Fall is when the North Bay towns I know best are at their most lively. Without the summer crowds, the light softens, and both Petaluma and Novato fill their calendars with festivals, markets, and neighborhood gatherings that bring everyone out onto the streets. If you are shopping for a home or just want to enjoy the town you already live in, here is what is actually happening this season, with dates pulled fresh from each city's own calendar.
I lived in Novato for 46 years and have called Petaluma home for more than 16, so I have watched these traditions grow. Community events also happen to be a smart house hunt strategy: the quickest way to see if a neighborhood fits you is to spend an afternoon on its main street when everyone else is out there too.
Petaluma in September
Sunday, September 27 is the big browsing day: the Petaluma Fall Antique Faire fills historic downtown starting at 8 AM, with dealers spread along the storefronts well into the afternoon. For vintage shoppers, the Petaluma Vintage Market runs on Sundays through November 15, opening at 9 AM.
Novato this fall
On the Marin side, Novato is already looking ahead to its signature autumn weekend: Nostalgia Days returns Friday, October 9, and Saturday, October 10, with the classic-car cruise down Grant Avenue on Friday evening and the big car show on Saturday.
Families get a friendly dose of spooky season in October: the Not-So-Scary Halloween Magic Show is Saturday, October 17 at Novato City Hall on Sherman Avenue, a free, all-ages affair. One week later, the city celebrates Day of the Dead with a Dia de los Muertos Celebration on the Civic Center lawn on Saturday, October 24 from 3 to 6 PM, with traditional foods, music, ofrendas, and face painting.
October and November in both towns
Over in Petaluma, the Pride Festival lands Saturday, October 10 at the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds, and the downtown Trick-or-Treat Trail runs along the storefronts on Halloween, October 31, starting at 3 PM. In November, Petaluma honors veterans with its annual Veterans Day Parade through the downtown corridor.
Why events matter when you are buying or selling
A house is a structure; the neighborhood is your actual life. An event calendar tells you whether a town comes together and whether it is the kind of place you will be glad to call home on a random Saturday in October. When we tour together, I care about the roof and the inspection just as much as whether you can picture your family at the Halloween show on Sherman Avenue. The two go together for me, and I am equally happy to talk about a septic system or a Saturday market.
Get to know the neighborhoods
“A neighborhood is not just land and buildings. It is a calendar of people who show up for each other.”
Peter Schardt
Written by
Peter Schardt
21 years in real estate, 100+ homes sold, and a lifetime in the North Bay. Sales Associate · 01702383 · California.
