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20 Top Summer Events in San Francisco in 2025: The Best Street Fairs, Concerts, & Other Activities
Written by: Jill Loeffler • Published: May 20, 2015 • Updated: January 13, 2025
Discover the 20 top summer events in San Francisco 2025. Every year, you will find an amazing lineup of events all season long.
They range from Outside Lands, a large music festival in Golden Gate Park, to SF Giants baseball at Oracle Park.
Other highlights this year include free live music at Stern Grove Park, free entertainment & fireworks for the Fourth of July, and several award-winning theater productions.
My most recent updates include new photos, different events, and more finalized dates for this summer!
Disclaimer: I receive a small commission from some of the links on this page.
1. Concerts & Live Music
This summer, you will find a number of concerts and live music events in San Francisco and all around the SF Bay Area.
Major performances take place at top venues including the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, the Fillmore, and the Warfield.
You can also catch live performances at several festivals this summer. Outside Lands, for example, offers an incredible lineup of popular artists for three packed days in Golden Gate Park.
Here are a few big concerts on the schedule for this summer in SF:
- 6/30: Shakira at Oracle Park
- 7/1: Post Malone & Jelly Roll at Oracle Park
- 8/8 - 8/10: Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival in Golden Gate Park
- 8/15: Zach Bryan at Golden Gate Park
Dates: Various Dates this Summer
Find additional concerts for June, July and August.
2. Fillmore Jazz Festival
One of the stages at the annual Fillmore Jazz Festival in San Francisco. This is one of two stages with live music at this event.The largest free jazz festival on the west coast is in San Francisco either the weekend before or after Fourth of July weekend.
The Fillmore Jazz Festival is all day on Saturday and Sunday and covers twelve blocks in the Pacific Heights District.
In addition to free, live jazz music, you can enjoy gourmet food, cold beverages, and arts and crafts from vendors from around the US.
2025 Dates: July 5 & 6
Learn More: Summer Fillmore Jazz Festival
More: Additional Summer festivals every year
3. Fourth of July Fireworks & Celebration
Fireworks over the San Francisco Bay during the annual Fourth of July show in Fisherman's Wharf. I love how the fireworks reflect on the water!The largest of the summer events in San Francisco is on July 4th. The annual waterfront celebration includes live music in Fisherman's Wharf, fun activities all day long, and a colorful fireworks display at dark.
Most activities are free, and I recommend getting there early to grab your place for the show.
If I'm only coming for the fireworks, I typically try to arrive around 7 pm. That gives me time to find a spot among the crowds of others waiting for the show to begin.
Date: July 4
Learn More: Fourth of July Fireworks & Celebration in San Francisco
4. Giants Baseball
A view from the upper deck at Oracle Park during a Giants baseball game. This was on a cool August night, but the weather was perfect!Head over to Oracle Park to catch our Major League Baseball team in action. The San Francisco Giants play at home more than a dozen times in June, July, and August.
This summer they will take on teams such as the LA Dodgers, San Diego Padres, and the Arizona Diamondbacks.
If you plan to attend a night game, make sure you bring along a jacket.
In my experience of going to dozens of night games over the years, the temperature in the stadium cools down quickly once the sun goes down.
There are just a few of the top series this summer:
- 6/2 - 6/5: San Diego Padres
- 7/11 - 7/13: Los Angeles Dodgers
- 8/11 - 8/13: San Diego Padres
Dates: Various Dates Each Month
Learn More: Full Schedule
Tickets: Find Tickets for All Games
5. SF Doc Fest
One of my favorite film festivals every summer is SF Doc Fest. For eleven days every summer, this festival offers some of the best new documentaries.
These aren't your standard documentaries.
This festival features odd and unusual stories that may not get screen time elsewhere.
They are often very timely and relevant, including human interest pieces, films about the environment, activism, and other themes.
This summer film festival includes short, mid-length, and feature films.
