Calendar – Bernal Heights and Beyond

San Francisco Events 2024

The SF Calendar provided by Bernal Connect is a platform for sharing events and meetings.

However, a few organizers are yet to finalize the dates for their 2024 conferences, and some event particulars have been modified. Therefore, verifying the upcoming event details with the respective organizers is recommended.

Upcoming Events | Bernal | Family | Film | Free | Food & Drink | Home & Garden | LGBTQ | Sports

Feel free to email updates, corrections, or add event dates.

Jan

• SF Sketchfest – A favorite with audiences, critics, and performers alike, the festival has grown substantially to become a highly anticipated artistic showcase that consistently delivers top-quality comedic performances, tributes, and panel discussions.
• FOG Design+Art – Celebrate modern art, architecture, technology, and design at Fort Mason. This fair showcases dynamic exhibits, custom installations, pop-up galleries, presentations, and discussions. Jan 18-21, 2024
• Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration –  Join San Francisco in honoring the civil rights leader at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Yerba Buena Gardens.
• Noir City Film Festival –  Head over to Oakland for the largest film festival in the US dedicated to noir philosophy, attitude, and style in films, books, art, and music. The festival promises “ultra rare films and very special guests.”
• The Zinfandel Experience (ZAP) – Indulge in the flavors of America’s heritage wine, Zinfandel, and experience its classic personality at several extraordinary events, including food and wine tasting with participation from more than 250 wineries, drawing some 10,000 wine lovers during The Zinfandel Experience.
• Bay Area Brew Festival brings together more than 50 breweries, hundreds of beers, food trucks, DJs, and fun to Fort Mason Center For Arts & Culture for an exciting day on San Francisco Bay. Admission includes unlimited beer samplings, with VIP attendees getting an extra hour with limited-release beers.

Bernal Heights Valentine’s Day Stroll

Feb

• San Francisco Half Marathon & 5K –  Enjoy one of the most scenic half marathons ever with a course throughout Golden Gate Park and along the Pacific Ocean at the Kaiser Permanente San Francisco Half Marathon & 5K. February 4, 2024
• SF IndieFest –  Catch the best independent films and videos from the Bay Area and beyond at SF IndieFest. Feb 8-18, 2024
• SF Beer Week – SF Beer Week collects curated events spanning multiple days, celebrating craft beer, the craft community, and the Bay Area’s creative spirit. Celebrate the local craft beer legacy and culture with hundreds of events, including beer dinners, cheese, and beer pairing events, meet the brewer evenings, demonstrations, music, and films from Monterey to Sacramento and beyond during San Francisco Beer Week. Feb 9-18, 2024
• Bernal Heights Valentine’s Day Stroll – a festive evening of music, shopping, and dining along Cortland Avenue! Feb 14, 2024
• Mostly British Film Festival – The Vogue Theater showcases works from the U.K., Ireland, Australia, India, New Zealand, and South Africa during the week-long Mostly British Film Festival. Feb 15-22, 2024
• PACIFIC ORCHID AND GARDEN EXPOSITION – The San Francisco Orchid Society’s annual edition explodes with 150,000 flowers, including hundreds of award-winners selected by the American Orchid Society: San Francisco County Fair Building (Hall of Flowers), Golden Gate Park. Feb 16-18, 2024
• SF Chronicle Wine Tasting Event – More than 5,000 wine lovers will converge to enjoy sweeping views of the Golden Gate Bridge, outstanding food, conversations, and some education as they imbibe samples from over 800 wineries. Fort Mason Center. Feb 17, 2024
• San Francisco Tribal & Textiles Art Show – Fort Mason Center hosts an assortment of museum-quality masks, textiles, sculptures, and jewelry from more than 100 galleries worldwide at the San Francisco Tribal & Textiles Art Show. Feb 22-29, 2024
• Noise Pop –  San Francisco’s premier independent music, film, and art festival, Noise Pop, is a full-scale cultural event, including gallery art shows, a music-themed film festival, an indie-designer trunk sale, and educational panels. Feb 23 – Mar 3, 2024
• Chinese New Year’s Parade & Festival – Named one of the top ten Parades in the world by the International Festivals & Events Association, the Southwest Airlines Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco is one of the few remaining nights illuminated Parades in North America and the biggest Parade celebrating the lunar new year outside of Asia. Started in the 1860s by the Chinese in San Francisco to educate the community about their culture, the Parade and Festival has become the largest celebration of Asian culture outside Asia. Since 1958, the Parade has been under the direction of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce. February 24, 2024
• Tulipmania Festival – PIER 39 is the place to be for free, guided tours of thousands of brilliantly colored tulips worldwide during the Tulipmania Festival. Mid-February through Mid-March
• Mardi Gras San Francisco Style – Join the New Orleans-style “second line” processional through the Fillmore corridor, culminating in the Mardi Gras Masquerade Ball during the Mardi Gras San Francisco Style celebration, which includes a free concert in the Fillmore Plaza and local restaurant participation.
• Annual Youth Speaks Teen Poetry Slam – Youth Speaks works with 45,000 teens annually and is a presenter of local and national youth poetry slams, festivals, reading series, and more, including the Grand Slam Finals in April after the preliminaries in March and semi-finals.
• San Francisco City Golf Championship – TPC Harding Park hosts the oldest consecutively played amateur, match-play golf tournament offering men’s, women’s, and men’s senior championship flights and men’s and women’s open division flights, with semi-final and final matches.

