Fall approaches, but the fun isn’t over yet, with foodie fairs, theater openings and neighborhood festivals all coming this month. Marin is packed with events this September.
Fairs & Festivals | Comedy | Arts, Theater & Lectures | Film | Music | Museums | Outdoor Fun | Food & Drink | Events
Partner Events
Read more about the Rose Bowl dance, Neurodiversity & Education Law Free Parent Workshop and Stepping Out To Celebrate Life 29th Annual Gala below!
On the Scene: Community Events
2025 Date TBD San Francisco Opera Ball
During the San Francisco Opera’s biggest fundraiser of the year, walk the red carpet into San Francisco’s stunning City Hall for an exquisite cocktail reception. Then, find your seat for dinner to indulge in an enchanting culinary spectacle created by local chefs. After dinner, walk across the street to enjoy the opening night performance of Verdi’s Un Ballo in Maschera (A Masked Ball) and enjoy an after-party of dancing and delights.
2025 Date TBD Sound Summit Fundraiser for Nature Conservation
Sound Summit, presented by nonprofit Roots & Branches Conservancy, returns to the hills of Mount Tamalpais for another daylong celebration of music and community. This year’s gathering at the Mountain Theater will feature indie-rock icons Courtney Barnett and Kurt Vile and the Violaters. Other acts include The California Honeydrops, Grace Bowers & The Hodge Podge, and Skyway Man. Sound Summit has raised $250,000 to date for Mount Tam.
2025 Date TBD SchoolsRule Marin’s Sailing Towards Equity
Those who love to support quality education will appreciate this inspirational evening fundraiser at the Corinthian Yacht Club in Tiburon, whose proceeds will fund vital programs in the arts, literacy, technology and health across all Marin school districts. Guests are set to enjoy cocktails, a plated dinner and entertainment in an iconic setting with picturesque views of the Golden Gate Bridge.
2025 Date TBD WildCare Gala with Animal Ambassadors
WildCare’s yearly gala raises thousands toward the nonprofit’s care for injured and orphaned wild animals, as well as its continued education and advocacy work to protect wildlife. The animal ambassadors are the stars of this event, and guests can enjoy a vegan gourmet dinner by McCall’s alongside event programming.
2025 Date TBD Marin Community Clinics Benefit Golf Tournament
Play Meadow Club’s beautiful, private 18-hole golf course in support of equitable healthcare for all. The day includes tournament contests, a barbecue lunch, a buffet dinner and numerous silent auctions. All proceeds will advance Marin Community Clinics’ promise to make medical, dental and behavioral health services possible for 1 in 5 Marin County residents.
2025 Date TBD Marin Humane’s Tails by Twilight
Tails by Twilight, Marin Humane‘s annual gala, treats guests to cocktails and food while gathering donation’s for the organization’s many services. Silent and live auctions raise funds, with much of the proceeds going toward the fund-a-need for Marin Humane’s youth programs. Photos courtesy of Marin Humane.
2025 Date TBD AIM’s Gather for the Planet
The Agricultural Institute of Marin again hosts its Gather for the Planet fundraiser to enhance regional food systems. Guests can expect a farm-forward tasting menu based on recipes curated by several Bay Area notable chefs. Through its nine Bay Area farmers markets and other community programs, the nonprofit has supported more than 35
2025 Date TBD Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival
The 67th annual Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival returns to the towering redwoods in Old Mill Park. 135 local and international artists, all hand selected by a jury, will offer their art, jewelry, ceramics, fashion and more for sale. There’s also live music and plenty of entertainment and activities for the kids.
2025 Date TBD Marin Garden Center’s Edible Garden Fundraiser
The Marin Art and Garden Center’s annual fundraiser centers around a bounty from local restaurants and wineries plus the Center’s own Edible Garden. Botanical cocktails, al fresco dining and a stroll through the beautiful garden make this an elegant event to support the Art and Garden Center’s continued community engagement and education on the beauty of nature.
2025 Date TBD Buckles and Bling to Benefit Halleck Creek Ranch
Since 1977, Halleck Creek Ranch has helped people with disabilities live a life without barriers through Equine-Assisted Activities (EAA) and therapeutic horseback riding. The ranch’s annual fundraiser, Buckles and Bling, is held annually at Rancho Nicasio and features wine tastings, delicious food, live music and three auctions.
