Online Marin County Fair
Last year’s virtual version of the Marin County Fair, featuring several social media events and online contests, was exceedingly successful, even winning 12 awards from the Western Fairs Association. This summer, the Marin County Fair again presents a digital experience, one that’s even more eclectic and exciting than last time. When attendees visit the interactive event this week, they will be able to virtually walk the fairgrounds and engage with art and photography exhibits, culinary showcases, a community stage featuring local bands and even virtual fireworks. Find the Marin County Fair online, Thursday to Sunday, July 1–4. Marinfair.org.
Live Concerts in San Rafael
For music venues throughout the North Bay, this last year has been a long strange trip of navigating and surviving pandemic. As venues begin to reopen this summer, San Rafael’s famed Terrapin Crossroads is hosting several outdoor shows at the adjoining Beach Park. This week, progressive bluegrass veterans Hot Buttered Rum make their first appearance at Terrapin since the lockdown last year, performing for the crowds on Thursday, July 1. Following that, Phil Lesh and the Terrapin Family Band take over the Beach Park stage for three shows featuring special guests July 2–4, at 100 Yacht Club Dr., San Rafael. Buy tickets at Terrapincrossroads.net.
Art Reception in Santa Rosa
Two years ago, the gallery exhibit, “Faces: Portraits of Dignity in the Face of Adversity,” made its debut in Sonoma County. Now the exhibition returns for another showing, this time at the Santa Rosa Arts Center in the SOFA Arts District. The acclaimed photography collection of unsheltered Santa Rosa residents, by Salvador “Pocho” Sanchez-Strawbridge, highlights the courage and spirit of people experiencing homelessness while being mistakenly criminalized and dehumanized in the public eye. This new chance to view homelessness in a different light opens with a reception on Friday, July 2, at 312 South A Street, Santa Rosa. 5pm. Free admission. Santarosaartscenter.org.
July Fourth Fun in Healdsburg
Healdsburg will mark Independence Day with family fun at the annual 4th of July Kids Parade and Duck Dash. For the parade, local youngsters are encouraged to dress in costume and arrive on bikes, tricycles and wagons adorned with red, white and blue decorations. There will be activities for all including games and music from Court ’n’ Disaster and the Healdsburg Community Band. Attendees can also adopt a rubber duck and watch it compete in the Duck Dash races organized by Healdsburg Sunrise Rotary. Sunday, July 4, at Healdsburg Plaza, Healdsburg Avenue and Matheson Street, Healdsburg. 10:30am. Free; donations welcome. rotaryclubofhealdsburgsunrise.org.
Online Poetry Reading
While the ongoing Rivertown Poets reading series still can’t return to in-person events at the Aqus Cafe in Petaluma, the series continues to offer engaging poetry and open mic readings online. This week, two Marin County poets share their work. Fairfax poet, memoirist and literary translator Doreen Stock will read from her recently released Bye Bye Blackbird, a collection of poems about her mother’s last days. Longtime Marin Poetry Center member Roy Mash will read his postmodern poetry, which appears widely in journals and publications across the country. Join the Rivertown Poets on Monday, July 5, at 6:15pm. Free. Aqus.com/online.