Mar

• Ocean Beach Bonfires Return for 2024 – Fires permitted March 1 – October 31 (NO FIRES permitted November 1 – end of February). The No-Burn Season avoids burning during the Bay Area Air Quality Management District’s (BAAQMD) Winter Spare the Air season.
• KNBR/Giants FanFest – Meet members of the Giants team and participate in interactive games and displays on the Field, Promenade, and Club levels at the KNBR/Giants FanFest, free and open to the public at Oracle Park. Mar 9, 2024
• 80,000 Free Tulips Are Coming to SF’s Union Square – Tulip Day is coming to America! We will be back on the 9th of March. A colorful display of over 80,000 tulips will cover Union Square in San Francisco. And you are invited to visit the square and pick your tulips. March 9, 2024
• ST PATRICK’S DAY PARADE AND FESTIVAL – This is one of San Francisco’s (and indeed California’s) largest annual parades and one of the longest-running parades in the USA. The feast of Saint Patrick (Pádraig)—Apostle of Ireland and its patron saint―is celebrated with live music, dance, traditional Irish cuisine, and a beverage or two. The Parade will feature pipe and fife bands, civilian, college, and school bands, Irish dancers, antique cars, drum and bell bands, drum and bugle bands, drill teams, color guards, floats galore, decorated cars/trucks/cable cars, and baton corps. Wear green. You’ll blend right in. The Parade, led by pipers, starts at 11:30 am at 2nd and Market St. and ends at Civic Center Plaza, where the Festival continues from 10 am to 5 pm. Mar 16, 2024
• 2024 “FOG Holi” Festival of Colors – Holi is a grand and unique festival of colors, friendship, and harmony. Holi is a spring festival, also known as the festival of colors. It is an ancient Hindu religious festival that has become popular with non-Hindus in many parts of South Asia, as well as people of other communities outside Asia. Hosted by FIA in March every year, the event is attended by over 5000 attendees. March 23, 2024
• SF Human Rights Film Festival – We celebrate our eighteenth anniversary with an amazing program. This year’s films address human rights violations in the US, Syria, Guatemala, The Philippines, Chile, Argentina, China, Hawaii, Australia, Nicaragua, Canada, and Myanmar. The issues include political repression, genocide, disappearances, human trafficking, women’s rights, climate change, environmental destruction, LGBTQ rights, racism, indigenous rights, colonialism, extractive economy, migrations, immigration, and refugees. TBD
• SF’s Easter In the Park & Hunky Jesus Contest 2024 – The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence to host their Annual Easter in the Park and celebrate their 45th Anniversary ON EASTER SUNDAY! March 31, 2024

