Marin County is blessed in the number and quality of fairs and festivals that it enjoys throughout the summer season. The following is just a sampling of those events, most of which are held in southern Marin County.
The Mountain Play celebrated its 96th year in 2009 with the musical Man of La Mancha. The schedule typically begins at the end of May and runs weekly through a Sunday in latter part of June. The play is held in Mill Valley at the Cushing Memorial Amphitheatre at Mount Tamalpais State Park. Tickets are $23 to $40. While some people choose to hike or bike, shuttle buses are provided and driving is discouraged because parking is limited. Tel: (415) 383-1100, www.mountainplay.org.
Each year, the Italian Street Painting Festival is held from 9 am to 7 pm on two days in mid-June in downtown San Rafael. The medium is chalk. Entrance is free. www.youthinarts.org; Tel: (415) 457-4878, ext. 15
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 staged at St. Hilary Church in Tiburon over the course of 5 days in June. It celebrates chamber opera and chamber music with performances by classical musicians hailing from Marin. Tickets are $10 and $20. www.tiburonmusicfestival.org, Tel: (415) 457-5226.
In late June the San Anselmo Art and Wine Festival runs for two days on San Anselmo Avenue. 200 artists also display their works. 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 in the latter part of August, over the course of two days 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.
Over Labor Day Weekend in September, a very important happening is the Sausalito Art Festival, held along Bridgeway and Marinship Park over four days. This annual outdoor event features fine art and sculpture, delicious food and beverages and big name musical entertainment. Tickets are $5 to $20; $30 for a three-day pass. www.sausalitoartfestival.org. Tel: (415) 332-3555 or (415) 331- 3757.
The Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival is featured for two days in the latter part of September at the Old Mill Park highlighting over 100 craftspeople from around the country with work in 15 categories. Live music and entertainment is available for children with magic, puppets and marionettes, stories and songs. Tickets are $5 to $8, children under 12 free. www.mvfaf.org. Tel: (415) 381-8090.
David DuPont, a principal with The DuPont Group in Marin County, California, specializes in Marin County homes with an emphasis on real estate in Mill Valley for individuals and families. David is a Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES) and brought to market the nation’s largest residential real estate transaction in 2005.