Marin County Visitors Bureau

Marin County Visitors Bureau

Photo by Brian Sagar

Fairfax

Fairfax is a groovy little town where time virtually stopped in the late 1960s. Fairfax gives Berkeley a run for its money as being the Bay Area’s most liberal municipal enclave.

Fairfax got its name from Lord Charles Snowden Fairfax, a Virginian who moved to California in 1849. He became a member of the State Assembly and made his home at the eastern edge of town. Between 1910 and 1923, Fairfax was the setting for dozens of “Bronco Billy” western movies.

Fairfax’s diverse business community offers a variety of unique and eclectic shops, restaurants, cafes and nightclubs. The seasonal (June-Sept.) Farmer’s Market is held each Wednesday evening in the Fairfax Theatre parking lot and is a gathering place for the entire community.

Downtown Fairfax boasts a vibrant music scene. Evenings are full of music and families strolling through the town. Music fans jam in to watch national and local acts perform at downtown’s popular clubs and cafes. The annual Music in the Park series features jazz, swing, brass bands, bagpipers and Irish folk songs.

The biggest weekend of the year is centered around the annual Fairfax Festival held each June. The downtown area is closed off to make way for thousands of people who come for an “only-in-Fairfax” parade, food, drink and live music.

Fairfax is the gateway to West Marin for outdoor enthusiasts. Bicyclists and hikers make Fairfax their “jumping off” point for exploring the miles of trails leading to Alpine, Lagunitas, and Kent lakes.