Apr

• San Francisco Flower & Garden Show – Join us for a spectacular celebration of Spring as we showcase rare plants, orchids, and flowers in full bloom! Be captivated by the stunning designs and demonstrations of world-class floral designers. Get inspired to create your remarkable vegetable garden through hands-on workshops, demonstrations, and inspiring seminars. Engage with professional gardeners and nursery owners who can answer all your questions and help solve those nagging problems. Browse a wide selection of specialty shops featuring unique flowers, plants, gifts, tools, and more. Learn the art of growing and preparing fresh, home-grown food. Don’t miss this amazing event – attend or be part of it! Apr 4-7, 2024
• Giants Opening Day – It’s finally here, Bay Area baseball fans: San Francisco Giants Opening Day 2023! The Giants are hosting the Kansas City Royals on April 7, and they’ll need some help getting the summer off to a great start — help you can give them by rooting and rooting for the home team this Opening Day. Apr 5, 2024
• Restaurant Week – Celebrate the flavors of San Francisco’s unique and diverse neighborhoods through special prix-fixe menus (3rd Cousin). Apr 5-14, 2024
• Renegade Craft Fair Market at Fort Mason – Shop from over 250 artists at Renegade San Francisco ~ featuring the best craft designers, artists, and creatives from SF and beyond! April 6-7, 2024
• SAN FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL CHOCOLATE SALON – Those with a penchant for chocolate can indulge in artisanal, gourmet, and premium chocolate from over 50 chocolatiers and confectioners. Non-chalcophile exhibitors and artisans will also be on hand, including reps from wineries participating in the San Francisco Invitational Wine Salon. Herbst Pavilion, Fort Mason Center. April 7, 2024
• Cherry Blossom Festival – Over its two-weekend festivities, the Festival also offers the opportunity to look back at the history of Japanese and Japanese Americans in Northern California and enjoy the culture and customs that have survived thanks to the hardships of multiple generations. The highlight of the Cherry Blossom Festival is the Grand Parade, which stretches over a mile from Civic Center Plaza to Japantown. It showcases many cultural and community organizations contributing to the Festival’s continued success. April 13-14, 20-21, 2024
• INTERNATIONAL OCEAN FILM FESTIVAL – One of the largest and most diverse of its kind, the Festival features documentaries, animations, narratives, and other traditional screen fares. Topics include ocean adventures, island cultures, surfing, sharks (of course), and many more things oceanic. Cowell Theater, Fort Mason Center. Apr 12-14, 2024
• Cesar Chavez Festival – Join thousands of Bay Area residents, families, schools, religious groups, labor unions, and community organizations to celebrate Cesar’s legacy in the heart of San Francisco’s Latino community. The SF parade has become among California’s largest events honoring Cesar Chavez. April 13, 2024
• Free National Parks Day – April 20, 2024
• 420 Celebration at Hippie Hill – The biggest FREE cannabis event in California! 21+ only. April 20, 2024
• World Naked Earth Day Bike Ride 2024 – April 20, 2024
• Earth Day – 2024 theme: Planet vs. Plastics, calls to advocate for widespread awareness of the health risks of plastics, rapidly phase out all single-use plastics, urgently push for a strong UN Treaty on Plastic Pollution, and demand an end to fast fashion. April 21, 2024
• Dining Out For Life – Dining Out For Life is an annual dining fundraising event raising money for community-based organizations serving people living with or impacted by HIV. April 24, 2024
• International Film Festival – Founded in 1957, the San Francisco International Film Festival (SFFILM Festival) is the longest-running film festival in the Americas. Refreshingly intimate for a festival of size and scope, the event traditionally combines a range of marquee premieres, international competitions, compelling documentaries, new digital media work, live music performances, and star-studded red-carpet events. Apr 24-28, 2024
• Irish Film Festival – The San Francisco Irish Film Festival (SFIFF) was founded in 2003 by Niall McKay with the support of the Irish Film Institute. The festival presents contemporary Irish cinema, including features, documentaries, and short films. The festival is held annually at the Delancey Street Theater. Apr 25 – May 5, 2024
• Art Market San Francisco –  welcomes more than 70 established galleries and innovative newcomers from across the country, presenting a significant selection of contemporary and modern works of art. Apr 25-28, 2024
• Bay Area Dance Week – the special 10-day celebration of movement and dance – Bopsidy. Bay Area Dance Week, a staple of the Bay Area dance community for 22 years, allows the public to experience the region’s vibrant and diverse dance scene free of charge. Apr 26 – May 5, 2024
• San Francisco Decorator Showcase – With more than 40 years of excellence in design and the decorative arts and 20,000 visitors annually, it is nationally recognized as one of the premier showcase houses in the country. The 45^th Decorator Showcase will be open to the public from April 27 through May 27, 2024
• Dutch “King’s Day” Windmill Festival in Golden Gate Park –  The Dutch community in San Francisco celebrates the annual celebration that traditionally colors the Netherlands orange: King’s Day!  Dutch King’s Day San Francisco is a day where we celebrate the birthday of the Dutch King, Willem Alexander van Oranje. You can call it a phenomenal street party where a crowd of over 3,000 young and old has “orange fever.” There is music, multiple ‘Typically Dutch’ activities, and food trucks that offer “typically” Dutch delicacies. Dutch King’s Day San Francisco is a day not just for Dutch expats or Americans but a celebration to share with the Dutch San Francisco Bay Area community and beyond. April 27, 2024
• Opening Day On The Bay Boat Parade & Blessing of the Fleet – the annual Opening Day on the Bay typically shows off over 100 historic workboats, fireboats, towboats, and classic and contemporary craft. Some boats will be decorated to this year’s theme, “Rockin’ on the Bay.” This theme is open to many interpretations of anything associated with music. April 28, 2024

May

• CAAMFest – CAAMFest is the nation’s largest showcase for new Asian American and Asian films, annually presenting approximately 130 works in San Francisco, Berkeley, and Oakland. Since 1982, the Festival has been an important launching point for Asian American independent filmmakers and a vital source for new Asian cinema: New People Cinema and various theaters. May 11-22, 2023
• Best of PlayGround – San Francisco’s incubator for a new generation of playwrights, PlayGround, caps off its season with the Bay Area’s largest celebration of new works for the stage and screen – the annual PlayGround Festival of New Works. May 14-15, 2023
• Bay to Breakers – Since 1912, Bay to Breakers has been the world’s largest footrace, attracting more than 70,000 costume-clad runners and walkers as they make their way from San Francisco Bay to the Great Highway where the breakers crash onto the Pacific Coast’s Ocean Beach. Bay to Breakers is a celebration of life, laughter, and the personality of San Francisco. Join bumblebees, brides, unicorns, runners wearing only running watches, and probably at least one Spider-Man in this world-renowned race-slash party. May 21, 2023
• Carnaval Festival – Carnaval San Francisco is an annual event that celebrates the rich cultural diversity of the Mission District. The festival was founded in 1978 by artists who shared a love for Latin, Caribbean, and Afro-Diasporic music. Since then, it has become a vibrant celebration showcasing the community’s music, dance, and art. The festival features a grand parade and a festival with live music, dance performances, food, and arts and crafts. The sounds of salsa, samba, soca, mariachi, merengue, cumbia, and reggae music, among others, are heard throughout the event. In recent years, modern sounds such as funk, bachata, dancehall, hip-hop, Afro-beats, and reggaeton have also been added to the mix. May 27-28, 2023
• Union Square in Bloom – See the Union Square neighborhood bloom in front of your eyes with larger-than-life floral arrangements exploding with color and cheer, a perfect photo opportunity for the gram. The event starts on the Sunday just before Mother’s Day.
• Taiwanese American Cultural Festival – May 11, 2024
• The Bay’s Huge “626 Night Market” w/ 200+ Food & Shopping Stalls – May 17-19, 2024
• San Francisco Carnaval Festival & Parade – May 25-26, 2024

