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Holidays in San Francisco for 2024 and 2025
by Jill Loeffler •
It's always fun spending the holidays in San Francisco. The city is full of activities with special events, cruises, and other fun things to do.
I've listed the holidays in order from January to December so you can check out what's happening when you visit.
This list includes both national holidays and others that draw large crowds of people such as Valentine's Day, Halloween, and New Year's Eve.
Fireworks display over the San Francisco Bay on Fourth of July, this annual display attractions up to 200,000 people every year!Disclaimer: I receive a small commission from some of the links on this page.
City and County of San Francisco Holidays
Is today a holiday in San Francisco? Check the San Francisco holiday calendar below.
On this page, you'll find ways to celebrate traditions such as St. Patrick's Day and Mother's Day, but it's also good to note the official San Francisco public holidays.
Some attractions close or alter their hours on these dates. Others remain open, and may be even busier than usual as people take advantage of a day off or a long weekend. (Find SF holiday attraction schedules here.)
Below is a calendar of the 2024 city of San Francisco holidays. The dates change every year, so be aware of them as you make your travel plans.
New Year's Day
SF starts New Year's right with many special events on New Year's Day. You will find holiday cruises as well as plenty of places to watch the college football bowl games.
New Year's Day is January 1 in San Francisco. Since it's a national holiday, many attractions are closed.
However, you can still take the open-top Hop-On Hop-Off Big Bus tour around town, or catch a theater performance like Hamilton at the Orpheum Theatre.
Learn More: All New Year's Events and Activities
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
2025 Holiday: Monday, January 20
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is always the third Monday in January. This three-day holiday weekend in San Francisco features several special events.
The largest of these events is the festival to commemorate the work of Dr. King, which runs from 8 am to 7 pm on the Monday holiday.
It includes a march through the streets of San Francisco, usually through the SOMA district. You can also listen to speakers, attend a film festival, and enjoy the work of local artists.
Learn More: Full Schedule of Events on MLK Day
Valentine's Day
These artistic hearts on Union Square switch out every few months and raise money for a local San Francisco hospital.Valentine's Day is always February 14, no matter what day of the week it falls on. This holiday in San Francisco features activities all day long.
A fun, unique tradition is the Great San Francisco Pillow Fight, which takes place at 6 pm at the Embarcadero Plaza across from the Ferry Building.
A romantic idea for couples is the popular California sunset boat cruise on the bay.
If this holiday falls during the week, you will find additional events on the closest weekend to it.
Learn More: Valentine's Day in SF
President's Day Weekend in SF
2025 Holiday: Monday, February 17
Another holiday in February is President's Day. This holiday is the third Monday in February.
Since it's a national holiday, it turns the weekend into a three-day weekend. Many people flood to the city for the long weekend. At times, it also coincides with Valentine's Day weekend.
This is a great time to catch a concert or a show by renowned groups like the SF Symphony.
More: Events on President's Day Weekend in SF
Saint Patrick's Day
Saint Patrick's Day is not a national holiday, but one that San Francisco celebrates in a large way. The holiday is on March 17.
You will find SF holiday celebrations on the Saturday before or after this date, beginning with a large parade down Market Street and a fun festival in the Civic Center Plaza.
Easter
2025 Holiday: Sunday, April 20
Easter is another holiday that draws a large number of visitors into San Francisco. Usually this holiday lands toward the end of March or early April.
On Easter weekend, you will find kids' activities such as Easter egg hunts. It's also a great time to take a day trip to Muir Woods and our beautiful wine country.
On Easter Sunday, you will also find a sunrise church service at the giant cross on top of Mt. Davidson that attracts thousands of attendees each year.
Learn More: Celebrating the Easter holiday in SF
Mother's Day
2025 Holiday: Sunday, May 11
Mother's Day is always the second Sunday in May. On this weekend in San Francisco, you will find lots of special activities designed to spoil your mom.
They range from special bay cruises to Sunday morning brunches.
Depending on what she likes to do, you could also take her shopping, have a relaxing picnic at the Palace of Fine Arts, or go see a show.
Learn More: Discover a full list of Mother's Day Activities in San Francisco
Memorial Day
Flags are placed in front of all the gravestones in the National Cemetery in the Presidio for the Memorial Day Weekend event.2025 Holiday: Monday, May 26
Memorial Day, a national holiday, is always the last Monday in May, which creates a three-day weekend.