Date: May 29 - June 8
>> Find additional film festivals this summer around SF
6. Summer Cruises
I took this picture from the indoor seating area of one of the Red and White cruises. All cruises have both indoor and outdoor seating, but you don't have to sit outside to soak in the amazing views on these cruises.Special cruises are among the top summer events in San Francisco. You will find several of them around the holidays and throughout the season.
They include popular picks such as sunset cruise, as well as the Memorial Day weekend and Fourth of July cruises.
I go on these cruises a lot and enjoy the experience of being on the water.
These are just a few of my favorites.
1-Hour Bay Cruise
Tickets: Find tickets for all cruises this summer
Nothing beats this fun, one hour cruise on the SF Bay. In my experience on this cruise, it offers a great overview of the attractions on the SF Bay.
My favorite part is taking pictures as the boat approaches and cruises under the Golden Gate Bridge!
Sunset Cruise on the SF Bay
Tickets: Find tickets for all nights this summer
What I love most about going on this cruise in the summer is that you get the chance to see the sunset as you head toward the Golden Gate Bridge.
Now, some nights I've been on this, it was foggy so you couldn't see the full sunset, but that also added to the experience!
The cruise lasts about 90 minutes. It starts and ends in Fisherman's Wharf.
In addition to the Golden Gate Bridge, you will also see Alcatraz, Sausalito, and the SF skyline during the cruise.
I enjoy the narration too as it offers a great overview of some of our most important attractions.
7. Hayes Valley Carnival
2025 marks the 114th year for the Hayes Valley Carnival. This event offers carnival games and prizes.
There are also free performances one or two local circus companies. Circus performances are at 1 pm and 3 pm.
It's a wonderful family-friendly event that starts at noon and runs until 5 pm.
All activities are around the Hayes and Octavia area.
2025 Date: TBD
>> Visit the Hayes Valley calendar for more details
8. North Beach Festival
This is one of the stages at the North Beach Festival every year on Father's Day Weekend in San Francisco.The North Beach Festival is one of the largest street fairs every summer, which lasts two days.
This annual event features several stages of live music, activities for the kids, and more than 20 gourmet food stands.
You can also enjoy Italian Street Painting, a kid's chalk art area, and the blessing of the animals celebration both afternoons in North Beach.
Head over to Columbus and Grant Avenues to get in on the action.
Dates: June
Learn More: North Beach Festival Details
9. Opera
Every summer, the SF Opera performs several shows in June and early July.
This summer, you can see the following performances.
- La Boheme, 6/3, 6/7, 6/10, 6/12, 6/13, 6/15, 6/18, 6/19, & 6/21
- Idomeno, 6/14, 6/17, 6/20, 6/22 & 6/25
All shows are at the War Memorial Opera House.
Dates: Various Date in June & July
Learn More: Full Schedule for this Summer
Buy Tickets: SF Summer Opera Tickets
10. Outside Lands Music Festival
The biggest music festival in San Francisco is every August at Golden Gate Park.
The Outside Lands Music Festival features three days of live music from more than 70 bands on multiple stages.
Performers in previous years included Elton John, the Black Keys, and Mumford & Sons.
Get your tickets early, as this festival sells out every year!
Dates: August 8 - 10, 2025
Learn More: Full schedule of performers
Buy Tickets: On sale today
11. Wine Tasting Events
If you love wine, then head to one of our popular wine tasting summer events in San Francisco.
You will find large indoor and outdoor festivals all season long.
Many offer wines produced locally in Sonoma, Napa and the Livermore Valley.
Others offer tastings of a specific varietal or region. It's a fun way to learn about wine and find something new to bring home to your friends!
Date: All Summer Long
Learn More: Discover a calendar of upcoming wine tastings
More Events by Month
Find additional events each month by clicking the links below.
12. Pride Parade & Festival
Dykes on Bikes at the Pride Parade in San Francisco - this colorful event is always the last full weekend in June.The annual Pride Parade and Festival is always the last weekend in June.
