Believe it or not, it’s almost autumn again here in Marin—as ol’ Billy Shakespeare, The Bard himself, said, summer’s lease really does hath all too short a date.
With August wrapping up and pumpkin spice products already sneaking onto the shelves of local markets, it’s safe to say that the long days of summer are already giving way to a festive spirit of fall. And here in Marin County, nothing says summer’s end quite like the annual Fall Arts Roundup.
So, let’s see what kinds of awesome art, artists, exhibitions, performances, events, etc…one can expect to see this coming season.
Mill Valley Film Festival
The Mill Valley Film Festival is a must-attend autumnal arts event in Marin County. This year marks the world-famous film festival’s 47th rendition, and an extra special guest is coming to help celebrate the already momentous occasion. This special guest is none other than BAFTA-winning and Oscar-nominated actor Jude Law! Film buffs and fans of Jude Law alike will not want to miss this weeklong movie event spanning Oct. 3 to 13. So, be sure to grab some early bird tickets to the Mill Valley Film Festival by visiting mvff.com.
The Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival
The 67th annual Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival is kicking off Marin’s autumnal celebrations of the arts with exhibitions, live music, opportunities for play and oh so much more. It’s hard to go wrong with beginning this fall’s local art appreciation by attending the Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival. The festival is set to take place from 10am to 5pm on Sept. 14 and 15. Visit mvfaf.org to learn more about the event or to purchase tickets ahead of time.
Performance Art
Ross Valley Players are kicking off Marin’s fall performance arts with a stellar performance of Crossing Delancey, which is part of the group’s 95th season of shows and will run from Sept. 13 to Oct. 13. The players summarize the show as: “Cosmopolitan, uptown Izzy wants to thrive in the exciting Manhattan literary world. Izzy’s determined grandmother, Ida, wants Izzy to find a nice, Jewish boy and get married. An eccentric matchmaker presents Sam, a humble pickle seller from below Delancey Street. Will Izzy take a chance?”
To learn more about The Ross Valley Players or to purchase tickets to Crossing Delancey, visit the website at rossvalleyplayers.com.
For those craving performance art to watch on the silver screen instead of the stage this autumn in Marin, look no further than The Lark. The Lark has an amazing fall lineup in store for local film buffs, including beloved seasonal movies such as The Rocky Horror Picture Show and even some creative takes on classics, like Matthew Bourne’s dance production of Tim Burton’s Edward Scissorhands. Visit larktheater.net to see what performance arts one can take in at The Lark this fall.
Written Art
Marin County has played host to a plethora of famed writers over the years. And since fall offers the opportunity to slow down and focus on more indoor-oriented activities, now is the perfect time to delve into some local written art. While Isabell Allende and Alan Watts are obvious choices for Marin-centric authors, maybe this autumn is the time to tackle some new local novels too. So, take a visit out to Point Reyes Books, Wayfinder or even that local library to see if a local piece of literature can satisfy that fall art craving inside one’s heart.
Atlas Barber wrote and published the perfect Marin-local book to buy and tuck into this fall. His new and debut novel, Operation Belvedere—the Sausalito File, is a page-turning thriller that takes place in and celebrates none other than the Marin Headlands. More specifically, readers of the book can delve into a familiar yet fantastical world set in the Sausalito of 1962.
The jacket copy of Operation Belvedere—The Sausalito File reads as follows: “The ice-cold currents of Richardson Bay, drawing in water from the Pacific coastline, have become the place of refuge for a man living in quiet solitude. But when an expressionist masterpiece believed to be long lost suddenly surfaces at auction, art historian Nicholas Storm is forced to face his past.”
Visual Art
Marin Museum of Contemporary Art is coming in hot with a fall art exhibition that’s set to open on Oct. 5 and run through the end of December at the San Rafael satellite location. This exhibition, entitled Opening the Mountain, was curated by Natasha Boas and Asha McGee. According to MarinMOCA, it will “pay tribute to the Beat Poets’ journey with a dynamic, transgenerational exhibition that ties Marin’s present to its past as a hotbed of imaginative thinking.” To learn more about the museum’s plans for fall arts here in Marin, visit the website at marinmoca.org.
Another place to go for fantastic artistic exhibitions this autumn is none other than the Sausalito Center for the Arts, which is hosting the free Milagros & Memories exhibition from Oct. 12 to Nov. 3. Alongside the exhibition, a special event on Oct. 26 invites guests to “honor past loved ones and make new friends while surrounded by incredible art…enjoy delicious Mexican food and drinks as you celebrate through the night,” according to SCA. To learn more about SCA’s plans for autumnal art in Marin, visit the website at sausalitocenterforthearts.org.
Yet another way to appreciate some visual arts in Marin this fall is at the Marin Arts & Crafts Show: The Handcraft of Design. This event will take place Nov. 1 through 3 at the Marin Center Exhibit Hall. To learn more about the Marin Arts & Crafts Show, visit artsandcraftsshow.com/marin.php.
Miscellaneous Art
The 4th annual art exhibition, Pet Parade, is coming back to San Anselmo this fall, in a celebration of companion animals from a collaboration between Cedars Gallery and Marin Humane. The Pet Parade Party will take place from 6 to 8pm on Sept. 6, but guests are welcome to visit the gallery to view and even purchase the animal-themed artwork up until Nov. 22. To learn more, visit cedarslife.org and marinhumane.org.
Autumn is also the perfect time to stock up on holiday gifts. This makes the Marin County Mart’s adorable card shop, The Paper Post–A Card Shop by Sugar Paper, a must-see fall arts pit stop here in Marin. Just swing by the Rustic Bakery for a tasty bite before turning to peruse the pink cottage full of cute cards across the way. The card shop is open from 10am to 4pm on Friday and Saturday and from 10:30am to 4pm on Sunday. Visit marincountrymart.com for information on The Paper Post and other local autumnal arts (of the culinary variety especially).
Note: This list is only the tip of Marin’s autumnal arts iceberg. So, be sure to stay tuned for updates throughout the season too!
