San Rafael, San Anselmo Offering Free Parking Through Next Month

Holiday shoppers in San Rafael and San Anselmo will have a little extra change for gifts and a lot fewer parking tickets this year.

Both cities are offering parking holidays that go into effect later this week.

San Rafael is offering validated parking in city-owned garages.

San Anselmo is shutting down meters altogether.

In San Rafael, downtown merchants will be able to validate parking at downtown garages on A and C streets as well as all other city-owned lots.

The program runs from Thanksgiving Day to New Year’s Eve.

Shoppers will get three hours of free parking.

All metered parking will be enforced.

In San Anselmo, shoppers will have it even easier.

Parking meters for the holiday shopping season will be shut down from Black Friday to (Nov. 29) to New Year's Day.

All other parking violations including disabled and red zone parking laws will be strictly enforced in both cities.

Will free parking lure shoppers to these Marin cities? Share your thoughts in our comments section.