Jun

Summer Solstice Stoll – Bernal Heights

• San Francisco Documentary Film Festival – SF DocFest documentaries often uncover deep truths while exploring fun and lighthearted subject matter and are produced by SF IndieFest at the Roxie Theater. Jun 1-11, 2023
• SF Indie Fest – SF IndieFest has been a year-round nonprofit organization since 1998. We present five annual festivals: the SF Independent Film Festival (SF Indie for short), the SF Documentary Festival (DocFest for short), the SF Independent Short Film Festival (IndieShorts), Another Hole in the Head, our genre film festival, and the MegaCity Interplanetary Film Festival which presents the best new indie science fiction. Jun 1-11, 2023
• Union Street Festival – Union Street Festival in the historic Cow Hollow District has a long-standing tradition of connecting the community and, more than ever, looks to build back the neighborhood atmosphere of San Francisco. We believe in creating a space for diversity, unity, and inclusion to allow for a safe gathering of local artists, musicians, and families while charting a path forward of sustainability and reducing the event’s overall carbon footprint. Jun 3-4, 2023
• Yerba Buena Gardens Festival – Nearly 100 artistic, cultural, and community events occur from May through October at the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival. Events include popular and operatic music series, cultural festivals, dance performances, international music concerts, visual art exhibits, theater, and spoken word performances. Jun 3 – Sept 30, 2023
• AIGA San Francisco Design Week – San Francisco Design Week is an opportunity to experience the region’s unique design talents, impact, and innovations, with over 60 studio tours and 75 events throughout the week featuring tech inventions, culture-changing products, human-centered design, and emerging fashion, to name a few. Jun 6-11, 2023
• San Francisco Jazz Festival – For 40 years, SFJAZZ has presented the San Francisco Jazz Festival in venues throughout the Bay Area. With the opening of the SFJAZZ Center in 2013, the festival is now concentrated in the Center and the surrounding neighborhood, offering over 30 shows. Jun 7 – Aug 20, 2023
• San Francisco International Arts Festival – More than 60 theater, dance, and music ensembles from the Bay Area and 11 countries perform in three action-packed weeks. In addition, the San Francisco International Arts Festival features a major art exhibition and multiple educational, residency, and outreach activities. Jun 8-18, 2023
• Queer Women of Color Film Festival – Queer Women of Color Media Arts Project (QWOCMAP) promotes the creation, exhibition, and distribution of new films and videos that increase the visibility of queer women of color, authentically reflect our life stories, and address the vital social justice issues that concern our communities. San Francisco, CA; Jun 9-11, 2023
• Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon – The Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon includes a 1.5-mile swim from Alcatraz Island in the San Francisco Bay. The race continues with an 18-mile bike ride out the Great Highway, through the Golden Gate Park, and concludes with an 8-mile run through the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. The finish is at Marina Green. Jun 11, 2023
• Giants LGBT Night – Join the San Francisco Giants in celebration of the Bay Area’s rich LGBT culture at Oracle Park with a baseball game, pre-game party, a ticket to the evening’s Giants game, and a limited-edition gift, with partial proceeds supporting local LGBT-focused nonprofits. Jun 11, 2023
• Juneteenth Festival – Juneteenth celebrates the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States when African Americans in Texas were told of their freedom over two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. The San Francisco festival is the largest gathering of African-Americans in Northern California, which began in the early 1950s when Wesley F. Johnson Sr., once owner of the Texas Playhouse on Fillmore Street, invited all Bay Area African-Americans to celebrate June 19 in his lounge. Jun 14-20, 2023
• Frameline Film Festival – Frameline’s mission is to change the world through the power of queer cinema. As a media arts nonprofit, Frameline’s programs connect filmmakers and audiences in San Francisco and worldwide. Founded in 1977, Frameline is the nation’s only nonprofit organization dedicated to the funding, exhibition, distribution, and promotion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender media arts. Jun 14-24, 2023
• Annual San Francisco Black Film Festival – The Annual San Francisco Black Film Festival opens in a new window and celebrates African American cinema and the African cultural diaspora, showcasing a diverse collection of emerging and established filmmakers. Jun 15-18, 2023
• North Beach Festival – The North Beach Festival is held in the historic North Beach District, known to locals and visitors alike as San Francisco’s Little Italy and the home of the famed beat generation, including notable figures like Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg and the poet and publisher behind City Lights Bookstore, Lawrence Ferlinghetti. The North Beach Festival spans numerous quaint streets in the heart of the district, including Grant Avenue, Green Street, Vallejo Street, and Columbus Avenue. Jun 17-18, 2023
• Stern Grove Festival – The Stern Grove Festival opens in a new window. It celebrates the season of free Sunday concerts featuring renowned music and dance groups set in a beautiful outdoor theater in the heart of San Francisco. Jun 18 – Aug 20, 2023
• Bernal Heights Summer Solstice Stroll – The Bernal Business and Artist Alliance is thrilled to announce its highly anticipated Summer Solstice Stroll, a vibrant event showcasing talented musicians and local merchants along Precita Park and Cortland Avenue. As part of this exciting occasion, the Summer of Music will officially kick off, presenting a series of musical performances in collaboration with the Civic Joy Fund and Noise Pop. Get ready to immerse yourself in the enchanting melodies of San Francisco’s vibrant music scene! June 22, 2023
• S.F. Dance Film Festival – The San Francisco Dance Film Festival (SFDFF) is a multi-day international event showcasing the best dance films worldwide. The 2023 call for submissions is open through May 8. The SFDFF is a nonprofit organization that brings dance to new audiences by presenting and developing dance-based films. June 23, 2023 at the Healdsburg Regional Library in Healdsburg, CA.
• Gay Pride Parade & Festival – At the forefront of the LGBTQ equal rights movement since 1970,  every Celebration and Parade offers a historic moment in our journey to full equality. San Francisco Pride Celebration and Parade San Francisco’s annual celebration of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender pride culminates in the Pride Parade. Jun 24-25, 2023

