City of Novato, CA

The 2025 Trash to Treasures Spring Flea Market will return to the Margaret Todd Senior Center on Saturday, March 29, 2025 from 9am - 2pm! 

⁠Admission to this market is free! The market is held indoors, rain or shine. The snack bar will feature donations of hot coffee from Peet’s Coffee and many more tasty eats available for purchase. ⁠This year, we've added more vendors! Explore our newly added booths in a great new location inside the Senior Center! Come shop for unique second-hand treasures!

Attention Vendors: BOOTHS ARE SOLD OUT. Please call 415-899-8290 for more information or to be placed on the waitlist.

Novato Parks & Recreation and Novato First Responders invite members of our adaptive needs community, and their families, to join us for a day of fun with friends from a galaxy far, far away...🪐

Saturday, April 26th, 2025
 12 PM - 2 PM

The 4th Annual Novato Spectrum Safety Event focuses on connecting our adaptive needs community to our Novato First Responders and other valuable resources in our City and County to continue to build strong relationships within our community. The event will feature out of this world activities geared specifically for participants with adaptive needs provided by local partner agencies who directly support the adaptive needs community.

RSVP to this FREE #NovatoFUN event at www.novato.org/regforfun

Please note, this event has been specifically curated for individuals with physical or cognitive adaptive needs and will not include loud music, bright lights, or overly stimulating sensory activities. Service animals welcome, please leave pets at home.

Pocket Park
950 Seventh Street 
Novato, CA

This free community event takes place on Saturday, May 3, 2025 at Scottsdale Pond in Novato from 8am-12pm. This event is geared towards children ages 6-15 years old, and all participants must be accompanied by an adult. Participants must complete a 45 minute Learn to Fish clinic that features educational displays and mini workshops in order to borrow bait, tackle, and rods. Once they have completed the clinic they may fish until 12pm.

Pre-registration for a timeslot is encouraged, however drop-ins will be taken if space is available. Ages 16 and up need to have a valid California Fishing License.

Sign up for a time slot starting Tuesday, March 18, 2025 at novato.org/regforfun
(Only children need to register, supervising adults do not. Please limit signups to no more than two children per adult.)

8:00 - 8:45

8:15 - 9:00

8:30 - 9:15

8:45 - 9:30

9:00 - 9:45

9:15 - 10:00

9:30 - 10:15

9:45 - 10:30

10:00 - 10:45

Fishing in the City is co-sponsored by Novato Parks & Recreation, Novato Sunrise Rotary, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The City of Novato invites our community to join us on Sunday, June 1 at 11:00AM on the steps of Novato City Hall, 901 Sherman Avenue, for a Flag Raising Ceremony in celebration and recognition of Pride Month!

Enjoy a sweet treat from Kona Ice—first 50 attendees get one FREE! 

We look forward to seeing you there! #NovatoPride

❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

Novato Parks and Recreation offers two outdoor concert series during the summer months!

2025 Concert on the Green

Please join Novato Parks, Recreation & Community Services for our 2025 Concerts on the Green series!

Live concerts at Novato Civic Green are back, on select Fridays!

June 6 - Anthony Arya Band (Americana Rock)
June 20 - King Dream (Multi-Genre Bay Area Rock 'N' Roll)
July 18 - Papa Joe & the New Deal (60's to Today Coverband)
August 1 - Wolf Jett (Folk, Blues, Americana)
August 15 - Sol Horizon (Reggae with Rock, Funk, World Beats)

Free Admission | 6:00-8:00pm  

Held at the Novato Civic Green, 901 Sherman Avenue

Feel free to bring your own picnic blankets and lawn chairs. Outside food and drink are welcome. Please note that we kindly ask you to leave your furry friends at home.

2025 Hot Amphitheater Nights

Please join Novato Parks, Recreation & Community Services for our 2025 Hot Amphitheater Nights series!

Live concerts at Hamilton Amphitheater are back, on select Saturdays!

June 28 - Carnaval (Santana Tribute Band)
July 26 - Pop Fiction (70's, 80's, 90's, 2000's & Beyond)
August 30 - The Timebandits (Pop, Soul, R&B, Latin, Swing, & more)

Free Admission | 5:00-7:00 pm

Held at the Hamilton Amphitheater, 601 N. Hamilton Pkwy

There will be food available for purchase at this event.

