San Rafael
Marin County Fair
Taking place from July 3 to 7—this year’s Marin County Fair will have as its theme, “Make A Splash,” celebrating water, with events and exhibits focusing on ocean waves, conservation, sea level rise and marine life. A fine arts and photography exhibit, concerts, 28 free carnival rides, sheepdog trials, a petting zoo, pig races and nightly fireworks are all back. New attractions include the Butterfly Kingdom, a tractor pull at the pig racing arena, frisbee dogs, Latin Heritage Day and an expanded Fair Pride Day. Concerts include En Vogue at 7:30pm, Wednesday, July 3; the Splashback Music Fest from 3:30 to 9pm, Thursday, July 4, featuring tribute bands Tainted Love, Super Diamond, Petty Theft and Foreverland; Daya at 7:30pm, Friday, July 5 (Pride Day); Ziggy Marley at 7:30pm, Saturday, July 6; and Los Lonely Boys at 7:30pm, Sunday, July 7. Tickets are $25–$30 and available online. On July 3, special free admission is available for children 12 and under, seniors 65 and over, and veterans with ID. Marin Transit will offer free rides on all bus lines throughout the fair, and the SMART Train will provide late rides after the fireworks. Located at 10 Ave. of the Flags, San Rafael. Visit MarinFair.org.
Santa Rosa
Johnny Otis Art
Calabi Gallery invites one to experience the new music-inspired show featuring the visual art of Johnny Otis, the godfather of rhythm and blues. An opening reception is scheduled for 3 to 7pm, on Saturday, July 13. The exhibition runs from July 11 to Aug. 31. R&B and jazz musician Otis was also an accomplished painter, sculptor and cartoonist. The show also includes music-themed artwork by artists such as Pele de Lappe, Mike Henderson, Raymond Howell, Emmanuel Catarino Montoya, David Park and more, along with a selection of vintage rock ballroom posters. Calabi Gallery is located at 456 10th St., Santa Rosa. More information at bit.ly/otis-art.
Petaluma
The Heard Eye
North Bay funk/rock maestros The Heard Eye begin a monthly residency at The Big Easy beginning at 7:30pm, Thursday, July 11. The venue is located at 128 American Alley in Petaluma. The Heard Eye’s debut album, Funkalypse, continues to make waves nationally and internationally, with nearly 100 college and non-commercial radio stations across the U.S. having added the album to their rotations this past spring (not to mention over 200,000 streams on Spotify). This self-financed, self-produced and self-released album began as a remote recording project during the Covid lockdown and evolved into a glowing, growing star on the horizon. As German magazine Sonic Realms put it, “A storm is brewing in the world of music.” For more information, visit bigeasypetaluma.com.
Napa
Weber & Hill
Nationally known stand-up comedian Myles Weber returns to Napa’s Lucky Penny, teaming up with Jarrett Hill for a live show as they prepare to film a new special. Weber, a Vallejo native, who has racked up over 60 million views across online platforms, was featured on MTV’s Greatest Party Story Ever Told, and has two Top 10 Dry Bar Comedy specials. Hill is an artist, professor and award-winning journalist who has contributed to The New York Times, NPR, Variety, NBC News and CNN. He is also the co-author of the NAACP Image Award-winning book, Historically Black Phrases: From “I Ain’t One of Your Lil’ Friends” to “Who All Gon’ Be There?” The comedy begins at 7:30pm, Saturday, July 6, at the Lucky Penny, 1758 Industrial Way, Napa. Tickets are $32 and are available at luckypennynapa.com.
