If picking up this week’s paper and reading its contents succeeded in planting a thirst for beer, look no further than the California Beer Festival. You know the deal: 60 craft brews on tap, the soft waft of smoking barbecue, live blues by Chris Cain and a get-down time with Michael Jackson tribute band Foreverland—and a whole lot of like-minded beer fans aligned under the banner of good brew. A sister event to other beer fests in Ventura, Santa Cruz and San Dimas, the Novato edition also picks up on the latest requisite leisure sport for those holding a fragile glass in their hand and adds some bocce ball courts to the festivities. Get a glass and refill, refill, refill on Saturday, Sept. 22, at Stafford Lake Park. 3549 Novato Blvd., Novato. 12:30pm—5pm. $45—$50. www.californiabeerfestival.com.
