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San Francisco Summer Festivals: Street Fairs, Wine Tasting, Beer Sampling & More
By: Jill Loeffler • Updated: March 4, 2025 • Published: June 6, 2017
San Francisco summer festivals run from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
I love festivals, so lucky for me, living in SF gives me the chance to attend one almost every weekend. There are SO many to choose from!
If you're in the mood for live entertainment, food, drinks, and other fun activities, you'll love checking out the SF festivals this summer.
My top 10 list of SF summer festivals includes San Francisco street fairs, like Carnaval and Pride, as well as San Francisco summer music festivals, such as the very popular Outside Lands.
Learn more about these and other top festivals in San Francisco every summer.
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1. Carnaval Festival & Parade
Date: May 24 & 25, Saturday and Sunday of Memorial Day Weekend
Location: Parade starts at 24th and Bryant, ends at 15th and Mission; Festival along Harrison Street between 17th and 24th
Carnaval marks the start of summer, as far as I'm concerned, and is one of the largest San Francisco summer events.
This two-day San Francisco fair features celebrations of Latin and Caribbean cultures along 17 blocks of the Mission District. As with other street fairs in San Francisco, it is free and open to the public.
There are numerous bands and DJs on the festival's five main stages to get you dancing in the streets. There are also tons of delicious food and drink options (this neighborhood is renowned for its cuisine).
In addition, on Sunday there is a massive parade. It includes groups in native dress, dancers, floats, low rider cars, and more.
The parade is always packed with people, so make sure to plan ahead. It starts at 9:30 am and lasts until 2 pm. When the parade ends, the festival begins for that day.
>> More details on this year's Carnaval event in San Francisco
2. North Beach Festival
Date: June 14 & 15, Saturday and Sunday of Father's Day Weekend
Location: Numerous locations around Columbus and Green Streets
The North Beach Festival is one of the longest-running San Francisco festivals. It has been going strong for more than 70 years and is still one of the best free festivals in SF today.
The event lasts from 11 am to 7 pm and includes more than 200 vendors on 11 blocks of our famed Italian district.
You'll find three stages of live entertainment, local gourmet food, beer and wine tasting, and loads of arts and crafts vendors.
This SF festival also has Italian chalk artists and a kids' area that the whole family will love.
A special event that you won't find at other SF summer festivals is the Blessing of the Animals, which occurs on both days. You are welcome to bring your pet along with you.
>> More on this year's North Beach Festival in SF
3. Union Street Festival
Date: Early June
Location: Union Street between Gough and Fillmore
This two-day festival in one of SF's hippest neighborhoods, the Marina/Cow Hollow, is another one of the best and longest-running free San Francisco summer festivals.
It occurs over two days, usually the first weekend in June, filling Union Street with food and drink, arts and crafts, live bands, DJs, and interactive art.
One of the reasons why this is one of the most popular street fairs in San Francisco is that they offer both a craft beer pavilion and a wine tasting pavilion.
If you aren't into beer and wine, there is a health and fitness pavilion as well as a fashion pavilion. This SF festival runs from about 11 am to 7 pm each day.
>> More information on this year's Union Street Festival
4. Juneteenth
Date: Mid-June
Location: Fillmore Street between Post and Turk
Every anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, Juneteenth celebrates the abolition of slavery, pride in African American culture, and how it has influenced the US.
It takes place in SF's historic Fillmore District because this area was once known as the "Harlem of the West," home to numerous Black businesses and hosting big-time Black entertainers, such as James Brown and Billie Holiday.
This event has many live performances lined up to perform on three stages. You will also find carnival rides, games, and a massive kids' zone.
There is more food than you could imagine, and it is all mouthwatering. You can also attend the annual hair and fashion show as well as their classic car show.
Come out to enjoy eight blocks of fun at one of the best free San Francisco summer festivals from 11 am to 6 pm.
>> More on this year's Juneteenth event
5. San Francisco Pride Parade & Festival
Date: June 28 & 29
Location: Festival at the Civic Center Plaza; Parade along Market Street
This free two-day event celebrates LGBTQ+ folks and gives the community the freedom to be out and proud. It is the largest Pride celebration in the nation!
The parade is always on Sunday morning. It starts at 10:30 am at Beale and Market Street and ends at 9th and Market Street in downtown San Francisco.
This is a can't-miss part of the festival, since so many people come out dressed in wonderful outfits to have fun. Make sure to get there early, as it can get very crowded.
As for the actual festival, it is a party like you'll never forget. There are over 20 stages, 300 vendors, dancers, and other entertainers. It runs from noon until 6 pm on Saturday and 11 am to 6 pm on Sunday.
Pride is another one of the San Francisco summer festivals where you will find loads of food and drink available all weekend long.
>> Information for celebrating Pride in SF
6. Fourth of July Fireworks & Waterfront Festival
The annual Fourth of July Waterfront Festival includes a wonderful fireworks display over the San Francisco Bay once it's darkDate: July 4, Independence Day
Location: SF's Fisherman's Wharf waterfront
The Fourth of July Waterfront Festival is a full day of activities and live entertainment in San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf district.
It includes fun events at Pier 39, Aquatic Park, and Ghirardelli Square. Many of the events are free and family-friendly.
All of these activities will keep you busy as you wait for the grand finale of the day—the fireworks show.
