The sun is shining, the birds are singing and the days are ever longer (and ever hotter too).
And since summer is officially and very obviously right around the corner, it’s time to grab a fruity drink or two and prepare to dive headfirst into this much-anticipated Hot Summer Guide.
To help bring the heat to the temperate North Bay, let’s give this year’s guide a theme: What if this was the last summer … ever? That’s right. What if these three months to come were the final months of summertime to exist? If there were no more summers to follow this one, how would everyone choose to spend the last long days and the final short, cool nights?
Would they sit inside online or, perhaps, venture out into the world and engage with the community, take in the hot-weather delights and make the most of every last second? There’s no right answer, but I bet most know what theirs would be.
So, on that light, totally non-existential note, let’s bellyflop right into the annual Hot Summer Guide of 2025:
51st Annual Muir Beach Volunteer Firemen’s BBQ
Like food, music, wine, beer and good cheer for a great cause? Well, then the 51st Annual Muir Beach Volunteer Firemen’s BBQ is definitely a destination. One may come on out to Santos Meadow near Muir Beach and Muir Woods from noon to 5pm on May 25 and take in the vibes, bites and various delights. Visit muirbeachfire.com to learn more.
Art, Wine & Music Festival
Novato’s own Art, Wine & Music Festival is back, along with all the wine and art lovers of Marin. This is a fun-filled festival that is a can’t miss in the whole last-summer-ever concept. After all, there’s wine and good vibes—what more could one want? Live music? Food? Community? Well, there’s all that too. So one may come to downtown Novato from 11am to 7pm on Saturday, June 7 and from 11am to 6pm on Sunday, June 8. To learn more, visit novatochamber.com.
CAFILM Pride
The Smith Rafael Film Center is hosting a Pride event complete with screenings, conversations and receptions for this year’s celebration of LGBTQ+ creativity in cinema. From June 13 through 15, select movies and more will mark the county’s pride in LGBTQ+ movie moments. To learn more, visit rafaelfilm.cafilm.org/pride-2025.
Cheese & Greet in Pt. Reyes
It may be cheesy, but it’s hard to call a summer “legendary” without some … well, dairy. That’s why a cheese tasting at Pt. Reyes Cheese Company to help celebrate 25 years of cheese is a must this summer. One may book a cheese-themed anniversary tour for their tastebuds on June 13, July 18, Aug. 15 or Sept. 26. Visit pointreyescheese.com to eat cheese this summer.
Fairfax Festival & Ecofest
One may want to mark those calendars for June 7 and 8, because those are the highly anticipated days that mark the Fairfax Festival hitting Marin. This annual summertime community event showcases everything locals love about the downtown Fairfax strip, from good food to better company and all the expected and unexpected delights in between. So one may come on out to the town of Fairfax to find out more. Go to fairfaxfestival.com.
Friday Night on Main
There are only two opportunities to attend Friday Night on Main—June 13 and Aug. 22. So, one should be sure to mark their calendar for music, food, drinks, a photo booth, games and fun add-ons like face painting and animal balloons. It’s almost time to get ye to downtown Tiburon to get in on the fun. Learn more by visiting tiburonchamber.org.
Jazz and Blues by the Bay
The city of Sausalito sure knows how to smooth the summer over with jazz and blues by the bay (hurray). From June 6 to Aug. 29, jazz and blues shows will play from 6:30 to 8pm and from Sept. 5 to 12, from 6 to 7:30pm. One may come on out to Gabrielson Park in Sausalito to set their summertime vibes with the best soundtrack possible. Go to sausalito.gov to find out more.
KC Turner’s Cookout Concert Series
KC Turner is back at HopMonk this year with a can’t-miss summer lineup. If this were the last summer ever, it would be wise to attend one, two or a few of the outdoor concerts at HopMonk, where a Target parking lot is somehow home to a pocket dimension of good times. So one may come out and see amazing performances such as 13-time Grammy-nominated entertainer Charlie Musselwhite, as he plays along with Charlie Hunter and Scott Amendola, with doors open at 4pm and show starting at 6pm on Friday, July 25. Got to kcturnerpresents.com for the full summer concert lineup.
Marin County Fair
I mean, what more is there to say—this is the county fair, and it’s happening from 11am to 11pm daily from July 2 through 6. One may come to the Marin County Fair if they want to have a fun summer worthy of a “last summer ever.” Visit marinfair.org to get all the deets.
