Every Labor Day weekend, stars of the contemporary art scene are showcased on the sparkling shores of Sausalito. Since the inaugural Sausalito Art Festival in 1952, the event has brought over one-million visitors to the lovely seaside town and its historic waterfront. This year the venerable holiday weekend showcase celebrates its 60th anniversary.

The best local, American, and international artists bring their combined perspectives and skills to Sausalito, displaying over 20,000 original works of art that include paintings, sculpture, ceramics, jewelry, woodwork, mixed media and photography. From functional to surreal, witty to the elegantly decorative, these one-of-a-kind works form an unparalleled collection that only be seen once a year.

While weekend art celebrations in the Bay Area during the summer tend to be free street fairs, the Sausalito Art Festival boasts a fairly hefty admission price. The reason for this might be that many well-to-do Marin residents can easily afford the $20 tickets, but more likely its because the festival brings some top-flight entertainment to its main stage over the course of the weekend.

This year will be no exception with themed entertainment at the main Stella Artois stage. On Saturday, '70s folkl-rock favorites America ("Horse With No Name," "Sister Golden Hair") are joined by local legend Dan Hicks and his Hot Licks and comedic "yacht rock" cover band Mustache Harbor, who offer their takes on some of the biggest soft rock hits by Christopher Cross, Steely Dan, Ace, Kenny Loggins and The Little River Band. On Sunday, the main stage spotlights classic rock acts from the '60s with The Grass Roots ("Lets Live For Today," "Midnight Confessions"), pioneering British blues rockers The Yardbirds -- who besides having such hit songs as "For Your Love" and "Heart Full of Soul" produced future guitar giants Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page -- and Herman’s Hermits with lead singer Peter Noone ("I'm Into Something Good"). Monday finds the festival presenting a mix of artist who came to fame in the '80s and '90s with new-wave band The Fixx ( "One Thing Leads to Another," "Red Skies," "Stand or Fall," "Saved by Zero") and South Bay pop-rock act Smash Mouth ("Walkin' on the Sun" and "All Star"). For a complete list of bands performing and more information on the Festival, please visit the event's official website.

Sausalito Art Festival
Saturday-Monday, Sept. 1-3, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (5 p.m. on Mon.); $5-$25 (Children under 6 free)
Marinship Park