This large event in the Civic Center district celebrates the LGBT community with live music, entertainment, and dozens of vendor booths.
Get there early for the large parade on Sunday morning.
The parade starts at Market and 2nd, and ends near Market and 8th Streets.
This event is free, but they do ask for donations at the entrances to the festival.
Dates: Last Saturday and Sunday in June
Learn More: More details on this year's events
13. San Francisco Marathon
The streets of San Francisco come to life every year during the popular SF Marathon.
This road race takes you through the streets of the city as well as popular destinations, including the waterfront, the Golden Gate Bridge, and Golden Gate Park.
You can choose to run the full marathon, the half marathon, the 10k or the 5k.
This year, they will also once again offer the Ultramarathon. Register early to secure your spot.
Date: July 27, 2025
Registration: Visit their website for details
14. Free Days at SF Museums
The Conservatory of Flowers offers a free day once a month throughout the year. You will see their green sign outside on free days.All summer long you can save by visiting SF museums during their free admission days. This way, you can visit the Asian Art Museum, de Young, the Conservatory of Flowers and others at no cost. Find a full schedule of days by clicking the link below.
Dates: Several this summer
More: Find a full schedule of free museum admissions days in San Francisco
15. Stern Grove Festival
Every summer Sunday afternoon at 2 pm, you will find a free, live concert in Stern Grove Park.
This summer festival offers music by both internationally recognized stars as well as local favorites.
This year's concerts start in mid-June and last until mid-August.
Dates: June 15 - August 17
Learn More: Full schedule of performers
16. Juneteenth
This is part of the Juneteenth Parade every summer. The parade is right as the festival starts, and it runs down Market Street. It usually lasts for about an hour.Every year, various organizations around the city celebrate African American heritage in honor of Juneteenth, the anniversary of the abolition of slavery in the US. Usually the festivities kick off with a parade.
If you head to the Fillmore District along Fillmore Street between Post an Turk, you'll not only find great music, tasty food, and artwork, but also a job fair and other community-oriented activities.
Dates: Mid-June
Learn More: This year's event schedule
17. Sunday Streets
Enjoy dozens of outdoor activities at this summer's Sunday Streets events, designed to gather neighbors and visitors for music, play, and community building.
Once a month, a different historic neighborhood closes off a mile or more of its streets to offer a car-free area of festivities, such as free dance lessons, free bike rentals, health screenings, and more.
The event lasts from April through October.
This year, you can check out the Tenderloin, Valencia, and Western Addition Districts, among others.
Summer Dates: A couple of times a month
18. Theater Performances
This is a look at the stage inside the Orpheum Theatre. I took this as we were waiting for the show to start. This magnificent historic theater is a wonderful place to catch a Broadway show.Every summer, you will also find dozens of theater performances all around San Francisco.
Top shows include traveling Broadway companies performing award-winning productions. This summer, you will find some of the following top shows.
- A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical at the Golden Gate Theatre from June 3 - 22
- & Juliet at the Orpheum Theatre from July 1 - 27
You can also catch smaller performances by local and up-and-coming writers.
Dates: Various Dates this Summer
Learn More: Full Summer theater schedule with details about these and other performances
19. Union Street Festival
Head over to the Marina District for this year's Union Street Festival.
This annual event offers several stages of live music, food from some of the best Marina restaurants, and more than 250 arts & crafts booths.
It's a fun way to spend the day in San Francisco!
Date: June
Learn More: Details for this year's event
20. Yerba Buena Festival
The Yerba Buena Festival offers a variety of shows during their summer festival. This was one of their popular day time kids shows.Another place to enjoy free, live entertainment this summer in San Francisco is at the Yerba Buena Festival. This event takes place at the Yerba Buena Gardens in SF's SOMA District.
Several times a week, they offer music and entertainment from local bands and performers.
Dates: Several in June, July, & August
Learn More: This year's festival details
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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