Bret Harte is a beautiful, walkable residential neighborhood along the southern border of San Rafael in Marin County. The earliest homes date from the late 1930s. The neighborhood is tucked into the hillside with ample green space, tree-lined streets, and the secret bootleg trail. It features Bret Harte Park—the neighborhood's social center—and a diversity of families that call Bret Harte home.
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Latest News

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Next Up: Spring Egg Hunt!
Saturday, April 19, 2025, 10:00 AM
Bret the bunny is back! Join us for the annual unleashing of barely controlled egg-hunting mayhem in Bret Harte Park, Saturday, April 19, 2025, 10:00 AM—rain or shine!. Join your neighbors for the annual running of the mighty mini Bret Hartigans! Coffee provided for the biguns.

Please be on time! The unleashing will happen after a brief welcome, and is generally over within seconds!

Volunteers Needed. ​We need a little day-of Egg Hunt help, "hiding" eggs (at 9AM) and getting things ready. Please come help if you can!
New Membership Option: Auto-Renew!
Remembering to renew your annual membership can be a pain—that's why we introduced an auto-renew option! Just check the Subscription option when you renew your membership and you'll be charged automagically every year. Check this one thing off your list and enjoy the extra time you saved!

Annual Events

Spring Egg Hunt | Saturday, April 19, 2025, 10:00 AM
The furry, rascally rabbit Bret Bunny will be hiding eggs at the Bret Harte Park. Bring your little Bret Hartigans (and a basket) and help collect all the eggs. Coffee provided for the biguns.
Spring Swap Meet and Potluck | TBD Sunday in May, 2025 3:00 – 5:00 PM
Bring all your extra stuff to the park to trade / donate / sell / purge. This is meant as a way to help along your Spring Cleaning by providing an opportunity to purge household items that not longer spark joy in your life. Thank them for their service, then bring them to Bret Harte Park to send them along with someone else. This is also a potluck! Bring something to share with fellow Swap Meeters. The BHCA will provide basic plates and utensils, but earn Earth Points by bringing your own.
Bret hARTe Community Art Stroll | Saturday, June 7, 2025, 2:00 – 5:00 PM
Join us for our fourth annual art and craft- focused event, with arts, crafts, events, and delicious treats both in the neighborhood and in the park! Check out the creative talents of Bret Harte artists, musicians, and purveyors once again during this fan-favorite event!
Neighborhood Garage Sale | September 6, 2025, 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Don’t miss the Bret Harte–wide annual sale, with dozens of households participating. Clothing, housewares, collectibles, small furniture, electronics, kids clothes and toys, books, bikes, antiques, glassware, flatware, plants, vintage collectibles, musical gear, gardening equipment, eclectica, and more!
Bret Harte Annual All-Neighborhood Picnic | September 7, 2025, 4:00 – 7:00 PM
Save the Date for the annual all-neighborhood picnic in the park. Meet and mingle with your neighbors, see the new faces, come enjoy the camaraderie and friendly vibe that is Bret Harte. Local musicians will entertain, and feel free to bring a dish to share. This is our only all-member event of the year (and one of the few aimed at grownups), so don't miss it!
Halloween Pumpkin Carving Party | Sunday, October 26, 2025, 3:00 – 5:00 PM
Join your neighbors in getting your porch trick-or-treat ready! We'll have a somewhat limited supply of pumpkins on hand (provided by the BHCA), but feel free to bring your own. We'll also have decorations for smaller pumpkins for the wee Bret Hartigans. Festive treats will be provided. Please bring your own carving tools if you have them, a few will be provided.
Pre-Trick-or-Treat Pizza in the Park | Halloween, 5:00 PM
Come dressed in costume for unbridled pizza chaos before heading out for trick-or-treating! Pizza provided by the BHCA.
Cookie Decorating Party | Sunday, November 30 2025, 3:00–5:00 PM​
Bring the kids to Bret Harte Park for the second annual cookie decorating party! We'll have cookies and decorating supplies, and cider and holiday music to help usher in the holiday season.

Stay Connected

WhatsApp Group for Bret Harte Parents
​Do you wrangle a tiny Bret Hartigan and want to meet up with others just like you? Get with the WhatsApp! Join the Bret Harte Parents WhatsApp group—a great way to coordinate and hear about impromptu park meetups and playdates. Folks new to the neighborhood (or with new Bret Hartigans) are especially encouraged. To be added to the group, please contact Briony at 415-420-8684‬.

Join Us!

Welcome to the neighborhood! Whether you’ve been here one year or fifty, you already know how great this place is. You might also know that the Bret Harte Community Association works hard to keep it that way—by putting on activities for all ages including Halloween, the Spring Egg Hunt, the neighborhood Art Stroll, and an annual Bret Harte–wide garage sale, and picnic in the park. The BHCA provides services to residents and represents our neighborhood at the city and county levels when asked. All we’re missing is you! Join (and then renew) to help support us financially. Annual membership is by calendar year and only $25 per household.
​The Bret Harte Community Association (BHCA), in existence for over 50 years, is a neighborhood organization serving the residents of San Rafael's Bret Harte Neighborhood and supports approximately 500 residences, with the purpose of bringing the community together.

The BHCA is funded by neighborhood and community donations. A $25/year per-household donation is suggested. However, all activities are available to all neighborhood residents regardless of member status. The many accomplishments of the BHCA are achieved solely through volunteer efforts. To stay up to date on what's happening in and around the neighborhood, subscribe to the BHCA Email List.
All content © 2022 Bret Harte Community Association (BHCA). Contact [email protected].