Parking for the Hot Amphitheater Nights Concert Series is available at the Hamilton Community Center Parking Lot or the Old Hamilton Gym Parking Lot. Both lots are a short walk away from the venue. 

Interested in performing at our summer concerts? Submit your band's information through our Summer Concert Series Band Application.

Click here to apply and join our vibrant music scene in Novato!

Social Media Safety Workshop presented by the Polly Klaas Foundation

Teens are their own first line of defense - Let’s give them the tools to stay safe online and in the real world! This workshop covers when to post online and why it matters, the REAL consequences of sexting, understanding the sex-trafficking of minors, and how to spot red flags from online predators. Enjoy FREE DINNER at 6:00 PM, generously provided by Tommy’s Salsa, sweet treats and gift card PRIZES for the first 25 teens to arrive! Program begins at 6:30 PM. Free to the public and appropriate for parents and middle and high school aged students. Presentation in English and Spanish. RSVPs are not required but recommended. Please email novatofun@novato.org to RSVP.

Date: Wednesday, May 28

Time: 6:00 - 7:30 PM

Location: Novato City Hall, 901 Sherman Avenue

Novato Parks & Recreation hosts two outdoor movies in the Fall.

These events are FREE for the community to attend! Guests are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs, blankets, and a picnic dinner to enjoy during the show. 

Movies at the Pocket Park will be held September 13 and October 4 at Pocket Park, 950 Seventh St.

Movies will begin approx. 15 min after sunset.

A Bug's Life
September 13
Movie starts at approximately 7:30 PM

Brave 
October 4
Movie starts at approximately 7:00 PM*

*PLEASE NOTE THE DIFFERENT START TIMES

🌟✨ Get ready for a day of enchantment on Saturday, October 18, 2025! 🎩✨

🎉 Join the City of Novato Parks, Recreation & Community Services Department for a FREE Magic Show at Novato City Hall! ✨ Immerse yourself in a world of wonder and amazement! 🤩

🕰️ To accommodate everyone, we're now offering TWO time slots—10 AM or 11:30 AM. No reservations are required, so simply pick the time that suits you best and witness the magic right before your eyes! 🌟✨

Bring your friends, family, and share the joy! 🎉✨ For more information call 415.899.8290

 🎉 Save the Date: Día de los Muertos Celebration! 🎉
⁠

🗓 When: Saturday, November 1, 3:30 PM – 6:30 PM (Procession begins at 3:45 PM) ⁠
📍 Where: Novato Civic Green, 901 Sherman Avenue  ⁠
🍴 Traditional foods from Tommy’s Salsa  ⁠
🎵 Music (Cascada de Flores), community procession, activities, face painting, and a community ofrenda (altar).  ⁠
⁠
Join us for the City of Novato's Día de los Muertos celebration! Come honor and celebrate loved ones who are no longer with us by contributing to our community ofrenda, festive crafts, delicious food, and vibrant music. All ages are welcome! Mark your calendars and invite your friends and family for an unforgettable cultural celebration.
⁠

Read below for more information about this event:

Join us for the Día de los Muertos Community Procession—a meaningful gathering where everyone is welcome to honor departed loved ones, celebrate our ancestors, and share in the spirit of Día de los Muertos. Participants are invited to dress as skulls or wear traditional attire, though dressing up is entirely optional. The procession will begin at 3:45 PM from the Civic Green near City Hall (901 Sherman Ave) and follow a short, designated route through the community. Please note that there will be no street closures, so for everyone’s safety, participants must stay on the sidewalks and use crosswalks at all intersections.  ⁠

Alcohol, real candles, and incense are not permitted. However, battery-operated candles and marigolds are encouraged.