2025 Date TBD Annual Chili Cook-Off in Sausalito
There’s nothing like a chili cook-off to bring out fiercely competitive spirits, and Sausalito’s 45th Annual Chili Cook-Off comes to Dunphy Park on September 21. Event goers can sample the goods and watch a few extra brave souls participate in a hot pepper eating contest. Live music will be performed by the Zydeco Flames, and by the end of the day, awards will be disbursed to the best chilis of the year.
2025 Date TBD “Yesterday’s Tomorrow” Benefitting Jack London State Historic Park
Although it’s a bit north of Marin, Jack London State Historic Park is a treasure and makes a great day trip for hiking and to explore scenes from yesteryear. Jack London Park Partners, the non-profit organization that funds and operates the park, throws a fundraising event each year with unusual themes and fascinating entertainment. This year’s event is based on a progressive dinner in the park along with wines provided by Kenwood Vineyards.
2025 Date TBD Vivalon’s 70th Anniversary Celebration
Vivalon will celebrate its 70th year of service in Marin County at its new Vivalon Healthy Aging Campus in downtown San Rafael. The afternoon event is free to the public and will offer interactive activities, entertainment, refreshments—plus information booths, engagement opportunities, and a festive setting in which to meet and mingle with fellow community members.
2025 Date TBD SF Symphony’s Opening Night Gala
Opening night at the San Francisco Symphony is always a highlight of the fall season, and this year’s event will mark the orchestral organization’s 114th season. A red-carpet welcome will greet concert-goers with sparkling wine and light bites, followed by an evening of music arranged by music director Esa-Pekken Salonen. Proceeds from the gala directly support the symphony’s acclaimed education, community, and artistic programs serving more than 75,000 people each year.
2025 Date TBD Spirit of Marin Awards
Bank of Marin celebrates the winners of the Spirit of Marin Award at its annual luncheon at the Marin Fairgrounds. The award recognizes citizens who demonstrate an exceptional commitment to Marin County through their leadership, volunteerism and philanthropy.
2025 Date TBD To Celebrate Life Breast Cancer Foundation’s Annual Gala
Since 1996, To Celebrate Life has granted funding to Bay Area organizations that assist breast cancer patients with emphasis targeting underserved communities and families. Its annual fundraiser, themed “New York, New York” will be held at the Marin Center Exhibit Hall. The highlight of this spectacular evening is an uplifting, inspirational fashion show featuring models thriving after breast cancer.
2025 Date TBD MarinMOCA’s ArtFoward Auction
Join the Marin Museum of Contemporary Art for its annual art auction fundraiser this September. Guests can bid on a selection of art works by known artists while supporting MarinMOCA’s operations.
2025 Date TBD Sanzuma’s 10th Anniversary Dinner
Sanzuma, a San Rafael-based nonprofit offering school farm-to-cafeteria programs and nutrition classes along with educating students how to grow their own food, is hosting a 10th anniversary fundraising event at the Marin Yacht Club. The evening features an organic farm-to-table seasonal meal prepared by local chefs, spirited beverages and make-and-take crafts inspired by the classes taught on Sanzuma’s farm.
2025 Date TBD Dog Days with the San Francisco Giants
In community partnership with SF SPCA, the San Francisco Giants are inviting all dog lovers and pup parents to Oracle Park for a PAW-SOME day. Cheer on the Giants as they take on the Pittsburgh Pirates – but before you do, suit up your furry friends in costume for a chance to snag a contest crown. There’s also a pregame on-field parade. Partial proceeds from each special event ticket will benefit the SF SPCA.
September Fairs and Festivals
2025 Date TBD Sound Summit
This scenic music festival from the top of Mount Tam is headlined by Courtney Barnett and Kurt Vile & the Violators. Inspired by a Summer of Love-era music fest held in the same amphitheater, Sound Summit draws in crowds for its incredible views and impressive lineups. Not just a great time, this music festival also raises money for the mountain’s conservation and restoration.
2025 Date TBD Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival
Art, music and community convene amongst the redwoods at this yearly festival in the heart of Mill Valley.
2025 Date TBD Autumn Moon Festival
A harvest festival with 3,000 years of history, this tradition packs Chinatown’s Grant Avenue with dancers, activities and food — including many, many mooncakes.