Summer of Music

Jul

• Fillmore Jazz Festival – Fillmore St. between Jackson and Eddy Streets is where you’ll find three stages of continuous jazz performances, more than 300 artists’ booths, and international food courts with some of the best food and beverages that San Francisco has to offer. Jul 1-2, 2023
• Fourth of July Celebration at The Pier – Join the annual waterfront party at PIER 39 for dazzling fireworks, local bands, food, and arts & crafts perfect for the entire family. Don’t forget to bring a jacket; fireworks begin around 9:30 pm, weather permitting.
• SF Folk Festival – The San Francisco Folk Music Club has always run the San Francisco Free Folk Festival. It’s happened since 1977 when the first festival was staged at the Hall of Flowers. We’ve been known to have between 2,000 and 3,000 guests attending the event. July 8, 2023
• Across The Bay 12K and 5K – The Across the Bay 12k features a point-to-point journey starting in Sausalito, running across the Golden Gate Bridge, and finishing in Aquatic Park. The 5k starts and finishes in San Francisco. Jul 9, 2023
• San Francisco Frozen Film Festival – Roxie Theater showcases the year’s best new independent avant-garde pop culture films, taking its name from the distinct chill of the San Francisco summer. Jul 12-16, 2023
• AIDS Walk – The annual walk to raise funds for the San Francisco AIDS Foundation has inspired thousands to walk and donate to fight HIV/AIDS. While participating in the walk, stop by The National AIDS Memorial Grove in Golden Gate Park at Sharon Meadow. Jul 16, 2023
• San Francisco Jewish Film Festival – The Castro Theater and other Bay Area venues feature films from American and international filmmakers showcasing the diversity and vitality of Jewish culture. The festival is the world’s first, oldest, and most prestigious celebration. Jul 20 – Aug 6, 2023
• CA Craft Beer Week – Raising a glass with you to support locally crafted California craft beer! July 21-30, 2023
• Free Shakespeare in the Park: Every summer, the San Francisco Shakespeare Festival presents a series of free outdoor performances of one of Bard’s plays in various parks throughout the city. Jul 22 – Sep 24, 2023
• San Francisco Marathon, Half Marathon, 5K Run/Walk – Enjoy the amazing city of San Francisco by taking part in one of the world’s great marathons starting at the Ferry Building. The USAT&F Certified course is a “best of San Francisco” tour with a loop over the Golden Gate Bridge. Choose from running the marathon, half marathon, progressive marathon, or 5K run/walk races, or challenge yourself with the “Worth the Hurt” 52.4 double marathons. July 23, 2023
• Orchids in the Park – San Francisco Orchid Society’s Orchids in the Park will be at the County Fair Building in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. Jul 29-30, 2023
• Up Your Alley – for real players – where leatherfolk rule the streets internet. Show out in your gear: leather, rubber, or whatever gets you off! Dore Alley between Folsom and Howard streets draws 12,000-plus attendees for an event with a more local appeal for leatherfolk, similar to September’s Folsom Street Fair, the climax of Leather Pride Week. Jul 29, 2023
• Bay Area Playwrights Festival – Local and national playwrights and professional directors, dramaturgs, and designers work with the Bay Area’s top actors to engage in an in-depth development process of six new plays, leading to two public staged readings of each play. TBA

