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Summer Festivals: Novato rising
This town's the best-kept secret in the county

by Jason Walsh

More than any other city in the county, Novato is increasing its reputation as a "destination town." Not only does its centralized North Bay location make it accessible to visitors from San Francisco and Berkeley to Santa Rosa and the wine country, but its unsung amenities are finally being discovered: the beauty of Mt. Burdell and Olompali State Park (just north of town), picnics at Stafford Lake, days out at Pioneer Park, Indian Valley waterfalls and Deer Island hikes.

And that's not even mentioning the fact that many come to Novato to take advantage of its few—but prominent—discount mega-stores, thankfully set aside off the highway in the Vintage Oaks shopping center. Out of sight, but not out of driving distance.

But what's really given rise to Novato is the headway city officials have made in revitalizing the downtown. The money poured into refurbishing the surrounding Grant Avenue area is beginning to pay off with an influx of businesses and restaurants that have Novato's Old Town prospering like never before.

Happily riding the coattails of the up-and-coming downtown area is the annual Novato Festival of Art, Wine and Music, which takes place June 9 and 10 this year. Its name pretty much says it all—two days with local artisans, winemakers and bands. Novato's is one of the more relaxed of the county's art and wine festivals; even if you're not shopping, drinking or eating, it's a great weekend to stroll along Grant Avenue and people-watch. This year the Chamber of Commerce expects about 200 arts and crafts booths, plus a petting zoo, a train for the kiddies, pony rides and live radio remotes. Performers include Luce, Maxx Hazzard and the Tazmanian Devils.

For a snippet of what the Art, Wine and Music Festival has to offer, check out the Novato Farmers Market, held every Tuesday through October. This weekly event has expanded over the years, growing from its humble origins on tiny Sherman Avenue (the street with the red buildings, that's right) to taking up most of Grant Avenue's "old town" expanse. It's one of the few county farmers markets that still has a "small town" feel to it, though that doesn't mean it lacks the necessities: bouncy houses for the kids and fresh, locally grown produce for the kitchen.

If the art and wine festival and the farmers market lean more toward Old Town, the more centrally located northern portion of Grant Avenue is the epicenter of the fifth annual Salsa Festival de Novato, Sunday, September 9, from 11am to 5pm. Strolling mariachis and kiddie fun make this one of the most family-friendly events of the summer—yet everything is overshadowed by the abundance of salsa, where mild verdes and spicy chilis will have your mouth watering in more ways than one. This is an excellent salute to the town's burgeoning Hispanic scene—especially its plethora of high quality Grant-area taquerias and more formal Latino restaurants. Perhaps the tastiest festival on the 2007 circuit.

More than any other town in Marin, Novato wears its Native American history on its sleeve—Olompali, after all, was the Miwok's regional headquarters, so to speak. This, of course, makes Miwok Park the natural place for the annual Trade Feast, put on by the Marin Museum of the American Indian and featuring Native American dance groups, artisans, craftsmanship and traditional foods (buffalo stew has been known to appear). Members of a diverse community of tribes are known to take part in the Trade Feast, ranging from Healdsburg to the Great Plains down to Mexico. This year's Trade Feast is September 8 and 9.

The Miwoks, known for their twilight storytelling prowess, would no doubt have approved of Novato's annual Movies in the Park series, which combines some of the best family-friendly films with the sloping contours of Pioneer Park to make for the perfect impromptu outdoor movie theater. This year's titles include Madagascar (July 14); Akeelah and the Bee (Aug. 4); and Goal! (Aug. 25). Movies are free and begin at 8:15pm. Don't forget to pack an extra layer, some picnic vittles and bring a blanket or low chair.

Novato's two biggest summer events feature a prominent promenade in one and first-rate fireworks in the other. The annual Fourth of July Parade takes place you-know-when beginning at 10am at the corner of Grant and Railroad. This year's theme is "Novato, Spirit of America," and is intended to be a celebration of teamwork. Float entries are encouraged to creatively reflect that theme—and if you've ever worked on a float before you know that teamwork is a necessity. Summer bids adieu in Novato with its annual blow-out, Labor Day at the Lake, again conveniently held on the Sunday right before Labor Day. From 5 to 9pm Stafford Lake will be filled with picnickers, food-booth browsers and fireworks enthusiasts who will be in for quite a show.

• 24th Festival of Art, Wine and Music Saturday, June 9, 10am to 7pm and Sunday, June 10, 10am to 6pm. Old Town Novato. Free. Info: 415/897-1164 or www.novatochamber.com .

• Novato Farmers Market Tuesdays through October 30 from 4 to 8pm on downtown Grant Avenue. Info: 415/472-6100.

• Fourth of July Parade Wednesday, July 4, 10am. Downtown Novato. Info: 415/899-8900.

• Movies in the Park Saturdays, July 14 , August 4 and 25. 8:15pm Pioneer Park. Free. Info: 415/899-8200.

• Labor Day at the Lake Sunday, Sept. 2, 5 to 9pm. Stafford Lake. Free. Info: 415/899-8200.

• Trade Feast Saturday, Sept. 8, from 11am to 6pm; Sunday, Sept. 9, from 11am to 3pm at Miwok Park, 2200 Novato Blvd. Free. Info: 415/897-4064 or www.marinindian.com .

• Salsa Festival de Novato Sunday, Sept. 9, 11am to 5pm. Downtown Novato. Free. Info: 415/892-1516.