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FREE Events in Marin (May 2025)

Every month I check a bunch of websites to see what’s happening in Marin. I decided last month that I’d start sharing my discoveries! If you’re interested in guided hikes, outdoor events, music, theater, lectures and book clubs, you’ll find all that listed below.

For this list, I’ve chosen events that are ideal for an adult on their own. Also, the list excludes events that are free but encourage you to purchase something (such as a farmers’ market, author event discussing a new book, or live music at a restaurant).

Guided Hikes

  • Sun 5/4 – Beach to Battery: A Ranger Guided Hike
    • 1pm-3pm at Marin Headlands (2 miles)
    • For more information, visit the event page here on Golden Gate National Recreation Area’s website.
    • REGISTRATION REQUIRED
  • Mon 5/5 – Senior Stroll: Mount Burdell Wildflowers
    • 10am-11:30am at Mount Burdell Preserve
    • For more information, visit the event page here on Marin County Parks’ website.
    • REGISTRATION REQUIRED (currently full but wait list available)
  • Wed 5/7 – Loma Alta: Blossoms and Birds
    • 10am-2pm at Loma Alta Preserve (4.5 miles)
    • For more information, visit the event page here on Marin County Parks’ website.
    • REGISTRATION REQUIRED (currently full but wait list available)
  • Fri 5/9 – Muir Woods Evening Tour
    • 7pm-9pm at Muir Woods National Monument (2 miles)
    • For more information, visit the event page here on Golden Gate National Recreation Area’s website.
    • Event is free but entry to Muir Woods is $15
    • REGISTRATION REQUIRED
  • Sat 5/10 – Hike to History: Ranger Guided Trek to Hill 88
    • 10am-1pm at Marin Headlands (6 miles)
    • For more information, visit the event page here on Golden Gate National Recreation Area’s website.
    • REGISTRATION REQUIRED
  • Sun 5/11 – Indian Valley
    • 10am-2pm at Indian Valley Preserve
    • For more information, visit the event page here on Marin County Parks’ website.
    • REGISTRATION REQUIRED (currently full but wait list available)
  • Wed 5/14 – Mount Burdell Birds
    • 10am-2pm at Mount Burdell Preserve (3 miles)
    • For more information, visit the event page here on Marin County Parks’ website.
    • REGISTRATION REQUIRED (currently full but wait list available)
  • Sun 5/18 – Muddy Hollow
    • 10am-2pm at Point Reyes National Seashore (4.8 miles)
    • For more information, visit the event page here on Marin County Parks’ website.
    • REGISTRATION REQUIRED (currently full but wait list available)
  • Sat 5/24 – Layers of History
    • 1pm-2:30pm at Marin Headlands (2 miles)
    • For more information, visit the event page here on Golden Gate National Recreation Area’s website.
    • REGISTRATION REQUIRED
  • Wed 5/28 – Rare Plants of the Tiburon Peninsula
    • 10am-3pm at Ring Mt Preserve (3 miles)
    • For more information, visit the event page here on Marin County Parks’ website.
    • REGISTRATION REQUIRED (currently full but wait list available)

Other Outdoor Events

  • Sat 5/3 – Advanced Outdoor Safety
    • 11am-1pm at McNears Beach Park
    • For more information, visit the event page here on Marin County Parks’ website.
    • REGISTRATION REQUIRED
  • Sat 5/3 – Nike Missile Site Veteran Open House
    • 12pm-3pm at Marin Headlands
    • For more information, visit the event page here on Golden Gate National Recreation Area Conservancy’s website.
  • Sun 5/4 – Battery Townsley Open House
    • 12pm-4pm at Marin Headlands
    • For more information, visit the event page here on Golden Gate National Recreation Area Conservancy’s website.
  • Sat 5/15 – Guided Nature Walk
  • Sat 5/17 – Beginner Birding
    • 11am-12:30pm at Marin Headlands
    • For more information, visit the event page here on Golden Gate National Recreation Area Conservancy’s website.
    • REGISTRATION REQUIRED
  • Sun 5/18 – Coffee with a Ranger
  • Sun 5/18 – Volleyball in the Park
    • 12pm-2pm at McNears Beach Park
    • For more information, visit the event page here on Marin County Parks’ website.
    • REGISTRATION REQUIRED
  • Sat 5/31 – Beginner Birding
    • 11am-12:30pm at Marin Headlands
    • For more information, visit the event page here on Golden Gate National Recreation Area Conservancy’s website.
    • REGISTRATION REQUIRED
  • Sat 5/31 – Stargazing at Mount Burdell
    • 8:15pm at Mount Burdell Preserve
    • For more information, visit the event page here on Marin County Parks’ website.
    • REGISTRATION REQUIRED

