San Francisco Festivals in 2024 and 2025

The streets are alive again in 2024 and 2025 with San Francisco festivals and street fairs. Many of these SF events draw hundreds of people and are a tradition in many of these neighborhoods.

I often attend at least one festival every weekend.

There are just so many great ones and I love checking them out in order to offer you the most up-to-date information on each one! 

Entrance is free to many of them. This allows you to walk around and see what the festival is all about. 

You can walk the streets and enjoy live music, food and drinks. You can also visit booths with original art work, crafts, jewelry and more.

I typically stay at most festivals for just an hour or two. It's a fun way to spend time in SF! 

Types of SF Festivals

In order to make them easier to find, I've grouped some of the top festivals into themes.

You can find a list of the top options from the links below. You can also scroll down to my list of top festivals by month below!

Disclaimer: I receive a small commission from some of the links on this page.

If you are looking for a festival during a certain month, you will find an up-to-date schedule of festivals in San Francisco below. You can also skip ahead to a specific month here:

• November 
• December
• January 
• February 
• March 
• April
• May 
• June 
• July 
• August
• September

November 2024

Tree Lighting Ceremonies

• Dozens of tree lighting ceremonies all around San Francisco
• Watch them in Union Square, Pier 39, and Ghirardelli Square
• Enjoy parades, live music, and other family fun as well
• Entire list of tree lighting ceremonies in SF this year

Hip Hop International Dance Fest

• One of the largest Hip Hop Dance Festivals in the world
• Three days of performances
• All shows at the Palace of Fine Arts Theater
• Dates: 11/9 & 11/10

Craft Festivals at Fort Mason

• Offer unique pieces from popular local and national artists
• Buy gifts for the holidays or yourself
• Offer everything from jewelry to art work
• West Coast Craft Fair: 11/23 & 11/24
• Renegade Craft Fair: 11/2 & 11/3

Great Dickens Christmas Fair

• Offers the history at the Great Dickens Christmas Fair
  
• Enjoy food, crafts, and entertainment
• Five weekends in November & December
• All activities are at the Cow Palace
• Dates: Five weekends from November 23 - December 22, also the Friday after Thanksgiving

>> Full calendar of events in November

December 2024

Great Dickens Christmas Fair

• Dates for 2024: Five weekends from November 23 - December 22, also the Friday after Thanksgiving
• Stroll through history at the Great Dickens Christmas Fair
• Enjoy food, crafts, and entertainment
• Five weekends in November and December
• All activities are at the Cow Palace

Tree Lighting Ceremonies & Holiday Events

• Dozens of tree lighting ceremonies all around San Francisco
• Watch them in Union Square, Pier 39, and Ghirardelli Square
• Enjoy parades, live music, and other family fun as well
• Entire list of tree lighting ceremonies in SF this year

Another Hole in the Head

• Annual Film Festival
  
• Genre: Horror, Sci-Fi, Dark Fantasy, and Exploitation
• 10 days of independent films
• Dates: December 1 - 25 (both in person and online access to films)

>> Full calendar of events for December

January 2025

Martin Luther King Jr. Festival and March

• Celebrate the work of Martin Luther King Jr.
• All day long event with a film festival, art festival, march and more
• Dates: 1/13 - 1/20 with most events on the holiday itself on January 20
• Click here for more details

SF Sketchfest

• San Francisco comedy festival
  
• Performances at venues throughout the city
• 2025 Dates:  1/16 - 2/2
• More event details and upcoming performances

>> More San Francisco things to do in January

February 2025

Chinese New Year's Street Festival & Parade

• Dates: January 25 - February 16
• Parade is on Saturday, February 15
• Fair includes traditional dancing, art, and Chinese food
• Discover lion dancing, calligraphy, and other activities
• Click here for more details about the annual Chinese New Year Festival and Parade

SF Indie Fest

• Independent Film Festival heading into its 26th year
• Show include the best in independent, alternative and subversive movies from around the world
• One of SF's largest film festivals
• 2025 dates are February 6 - 16

Noise Pop Festival

• Independent film, art, and music
• 2025 Dates are 2/20 - 3/2
• Several venues around San Francisco
• Visit their site for tickets and a full schedule of performers

>> More on these and other SF festivals in February

March 2025

SF Giants Fan Fest

• 2025 Date is TBD at Oracle Park
• Featuring Giants alumni, Giants Broadcasters and Lou Seal
• Find gear for the 2025 season
• Get your picture taken with the World Series trophies
• Meet other SF Giants fans
• It's free, but you must reserve tickets in advance.
• Click here for more details and ticketing information

Saint Patrick's Day Parade & Celebration

• Parade: Saturday March 15, starts at 11:30 am and runs until around 2 pm
• Celebration: Runs from 2 pm to 6 pm
• At Civic Center Plaza in the heart of the city
• 2025 theme is TBD
• See pictures and learn more about this SF parade