Aug

• Nihonmachi Street Fair – Celebrating AAPI Culture, Community Building, and Youth Mentorship in SF’s J-Town! Aug 5-6, 2023
• SF Fringe Festival – The 32nd annual festival will feature 45 performances by 15 theater companies, 12 local and three non-local. EXIT Theatre will produce and host the non-censored event. All performances will be presented at EXIT Theatre’s 277 Taylor Street in San Francisco venue. Aug 10 – 26, 2023
• Outside Lands – Outside Lands is an annual music and arts festival in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. The festival first took place in 2008 and has since become one of the largest and most popular music festivals in the United States. Past musical performers include Paul McCartney, Radiohead, Lana Del Rey, Kendrick Lamar, and The Who, among many others. In addition to the music, Outside Lands features a wide range of art installations, including interactive exhibits and large-scale sculptures. The festival also showcases local food vendors and offers various culinary experiences, including wine and beer tastings, cooking demonstrations, and more. One unique feature of Outside Lands is its commitment to sustainability and eco-friendliness. The festival has implemented many initiatives to reduce its carbon footprint and promote environmental stewardship, such as offering compost and recycling bins throughout the event grounds and providing free water refill stations to reduce plastic waste. Aug 11-13 & 20-23, 2023
• Bernal Heights Hillside Garage Sale – It’s Time to sort through the kids’ toys, clean out those closets and kitchen cupboards, and organize the garage so you can finally get the car in there. Set out your wares, pull up a chair, and make a day of greeting your neighbors and treasure hunters as we have our annual, neighborhood-wide flea market! Aug 12, 2023
• Pistahan Filipino Cultural Festival and Parade – San Francisco will host its annual festival featuring artisan vendors, folk dance, and more at Yerba Buena Gardens. Aug 12-13, 2023
• Chinatown Hungry Ghost Festival celebrates the Chinese cultural tradition of Ghost Month. The event will feature the Ghost King Parade, interactive art, and more. Aug 26, 2023
• Polk Street Blues Festival – The Polk Street Blues Festival is an annual blues music festival held on Polk Street in San Francisco, California. The festival has two stages, street vendors, and a marketplace. The festival has been held every year since 2010. 2023, the festival is scheduled for August 17 on Polk Street from Pacific Street to Union Street. The free festival will feature live music, arts and crafts, and food vendors.
• Bay Area Taco & Beer Festival – a festival featuring a variety of tacos and craft beers from local vendors. TBA

Sept

• Bernal Heights Outdoor Cinema – Bernal Heights Outdoor Cinema presents free screenings of diverse, local filmmakers’ works in neighborhood parks, playgrounds, and other community-friendly spaces to increase the exposure and recognition of local artists and to heighten appreciation by neighborhood and citywide residents while bringing the community together. Sept 8,9 & 15, 2023
• Fiesta on the Hill – BHNC’s annual street fair and fundraiser that gets amazing…even after 30 years. Join us for a fulfilled day with local vendors and artisans, great food, bands, a costume parade with a marching band, fun rides for the children, and so much more. This is a great way to meet your neighbors and enjoy a day in the special community we call Bernal Heights. Sept 10, 2023
• Pistahan Parade and Festival – Experience the Vibrant Spirit of Pistahan: A Free Two-Day Celebration of Filipino Culture, Community, and Cuisine at Yerba Buena Gardens! Aug 12-13, 2023
• Ghirardelli Chocolate Festival – The Ghirardelli Chocolate Festival takes place every year during the early days of September at Ghirardelli Square in San Francisco. This two-day event is a delightful celebration dedicated to all things chocolate. Drawing in approximately 40,000 attendees, it offers a fantastic opportunity to witness captivating cooking demonstrations by esteemed San Francisco chefs. Alongside the culinary delights, visitors can enjoy live music performances while indulging in the most exquisite and irresistible sweet treats. Sept 14-15, 2023
• A Taste of Greece – San Francisco’s original Greek Festival, “A Taste of Greece,” returns for its 71st year with aromas of freshly made Spanakopita, Moussaka, Gyros, and other Greek specialties filling the vibrant Mission district. Enjoy live Greek music, dancing, delectable treats, wine tasting, shopping, and a kids’ zone. The event is easily accessible via public transportation, and parking is available. Admission is free! We hope to see you celebrate Greek culture at San Francisco’s original Greek festival. Sept 15-17, 2023
• Iranian Film Festival – The Iranian Film Festival (IFF) in San Francisco is an annual event showcasing independent features and short films about Iranians worldwide. It’s the first independent Iranian film festival outside of Iran. The IFF launched in 2008 and is open to all genres, including fiction, short, animation, documentary, music video, sports, and children. The 16th Annual Iranian Film Festival will be held Sept 16-17, 2023.
• Haight Ashbury Street Fair – the annual event has endured for over 40 years. During its existence, HASF has been awarded numerous “Certificates of Honor” from the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, the California Senate & the Bay Guardian’s “Best of…” citations. September 17, 2023
• Comedy Day in Golden Gate Park – Comedy Day is a free, five-hour comedy show in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco each September. The show features over 50 San Francisco Bay Area comedians and beyond. Sept 17, 2023
• Save the Waves Film Festival – Save The Waves Film Festival is an international film tour and fundraiser for our organization’s environmental programs and campaigns to protect surf ecosystems worldwide. Sep 17 – Oct 1, 2023
• SF Cheese Fest – a celebration of all things cheese featuring tastings, demonstrations, and workshops. Sep 23, 2023
• Chinatown Mid-Autumn Moon Festival – The 15th day of the eighth moon of the Chinese calendar is the autumn moon. San Francisco’s Autumn Moon Festival honors Family, Harvest, and Cultural Traditions with Lion Dancing, Food, Music, and Mooncakes! Sept 23-24, 2023
• Folson Street Fair – The ‘only in San Francisco’ event goes worldwide! Join fetish enthusiasts worldwide during the groundbreaking virtual Folsom Street Fair. We’ll bring the Folsom Street Fair features you know and love directly into your home—featuring DJs, live music, shopping, and education with our exhibitors, BDSM demos, and more. Sept 24, 2023
• Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival – Experience the Timeless Tradition of Free Live Music at Hellman Hollow, Golden Gate Park! Bring Your Picnic, Enjoy the Melodies, and Don’t Forget to BYOB, as Alcohol Won’t Be Sold. Indulge in Delicacies from Over 50 Gourmet Vendors on-site! Sept 29 – Oct 1, 2023
• Latino Film Festival – The Festival showcases the work of emerging and established filmmakers from the US, Latin America, Spain, and Portugal. It is a celebration of the latest work from 20+ countries and the diaspora with which we share a bond. Cultural events like ours help foster community and cross-cultural exchanges with each other locally in the Bay Area and across borders. Sept 29 – Oct 14, 2023
• Portola Music Festival – Portola is a 2-day music festival at Pier 80. Sept 30 – Oct 1, 2023
• Sausalito Art Festival – TBA
• San Francisco International Dragon Boat Festival – TBA
• Sea Music Festival – The Sea Music Festival is an annual San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park event. The festival celebrates maritime history with performances of sea chanteys, shore songs, Pacific Island dances, Chinese and Italian music and songs, and traditional Celtic instrumental music. The festival includes crafts for kids, storytelling, a dead horse ceremony, seaside activities, and a chance to experience maritime heritage. The festival is free. TBA