Every year, the fireworks draw in thousands. There are two sets fired off over the waterfront in Fisherman's Wharf. The show starts at about 9:30 pm and lasts for about 20 minutes.
>> More fun Fourth of July activities this year in San Francisco
7. Fillmore Jazz Festival
One of the stages at the Fillmore Jazz Festival every summer in San Francisco's Pacific Heights districtDate: July 5 & 6
Location: Fillmore Street from Jackson to Eddy
If you are looking for more live jazz than you could imagine—and for free!—then the Fillmore Jazz Festival is the dream San Francisco summer music festival for you.
This two-day SF festival offers performances at five different venues along Fillmore Street, which runs through the Pacific Heights, Japantown, and Fillmore districts.
You'll find an incredible variety of jazz music from 10 am to 6 pm on both days. In addition, there are arts and crafts vendors, gourmet food, and a beer garden.
Make sure to bring your ID, as you can't enter the beer garden if you don't have one. This means if your friends go in but you forget yours, you can't go in with them.
If you are looking to check out the neighborhood and relax, there are many bars and restaurants lining the event that have excellent food and drink options as well.
>> This year's Fillmore Jazz Festival details
8. Outside Lands Music Festival
Date: August 8 - 10
Location: Western section of Golden Gate Park
Simply stated, Outside Lands is one of the best San Francisco music festivals. It is situated in gorgeous Golden Gate Park.
Unlike most of the other San Francisco summer festivals on my list, this three-day festival requires a paid ticket. It is jam-packed with world-famous headliners, while also showcasing up and coming and local bands.
In the past, these bands have included Duran Duran, Radiohead, Chance the Rapper, Lionel Richie, and others.
The festival makes sure to cover different styles of music so that everyone who attends can hear and see the bands that they want to experience.
This is one of the SF summer festivals that you need to plan ahead for, because it is so popular that tickets sell out quickly.
Doors open at 11 am each day, then the music starts at noon and continues until 10 pm.
Parking is incredibly limited, so using mass transit or Lyft/Uber is your best bet.
>> This year's Outside Lands lineup and ticketing details
9. Stern Grove Concerts in the Park
Dates: Sundays from June 15 - August 17
Location: Stern Grove near Stonestown and Lake Merced
Although the Stern Grove summer concert series isn't technically a festival, I list it here because the festive community atmosphere definitely has a festival air to it.
These free summer concerts have been running every Sunday from late June to late August for over 80 years, and there is no end in sight!
This San Francisco summer music festival attracts musicians of different genres from around the world. Past performers include Patti Smith, The Flaming Lips, Indigo Girls, and Santana.
Although the event is free, there is limited space in the grove and it is so popular that you must reserve your tickets in advance online.
Make sure to get there early and grab a place to lay out your picnic blanket (even though you'll probably end up dancing on it). The shows usually last about 2 to 3 hours.
>> This year's Stern Grove dates and details
10. Hayes Valley Carnival
Date: July (dates TBD for 2025)
Location: Hayes Street at Octavia
Another one of the awesome neighborhood festivals in San Francisco is the Hayes Valley Carnival, which has been bringing joy to the city for over 100 years since it began in 1911.
It's a one-day event in late July that features circus acts, carnival games, and tasty food!
You have the chance to see two circus shows at this SF street festival, the first one at 1 pm and the second at 3 pm.
All activities run from noon until 5 pm in the beautiful Hayes Valley neighborhood.
Places to Stay in SF
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Booking: Find great deals all around San Francisco for your upcoming stay!
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VRBO: Besides hotels, you'll also find some great places to stay locally through VRBO. Book an apartment or a room and feel more like a local. Find some great places to stay on VRBO here.
Other Big Summer Events
SF Giants Baseball
Dates: Around a dozen home games each month in the summer
Location: Oracle Park
Our San Francisco Giants play in one of the most beautiful ballparks in the country. Oracle Park opened in 2000 with some of the best amenities around, including food, beer, and a special kids' area.
There are numerous great bars and restaurants outside the stadium in the China Basin neighborhood, full of Giants fans having a great time before the game starts.
Be aware that even though it is summer, it can get VERY cold when the fog rolls in. So, make sure to bundle up and wear layers in case it is warm during the day and then gets cold at night.
If you decide you don't want to go into the stadium but still want to catch a bit of the action, check out the free area near McCovey Cove. The ushers will let about 100 people stand in front of a fence that is ground-level for 3 innings.
>> Details to attend an SF Giants game this summer
Here are a few of the upcoming games.
Theater Performances
Dates: Several shows each week throughout San Francisco
When you visit San Francisco, you will find a multitude of theater shows each week. There are many traveling Broadway shows that come through every year.
These have included hits such as Mama Mia, Wicked, Hamilton, and The Lion King, which perform in larger venues like the Orpheum.
If you are looking for more off-Broadway or local shows, you will find many to choose from also. These are usually in smaller, more intimate venues, and the quality of the shows is just as professional.
Prices of these shows can be as low as $30 and up to a few hundred dollars depending on the shows, dates, and seats that you choose.
Make sure to check the calendar and plan ahead so you can see the shows that will entertain and enthrall you.
>> Full schedule of theater performances this summer
More Fun Summer Activities in San Francisco
Hi, I'm Jill!
Dreaming of a San Francisco vacation? As a proud local, I'm here to share my insider tips and personal experiences to help you make the most of this iconic city!
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