2025 Date TBD San Rafael PorchFest
It’s the ultimate neighborhood party in San Rafael’s Gerstle Park neighborhood for this afternoon of live music. Bands and artists make venues out of front yards and porches. On a pleasant late-summer day, this music festival is perfect for a stroll and some neighborly fun.
2025 Date TBD Marin Senior Fair
Forget your 80s. Embrace the ’60s with this “Flower Power”-themed party for seniors and their caregivers. Free admission, transportation and even professional glamor shots await at the Marin Center.
2025 Date TBD Oktoberfest
The first of a few Oktoberfest celebrations coming to Marin this fall, Tam Valley Community Center gets the festivities started with games, food, music and beer.
Comedy
2025 Date TBD Gina Stahl-Haven
Trek Wine hosts this Novato talent along with four other local comics. Maybe you’ve seen Gina on America’s Got Talent, in 2019’s SF Comedy Competition or at the Safeway on Diablo and Redwood.
2025 Date TBD SF Stand-up Comedy Competition Finals
Five stand-ups go head-to-head for a title that has been won by comics like Dana Carvey and the late Robin Williams. Despite the competition name referencing SF, the finals happen at the Marin Center in San Rafael, and the evening will be hosted by last year’s winner, Jackie Flynn.
Arts, Lectures & Theater
2025 Date TBD Un Ballo in Maschera
SF Opera opens its 2024–2025 season with Verdi and its Opera Ball on Sept. 6. Never been to the opera? Score a ticket for $10 with the “Opera for the Bay” program, available to those who haven’t visited SF Opera in the last three years.
2025 Date TBD Opera in the Amphitheater
This event is a rare opportunity to hear world-class opera singers in a community venue. The afternoon begins at Novato’s Hamilton Amphitheater at 2 p.m. with family-friendly activities and trivia, but the day really kicks off with the performances, which include appearances by professional singers from near and far. Admission is free, but a $20 donation per person is encouraged.
2025 Date TBD Crossing Delancey
The Barn Theater and Ross Valley Players begin their 95th season with a charming romantic comedy about an NYC woman torn between a celebrated author and humble pickle vendor.
2025 Date TBD Nunsense
A group of down-on-their-luck sisters put on a variety show to raise money for their order in this musical comedy, which opens Novato Theater Company’s 2024–2025 season.
2025 Date TBD Private Lives
For an evening in the city, try ACT’s rendition of Noël Coward’s 1930 comedy about tangled divorcés who re-encounter on their respective honeymoons with new spouses.
2025 Date TBD Neurodiversity & Education Law Free Parent Workshop
Winston Prep is honored to have Attorney Michael Zatopa present this free parent workshop! Being a parent of a neurodiverse child opens up a unique chapter of parenting challenges, including decisions around education. Do you feel overwhelmed by the IEP process? It’s easy to feel isolated and confused even when you’re investing hours in trying to understand and navigate your child’s IEP.
You are not alone, and this workshop will answer all your questions and review steps in the IEP process to help guide you toward finding the right program for your child.
2025 Date TBD BayWood Artists 27th Annual Show
This group of local landscape artists are holding their annual benefit for the beautiful state parks they paint. BayWood Artists exhibit State Park Impressions at the Marin Art and Garden Center, where half of all proceeds will go to Parks California. Attend the show’s reception the evening of Friday, Sept. 27, or stop by the gallery between 10 a.m.–4 p.m. to view and purchase works. Admission is free.
2025 Date TBD Author Talk: Laura Dave
Mill Valley Public Library hosts a discussion with novelist Laura Dave, author of bestseller The Last Thing He Told Me, about her new novel, The Night We Lost Him.
Film
2025 Date TBD Bolinas Film Festival
Not just film screenings and discussions (though there are plenty of fabulous ones on the schedule), the second annual Bolinas Film Festival promises add-on immersive experiences like farm tours, table reads and nature excursions, plus its opening gala.
2025 Date TBD Italian Film Festival
Che bello! This nearly 50-year-old Marin tradition screens Italian films across six Saturdays at Dominican University’s Angelico Hall. Films will be in Italian, with English subtitles.
Music
2025 Date TBD African Arts Festival
The Yerba Buena Gardens fill with music and dance from regions all around Africa and diasporic communities for this family-friendly festival.
2025 Date TBD Rock the Block Novato: End of Summer Edition
Downtown Novato is still basking in the late-summer sun with this block party and town concert. Enjoy an evening of food, drinks and dancing set to the music Wonderbread 5.