Ofrendas provide a way to honor loved ones who have passed and celebrate the life they lived. There are many ways to arrange an ofrenda. Our community ofrenda will consist of three levels (or tiers) and guests are encouraged to place their photos/mementos on any tier they would like. ⁠
⁠
Learn more about what the three levels of an ofrenda represent below:⁠
⁠
• The Heavens - The top level represents the heavens and serves as one place to identify the loved ones(s) being remembered. ⁠
• The Earth - The middle level represents the comforts of earth and encourages the dead to feel welcomed and comfortable. This level can include items like favorite foods, drinks, and more photos/momentos.⁠
•The Underworld - The lower level helps the deceased find their way to the altar and refresh themselves upon arrival. This level can include items like photos, candles, incense, water, and marigold flowers.⁠
⁠
⁠To contribute to our community ofrenda, we encourage guests to bring a 3x3 photo* of their loved ones and something special to honor their memory. Guests will have the opportunity to decorate a hand crafted picture frame to place on the ofrenda. Silk marigolds and electric candles will be provided. *(Please use a copy of the original photo. The City of Novato is not responsible for any lost, stolen, or damaged pictures. If you’d like your photo returned, please write your name and phone number on the back. Photos left behind can be picked up at the Margaret Todd Senior Center, 1560 Hill Road, by 4 PM on November 14.) ⁠

No alcohol, open flames, or incense is allowed.

Learn more about what the items on an ofrenda represent below: ⁠ 

1. Marigolds – The color and scent attract departed souls and guide them to the ofrenda and family  ⁠ 
2. Sugar Skulls– These skulls represent the departed souls in the circle of life ⁠ 
3. Photos/Mementos – Honor and remember a loved one who has passed ⁠ 
4. Incense – Cleanse, purify, and communicate with the spirit world  ⁠ 
5. Butterflies – Hold the spirits of the departed ⁠ 
6. Cup of Water – For the spirits to quench their thirst after a long journey ⁠ 
7. Pan de Muerto (Bread of the Dead)- An offering from the earthly world ⁠ 
8. Papel Picado (Paper Banners) – Represent the wind and the union between life and death  ⁠ 
9. Candle- Used to guide and light the way for the spirits ⁠ 
⁠ 
Alcohol, real candles, and incense are prohibited from being added to the community ofrenda.  

2025 Menu

Cheer on the Novato Gymnastics Team as they host top talent from across the Greater Bay Area at the Novato Classic, held at the Novato Gymnastics Center on the weekends of November 8–9 and February 6–8. To learn more, visit www.novatogymnastics.org.

Novato Parks, Recreation and Community Services will be holding its 2025 Holiday Crafts Faire on Friday, December 5th, 6PM-9PM, and Saturday, December 6th 10AM-4PM at the Margaret Todd Senior Center located at 1560 Hill Road, Novato.

There will be over 50 artisans selling handmade crafts including jewelry, ceramics, specialty foods, wreaths, ornaments, bath and body products and more! There will be entertainment throughout the event and food will be available. It is recommended that shoppers bring cash as we cannot guarantee all vendors will be able to accept credit cards. Don’t miss this great opportunity to purchase unique holiday gifts! Admission is free to the public on both days. 

The vendor application period has ended.

For more general information about this event or to be added to the email list, please call 415-899-8290 or email novatofun@novato.org.

Parking

Margaret Todd Senior Center Main Parking Lot & Overflow Parking at the Hill Education Center Parking Lot

Hill Recreation Area Bocce Ball and Pickle Ball Court Parking

Santa will be at the Holiday Crafts Faire on Saturday, December 6th waiting to take pictures with you and your family!

We have five different time sessions that families can register for between 10am–12pm at the Margaret Todd Senior Center.

$5 per family includes a photo with Santa that will be posted on the NovatoFun Facebook page and a goodie bag from the North Pole!

Only one person per family needs to register.

Register here to save your spot!

Children of all ages can receive a letter, via Novato Parks & Recreation, from Santa and his elves! Starting November 10, please drop letters in either North Pole mailbox located at:

• Novato Gymnastics Center – 950 7^th St
• Mail-slot available 24/7
• Margaret Todd Senior Center – 1560 Hill Rd
• Mailbox available 9:00 am – 5:00 pm, Monday – Friday

Parents & Helpers: A self-addressed, stamped envelope must be enclosed for a response.

The return envelope will be postmarked from the North Pole. Any letters collected after 12/5 will NOT receive a response.

Join Novato Parks & Recreation for a festive morning filled with holiday music, hot chocolate, and coffee while you decorate gingerbread houses with your family and friends! Each kit costs $20 and is perfect for a family of four. Only one kit per family is needed, so no need for each person to sign up individually. For groups with more than four people, we recommend purchasing an additional kit for $16.

Click here to register!