Best Things to Do in the North Bay This June

Mimi Pinson

Among the North Bay’s best things to do in June, you’ll find that most take advantage of the region’s great weather and beautiful surroundings. And, of course, June has a host of holidays, celebrations and county fairs to round out the calendar.

We’ve done the deep research for you on the best things to do in the North Bay including museums, cultural events, food tours, athletic events, hikes and more. Speaking of food, we also have an extensive list of our best restaurants in the North Bay, and if you’re planning a weekend, the best places to stay.

Forget the June gloom in San Francisco — the North Bay is sunny and warm this month, with average temperatures from high 60s to high 70s. But be warned: coastal cities in the North Bay still get their fair share of fog rolling in at night.

Featured photo by Kevin Wolf.

The Mountain Play

Dates TBD

In a region renowned for its natural beauty, it’s no wonder that the most anticipated yearly theater event is a professional production from the top of a picturesque mountain. The Mountain Play began in 1913, in a time when attendees took a winding railroad up Mount Tamalpais to a modest stage on a grassy hill. Today, the Mountain Play continues in a beautiful amphitheater with a stage, set design and caliber of performance that cement it as a staple of Marin’s theater scene. The 2024 production will be Kinky Boots, the high-energy musical about a man who inherits a shoe factory and finds success by manufacturing thigh-high boots for drag queens.

More info: mountainplay.org

Dipsea Race

Date TBD

On a different part of Mt. Tam, America’s oldest trail race treads well-traveled paths from the city of Mill Valley to the beach in Bolinas. Serious runners can consider joining the race, and anybody looking for a fun morning can cheer on the competitors along the way. Not up for a 7.4-mile race with 2,200 feet of elevation gain and loss? I don’t blame you. Consider hiking the Dipsea trail, or any combination of paths through the Mt. Tam system, at your own pace during June. Many trails are shaded by forest — great for an early summer outing.

More info: dipsea.org

Father's Day Pancakes on a Mountain

Date TBD

Not far from the Mountain Play’s amphitheater, you can find the West Point Inn, a quaint lodge at the top of Mt. Tam which serves up pancakes for hikers once monthly. You’ll need to hike or bike to the inn, and trails can run you 45 minutes to a couple hours, but fluffy pancakes and gorgeous bay views will be waiting for you! We recommend that you (and Dad) hit the trails early, since pancakes are first-come-first-serve from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. If you can’t get in for Father’s Day, try coming back another month. Pancake services happen every second Sunday through October.

More info: westpointinn.com

World's Ugliest Dog Contest at Sonoma-Marin Fair

Dates TBD

Just past the Marin County line at the Petaluma Fairgrounds, the Sonoma-Marin Fair bridges the two counties’ cultures of food, agriculture and art. It’s really all about the animals at this fair. Try your hand at judging a cow with livestock exhibits. And dog lovers have to stick around for the World’s Ugliest Dog Contest. Despite a seemingly mean-spirited name, this competition celebrates dogs that don’t adhere to human notions of beauty or breed perfection, encouraging folks to adopt, don’t shop. If you’re not up for the competition, there’s still rides, carnival games and adorable farm animals to keep you entertained.

More info: sonoma-marinfair.org

Sausalito Jazz and Blues by the Bay

Fridays throughout summer

You can plan your romantic getaway to Sausalito around this free concert series. Jazz and Blues by the Bay runs every Friday through mid-September, bringing all flavors of jazz and jams to the bayside Gabrielson Park. Interested parties can purchase reservations at tables for individual shows or the whole season. June’s concerts promise blues groups, zydeco, rock and more, so get your dancing shoes on and bring a couple blankets — one for sitting down and another for bundling up.

More info: sausalito.gov