>> More details on our March festivals

April 2025

Bay Area Brew Festival

• Sample wines from dozens of national and international brewers
• Enjoy gourmet food from SF's famous food trucks (food sold separately)
• General admission $50 from 1 pm to 4 pm or from 7 pm to 10 pm
• Early admission is $65 and runs from Noon to 4 pm or 6 pm to 10 pm
• VIP admission $90 from Noon to 4 pm or 6 pm to 10 pm
• Presidio Main Lawn
• Date: TBD
• Visit their site to find tickets

Ocean Film Festival

• 2025 festival is April 11 - 13
• More than 50 works that explore our amazing oceans
• Pieces about the ocean's ecosystem, interesting plants and animals and more
• Visit their site for this years films

Cherry Blossom Festival

• Two weekend long celebration every spring
• In SF's Japantown neighborhood
• Dates: Weekends from TBD
• Listen to traditional Japanese music, sample gourmet treats and visit dozens of other vendors
• Find additional details

Cesar Chavez Holiday Parade and Festival

• Celebrates the life and work of this labor and civil rights leader
• Date: TBD
• Parade starts at 11 am at Dolores Park
• Festival is on 24th Street between Folsom and Bryant from 10 am to 5 pm
• Festival includes entertainment, music and arts & crafts booths
• More information on this year's event

San Francisco International Film Festival

• Annual International Film Festival
• Features dozens of films and live events over a 5 day period
• Showcases narrative feature films, live action, animated shorts, television and theatrical dramas
• Dates: 4/17 - 4/27
• More on this year's event

Bay Area Dance Week

• 600+ free performances in San Francisco and the Bay Area
• Shows from both amateur and professional dancers
• 10-day event
• Dates: TBD

>> A calendar of more festivals in April

May 2025

Mission Carnaval Celebration

• Dates: 5/24 - 5/25
• Always the Saturday and Sunday of Memorial Day Weekend
• Street fair celebrating diversity in the neighborhood and throughout the world
• Focused on the Latin American and Caribbean cultures
• Food, music and dancing in the streets
• Festival is free
• Learn more about Carnaval

Taiwanese American Cultural Festival

• Enjoy Taiwanese food, music, and other cultural activities
• Free and open to the public
• Event in Union Square from 10 am to 4 pm
• Date is TBD

>> May calendar of festivals

>> More May events in San Francisco

>> May concert calendar in SF

June 2025

North Beach Festival

• Dates are TBD
• From 11 am to 7 pm both days in the North Beach neighborhood
• Arts and crafts booths
• Gourmet food booths
• Stages with live entertainment
• Italian street painting and beverage gardens
• Children's activity area
• Admission is free
• Find more details here

Stern Grove Festival Free Concerts in the Park

• Every Sunday afternoon from mid-June to mid-August
• Specific dates for 2025 are TBD
• Weekly outdoor musical festival
• Starts at 2 pm
• Admission is free, but you must register for tickets in advance
• Click for more details

Union Street Festival

• Dates: TBD
• In the Marina District, on Union Street between Gough and Fillmore
• Crafts booths and food from local vendors
• Live entertainment and kids activities
• Admission is free
• Click here for more details

SF Jazz Fest

• Dates: TBD
• Two week long festival of jazz performances
• Tickets are now on sale

Gay Pride Parade & Festival

• Annual event with a large parade and festival
• Dates: TBD
• Parade is on Sunday morning along Market Street
• Festival is both days in and around the Civic Center District near City Hall
• Click here for more details

Juneteenth Festival

• Date is TBD
• Celebrating the anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation
• Along Fillmore Street
• Live music, amusement park rides for the kids, other community resources and activities
• Free and open to the public
• Click here for more details

Soy & Tofu Festival

• Date is TBD
• Japantown Peace Plaza
• Sample soy and tofu products from a variety of vendors
• Enjoy live music from Asian American performers
• Participate in the interactive games
• Attend an educational session on the uses of soy

>> Additional festivals in June

>> More events in June

>> June concert calendar

July 2025

SF Free Folk Festival

• TBD for 2025
• One full day of music, dance workshops, concerts, crafts and more
• Free festival, but you can support the festival with a donation
• Located in Golden Gate Park

Fillmore Jazz Festival

• TBD for July 5 & 6
• In the Pacific Heights neighborhood
• One of the largest free jazz festivals on the west coast
• From 10 am to 6 pm both days
• Hundreds of booths showcasing unique art, crafts and other goodies
• Dozens of food and beverage booths
• On Fillmore Street between Jackson and Eddy Streets
• Full live music schedule and event details

Hayes Valley Carnival

The Hayes Valley Carnival is one of the longest running festivals in San Francisco. In 2025, they will celebrate their 114th anniversary.

