San Francisco events & festivals are a long time tradition for locals and tourists alike!
San Francisco has become home to the largest Gay Pride Parade, some of the country's best local farmers markets, music festivals, art festivals, food festivals, beer festivals, wine tastings- and anything and everything in between!
This page is dedicated to giving you a monthly list of things to do in San Francisco that are only in San Francisco. (...and the best part is that so many of them are FREE EVENTS!!)
ENJOY!!
San Francisco Farmers Markets
San Francisco Crocker Galleria Year-Round, Thursdays 11am - 3pm MUSIC Crocker Galleria 120 Kearny between Sutter & Post 800.806.3276
San Francisco Ferry Plaza Year-Round, Tuesday & Saturday Tues 10am - 2pm, Sat 8am - 2pm Ferry Building Plaza at Embarcadero & Market 415.291.3276
San Francisco Kaiser Year-Round, Wednesdays 10am - 2pm MUSIC Kaiser Permanente at Geary & St. Joseph Street 800.949.3276
San Francisco Park Merced June - October, Saturdays 10am - 2pm MUSIC In the Meadow at Serrano & Araballo Drives 800.806.3276
Free Year-Round San Francisco Events
Academy of Sciences
Every 3rd Wednesday - FREE 9:30am-5pm Golden Gate Park Music Concourse 415.321.8000
Asian Art Museum
Every 1st Sunday - FREE10am-5pm Civic Center Plaza at Larkin & McAllister 415.581.3500
Cable Car Barn & Museum
Every Day - FREE 10am-6pm Take ANY cable car to Washington & Mason 415.474.1887
Exploritorium
Every 1st Wednesday - FREE 10am-5pm Palace of Fine Arts at Lyon & Marina 415.563.7337
Legion of Honor/De Young Museum
Every 1st Tuesday - FREE 9:30am-5pm Legion of Honor, Lincoln Park/De Young, Golden Gate Park 415.750.3600
Museum of Modern Art
Every 1st Tuesday - FREE 11am-5:45pm 3rd St between Mission & Howard 415.357.4000
Yerba Buena Center
Every 1st Tuesday - FREE 11am-5pm Mission St & 3rd near the Mosconi Center 415.978.2787
San Francisco Zoo
Every 1st Wednesday - FREE to San Francisco Residents ONLY 10am-4pm 1 Zoo Road at Sloat Blvd & 47th ave
Friday Night at the De Young
Fridays in March-November - FREE 5pm-8:45pm Music Golden Gate Park at Tea Garden Drive & JFK 415.750.3600
January San Francisco Events
Berlin & Beyond Film Festival
Daily January 14-20 $10 10am-9pm Castro Theater, Goethe Institute & Pt. Arena 415.263.8760
Grand Zinfandel Tasting
Saturday January 30 $49-69 2pm-5pm Music Fort Mason Center 530.274.4900
February San Francisco Events
Independent Film Festival
Daily February 4-18 $10 Times Vary Castro Theater, Roxie Cinema & Women's Auditorium 415.820.3907
Arts of Pacific & Tribal Textile Shows
Fri, Sat & Sun February 5-7, 12-14 $20 F,S 11am-7pm, Sun 12pm-5pm Ft. Mason Festival Pavilion Marina Blvd & Buchanan 310.455.2886
Wine & Wishes
Saturday February 7 $150-300 5pm-11pm Music Treasure Island, Building 180, exit off the Bay Bridge 415.982.9474
SF Chronicle Wine Tasting
Saturday February 20 $70 1pm-5pm Music Fort Mason Center, Marina Blvd & Buchanan St 707.894.3992
Pacific Orchid Expo
Fri, Sat & Sun Feb 26-28 $14 10am-6pm Music Fort Mason Center, Marina Blvd & Buchanan St 650.548.6700
Chinese New Year Parade
Saturday February 27 Free 5:30pm-9pm Music Starts @ 2nd & Market to Union Square to Chinatown 415.982.3071
March San Francisco Events
San Francisco Jazz Spring Season
Days Vary, March-June $10-35 Times Vary Music Various Venues, Herbst Theatre & Masonic Auditorium 415.788.7353
San Francisco Symphony
Days & Dates Vary $15-30 8-10pm Davies Hall, Van Ness Ave. & Grove
St. Patricks Day Parade
Saturday March 13 Free 11am-5pm Music Begins @ 2nd St & Market, Ends @ Civic Center 415.675.9885
Contemporary Crafts Market
Sat & Sun March 13 & 14 $7 10am-5pm Fort Mason Center, Marina Blvd & Buchanan St 415.995.4925
Asian American Film Festival
Daily March 12-22 $10 Call for times & locations 415.865.1588
Emerald Across the Bay 12K
Sunday March 21 $35-40 8am-12pm Music Sausalito to Aquatic Park, Fisherman's Wharf 415.759.2690
April San Francisco Events
Golden Gate Park Band Concert
Every Sun, April - Oct Free 1pm-3pm Music Music Concourse at Lincoln & 9th St 510.530.0814
Union Street Spring Celebration & Easter Parade