2025 Date TBD SF Symphony Opening
This gala heralds the beginning of another season for SF Symphony, and a consequential one at that. It’s the last year to see conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen at the helm, and at this event he’ll conduct the orchestra and special guest, pianist Lang Lang.
2025 Date TBD Portola Music Fest
Did you get your tickets? This EDM fest on Pier 80 may be sold out, but waitlist passes are still available to see artists like Rufus du Soul, Jessie Ware and more dance-worthy performances.
Museums
2025 Date TBD Voyage of Europa Clipper: Exploring an Alien Ocean
Explore Jupiter’s fourth-largest moon through this pop-up exhibit at the Academy of Sciences, plus a NASA scientist explains the agency’s upcoming mission to Europa in a Sept. 9 lecture.
2025 Date TBD Pet Parade!
Marin Humane is putting on an exhibit in collaboration with Cedars, a Marin organization that supports individuals with developmental disabilities to express themselves and lead creative and joyous lives. In the annual Pet Parade! art show, Cedars artists create pieces based on images of pets from recent Marin Humane adopters, staff and volunteers. Pieces will be on view at Cedars’ gallery in San Anselmo, and a special opening party welcomes attendees on Sept. 6, during San Anselmo Live on the Avenue.
2025 Date TBD Northern California Open
MarinMOCA hosts its inaugural open-call exhibition showing 102 works by NorCal artists. Keep tabs on pieces you like and you might be able to bid on them at the ART FWD auction and party on Sept. 28.
2025 Date TBD Hallyu! The Korean Wave
K-pop, K-drama and fashion by Korean designers all appear in this Asian Art Museum exhibit about the dominance and roots of South Korean pop culture in the 21st century.
Outdoor Fun
2025 Date TBD Run Tiburon
Lace up for a 5K or 10K to benefit UCSF’s cancer research and clinics, all along idyllic views of the bay from Tiburon’s waterfront.
2025 Date TBD Fairfax Town Picnic
Pack a basket and roll out your blanket for this town-wide gathering at Contratti Ball Field with a big dose of community and sunshine.
2025 Date TBD California Coastal Cleanup Day
It’s the 40th anniversary of this day built for giving back to our environment. Why not go and enjoy a day at the beach? Cleanups are happening all around Marin, on ocean and bay shorelines.
Food & Drink
2025 Date TBD Edible Garden
Embark on a culinary journey of fresh, local creations. With food, drink, music and an auction wrapped up into one night, this fabulous evening helps keep the Marin Art and Garden Center free to the public.
2025 Date TBD Hops & Vines Stroll
Marin’s craft beer and fine wines get the spotlight at this walk through downtown San Rafael. With an empty glass and brewery map in hand, take a happy hoppy journey around the Fourth Street corridor’s fine establishments.
2025 Date TBD SF Cheese Festival
It’s the creme de la triple creme of California cheese at this yearly festival at the SF Ferry Building. Mingle with fellow cheese fiends, nibble on choice fromage and learn from specialists who run the creameries.
Events
2025 Date TBD Drag Dinner Extravaganza
One Market Restaurant in San Francisco’s downtown hosts this First Fridays event through the end of the year, featuring fabulous drag queens and a mouthwatering multi-course menu. SF queen Bobby Friday hosts the evening, and early birds can enjoy a happy hour before the dinner commences.
2025 Date TBD Rose Bowl Dance 2024
The Rose Bowl Dance which started in 1910 put Larkspur on the map and it’s back! The Larkspur Community Foundation will be holding the 2024 Rose Bowl Dance as a fundraiser at the historic Escalle Winery property on Magnolia in downtown Larkspur on September 21, 2024. Light fare and dessert will be provided by Left Bank Brasserie, Keatley Wines and East Brother Beer Co.. Dinner is encouraged beforehand at local restaurants participating in the “Dine and Donate” program. In addition Pop Rocks, a high energy band covering Motown and 80’s and 90’s hit songs (www.poprocks.me) will be the entertainment for the evening. Tickets on sale now!
2025 Date TBD Stepping Out To Celebrate Life 29th Annual Gala
Stepping Out benefits our Breast Cancer Grants Program with a cocktail reception, auctions, gourmet dinner, band and fashion show featuring models thriving after breast cancer.
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.