• Date for 2025 is TBD
• Runs from Noon to 5 p.m.
• Hayes and Octavia Streets in Hayes Valley
• Free admission and includes some engaging performances, carnival games and prizes

Stern Grove Music in the Park

• Every Sunday afternoon from mid-June to mid-August
• Specific dates for 2025 are TBD
• Weekly outdoor musical festival
• Starts at 2 pm
• Admission is free
• Click for more details

Yerba Buena Gardens Festival

• Annual event at the Yerba Buena Gardens in SOMA
  
• Runs from May through October
• Several performances each week from kids shows to local musicians
• Click here for this year's full schedule of performances

>> July festivals calendar

>> More events in July in San Francisco

>> Concert calendar for July

August 2025

Outside Lands Music Festival

• One of the largest outdoor live music festivals in SF
• Dates: August 8 - 10
• In Golden Gate Park on the western side of San Francisco
• Features gourmet food, internationally recognized wines and work of hundreds of arts on display.
• Click here for this year's line-up and event details

Nihonmachi Street Fair in Japantown

• Asian-Pacific American festival that features traditional and non-traditional performances, art, music and more
• Sample yummy foods from Asian Pacific Countries as well as San Francisco favorites
• Two stages with live music all weekend long including everything from jazz to rock
• Bring along the kids for Asian inspired crafts and other fun games
• Dates are TBD
• Click here for details

Stern Grove

• Every Sunday afternoon from mid-June to mid-August
• Specific dates for 2025 are TBD
• Weekly outdoor musical festival
• Starts at 2 pm
• Admission is free
• Click for more details

Fringe Festival

• Grassroots theater festivals
• 2025 Dates: TBD
• All performances at the Cutting Ball Theater
• Dozens of groups performing a total of more than 100 shows

>> More events in August in SF

>> Concert calendar for August

September 2025

Haight Street Fair

• Date: TBD
• In the Haight Ashbury District
• Three stages of live music
• From 11 am to 5:30 pm
• Six blocks of vendors from crafts to gourmet treats
• Admission is free
• Find more details here

Chinatown Mid-Autumn Moon Festival

• 2025 Dates TBD
• Starts with a parade on Saturday morning
• Features live entertainment, arts & crafts, and traditional food all weekend long
• 11 am to 6 pm both days
• Click here for more details and the full entertainment schedule

Folsom Street Fair

• 2025 date is TBD
• Worlds largest leather & fetish event
• From 11 am to 6 pm
• On Folsom Street between 8th and 13th Streets
• Admission is free
• Visit their site for more details

San Francisco Greek Food Festival

• SF's only Greek Food Festival
• In the Mission at the Annunciation Cathedral
• 2025 dates are TBD
• Enjoy traditional food, music, and wine

More September 2025 Festivals

• TBD: Comedy Day in Golden Gate Park from Noon to 5 pm
• TBD: Oktoberfest on Front from 2 pm to 10 pm
• TBD: Fiesta De Las Americas from 11 am to 6 pm on 24th Street from Folsom to Bryant Streets
• TBD: Armenia Food Festival at St. Gregory Church
• TBD: Ever Higher Excelsior Arts & Music Festival
• TBD: SF Shakespeare Festival in Sue Bierman Park
• TBD: Cambodia Day in Union Square from 10 am to 8: 30 pm
• TBD: German Day in Golden Gate Park from 11 am to 4 pm

>> More events in San Francisco in September

>> Full San Francisco concert calendar for September

October 2025

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass

• Free bluegrass festival held in Golden Gate Park that draws in more than 150,000 people each day
• Dates: TBD
• Music is free, dozens of food and beverage vendors on hand selling a variety of items
• Find additional details for the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival

Castro Street Fair

• Date is TBD from 11 am to 6 pm
• Intersection of Market Street & Castro Street in the Castro
• Live music, almost a hundred booths
• Small entrance fee that is donated to local non-profit organizations
• More Castro Street Fair details

Fleet Week

• Date: TBD
• Along the waterfront in both Fisherman's Wharf and the Marina Districts
• Thousands of people attend every year
• Blue Angels perform over the weekend
• See pictures from previous years and find the calendar of events for Fleet Week in San Francisco

Dance Film Festival

• Date: TBD
• All films focus on the art of dance
• Most films show at the Bravo Theater in San Francisco

Litquake

• Longest running literary festival in SF
• Dates are TBD
• Literary events from panel discussions to author readings
• All around San Francisco
• Click here for this year's schedule

Potrero Hill Festival

• Date is TBD from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• In Potrero Hill on 20th between Wisconsin and Missouri
• Local musicians, food, historians, and other activities for the entire family
• Visit their site for more details

>> More San Francisco events in October

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