May is considered a prelude to summer, and Marin is heating up with outdoor festivals and events during the month. Drive up the coast to Bodega Bay’s Fisherman’s Fest, do a little jig at the Marin Irish Festival, and get up and personal with Marin’s artists during the two-week Marin Open Studios. Whatever you do, you can’t lose.
Annual Fairs & Festivals | Arts, Theater & Lectures | Comedy | Family-Friendly | Film | Food & Drink | Fundraisers & Galas | Music | Museums | Outdoor Fun | Other Events
Get Involved: Community Happenings
The Canopy Grand Opening, In Person Art: Where Color Moves, Planned Parenthood Northern California’s Acts of Courage and Gathered, By The Bay Health Annual Gala
Fundraisers & Galas
Hot Tickets, Media Partners & Premium Calendar Listings
The Canopy Grand Opening
May 9
Sebastopol
The Canopy
1009 Gravenstein Hwy N
The Canopy, located in charming Sebastopol, is Grand Opening this Saturday! Come be the first to tour this new neighborhood of sustainable townhomes, see the beautiful models, and learn about the lifestyle here. The onsite festivities will include the Taste of Sebastopol, featuring local bites, sips, and vendors.
In Person Art: Where Color Moves
May 9-31
Point Richmond
Point Richmond Gallery
145 West Richmond Avenue
Discover Where Color Moves, an immersive exhibition of shifting light and color by artist Tom Zizzo. Showing May 9–31 at Point Richmond Gallery.
Planned Parenthood Northern California’s Acts of Courage
May 16
San Francisco
Palace of Fine Arts
3601 Lyon Street
Join us for a night of joyful defiance, celebrating patient care and reproductive freedom. Enjoy cocktails, dinner, and inspiring special guests while supporting essential services. Defunded but not defeated!
Gathered, By The Bay Health Annual Gala
May 30
San Rafael
The Clubhouse at Peacock Gap
333 Biscayne Drive
An elegant waterfront evening of cocktails, fine dining, and live entertainment, celebrating compassionate community care for every family, regardless of ability to pay.
Annual Fairs & Festivals
Bodega Bay Fisherman’s Fest
May 2–3
Bodega Bay
Westside Park
2400 Westshore Road
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. Sunday morning will feature the Blessing of the Fishing Fleet when decorated boats parade out of the harbor to receive a blessing from local clergy.
Woofstock 2026
May 3
Novato
Marin Humane Society
171 Bel Marin Keys Boulevard
415.883.4621
This dog-friendly benefit concert celebrates our love for animals. The free Kids’ Zone returns with hands-on activities and fun for children of all ages. 100% of proceeds support the animals at the Marin Humane Society.
May Madness Car Show
May 9
San Rafael
Downtown San Rafael
On 4th Street from Lincoln to D Street
Take a car ride back in time with 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.
Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Festival
May 16
Tiburon
Zelinsky Park
1505 Tiburon Boulevard
415.658.7691
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.
Marin Irish Festival
May 16–17
San Rafael
Lagoon Park, Marin County Fairgrounds
110 Armory Drive
Sláinte! The Marin Irish Festival is a weekend filled with Maypoles, music, and revelry. Expect performances across four lively stages by top Irish Irish musicians, dynamic dance performances, sheep herding demos and immersive storytelling. No Irish festival would be complete without traditional fare aplenty, including corned beef and cabbage, fish and chips, shepherd’s pie, and of course, authentic pints of Guinness.
Bay to Breakers
May 17
San Francisco
Starting downtown
Heading toward the Great Highway on Ocean Beach
San Francisco’s notorious event is back: Bay to Breakers—San Francisco’s yearly half-marathon for half-naked runners. Just kidding (sorta). Yes, there are serious athletes including world-class runners, but let’s face it: the highly entertaining, can’t-stop-staring parade of costumed runners and walkers is what draws in the masses.
Marin Greek Festival
May 22–24
Novato
Nativity of Christ Greek Orthodox Church
1110 Highland Drive
415.883.1998
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.
40th Annual Carnaval SF
May 23–24
San Francisco
Mission District
415.691.1147
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.
Muir Beach Volunteer Firemen’s BBQ
May 25
Mill Valley
Santos Meadows
2704 Muir Woods Road
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.
Marin County Memorial Day Services
May 25
San Rafael
Marin Center Exhibit Hall
20 Avenue of the Flags
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 our country.
Marin Mile
May 25
Novato
100 Wood Hollow Drive
There are 5,280 feet in a mile, but how many feet will run the Marin Mile? This 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!
Arts, Theater & Lectures
Authors on the Plaza
May 2
Sonoma
Sonoma Plaza
453 1st Street East
707.282.9028
Held beneath the trees of the historic Sonoma Plaza, this free, open-to-the-public community event features acclaimed authors Dave Barry, Maria Semple, Rick Atkinson, and Colum McCann. The family-friendly outdoor gathering invites the North Bay community to enjoy an engaging afternoon of conversation and storytelling, offering moments of humor, insight, and inspiration in a relaxed, open-air, accessible setting. Guests will have the opportunity to hear from Maria Semple just weeks after her Oprah Book Club announcement!