Oct

• Castro Street Fair – Founded in 1974 by Harvey Milk, the Castro Street Fair celebrates its 49th year this fall: Honoring Diversity and Community in the Heart of Castro! Join Us on the First Sunday of October at the Intersection of Castro and Market Streets. Oct 1, 2023
• Fleet Week – Get Ready for an Action-Packed San Francisco Fleet Week: Two Weekends of Thrilling Sights and Sounds Await! Experience the Spectacular Waterfront Show featuring the U.S. Navy Blue Angels, and Keep Your Eyes Peeled for SF’s Very Own Blue Angel Flying High above His Hometown. Oct 2-10, 2023
• Litquake – Litquake’s diverse live programs are created to inspire critical engagement with the key issues of the day, bringing people together around the common humanity encapsulated in literature and perpetuating a sense of literary community, as well as a vibrant forum for Bay Area writing. Oct 5-21, 2023
• SF International Festival of Short Films – The San Francisco International Festival of Short Films (SF Shorts) is a short film festival that explores a wide mix of genres and cultures. The festival accepts all types of short films, including music videos. Oct 6-8, 2023
• Italian Heritage Parade – The San Francisco Italian Heritage Parade is an annual event celebrating Columbus Day. It’s the city’s oldest civic event and the nation’s oldest Italian American Parade, dating back to 1868. The parade starts at 12:30 pm at the foot of Jefferson and Powell Streets in Fisherman’s Wharf. It proceeds south through North Beach on Columbus Avenue and ends in Washington Square before Saints Peter and Paul Church. Parade viewing is available throughout the entire route. The first wave of Italian immigrants arrived in San Francisco in the 1850s for the Gold Rush. By 1850, there were 229 Italians living in San Francisco. Those who came for the Gold Rush quickly moved to buy land or work in service industries rather than stay in the mines. Oct 8, 2023
• The San Francisco Fall Home Show – The San Francisco Fall Show is the West Coast’s leading international art, antiques, and design fair. Founded in 1982, the Show features over 40 of the top dealers from around the world, offering for sale an extraordinary range of fine and decorative arts representing all styles and periods, including paintings, furniture, precious metals, ceramics, jewelry, rugs, photography, works on paper, books, ethnographic art, and objets d’art. Oct 12-15, 2023
• Green Film Festival – The Green Film Festival is presented by SF IndieFest, a 501c3 nonprofit that has presented over 60 film festivals over the past 24 years, acquiring a strong following with independent film fans and garnering press coverage and recognition for thousands of films and filmmakers. SF IndieFest is a founding member of the Film Festival Alliance. Oct 12 – 22, 2023
• United Nations Association Film Festival – The United Nations Association Film Festival (UNAFF) is an international documentary film festival. It was founded in 1998 by Jasmina Bojic, a Stanford educator and film critic, to honor the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The 26th UNAFF will be held in Palo Alto, Stanford University, East Palo Alto, and San Francisco. This year’s theme is “SOLUTIONS” and continues the festival’s devotion to human rights, emphasizing strategies and approaches that offer solutions to problems. UNAFF is one of the longest-running documentary film festivals in the U.S. Oct 19-29, 2023
• Open Studios – Open Studios is an annual event that features a series of art-related activities. It begins with ArtLaunch, a vibrant in-person kick-off celebration at the SFOS Exhibition in the SOMArts Cultural Center. This event sets the tone for the following four weekends when artists open their studios to the public. These artist-hosted studio events offer a unique opportunity for visitors to engage directly with the artists, explore their creative spaces, and immerse themselves in the art world. Oct 19 – Nov 19, 2023
• Potrero Hill Festival – The Potrero Hill Festival is a one-day street fair in San Francisco, California. It’s a fundraiser for the Potrero Hill Neighborhood House, a local community center. Oct 21, 2023
• San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition – The San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition is the largest competition of North American wines globally! 2024
• Eat Drink SF – a multi-day event showcasing the best food and drinks San Francisco has to offer. Includes tastings, cooking demonstrations, and seminars. TBA
• 3i International South Asian Film Festival– Bollywood & Beyond: Celebrate 3rd i’s eighteenth annual SF International South Asian Film Festival (Bollywood & Beyond) as a FREE virtual event with some of the best cinema in India, South Africa, the UK, and the USA. TBA
• Wharf Fest – Wharf Fest is a free, annual festival held in San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf neighborhood. The festival features maritime-themed activities, a chowder competition, and other events. TB

