Looking for the best events and things to do in the North Bay this May? Although May is officially springtime, the North Bay starts heating up, and summer fun begins in Marin, Sonoma and beyond. This year, May means festivals of all kinds: film, cultural, musical, nautical and more.
Of course, we’ve done the research for you on the best things to do in the North Bay, but there’s more to making the perfect local getaway to the North Bay. Stop at some of our picks for the best restaurants in the North Bay. And, you can make it a weekend at one of the region’s best places to stay. However you’re feeling, the North Bay is waiting for you.
Featured photo: Marin Irish Festival by Sharon McCarthy.
Through May 4
As one of the premier short and feature-length documentary festivals in California, DocLands Film Festival presents meaningful stories around narrative themes ranging from wildlife to consumer capitalism and everything in between. Beginning April 30, all 30-plus films are shown at the Smith Rafael Film Center.
May 3 & 4
The Marin Irish Festival is a weekend filled with Maypoles, music, and revelry at the Marin County Fairgrounds. Expect performances across four lively stages by top Irish Irish musicians, dynamic dance performances, sheep herding demos and immersive storytelling. No Irish festival would be complete without traditional fare aplenty, including corned beef and cabbage, fish and chips, shepherd’s pie, and of course, authentic pints of Guinness.
May 3 & 4
Satisfy your seafood cravings at this annual festival celebrating Bodega Bay’s culture and fishing history. With a pet parade, wooden boat building contest and showy “Blessing of the Boats” ceremony, attendees will come away feeling like veritable fishermen. Add in two days of live music and food and wine vendors, and you’ve got a great excuse to escape to Bodega Bay for the weekend. Families can also enjoy activities like touch tanks with marine life, jumpy houses and face painting.
May 3 & 4 and May 10 & 11
All across Marin County, numerous art studios open their doors once a year for two consecutive weekends during Marin Open Studios. More than 250 artists participate in this massive public showcase of local art, which viewers can see by guiding themselves through the many studio stops. If you can’t make it to all the different locations, consider visiting the Preview Gallery at the Sausalito Center for the Arts which features hundreds of works in a single exhibition.
Plan your tour with of MOS with Local Getways! planner.localgetaways.com
May 10
This longstanding car aficionado event began in 1986 with a small gathering of Greg Borrelli’s Hot Rod friends. Today, it attracts several hundred classic cars and hot rods, ranging from early 1920 models to the muscle cars of the early 70s. The fun starts with an afternoon fair in downtown San Rafael and concludes with a parade in the early evening.
May 26
The official county Memorial Day observance is conducted by the Marin County United Veterans Council. Flag displays, music and wreath-laying ceremonies at the Marin Center Exhibit Hall are all part of this program to honor those who have served our country.
Event Venues
Looking to see what’s happening right now in the North Bay? Our comprehensive list of venues below will help you find what you need to know what’s going on.
Looking for more things to do in the area?
Visit our What to Do in Northern California page!
