artists across Marin open their studio doors for public viewing.
2025 Date TBD The Viano Quartet
Marin Chamber hosts this dynamic group that’s energizing the European classical genre. Praised for their unified and expressive sound, the string quartet fills the night’s program with their interpretations of Haydn, Smetana and Beethoven.
2025 Date TBD Greg Sarris Author Event
Sausalito Books by the Bay hosts author Greg Sarris for a discussion about his new book, The Forgetters. Sarris, a Sonoma resident and chairman of the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, has written numerous books, plays and other works that have won accolades from all over the country. The Forgetters draws upon Coast Miwok and Southern Pomo creation stories for a compelling collection of tender shared histories.
2025 Date TBD CAAMFest
This annual film festival presents stories that reflect the diverse experiences of Asian and Asian American communities. Organized by the Center for Asian American Media, these eleven days of movies include documentaries, shorts and feature-length narratives, screened in theaters across San Francisco and the East Bay.
2025 Date TBD Torch Song
Arnold Beckoff, a Jewish drag queen and torch song singer, traverses New York City in the ’70s and ’80s while searching for love and family. This rendition of the seminal Harvey Fierstein play finishes off Marin Theatre Company’s production season.
2025 Date TBD May Madness Car Show
Walk back in time with a show of hot rods, muscle cars and antique automobiles of all kinds. This long-held San Rafael event includes an afternoon fair among the cars and a parade in the evening.
2025 Date TBD Mill Valley Music Fest
Both a community gathering and high-profile music festival, this new tradition brings national acts to the adorably named Friends Field. Hear from bands like Fleet Foxes and Thee Sacred Souls.
2025 Date TBD Doran Beach Castles & Kites
Mold a turret in the sand or watch 100 kites take to the sky at Doran Beach for this cute family event.
2025 Date TBD Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Festival
It’s an afternoon of lion dancers, kung fu, hula and Chinese dim sum at Tiburon’s Zelinsky Park. Celebrate diversity and AAPI Heritage Month at this free event, which features live DJs, cultural activities and emcee Felicia Lowe, an award-winning film director.
2025 Date TBD Woofstock
If you missed Woodstock in 1969 — or can’t remember it through the haze — then here’s your chance to do it again. Bring Fido to Marin Humane Society for a pet-friendly benefit concert on the grass.
2025 Date TBD Bay to Breakers
It’s back! Bay to Breakers is San Francisco’s yearly half-marathon for half-naked runners. Just kidding (kinda). This event draws its share of serious athletes, but the pseudo-parade of costumed runners and walkers makes it famous.
2025 Date TBD 4th Annual Walk for Moms
San Rafael’s Postpartum Support Center (PPSC) invites you to join the movement to support mothers at the annual Walk for Moms event. At the Civic Center’s Lagoon Park, attendees can stride along a scenic path while enjoying prizes, refreshments and a healthy dose of family fun. The event is free, and donations are encouraged to help support PPSC’s mission of connecting new parents to services for perinatal mental health.
2025 Date TBD Beth Rodden Author Event
Rock climber Beth Rodden joins Barbara Lane to discuss her new memoir, A Light Through the Cracks. When she was 20 years old, Rodden was kidnapped in Kyrgyzstan by militant rebels. Her memoir tracks her journey of healing after this trauma and her learning to let go of athletic perfection.
2025 Date TBD BottleRock Napa
BottleRock is popping off this year. The ultimate Napa Valley music festival mixes old-guard stars with some of the biggest acts of today. Case in point: Stevie Nicks co-headlines the first night with Megan Thee Stallion.
2025 Date TBD Marin Greek Festival
Traditional dancing, gyros and a bustling indoor marketplace comprise the yearly Greek festival poised on a hill in Southern Novato. Friday’s event promises an evening glendi (“party”), while Saturday and Sunday include two full days of fun.
2025 Date TBD Muir Beach Volunteer Firemen’s BBQ
Memorial Day weekend means barbecues, and all are invited to this Muir Beach tradition that’s been serving up the BBQ for 50 years running. Proceeds support the Muir Beach Volunteer Fire Department and their efforts to build a new firehouse.
2025 Date TBD 40th Annual Carnaval SF
With seven music stages and enough feathers to stuff a hundred mattresses, this multicultural Carnaval celebration brings a bit of Rio de Janeiro to a 17-block party in the Mission.
2025 Date TBD Summer Cookout Series: Say She She
It must be summer because HopMonk Novato’s beer garden concerts are back. Sit in the grass or get a table to listen to the laid-back, disco-flavored tunes from this NYC-based trio.
2025 Date TBD Marin County Memorial Day Services
Marin County honors veterans at this yearly service at the Marin Center. Flag displays, music and ceremonies are all part of this program to honor those who have served.
2025 Date TBD Richard J. King Author Event
How does it feel to be truly alone? Richard King’s newest book Sailing Alone explores the journeys and mindsets of individuals who sail on the open sea by themselves. Discussion will involve themes of navigation, adventure and isolation.
2025 Date TBD Marin Mile
There are 5,280 feet in a mile, but how many feet will run the Marin Mile? This inaugural event unites the greater Bay Area’s running community in one big day of mile-long races at Archie Williams High School. Multiple heats will break up running groups by expected finish time and gender (note: it’s a gender-inclusive event with groups for men, women and non-binary runners). The day ends with races by the “Elite” groups of runners, attempting to break the record for the fastest mile ran in Marin County!
2025 Date TBD Michael Brennan: 48 Squared
Intertextual, absurd, playful — Michael Brennan’s style incorporates well-known pieces and icons of modern art, while showing his wit and skill as a painter.
2025 Date TBD Morning Movie Club
Your ticket includes breakfast at Cinelounge Tiburon’s movie club for early-bird film buffs. This weekly series highlights films by women filmmakers, and post-screening discussions feature guest speakers like film critics, actors and producers.
2025 Date TBD Funny Girl
One of musical theater’s heroines for the ages, Fanny Brice is sweeping through a national tour with a month-long stop at the Orpheum.
2025 Date TBD San Francisco Decorator Showcase
Over two dozen interior and landscape design firms flex their style at this public showcase, with each firm decorating one space within a 11,155-square-foot Dutch Colonial. When else can you wander through a Pac Heights mansion and scrutinize its design?
2025 Date TBD Ken Botto: Barbies
The year of Barbie holds strong at the Bolinas Museum. Bolinas-based artist Ken Botto finds inspiration from old dolls in his clever still-life photographs. Viewers can see vintage memorabilia and clever tableaux of classic Barbies — a fitting muse for a Ken.
2025 Date TBD The Journey Before Me: Etel Adnan, Michelle Blade, Kristy Luck
Striking colors and palpable emotion unite the works of three California-based painters at MarinMOCA. The curation also includes writings by Etel Adnan, who dabbles in being an award-winning poet.
2025 Date TBD Japanese Prints in Transition
Witness the development of Japanese woodblock print from the Edo period to the Meiji era, as images like The Great Wave give way to Western influence and modern technology. The exhibit is hosted by the Legion of Honor (which offers free admission for Bay Area residents every Saturday).
Interested in getting your event posted? Click here for more info.
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.