Nov

• DAY OF THE DEAD (DIA DE LOS MUERTOS) – The Day of the Dead includes a 7 pm procession starting at Bryant & 22nd St., plus candle-lit altars in Garfield Park (26^th and Harrison, 4–11 pm) to honor the departed. Nov 2, 2023
• San Francisco Home & Garden Show – November 3-5, 2023, at the San Mateo Event Center
• American Indian Film Festival – The 45th annual American Indian Film Festival® continues the American Indian Film Institute’s tradition of premiering the best movies, music videos, and original entertainment by, for, and about American Indian and First Nations people. Nov 3-11, 2023
• The Renegade Craft Fair – The best makers of handmade goods from the Bay Area and beyond assemble for this free-to-attend marketplace for indie-craft culture, featuring interactive workshops at Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture. Nov 4-5, 2023
• San Francisco International Tea Festival – Every cup of tea is a story. We invite tea lovers and curious newcomers to experience all the possibilities with us. Nov 4-5, 2023
• Mexico in a Bottle – North America’s pre-eminent mezcal and Mexican spirits tasting event. The Midway, November 5, 2023
• Arab Film Festival – Launched in 1996, the festival’s mission is to present the best of contemporary films that illuminate the richness of Arab culture through authentic narratives and images, providing insight into the beauty and complexity of the Arab world. Nov 10-19, 2023
• SAN FRANCISCO HIP-HOP DANCE FESTIVAL – This Festival features professional dance companies worldwide. Also, master classes will be taught by some visiting artists, along with a VIP/performer party, to celebrate the convergence of artists with the public. Nov 11-12, 2023
• THE GREAT DICKENS CHRISTMAS FAIR – This fair revives the traditions of an old English Victorian Christmas with theaters, a music hall, dance parties, taverns, shops, stalls, food, street vendors, and period costumes. Weekends Nov 18 – Dec 17, 2023
• San Francisco International Auto Show – San Francisco Chronicle International Auto Show presented by Golden 1 Credit Union. Nov 22-26, 2023
• Napa Valley Film Festival – This film, food, and wine celebration lights up the towns of Napa, Yountville, St. Helena, and Calistoga. It features more than 125 new independent films and studio sneak previews screening in venues throughout four highly walkable towns. TBA
• Transgender Film Festival – For 25 years, SFTFF has screened films that promote the visibility of transgender and gender variant people and challenge the mainstream media’s negative stereotypes of our communities. We provide opportunities for transgender and gender variant media artists, build community through film and performance events, and engage our audiences in cross-community dialogue. This year, we’ve curated seven brilliant programs featuring over 40 in-person and online films! All of our films are closed-captioned. TBA
• TURKEY TRAIL TROT, GOLDEN GATE PARK – This invigorating run or walk has become a popular Thanksgiving Day tradition for many. TBA
• ILLUMINATE SF – More than a dozen permanent and temporary eco-friendly light art installations transform San Francisco nights into a citywide light gallery. Tours and events based on these public art installations invite visitors to “embrace the power of light.” TBA
• TREE LIGHTING CELEBRATION: UNION SQUARE – Expect crowds at Macy’s Union Square tree lighting, which begins with a ceremony and singers. Free. The entertainment starts at 6 pm. The tree will be adorned with over 1500 ornaments and lit at 6:40 pm. TBA
• GHIRARDELLI SQUARE TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY – Ghirardelli’s famous square comes alive with colorful performers, music, and a 50-foot Christmas tree lighting the night. TBA

Dec

• Holiday on the Hill – from 5:00 – 7:00 (BBAA hosting) with festive tree lighting and caroling. Dec 7, 2023
• SantaCon SF – 28th Anniversary of your favorite holiday bacchanal celebration. Dress up as Santa, Mrs. Claus, or your favorite holiday character, and join us at Union Square in San Francisco!!! Dec 9, 2023