Join us at Belvedere's free Homemade Film Festival, a fun night under the stars

Please join us in Belvedere Park for the city's third annual Homemade Film Festival, a fun, free night of short movies made by locals, for locals, and of course starring locals!

The evening kicks off with a pre-sunset concert (performed by a local band, naturally), and then the real fun begins, as a series of about 30 three-minute films are projected onto a goofy but remarkably professional inflatable big screen, while we sit on blankets and folding chairs, enjoying the festival's free soup, popcorn and cocoa, plus whatever else you want to bring.

I'll be at the park well before 6 pm and will spread out a few bedsheets to mark our territory. Bring a chair or blanket, a jacket for later, and any food and drink you want (adult beverages are allowed). Quite a few folks from my Meetup hiking group will be there, and we are famous for our yummy potluck picnics, so feel free to participate if you'd like. Bring a guest or two or three and enjoy the fun!

Oh, and speaking of my hiking group, I'm excited to say that it's the subject of one of the films. Marin and the City member and part-time filmmaker Jennifer Wallace has put together a delightful short, with shots from many hikes along our favorite Marin trails. The festival's theme is "Community," and although I can't promise that all of the films will exactly hit that target, Jenn's definitely does.

Parking tips: Neighboring streets fill up quickly as the crowd arrives, so if you get there late, you'll probably have to walk a few blocks. The park's official address is on Mallard Road, but you'll be driving in via San Rafael Avenue, which also borders the park, and that's probably your best bet for a spot.