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2026-10-26 · 7 min read · By Peter Schardt

Fall in Novato: A Late-October Guide Around Partridge Knolls

Pumpkin patches, Halloween night, the final farmers market of the season, and golden-hour hikes on Mt. Burdell: a current, verified guide to late October around 194 Butterfield Dr.

Illustrative late-October scene of golden Marin County oak hillsides near Novato

This guide is a current snapshot of the last week of October 2026 around 194 Butterfield Dr: pumpkin patch hours, Halloween night plans, the final farmers market of the season, and year-round standbys such as the Mt. Burdell trail system, the Bay Club's two Novato campuses, and a handful of dining spots on Grant Avenue. Every detail below was checked against the City of Novato, Visit Novato, or the venues' own pages at the time this was published.

Pick your pumpkin at Grossi Family Farm

Grossi Family Farm sits at 3666 Novato Blvd., directly across from Stafford Lake Bike Park and a short drive from Partridge Knolls. It is open through Oct 31, Wednesday through Sunday, noon to 5:30 p.m., with $5 admission and free entry on some weekdays. Families pick pumpkins straight off the vine from 17 varieties, work through the hay maze, climb the hay pyramid, visit the petting zoo, try the mini pumpkin slingshot, and can check out the Bunny Experience, a catfish-fishing pond, and food vendors. Call 707-888-5607 to confirm the current week's schedule.

Halloween night in Novato's neighborhoods

Halloween night is Oct 31, and the Hamilton neighborhood of Novato is one of Marin County's favorite trick-or-treat destinations, with Devonshire Drive and Center Road also drawing families each year. In Partridge Knolls itself, the quiet streets around 194 Butterfield Dr make an easy base for an evening of neighborhood rounds. Earlier in the season, Novato celebrated Día de los Muertos with a free festival, procession, and community ofrenda at the Civic Green on Oct 24. This year's Downtown Novato Safe Trick-or-Treat ran Oct 25 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Grant Avenue, hosted by the Downtown Novato Business Association: it is the annual event to watch for next season.

The last farmers market of the season

The Downtown Novato Community Farmers' Market runs Tuesdays through Oct 27 from 4 to 7 p.m. on Sherman Avenue between Grant and De Long Avenues. That makes the Oct 27 market the final Tuesday market of the fall season, with seasonal produce, prepared foods, and live music. It is an easy after-school stop on the way home from town.

Golden hills and clear views on Mt. Burdell

Mount Burdell Open Space Preserve, Marin County's largest open space preserve, is open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., and late October is a sweet spot on the mountain: dry trails, golden grass, and crisp air stretch the views from the 1,558-foot summit across the Bay Area. Trailheads back onto the Partridge Knolls streets around 194 Butterfield Dr, so a short after-work lap takes no drive at all. Hidden Lake, the preserve's seasonal vernal pool, tends to fill in wet years as winter rains arrive, and the wildflower and songbird show that follows each spring makes this part of the mountain worth revisiting all year.

The Bay Club's two Novato campuses

Novato is home to two Bay Club properties. Bay Club Rolling Hills at 351 San Andreas Drive is an eight-acre swim-and-tennis club with year-round indoor and outdoor pools, 11 outdoor tennis courts, four pickleball courts, group classes, and kids' programs. Bay Club StoneTree at 9 Stone Tree Lane is an 18-hole, par-72 private golf course set on 132 acres, with clubhouse space that also hosts meetings and events. Both are membership clubs, so call ahead to ask about guest access and current programs.

Grant Avenue for the after-hike meal

Downtown Novato is a short drive down the hill from Partridge Knolls, and Grant Avenue has an easy mix of sit-down and grab-and-go options. A few neighborhood standbys:

Hours and menus change, so check each spot's own site before you go.

Why October is a good month to tour 194 Butterfield Dr

The home's oversized, landscaped backyard is at its best in the warm, low light of late October, and the French doors that open onto the yard make it easy to picture fall entertaining, from pumpkin-carving afternoons to a Halloween cookout. If you are coming to see the house, ask Peter for a trail-to-house tour: he will route the walk through Partridge Knolls and out toward the Mt. Burdell trailhead, then show you the property in the same visit.

Verify before you go

Hours and dates change, especially around the holidays, so confirm details directly with each venue before heading out. These are the sources behind the guide:

Peter Schardt, real estate agent

Written by

Peter Schardt

Real Estate Agent · Berkshire Hathaway · Novato & Petaluma

See 194 Butterfield Dr for yourself

Peter schedules private tours of the home, with a neighborhood walk included if you like. Send a note and he will confirm the details.