September ushers in some of the best weather of the year in Marin just in time for the kids to go back to school. It’s the perfect time to go outdoors and enjoy the fruits of our ‘summer,’ such Oktoberfest, San Rafael’s popular PorchFest, the Mill Valley Arts Festival and outdoor running events in Tiburon. It’s also the the season for San Francisco’s symphony and opera opening galas, Chinatown celebrations and music festivals including Hardly Strictly Bluegrass. Here’s what we know is happening this month.
Sep 12 Rock the Block Novato: End of Summer Edition
Downtown Novato holds its second Rock the Block street party of the year, this time heralding the end of summer. Enjoy an evening of food, drinks and dancing set to the rocking music of local group Wonderbread 5. Summer’s not over yet!
2024 Date TBD San Francisco Opera Ball
The season opening night features lots of bling on the red carpet followed by a performance and an after-party.
2024 Date TBD Sound Summit
The intimate annual music festival staged high above San Francisco Bay returns to the slopes of Mount Tam.
2024 Dates TBD Dock of Bay Festival
Explore Vallejo’s waterfront, promenade and historic coal sheds while taking in two days of music on two stages.
2024 Date TBD Run Tiburon
Choose the 5K or 10K distances and run along Tiburon’s stunning waterfront to raise funds for The Ranch, Belvedere-Tiburon’s joint recreation program.
2024 Date TBD Oktoberfest
Pull on some lederhosen and head over to Schroeder’s who will honor the German tradition of marriage festivals (and daytime drinking) with a block party, complete with live music, German beer and bites, and beer games like stein chugging, stein holding, and more.
2024 Dates TBD Renaissance Faire
Hear ye, hear ye, hear ye! The Joust, performances by Rules of the Duel, those giant turkey legs, and plentiful era-specific costumes by visitors may or may not lead to spontaneous cosplay on the fairgrounds in Hollister.
2024 Date TBD San Rafael PorchFest
This free event features dozens of local bands performing everything from gypsy jazz to Americana on 22 different porches. Enjoy gourmet food trucks or bring a picnic lunch to eat at Gerstle Park.
2024 Date TBD San Francisco Symphony Opening Night Gala
The biggest night of the symphony includes red carpet festivities and world-class performances.
2024 Dates TBD Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival
The redwood grove at Old Mill Park will once again host more than 130 juried artists in 15 media categories at homegrown fair that includes live music, a children’s program and food vendors.
2024 Dates TBD Autumn Moon Festival
For two days, Grant Avenue between California and Broadway in San Francisco’s Chinatown will be filled with arts, crafts and food vendors (mooncakes!), live music, a Bruce Lee inspired costume contest, dragon dancing and opening and closing parades.
2024 Dates TBD Portola Music Festival
Electronic music and dance music fans get their own festival from the Outside Lands promoters, featuring an eclectic lineup of bands at Pier 80 in San Francisco’s Mission Bay.
Donna Berry Glass is a freelance writer, editor and communications professional in Marin. When she’s not writing, hiking up steep hills, driving her kid to sports practice or whipping up her famous banana bread, she and her family spend time in their cabin in Lake Tahoe. She avidly supports the California Academy of Sciences, a world class science museum and research institution, and Cedars which is heart, home and family to many of Marin’s developmentally disabled adults.