Music & Theater

  • Fri 5/2 – COM Jazz Ensemble
  • Sat 5/3 – COM Golden Gate Brass Band performing music for two silent films
  • 5/2, 5/3, 5/9, 5/10, 5/16, 5/17 – She Kills Monsters (a play)
  • 5/4, 5/11, 5/18 – She Kills Monsters (a play)
  • Fri 5/9 – Harp Through the Ages with Cornelia Van Aken
    • 10:30am-11:30am at Stinson Beach Library
    • For more information, visit the event page here on Marin County Free Library’s website.
  • Fri 5/9 – Concert in the Garden
  • Sat 5/10 – Saul Goodman’s Klezmer Band
  • Sat 5/10 – Marin Oratorio with the College of Marin Symphony Orchestra performing Haydn’s The Creation
  • Sat 5/17 – College of Marin Symphony Wind Ensemble performing French Twist and the Polka Excentrique
  • Tue 5/20 – College Chorus & COM Vocal Jazz Emsemble performing We Shall Not Be Moved: Songs of Resilience

Lectures & Presentations

  • Thu 5/1 – Marin Master Gardener: Making the Best Use of Your Irrigation System
  • Fri 5/2 – Free for All: The Public Library (film screening)
    • 5:30pm-7:30 pm at the Belvedere Tiburon Library
    • For more information, visit the event page here on the Belvedere Tiburon Library’s website.
    • REGISTRATION REQUIRED (currently full but wait list available)
  • Sat 5/3 – Sustainability Fair
    • 11am-1pm at the San Anselmo Library
    • For more information, visit the event page here on the Town of San Anselmo’s website.
  • Sat 5/3 – Growing Edibles: Plan to Plot to Plate
    • 1pm-2pm at Mill Valley Public Library
    • For more information, visit the event page here on Mill Valley Public Library’s website.
    • REGISTRATION REQUIRED
  • Wed 5/7 – First Wednesday: The History of Tam Valley in the 20th Century, with Lissa McKee
    • 6:30pm-8pm at Mill Valley Public Library
    • For more information, visit the event page here on Mill Valley Public Library’s website.
    • REGISTRATION REQUIRED
  • Sat 5/10 – FAMSF Art Docent Talk: Legion 100 Global Connections
  • Sat 5/10 – Bringing the Past to Life with Rhys Bowen
    • 1pm-2:30pm at Mill Valley Public Library
    • For more information, visit the event page here on Mill Valley Public Library’s website.
    • REGISTRATION REQUIRED
  • Thu 5/15 – Poetry Reading Series (Brenda Cárdenas, Judy Halebsky, and Ayako Takahashi)
    • 6:30-8pm at Mill Valley Public Library
    • For more information, visit the event page here on Mill Valley Public Library’s website.
    • REGISTRATION REQUIRED
  • Fri 5/16 – Growing Strawberries and Blueberries
    • 2pm-3pm at San Anselmo Town Council Chambers
    • For more information, visit the event page here on the Town of San Anselmo’s website.
    • Registration requested
  • Sat 5/17 – Getting to the Root of the Matter
    • 1pm-2pm at Mill Valley Public Library
    • For more information, visit the event page here on Mill Valley Public Library’s website.
    • REGISTRATION REQUIRED
  • Tue 5/20 – Rethinking the Lawn
    • 11:30pm-12:30pm at Fairfax Library
    • For more information, visit the event page here on the Marin County Free Library’s website.
  • Tue 5/20 – International Conservation Perspectives
    • 6pm-7:30pm at Belvedere Tiburon Library
    • For more information, visit the event page here on the Belvedere Tiburon Library’s website.
    • REGISTRATION REQUIRED
  • Thu 5/22 – Poetry Reading with Rebecca Foust and Susan Browne
    • 6:30pm-8pm at Mill Valley Public Library
    • For more information, visit the event page here on Mill Valley Public Library’s website.
  • Thu 5/29 – Exploring the Great Classical Ballets: Romeo and Juliet
    • 11am-12pm at Belvedere-Tiburon Library
    • For more information, visit the event page here on the Belvedere Tiburon Library’s website.
  • Thu 5/29 – Marin Master Gardener: Monarch Butterflies
  • Fri 5/30 – After Hours: Dips Storytelling Night
    • 7pm-9pm at Mill Valley Public Library
    • For more information, visit the event page here on Mill Valley Public Library’s website.
    • REGISTRATION REQUIRED (opens May 12)