This holiday weekend in San Francisco is full of activities. You can catch a baseball game in either SF or Oakland, enjoy one of several theater performances, and dance all weekend long at the Carnaval Festival in the Mission.
On Monday, to honor the true origin of this holiday, head out to the National Cemetery for their annual memorial event which starts at 10:30 am.
This is one of the city of San Francisco public holidays, but many attractions stay open.
Father's Day
2025 Holiday: Sunday, June 15
Father's Day is always the third Sunday in June.
On this day, you can typically catch a free performance at the Stern Grove Festival, or watch a Giants game in the afternoon.
Another fun adventure Dad might love is zipping around town on the GoCar tour.
Learn More: More Ways to Celebrate Father's Day holiday in SF
Juneteenth
As of 2021, Juneteenth is a federal holiday that commemorates the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation and the abolition of slavery in the US.
The San Francisco public holiday is June 19 each year, but the festival takes place on the Saturday before or after, which may or may not overlap with Father's Day weekend in San Francisco.
Enjoy food, games, music, a car show, and more on Fillmore Street.
Learn More: Find more details about the city's annual Juneteenth Festival
Independence Day
Every year, one of the largest holidays in San Francisco is Independence Day on July 4th. All day long, you can celebrate this holiday in Fisherman's Wharf with live music, special events, and cruises.
The day ends with a large fireworks display on the waterfront. The fireworks start just after 9:30 pm and last for around 30 minutes. On a clear day, it's one of the most beautiful fireworks displays in the world!
It's a national holiday, so some major attractions are closed.
Labor Day
Labor Day Weekend in San Francisco usually offers gorgeous weather with little fog or cloud cover. This picture of the Golden Gate Bridge was taken over Labor Day Weekend.2025 Holiday: Monday, September 1
The final San Francisco holiday of the summer is Labor Day. It lands on the first Monday of September.
This three-day weekend features free performances of Shakespeare in the Park and music at the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival. You can also catch a baseball game in either SF or Oakland.
One of the biggest events this weekend is the large arts and music festival in Sausalito, which is just across the bay.
It's a national holiday, but many attractions stay open.
Learn More: Labor Day SF
Halloween
Halloween display in San Francisco's Mission District, you will find decorations for this holiday all around the cityThrow on your favorite costume and head to San Francisco to celebrate Halloween. On this day, you will find plenty of activities for kids, dozens of 21+ costume parties, and a variety of other activities all around SF.
This holiday is on October 31 every year. If it falls on a weekday, you will find some events on the day of the holiday.
However, most events will fall on the Friday and Saturday on the weekend closest to the holiday.
Thanksgiving Day
2025 Holiday: Thursday, November 27
Thanksgiving is another important holiday in San Francisco. It is always the fourth Thursday in November.
On this day, several restaurants plan a special holiday meal for lunch, dinner, or both. Several tours run this day and some of SF's top attractions remain open.
Christmas
The colorful Christmas Tree at Pier 39 during the holidays. They usually light it a few days before Thanksgiving and keep it lit until early in the New Year.Christmas Eve is on December 24 and Christmas Day is on December 25. Visitors love spending Christmas in San Francisco.
On Christmas Eve, you will find quite a bit to do. Most of the attractions stay open until the late afternoon. You will also find some great events that night including Cirque du Soleil, the SF Ballet's Nutcracker, and several theater performances.
On Christmas Day, you will find that most attractions are closed and there are very few events planned. However, many restaurants are open and they serve special menus for lunch, dinner, or both.
- Christmas in SF
- Christmas Lights
- More SF Holiday Events
- Christmas Eve Dinner
- Christmas Dinner
- Find out what's open when
New Year's Eve
One of the best parts about spending the holidays in San Francisco is celebrating New Year's Eve on December 31.
The end-of-year festivities include dozens of 21+ events, dinner cruises, and a large fireworks display at midnight. The local transit systems stay open late to help people traveling around the bay to celebrate in San Francisco.
Most attractions close early, but are still open until the late afternoon or early evening. You will also find several restaurants with special meals, including some that have a view of the fireworks display.
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