Located just off the heart of downtown San Rafael, the Falkirk Cultural Center is an 11-acre oasis of gardens and galleries with an elegant three-story, 17-room home, a blend of Queen Anne and Eastlake styles built in 1888 centering the property.
If you’ve never seen it for yourself, this month’s San Rafael Art & Wine Festival is the perfect opportunity to stroll the grounds and see the historic structures while taking in visually stunning works of art and sampling the best of the North Bay’s winegrowing and beer brewing communities.
Taking place on Saturday, Aug. 10, the San Rafael Art & Wine Festival features live music, wine tasting from regional wineries, beer tasting from local breweries, arts and crafts from local and regional artists alike and a festive food truck selection.
The afternoon is free and open to the public, and attendees can either purchase a wine and beer sampling wristband that comes with a tasting glass, or purchase full pours of wine and beer on their own. Participating wineries include Wattle Creek Winery, Terra Savia, Ojos de Toro, St Mayhem, Russe Wines and The Baissett Collection among others.
For the art enthusiast, the festival boasts over 25 booths displaying art, sculpture, jewelry, clothing and other crafts. The Falkirk Cultural Center is also currently exhibiting a group show from the California Watercolor Association, featuring over 30 artists displaying more than 40 paintings, largely done in the plein air style.
The center holds three spacious, light-filled galleries on the second floor of the mansion that are open to the public and exhibit a variety of contemporary art throughout the year. In addition to juried group shows, the center holds showings of Bay Area collective groups such as the California Society of Printmakers, BayWood Artists, the Association of Clay and Glass Artists and many more.
