Marin County Offers the Best Fairs and Festivals
Marin County is blessed in the number and quality of fairs and festivals that are staged throughout the summer season. A small sampling of those events follows. Note: Most are held in the southern parts of Marin County.
The Mountain Play celebrated its 96th year in 2009 with the musical Man of La Mancha. With a schedule that begins in the end of May and runs weekly through June 21, the performances are held in Mill Valley at the Cushing Memorial Amphitheatre at Mount Tamalpais State Park. 2009 tickets were $23 to $40. Driving is discouraged since parking is limited. While some people choose to hike or bike to the venue, shuttle buses are provided. www.mountainplay.org. Tel: (415) 383-1100.
The Italian Street Painting Festival is held each year on two days in mid-June in downtown San Rafael. Chalk is the medium. Beginning at 9 am and running to 7 pm, the event is free. Tel: (415) 457-4878, ext. 15, www.youthinarts.org.
The venue for the Marin Arts Festival is the Marin Center Lagoon at the Marin Civic Center in San Rafael. The event is held on two days in the latter part of June. More than 250 artists exhibit their work. Performances of different types of music. www.marinartsfestival.com, Tel: (415) 388-0151.
The Tiburon Music Festival is held over the course of 5 days in June at St. Hilary Church in Tiburon. It celebrates chamber music and chamber opera with performances by Marin classical musicians. Tickets are $10 and $20. www.tiburonmusicfestival.org, Tel: (415) 457-5226.
The San Anselmo Art and Wine Festival is held for two days in late June on San Anselmo Avenue. 200 artists also display their wares. www.sananselmochamber.org, Tel: (415) 454-2510.
The biggest county event held every year is the Marin County Fair, running from 11 am to 11 pm for five days in the beginning of July. The location is the Marin County Fairgrounds on Civic Center Drive in San Rafael. In 2010, the Fair will be 65 years old and it’s a blast from the past and the future with the typical pie baking and dairy cattle competitions and so much more. Concerts, fireworks, carnival rides and amusements galore. www.marinfair.org, Tickets are $12-$14.
The Tiburon Art Festival is held over the course of two days in the latter part of August along “Art Row” in Tiburon. www.tiburon-artfestival.com.
An opera event, Arias in the Park is held at Gabrielson Park, Anchor and Bridgeway, Sausalito towards the end of August. Tel: (415) 289-4152, www.ci.sausalito.ca.us.
Sausalito Art Festival, held over four days along Bridgeway and Marinship Park, is a particularly important event held in September. The annual outdoor Labor Day weekend event offers big name musical entertainment, fine art and sculpture, delicious food and beverages. Tickets are $5 to $20; $30 for a three- day pass. Tel: (415) 332-3555 or (415) 331-3757, www.sausalitoartfestival.org.
Held in the latter part of September for two days the Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival is at the Old Mill Park on Throckmorton Avenue at Cascade. It features over 100 craftspeople from around the U.S. with crafts in 15 categories. Live music and entertainment for children with magic, puppets and marionettes, stories and songs. Tickets are $5 to $8, children under 12 free. Tel: (415) 381-8090, www.mvfaf.org.
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