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Calendar of San Francisco events you don’t want to miss 🗓️🔖
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items There are always lots of fun tings happening in the city but these annual events usually only happen once or twice a year (or during a specific month/season) so they are worth knowing about and putting into your calendar so you don't miss them! From ... **Disclaimer: Please double-check event dates/times/details as they may vary slightly year to year.**
Sections
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Music 🎶
Street Festivals 🎊
Only in SF 🌉
Random but fun ✨
Music 🎶
SF's music scene is great with lots of free events to check out. A personal fave is Flower Piano 🌸
They’re changing up how to get tickets (unfortunately I've heard it's more complicated and not first come first serve) but this is a free outdoor concert series in Stern Grove. The lineup is out now! It's always a good vibe sitting in a giant field/o...
Stern Grove Festival: June-August
In case you hadn’t heard of this super underground music festival (lol), it happens in August typically and is a 3 day music festival with a variety of artists, stages, vibes, food etc. Definitely a bucket list experience!
Outside Lands Music Festival: August
Music in the park what could be better! Usually in September, Flower Piano transforms the SF Botanical Garden into the city's own alfresco concert hall where everyone is invited to play and listen. So many talented musicians in the city playing again...
Flower Piano in GGP: September
This annual free music festival is in Golden Gate park each year on a weekend in October, which tends to be a warmer month (esp with our annual Oct heatwave) in the city!
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass: October
Glad the event is still happening this year as they almost canceled after lack of funding. This festival has been around for a while celebrating the history and culture of the Fillmore district!
Fillmore Jazz Festival: July
Street Festivals 🎊
SF summer = Attending street festivals hopefully on a sunny afternoon
SF has the oldest Chinatown in North America so naturally it makes sense that the Chinese New Year festival is huge with a parade, fireworks, gorgeous floats, elaborate costumes, ferocious lions and more. A very lively, fun community event that is us...
Chinese New Year Festival & Parade: February
Happens a couple weekends in April, timed with cherry blossoms in Japantown in bloom! Marks the spring season and includes cultural activities like bonsai lessons, tea ceremonies, Japanese dance, and even pet-owner meet-ups!
Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival: April
Carnaval SF is a free 2–day festival & parade in the Mission District, showcasing the very best Latin American and Caribbean cultural arts and traditions.I love seeing the parade dancers and costumes, so lively and colorful. It's also the largest...
Carnaval San Francisco: May
Feels like the start of summer when this happens in early June! NB/Little Italy is already so walkable so it's even more fun when they close down streets and it basically is a giant block party with tons of vendors, activities and live music!
The North Beach Festival: June
I would take the caltrain up to go to these cool neighborhood street festivals in high school. They were always a vibe with live music and people in the street. They also are a staple summer event in the city!
Haight Ashbury Street Fair: June
The Folsom Street Fair is another free, annual community event celebrating the kink/leather/alt sex communities with performances, live music, DJs, and a wide range of exhibitors. It's a free event that attracts a large crowd with attendees dressed f...
Folsom Street Fair: September
Music + outdoor block party = winning combo! Lots of great bars, shopping (moody goose obv) nearby too…
"Pickin' On The Polk" SF's Free 10-Hour Music Festival + Block Party: April
Only in SF 🌉
SF is a weird place (in a good way obv) but if you live here, your weirdness is usually compatible or at the very least, you’re not bored!
This annual tradition happens at Dolores Park hosted by the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. For 2025, in recognition of our trans brothers and sisters who are under seige, the theme is “No Easter Without The T”. The festivities begin with Children’s Easter, featuring an egg hunt and (of course) the Easter Bunny. The stage show begins at noon with special guests, Sister rituals, live music, performances by some of the city’s best drag and trans talent, and th...
SF's Easter In the Park & Hunky Jesus Contest: April
This unique free event takes place at 20th and Vermont Streets in San Francisco on Easter Sunday and it's what it sounds like, people racing in their own choice of wheels, lots of creative options out there. Also if you didn't know Vermont street is ...
Bring Your Own Big Wheel: April
Okay this is one is a short drive from the city in Pacifica but I attended last year and it was so cool and unique, because where else can you see dogs SURF?!
World Dog Surfing Championships: August
This is a great event where you can learn more about the history of SF's transit system while riding on historic streetcars, buses, and cable cars. They usually bring out the open air Boat Tram on the embaracdero, which is always a fun ride!
Muni Heritage Weekend: September
From the day after Thanksgiving until the end of January, Illuminate SF displays amazing art by various artists and creators, usually around downtown. Best of all, most of these artworks are free to experience and are walkable/near each other usually...
Illuminate SF Festival of Lights: December
Another fun winter holiday themed activity! There's typically a boat parade with festive, lit up boats cruising along the marina. Fun, family friendly event too.
Winter Wonderland at the San Francisco Marina: December
California Henge or San Francisco Henge is a natural phenomenon that occurs when the sun aligns with the Bay Bridge and California Street twice a year around spring and autumn equinox (April & Sept). Photographers and locals wake up early to catc...
California Henge Sunrise
This usually happens once a year but is a super cool show where people share stories and experiences with Muni/public transit in the city. Loved going to it in April 2025 at the Rickshaw stop! It's hosted by the Muni Diaries podcast.
Muni Diaries Live
Random but fun ✨
Classic events, maybe this section needs a better name lol
A personal fave as a foodie… Love Bites is a fun night of tasting food from the amazing vendors at the Ferry Building. If you've ever been indecisive about what to get or just love the idea of a food tour, this is the perfect event to attend. It typi...
Love Bites at the Ferry Building: February
This unique annual event happens on or around March 15 with brides decked out in thrift store wedding dresses running around North Beach, because why not? The event takes a classic symbol of marriage and “hijacks” it. Just another example of the spec...
Brides of March: March
I've not actually run this race before but I know people dress up in all kinds of fun quirky costumes and themes, showcasing SF's unserious personality. The race starts around the Embracadero going west and ends at Ocean Beach. Fun to cheer racers on...
Bay To Breakers: May
SF Pride is special given the city's history of a politically active LGBTQ+ community and acceptance. The theme for 2025 Pride is Queer Joy is Resistance. The Pride Parade begins Sunday morning at 10am on Market Street at Embarcadero Plaza and lasts ...
San Francisco Pride: June
This is a free outdoor movie series at parks around the city. There's usually food truck options, drinks, music, themed pre-show entertainment, and films that celebrate the unique character and beauty of San Francisco and its parks! One of my first o...
Sundown Cinema Outdoor Movie Series in the Summer
You either love it or you hate it lol there are fleet weeks in another cities but are they as beautiful and iconic as San Francisco's? Probably not. The marina/aquatic PArk is usually the best spot to view it from and it does get quite crowded (and l...
San Francisco Fleet Week: October
I went to this last year and it was very cool! The annual Sandcastle Classic involves architects, engineers, contractors, designers, corporations, and local elementary school students who work together to build giant sand sculptures. The funds raised...
Leap Sandcastle Classic: October