Annual Marin Open Studios
May 2–3 & 9–10
Throughout Marin
Start at Sausalito Center for the Arts
750 Bridgeway
415.810.6089
For two weekends, art lovers from across the Bay Area are invited to visit art studios all over Marin County for a self-guided tour to meet the artists, discover their spaces, see artwork up close and support 260+ local artists by purchasing work directly.
Dancing Moons Festival
May 8–9
San Francisco
Herbst Theatre
401 Van Ness Avenue
510.893.3132
The Oakland Ballet Company’s annual Dancing Moons Festival, a celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander artists, presents a piece inspired by Chinese immigrants’ detention at the immigration station in the early 20th century.
“Stravaig” from the San Francisco Scottish Fiddlers
May 9
Berkeley
The Freight
2020 Addison Street
510.644.2020
“Stravaig,” a Scottish word meaning to wander, digress, and stray beyond limits, perfectly captures the essence of this musical adventure. More than 65 musicians—fiddles, cellos, guitars, piano, and percussion—will fill the stage, transforming concert halls into exuberant gatherings of rhythm, melody, and heart.
San Francisco Decorator Showcase
Thru May 25
San Francisco
2315 Broadway Street
Over two dozen interior and landscape design firms flex their style at this public showcase, with each firm decorating one space within a 10,000-square-foot Queen Anne-style Victorian residence built in 1897. When else can you wander through a Pacific Heights mansion and scrutinize its design?
RENEWAL: A Gathering for Healing Arts & Soulful Living – Healing Arts Faire
May 30
Fairfax
Fairfax Pavilion
Elsie Lane
415.453.1584
RENEWAL unites skilled holistic practitioners, healers and creatives in one welcoming space. Enjoy massage, tarot, workshops, artisan vendors and more!
Comedy
Trae Crowder
May 14–16
San Francisco
Cobbs Comedy Club
915 Columbus Avenue
415.928.4320
You may recognize him from political commentary videos that have earned him a large following the past decade, but this brilliant “progressive hillbilly” from Tennessee is a stellar stand-up. Don’t miss his side-splitting — and hopeful — perspective over three highly anticipated nights.
Family-Friendly
Guide Dogs for the Blind Graduation Events
May 2, 16 & 30
San Rafael
Guide Dogs for the Blind
350 Los Ranchitos Road
800.295.4050
A few times a month, this incredible organization holds public graduation ceremonies and offers tours of the campus, which includes the chance to say hello to the next crop of guide dogs in-training.
Golden State Valkyries WNBA Basketball
May 10, 13, 25, 28 & 31
San Francisco
Chase Center
1 Warriors Way
888.479.4667
There are many chances to see a home game of the newest WNBA team in the league and currently the only women’s professional basketball team in the Bay Area.
Film
DocLands Documentary Film Festival
Thru May 3
San Rafael
Smith Rafael Film Center
1118 Fourth Street
415.383.5256
Love documentaries? Then DocLands is the film festival for you. Held in San Rafael and presented by the California Film Institute, its five days of nonfiction film storytelling (starting April 30) with a series of screenings, networking events, and engaging conversations to build an inclusive community around the art of documentary filmmaking.
CAAMFest
May 7–10
San Francisco
Venues in San Francisco, including AMC Kabuki
1881 Post Street
415.346.3243
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, the four days of film include documentaries, shorts and feature-length narratives screened in theaters across San Francisco and the East Bay.
Food & Drink
Marin County Vegan Chef Challenge
May 1–31
Various restaurants
For the second year, participating restaurants in the Marin County Vegan Chef Challenge (VCC) will be competing to whip up the best plant-based meals that they can. The best part? Anyone and everyone can be a judge — sample the menus yourself and cast your vote. Participating restaurants are listed on the Marin VCC website, and results will be announced in early June.
4th Annual Sip & Stroll for Flower Baskets
May 9
San Anselmo
Town Hall Plaza
525 San Anselmo Avenue
415.233.7464
With proceeds benefiting the beautiful downtown flower baskets, this event features a curated selection of fine wines from Ludwig’s Fine Wines and small bites from San Anselmo Avenue’s unique shops. Don’t worry if you prefer non-alcoholic options — those will be available too.
Music
George Benson
May 11
San Francisco
Davies Symphony Hall
201 Van Ness Avenue
866.920.5299
The most celebrated living jazz guitarist makes his SFJAZZ debut with this performance at Davies Symphony Hall. From his classic 1964 debut to the Quincy Jones-produced crossover classic Give Me the Night and beyond, this musical legend’s catalog is unmatched.
Marin School of the Arts Rock Band
May 13
Novato
HopMonk Tavern
224 Vintage Way
415.798.5063
Fans of School of Rock will love this showcase of teenage talent from the Marin School of the Arts (MSA). Be inspired and support the school!
BottleRock Napa
May 22–24
Napa
Napa Valley Expo
575 3rd Street
This year’s wide-ranging headliners include rock stalwarts, hip-hop legend Lil Wayne, and even boyband royalty the Backstreet Boys.
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.
