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San Francisco Events 2024
by Jill Loeffler •
The San Francisco events calendar is full of fun and unique activities every day of the year.
Attending one or more of these will make your trip an unforgettable experience.
Entertainment includes sporting events, festivals, concerts, wine-tasting events, and street fairs.
I've created calendars for the best events by month so you can find what you are looking for quickly.
You will also find what else is happening with popular events such as the SF symphony, ballet, and theater & Broadway performances.
Beautiful red fireworks over the SF Bay on the Fourth of July, with fog starting to set in over the waterDisclaimer: I receive a small commission from some of the links on this page.
Upcoming Events by Month
More Top San Francisco Events by Month
January
Top San Francisco events in January are often indoors. This time of year is our rainy season, so many of the large events are indoors.
There are two big holidays this month. The first is New Year's Day, and the second is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
The calendar of events for January includes SF Sketchfest, one of the largest comedy festivals around.
They feature internationally recognized comedians as well as several local favorites.
>> More events in San Francisco in January
February
San Francisco events in February include one of the largest and most famous wine festivals around. The SF Chronicle Wine Tasting Event compares American wines and selects winners from hundreds of entries. You can taste their wines during their public tasting day.
The Chinese New Year's Parade & Festival also often falls in February. This event celebrates the Lunar New Year and the date changes each month.
It's also fun to celebrate Valentine's Day in San Francisco with great places to spoil your honey. Use my Valentine's Day guide to find some fun things to do this memorable holiday.
President's Day is in February, and SF is a great place to spend this popular three-day weekend. I've pulled together a complete guide for President's Day Weekend so you can easily find fun things to do.
>> More February events in San Francisco
March
The San Francisco events in the March calendar include a large Saint Patrick's Day Festival and Parade. It's usually the Saturday before the holiday. If St. Paddy's Day falls on a Saturday, they often have the parade and festival that day.
Use my guide for other fun things to do on St. Paddy's Day from fun parties at local Irish Pubs to top concerts.
In addition, there are two notable film festivals. The Ocean Film Festival is all about the ocean and the people who use it daily. It's also about the pollution wrecking the environment and what we can all do to help.
The second is the SF Human Rights Film Festival, which is all about human rights issues from around the world.
>> More events in March in San Francisco
April
What events are happening in San Francisco in April? As the rainy season ends, you will find several fun outdoor events in San Francisco each April.
This is when the Cherry Blossom Festival happens in Japantown. The two-weekend long event offers you a chance to immerse yourself in the Japanese culture with traditional music, dance, and cuisines.
My favorite every year is watching the Taiko Drummers perform.
Easter is usually celebrated in late March or April every year.
There are dozens of fun things to do on Easter weekend. Many restaurants, shops, and attractions are open regular hours all weekend.
This is also when the SF Giants kick off their season at Oracle Park. Here are some additional things on the calendar this month in SF.
May
You will also find tons of San Francisco entertainment and events in May. There are plenty of things to do for Mother's Day and Memorial Day Weekend.
Bay to Breakers is a popular event to attend or participate in. This running race takes participants from the east side of SF (the Bay) to the Pacific Ocean (the Breakers).
Runners dress in costumes and the event turns into an all-day party all around San Francisco.
These are a few other annual San Francisco events in May.
June
You will find a street festival or two or three every weekend in June. The biggest event each June is the annual Gay Pride Parade & Festival.
It's the last weekend in June every year and offers a colorful weekend of live music, dancing in the streets, and a wonderful weekend of love and acceptance.
Father's Day is also a busy weekend with tons of fun things to do, from baseball games to festivals. Find details on my Father's Day guide.
Other top festivals in June in San Francisco include the North Beach Festival, Union Street Festival, and Juneteenth Festival.
Here are some additional San Francisco events in June.
- Frameline Film Festival
- Japan Day
July
What's going on in July in San Francisco? This is one of our busiest months, with visitors from all around the US celebrating the Fourth of July.
The large Waterfront Festival and 4th of July fireworks display in San Francisco is on the 4th every year in the Fisherman's Wharf District.
