Novato has a vibrant and robust Parks and Recreation Department known as Novato Fun that provides

• activities, camps and classes for children
• adult-oriented classes
• senior activities and classes through our Margaret Todd Senior Center

Novato Fun also presents free community concerts, outdoor movies, and other family-friendly community events.

Through the Downtown Novato Business Association and the Novato Chamber of Commerce, with volunteer committees we  also have a proud tradition of community events within our historic Old Town including

• Novato Festival of Art, Wine and Music (Summer)
• Rock the Block
• 4th of July Parade
• Nostalgia Days Classic Car Show (August)
• Downtown Community Farmers’ Market (May - October)
• Scream on the Green (October)
• Holiday Tree Lighting & Bouncy Ball New Year (December/January)

The history of Novato dates back to 1300 when Miwok Native Americans lived in villages at the base of Mount Burdell. The history of this early culture is celebrated in two fascinating sites in Novato

• Marin Museum of the American Indian
• Olompali State Historic Park, which is the site of the first Spanish colonial house believed to have been built in Marin County.

Addition museums about Novato's history as a town and city include

• Novato Historical Guild
• Hamilton Field Museum

Our historic downtown serves as a welcoming place for visitors and residents to shop and dine. It is the heart of our City, home to our City Hall and offices, and hosts our many annual community events, including the Bay Area's biggest 4th of July Parade, a seasonal community farmers market, free family-friendly concerts, and more.

Our vast open space and parks in and near the City--more than 3,600 acres of protected open space within the City limits (that includes our 27 oak-studded parks)--making it a haven for hiking, horseback riding, nature watching, and mountain biking.

• The City maintains many parks and facilities for community enjoyment.

• Novato’s Stafford Lake Park, a 139-acre expanse is a major attraction for visitors and residents who enjoy fishing, hiking, biking, disc golf, pump track biking, or day camping.

• Wildlife observers are also drawn to Scottsdale Marsh, Deer Island Preserve, Rush Creek Preserve, the Hamilton Bay Trail, and Pacheco Pond Wildlife Area.

• Slightly north of Novato, is the 900-acre historic Olompali State Historic Park.

• The views from the 1,558 foot high Mt. Burdell are simply outstanding!

“The City of Novato is a collaborative partner in our mission to educate 7,600 children of the Novato Unified School District. What makes Novato special is its family-oriented community that values education. The employees of both the school district and the city work together on many issues from facilities usage to outreach to at-risk youth. I am proud to serve as the Superintendent of the Novato Unified School District and consider myself a partner with the City of Novato.”

–Jim Hogeboom, Former Superintendent, Novato Unified School District

Novato is a great place to raise a family with its outstanding schools!

Novato Unified School District is the City’s largest employer and it serves over 8,000 students in kindergarten through high school in eight elementary, three middle, two high, and three alternative schools.

In addition to a thriving Hamilton community, a great example of successful redevelopment of a former Air Force base, we have many, unique neighborhoods. 

Click box at upper left corner on map to drop-down key for neighborhoods. Note: these labels do not constitute absolute boundaries and serve only as a guide to general areas that are frequently referred to by those names.

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"With a successful mix of corporate headquarters, state-of-the art technology companies, and a variety of both specialty and large-scale retailers in our community, Novato IS the place to do business. We offer access to one of the most talented and educated workforces in the U.S. as well as to a sophisticated consumer market. Whether you are a new business or looking to expand or relocate, get to KNOW NOVATO—we welcome your business." 

Coy Smith, Executive Director of the Novato Chamber of Commerce

Novato’s business mix includes corporate headquarters, state-of-the-art technology companies, and a variety of retail centers.  

Novato is an economically-diverse and vibrant North Bay city of approximately 53,000 residents. Highway 101 connects this northernmost city in Marin County to San Francisco to the south, and Sonoma County to the north, and Highway 29 connects Novato to Napa and Solano counties to the east. Novato has three stations on the Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) line.

Due to its prime location and economic resiliency, it serves as a natural hub to global corporations, cutting-edge start-ups and niche independent businesses. Novato is home to more than 2,500 businesses including corporate headquarters, state-of-the-art technology companies, and both specialty and large-scale retailers.

“Novato, with its vast, green hillsides, is the ideal location for our research campus:  although our scientists hale from 30 nations, all are made to feel at home in this highly-educated, environmentally-friendly City.  Nearly half our employees live within Novato—a testament to the availability of quality, affordable housing to people still young in their careers.  The City’s people-oriented focus and friendly staff make Novato City government a pleasure to work with.  We count ourselves fortunate to call Novato ‘home.’”

– Mary McEachron, Former Chief Administrative Officer, Buck Institute for Research on Aging