Sunday April 4 Free Music 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Union Street ~ Gough to Steiner 800.310.6563
International Film Festival
April 22-May 6 $12 Music Times Vary Castro Theater & Kabuki Theaters 415.561.5000
Bouquets To Art
Mon-Sat March 19-24 $8 9am-5pm De Young Museum in Golden Gate Park 415.750.3504
ZooFest Fundraising Event
Friday April 23 Amount TBA 6pm-Midnight Music Zoo Rd on Great Highway, South of Sloat Ave 415.753.7173
Petaluma Butter & Egg Days Parade & Celebration
Saturday April 24 Free 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Historic Downtown Petaluma 800.310.6563
International Beer Festival
Saturday April 24 $60 7pm-10pm Fort Mason Center, Marina Blvd & Buchanan St sfbeerfest.com
Opening Day Boat Parade
Sunday April 26 Free & Dog Friendly 12pm-3pm Golden Gae Bridge to Pier 39 Waterfront 415.705.5500
New Living Expo
Fri, Sat & Sun April 30-May 2 $15-20 Times Vary SF Concourse Exhibition Center, 8th & Brannan 415.382.8300
May San Francisco Events
Yerba Buena Gardens Festival
Weekends May-Oct Free Times Vary Music 3rd & 4th St between Mission & Howard 415.543.1718
Uncorked Wine Festival
Saturday May 22 Free 1pm-6pm Music Ghirardelli Square on Beach between Larkin & Polk 800.310.6563
Carnaval San Francisco
Sat & Sun May 29 & 30 Free 10am-6pm Music Harrison between 16th & 24th Streets 415.920.0122
Oyster & Beer Festival
Say & Sun, Date TBA $15 11am-6pm Music Washington Square Park @ Union & Columbus 415.989.6222
June San Francisco Events
Stern Grove Sunday Festival
Every Sunday, June-August Free 2pm-4:30pm Music 19th Ave & Sloat Blvd in Golden Gate Park 415.252.6252
Union Street "Eco-Urban" Art Festival
Sat & Sun June 5 & 6 Free 10am-6pm Music On Union St between Gough & Steiner 800.310.6563
Haight Ashbury Street Fair
Sunday June 13 Free 11am-5:30pm Music Haight St. between Masonic & Steiner 415.292.323
North Beach Festival
Sat & Sun June 19 & 20 Free 10am-6pm Music Washington Square Park @ Grant & Green Streets 415.989.2220
LGBT* Pride Parade Celebration
Sat & Sun June 26 & 27 Free Noon-7pm Music Civic Center area on Market to Embarcadero 415.864.3733
*LGBT (or GLBT) is an initialism referring collectively to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender/transsexual people. In modern usage, the term LGBT relates to the diversity of sexuality and gender identity‐based cultures and is sometimes used to refer to anyone who is non‐heterosexual instead of exclusively to people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. The term has been adopted by the majority of LGBT community centers and LGBT media in most English‐speaking countries. wikipedia.com
July San Francisco Events
Filmore Jazz Festival
Sat & Sun July 3 & 4 Free 10am-6pm Music Filmore St between Jackson & Eddy 800.731.0003
AIDS Walk
Sunday July 18 Pledges 10am-6pm Music Begins & Ends Sharon Meadows in GG Park 415.615.9255
SF Theater Festival
Sunday July 25 Free 11am-5pm Yerba Buena Center on Mission 415.543.1718
August San Francisco Events
Aloha Festival
Sat & Sun August 7 & 8 Free 10am-5pm Music Presidio Parade Grounds, Lincoln & Graham 415.281.0221
Nihonmachi Street Fair
Sat & Sun August 14 & 15 Free 11am-6pm Music Japantown Area 415.771.9861
The San Rafael Food & Wine Festival
Saturday August 14 Admission is Free All Day Food & Wine Tasting Pass $25.00 All Day Food Tasting Only Pass $15.00 12:00 NOON - 6:00 PM Falkirk Cultural Center San Rafael 800.310.6563
Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center 17th Annual Hillwide Garage Sale
Saturday August 14 Free 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM Cortland Avenue ~ Bernal Heights 800.310.6563
American Craft Show
Fri, Sat & Sun August 13-15 $12 F,S 10am-6pm, Sun 10am-5pm Fort Mason Center, Marina Blvd & Buchanan St 800.836.3470
September San Francisco Events
San Francisco Blues Festival
Friday - Date TBAFree 12pm-1:30pm Sat & Sun - Date TBA $30-40 11am-6pm Music 415.979.5588
Portola Festival
Sunday - Date TBA Free 10am-4pm Music San Bruno Ave between Bacon & Silliman 415.574.9170
Ghirardelli Square Chocolate Festival
Sat & Sun Sept 11 & 12 $20+ 12:00 Noon to 5:00 PM Music Ghirardelli Square 800.310.6563