Marin Dance Festival
This inaugural dance festival will invite international and local dancers alike to get real footloose with it this summer at Dominican University in San Rafael. From 3 to 4:40pm on Aug. 9, one may watch dancers move better than most of us could do in our dreams. What a wonderful way to move and sway through the hot months. Tickets can be bought on Eventbrite.
Marin Greek Festival
Opa. The Marin Greek Festival is going to take up all of Memorial Day Weekend, from Friday, May 23 from 5 to 9pm to Saturday, May 24 from 11am to 9pm to Sunday, May 25 from 11am to 8pm. One may come on out to the Greek Orthodox Church in Novato to help celebrate 50-plus years of Marin tradition, food, culture, music, dance and more. To learn more, go to nativityofchrist.org/marin-greek-festival.
Marin Shakespeare Company
How can one call a summer a summer if it doesn’t include a night taking in a local production of the most famous bard’s most famous summertime play: A Midsummer Night’s Dream? Plus The Tempest? Oh, what light through yonder summer breaks … so, one may buy a season pass or some tickets to reserve a seat while they last. Go to marinshakespeare.org for more info.
Mill Valley’s Comedy in the Plaza
Mill Valley’s Comedy in the Plaza returns with a free night of sharp wit and outdoor laughs. This year’s lineup includes Cory Kahaney (Last Comic Standing), Jourdain Fisher (The Tonight Show), Clara Bijl (French cats, English jokes), Jeremy Alder (existential crisis expert) and host Wyatt Cote. One may bring a lawn chair, snacks and a delightfully twisted sense of humor to the Mill Valley Downtown Plaza at 6pm on Thursday, June 26. Visit cityofmillvalley.gov for more info.
Nick’s Cove Puts Cuisine on the Calendar
There’s a lot cooking at Nick’s Cove this summer—literally. This iconic local restaurant just welcomed new chef Matt Alfus and then teamed up with GreenRow (Williams-Sonoma’s new sustainable furniture line) for a fresh design collab. Plus, they’re hosting a two-night Tides of Tomales dinner on June 12 and 13 with guest chef Aiden Owens of Herb & Sea down in San Diego. One may come on out to Nick’s Cove for an unforgettable culinary experience to set the palate for the summer. Go to nickscove.com to learn more.
Oysters & Mead Popup Bar
Heidrun is back at it again with the awesome events, and this summer’s Oysters and Mead BBQ and Raw Popup Bar, open noon until “gone,” is no exception. One may come on out to Heidrun Meadery on June 15 (Father’s Day), July 13, Aug. 17 or Sept. 28 for … well, oysters and mead. What more does one need? Go to heidrunmeadery.com to learn more.
San Anselmo’s Live On The Avenue Music Series
This city knows how to throw a block party (speaking from experience), and the margarita stand and I are old friends by now. If one loves walking through the street with a drink in one hand, company wherever they turn and music to groove all night to, then they may come dine, shop, stroll and dance on out to downtown San Anselmo from 6 to 8:30pm any Friday or Saturday between June 20 and Sept. 27. Learn more at townofsananselmo.org.
Terrapin Roadshow
Music lovers of Marin may not want to miss out on Terrapin Roadshow, hitting the road with performances from artists like Eric Krasno, Pete Sears and Holly Bowling. The Terrapin Roadshow is set to hit the Forest Meadows Amphitheatre at Dominican University in San Rafael on July 18, 19 and 20. Go to sundaydaydream.com for more info.
Western Weekend in Pt. Reyes
Western Weekend returns to Point Reyes Station this summer on June 7 and 8. This obviously isn’t their first rodeo, since the weekend is coming in hot with floats, BBQ, barn dancing and a full-on small town parade. This year’s theme, Honoring Those Who Labor on the Land, hits harder than usual since most Seashore ranches will shut down by 2026, ending a 150-year chapter of local agriculture. One may come for the food, stay for the floats and raise a glass to the folks who made West Marin what it is today. Get the details at westernweekend.org.
While the final weeks of spring slink off into obscurity until 2026, everyone had best wrap up (or give up) those optimistic spring cleaning projects and brace for an unforgettable summer. After all, one only gets to enjoy the summer of 2025 once.
So, what shall fill the 93 days of summer? Have some fun in the sun? Socialize with those near and dear? Something else that’s downright epic, spontaneous and unknown yet somehow also inevitable? Only time (and one’s personal level of enthusiasm, energy and willingness to spend it) will tell. But no matter what, one thing is certain … this is going to be an awesome summer.