Book Clubs

All books available through the Marin County Free Library or other libraries in Marin have a notation after the title. You can request a book from any library in Marin through the Marin County Free Library’s website or at the circulation desk of any branch.

  • Sat 5/3 – Book to Screen Club
    • The book/show: Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid (book available at MCFL)
    • 1:30pm-2:30pm at Larkspur Library
    • For more information, visit the event page on the City of Larkspur’s website.
  • Thu 5/8 – Civic Center Morning Mystery Book Club
    • The book: The Golden Gate by Amy Chua (available at MCFL)
    • 11am-12pm at Civic Center Library
    • For more information, visit the event page on Marin County Free Library’s website.
  • Wed 5/7 – Wednesday Book Club
    • The book: Orbital by Samantha Harvey (available at MCFL)
    • 4pm-5pm at Larkspur Library
    • For more information, visit the event page on the City of Larkspur’s website.
  • Thu 5/8 – Contemporary Fiction Book Club
    • The book: Orbital by Samantha Harvey (available at MCFL)
    • 2pm-3pm at Belvedere Tiburon Library
    • For more information, visit the event page on Belvedere Tiburon Library’s website.
    • REGISTRATION REQUIRED (currently full but wait list available)
  • TWed 5/14 – Silent Book Club
    • The book: Bring your own!
    • 5:30pm-7pm at San Anselmo Library
    • For more information, visit the event page on the Town of San Anselmo’s website.
  • Thu 5/15 – Civic Center Afternoon Book Club
    • The book: Kantika by Elizabeth Graver (available at MCFL)
    • 1pm-2pm at Civic Center Library
    • For more information, visit the event page on Marin County Free Library’s website.
  • Sat 5/17 – Romance Book Club
    • The book: On Her Terms by Amy Spalding (available at MCFL)
    • 2pm-3pm at Larkspur Library
    • For more information, visit the event page on the City of Larkspur’s website.
  • Wed 5/8 – Romance Book Club
    • The book: The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen (available at MCFL)
    • 6:30pm-7:30pm at Mill Valley Public Library
    • For more information, visit the event page on Mill Valley Public Library’s website.
    • REGISTRATION REQUIRED
  • Thu 5/15 – Novato Thursday Evening Mystery Book Club
    • The book: Started Early, Took My Dog by Kate Atkinson (available at MCFL)
    • 6:30-7:30pm at Novato Library
    • For more information, visit the event page on Marin County Free Library’s website.
  • Thu 5/22 – Bolinas Book Club
    • The book: The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi (available at MCFL)
    • 4pm-5pm at Bolinas Library
    • For more information, visit the event page on Marin County Free Library’s website.
  • Wed 5/28 – Novato Wednesday Evening Book Club
    • The book: Shrines of Gaiety by Kate Atkinson (available at MCFL)
    • 6:30-7:30pm at Novato Library
    • For more information, visit the event page on Marin County Free Library’s website.

Do you know of any events that should be included in this list? If so, please add them to the comments! Thank you, and happy exploration!

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