Taste of Fillmore
Saturday September 18 Free Admission, $20 "Tasting Wristband" Noon - 5:00 PM Music Fillmore St from Pine - California Streets 800.310.6563
A Taste of Downtown San Rafael
Wednesday September 22 Free Admission, $25 "Tasting Wristband" 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM Featuring a Free Movie @ 7:30 PM on A Street Between Fourth Street & Fifth Avenue ~ San Rafael, CA 800.310.6563
The Polk Street Blues Festival
Sat & Sun, Sept 25 & 26 Free 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM Music Polk Street from Pacific - Union Streets 800.310.6563
Folsom Street Fair*
Sunday September 26 $7 11am-6pm Music Folsom Street between 7th & 12th
*The Folsom Street Fair is an annual BDSM (bondage, discipline, sadism and masochism) and leather subculture street fair held on the last Sunday in September and caps San Francisco's "Leather Pride Week". It was started in 1984 and is California's third largest spectator event and the world's largest leather event and showcase for BDSM products and culture. It has grown as a non-profit run and non-profit benefiting organization with all donations at the gates going to charity groups as well as numerous fundraising schemes within the festival including games, beverage booths and even spanking for donations to capitalize on the adult-themed exhibitionism. wikipedia.com
October San Francisco Events
Documentary Film Festival
Daily - October 15-28 $10 Time Varies Roxie Theater, 16th & Valencia 415.820.3907
San Francisco Jazz Fall Season
Daily -Date TBA $25-65 Times Vary Call for locations 415.788.7353
Oktoberfest by the Bay
Thurs-Sun - Date TBA $15-25 Times Vary Music Fort Mason Center, Marina & Buchanan 888.746.7522
Hardly Strictly Blue Grass
Fri, Sat & Sun October 1-3 Free 11am-7pm Music Golden Gate Park @ Speedway Meadows 415.522.0333
Open Artists Studios
Saturdays & Sundays October 2-31 Free 11am-6pm Over 900 Artist's Studios, Maps available @ artspan.org 415.861.9838
Castro Street Fair
Sunday October 3 Free 10am-6pm Music Castro & Market St 415.841.1824
Fleet Week & Blue Angels
Sat & Sun October 9 & 10 Free 12pm-5pm Music Pier 39 Fisherman's Wharf at Beach St. 415.705.5500
The 22nd Annual Fiesta on the Hill
Sunday October 17 Free 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM Music Bernal Heights 800.310.6563
International Vintage Poster Fair
Fri, Sat & Sun October 29-31 $15 Times Vary Fort Mason Center, Marina & Buchanan 800.856.8069
November San Francisco Events
Fabulous Food Festival
Sat & Sun Nov 6-7 Free 10am-5pm Music Concourse Exhibit Ctr,8th & Brannan
Pier 39 Holiday Tree Lighting
Sunday November 21 Free 12pm-9pm Music Pier 39 @ Fisherman's Wharf 415.705.5500
Turkey Trail Trott
Thursday Nov 25 $28 8:30am-10am Polo Field Golden Gate Park, JFK & 36 ave 415.595.6934
San Rafael Parade of Lights & Winter Wonderland
Friday November 26th Snow Sledding Noon - 8:00 PM Marketplace 3:00 PM - 8:00 PM, Parade at 5:30 PM
Saturday November 27th Snow & Kids' activities 9:00 AM - Noon Fourth Street ~ A street to Lootens San Rafael 800.310.6563
Celebration of Craftswomen
Saturdays & Sundays Nov 27- Dec 5 $8.50 10am-5pm Music Fort Mason Center, Marina & Buchanan 415.248.1373
Run Wild 5K & 10K
Sunday November 28 $30-40 8:30 am-noon Music Golden Gate Park Music Concourse & Tea Gardens 415.759.2690
San Francisco Jazz Fall Season
Daily - Date TBA $25-65 Time Varies Music Call for Locations 415.788.7353
December San Francisco Events
Union Street Holiday Program
A month long celebration of holiday happenings Holiday Event on Saturday, December 4 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM Union Street between Van Ness & Steiner, Fillmore Street from Union to Lombard 800.310.6563
Great Dickens Christmas Fair
Saturdays & Sundays December 5-19 $20 11am-7pm Music Cow Palace on Geneva off Hwy 101 800.510.1558
KPFA Crafts & Music Fair
Sat & Sun December 11 & 12 $10 10am-6pm Music Concourse Exhibit Center @ 8th & Brannon 510.848.6767
College Emerald Bowl
Saturday - Late December $40-75 5:30pm-9pm AT&T Park @ 3rd & King St 415.947.2695
St. Patricks Day Parade 