The Fourth of July Holiday and weekend is packed with fun activities.
- Find my recommendations for the Fourth of July
- Get additional ideas for the Fourth of July around the SF Bay Area
Other fun things to do in July include the Fillmore Jazz Festival, and Breastfest Beer Festival. Additional events include Laborfest, the Frozen Film Festival, and the Jewish Film Festival.
August
August is still full of fun San Francisco events. This month, tens of thousands of people descend upon Golden Gate Park for the annual Outside Lands Music Festival.
It's one of the biggest summer events for music and wine lovers.
In August, the SF 49ers also take the field for their first preseason game of the year at Levi's Stadium.
The SF Giants also offer more than a dozen games this month at Oracle Park.
Here are a few other top things to do this month in SF.
- Japan Film Festival
- Nihonmachi Street Fair
September
September is the start of our summer. It's the best time of the year here, and when you find so many things to do, you won't know which ones to choose!
Some of the biggest events include SF Giants baseball, 49ers football, and the Chinatown Autumn Moon Festival. Other top events include the Haight Street Fair and Comedy Day in Golden Gate Park.
Labor Day Weekend is also the first Monday in September. Find great things to do all weekend long.
October
Our "summer" continues through October.
This month's biggest events include Fleet Week, a week-long celebration to support our military.
It's along the waterfront in Fisherman's Wharf and offers three days of airshows featuring the Blue Angles.
Open Studios is a four-weekend long event where you can step inside local artists' studios to watch them at work, ask questions, and buy some of their unique art.
Litquake is a 10-day-long literary event featuring authors and others in the publishing world. It includes talks, meet & greets, panel discussions and workshops. Activities for this festival are all over the city.
Halloween is a top holiday in October. Here are my guides to help you celebrate this annual holiday.
These are just a few of the other popular options this month.
- Potrero Hill Festival
- Italian Heritage Parade
- SF International Festival of Short Films
- Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival
- Castro Street Fair
November
The holidays are approaching when November arrives.
It's the time of year when SF lights up its streets, squares, and popular attractions during our annual Holiday Tree Lighting festivals.
Additional fun things to do this month include SF 49ers Football, American Indian Film Festival, and Transgender Film Festival. Other highlights include the Renegade Craft Fair, the South Asian Film Festival, and the West Coast Craft Fair.
Here are some of my recommendations for Thanksgiving Day and Weekend:
- Overall Thanksgiving Day Guide
- Thanksgiving Day Dinner Recommendations
- Turkey Trot Runs Around the Bay Area
December
The year wraps up with plenty of Christmas and New Year's shows, fireworks, festivals, and activities. You can also catch a performance of the SF Ballet Nutcracker, take your picture with Santa in SF, or dress the part in the annual SantaCon SF party.
Make sure to check out my Holiday Attraction Schedule, too, so you know what's open when.
Here are some other fun holiday activities and events:
More fun things to do for New Year's Eve:
Ongoing Events & Performances
Theater and Broadway Show
The San Francisco theater calendar is chock full of amazing shows. Each year, you can find hundreds of performances from romantic comedies to dark dramas.
In addition to small, local performances, two theaters offer Broadway shows. Visit my calendar for an up-to-date list of San Francisco theater shows this year.
More Performing Arts
In addition to theater, San Francisco is home to several world-renowned performing arts companies. Check out the upcoming schedule for the ballet, opera, and symphony.
Sporting Events
The San Francisco Bay Area is home to many professional sports teams and there are games almost every day of the year.
Here are the top sports teams around the SF Bay Area:
Top San Francisco Events by Day & Season
Are you looking for events in San Francisco that are happening on a particular day or for the season? You will find several fun things to do all year long and special San Francisco events each day of the week.
Other Popular Annual Events
Every year, there are San Francisco events that run for more than one day. These include running races, conferences, and, one of the most popular, the Stern Grove Festival. Learn more about each one below including the top annual events in SF.
- 50 Best Annual Events
- Races in SF
- Conference Schedule
- All Festivals & Street Fairs
- Stern Grove Festival
- Yerba Buena Gardens Festival
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