San Francisco Family Friendly Calendar

San Francisco Family Friendly Calendar

Here are kid-friendly events happening in San Francisco — all with direct links for more info and tickets.

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San Francisco Family Friendly Calendar

San Francisco Family Friendly Calendar

Here is a list of family-friendly events and activities in San Francisco, featuring options that range from annual celebrations and outdoor fairs to museum experiences and market days. This selection highlights recurring favorites and distinctive 2026 picks suitable for all ages.​

Annual and Seasonal Events

  • Family Summer Carnaval: featuring music, games, and activities for all ages at 3215 Cesar Chavez St.,​ June 28, 2025
  • Bloom & Play SF: Yerba Buena Children’s Garden: art, play, and local resources for families.​
  • Flower Piano in Golden Gate Park – event typically spans ten days in September (e.g., September 12-21, 2025). This interactive experience places pianos throughout the Botanical Garden, allowing families to enjoy spontaneous performances and participatory music, which is free with Garden admission.
  • Fleet Week Festival: Annual waterfront festivities in October, including airshows and family-friendly displays.​
  • SuperNatural Halloween: California Academy of Sciences – Science-themed costumes, spooky aquarium dives, and glow-in-the-dark fun. Oct 25–26, 2025
  • Pier 39 Halloween Haunt – Magic shows, face painting, and live music by the sea. Oct 26, 2025
  • Boo at the Zoo: San Francisco Zoo & Gardens – Trick-or-treat stations, animal pumpkin feedings, and costume parades. Oct 26–27, 2025
  • Halloween of Cortland – Cortland Avenue in Bernal Heights goes car-free for a spooktacular night of trick-or-treating. Oct 31, 2025
  • Halloween Hoopla at Yerba Buena Gardens: Annual festival with a children’s garden party, entertainment, and crafts (usually late October/early November).​
  • Sunset Mercantile Outdoor Market: Weekly Sundays in the Sunset District featuring kids’ art activities, live music, food trucks, and local vendors.​
  • Inner Sunset Flea Market: Held every second Sunday from April to November on Irving Street, offering crafts, food, music, and kids’ activities.​

Summer opportunities within Golden Gate Park – The Bean Sprouts Family Days, a free-with-admission program featuring hands-on activities in the Children’s Garden, is currently on hiatus due to pathway renovations.  The Garden After School program, for K-5 students, offers all-outdoor activities focused on gardening and art, and is scheduled to conclude in Fall 2025.

Museum and Educational Attractions

San Francisco museums employ a layered system of accessibility, ensuring consistent cultural enrichment opportunities that are independent of specific holidays or festivals. Families who utilize these options can significantly reduce their annual cultural expenses.

  • Bay Area Resident Advantage (FAMSF): The de Young Museum and Legion of Honor offer free general admission every Saturday to residents of the nine qualifying Bay Area counties. Residents must reserve admission online and present a driver’s license or a postmarked envelope onsite for verification.
  • General Public Free Day (FAMSF): The de Young Museum and Legion of Honor offer free admission to the general public on the First Tuesday of every month.
  • Regional Free Day (Various Museums): The Free First Thursdays program offers free entry to Bay Area residents at participating institutions.
  • Partnership Programs: Additional routes to free entry are available through partnerships. Families holding an EBT or Medi-Cal card qualify for free admission via the Museums for All program, and California library cardholders can utilize the Discover and Go program.

San Francisco is rich in permanent attractions that require no ticket purchase or date-specific planning, serving as reliable, year-round destinations for active recreation and sightseeing.

These destinations include: walking the Golden Gate Bridge, observing the iconic Sea Lions at Fisherman’s Wharf, visiting the free and historically rich Cable Car Museum, strolling through Chinatown, and spending an afternoon in Golden Gate Park. For active fun, families can utilize the unique Seward Street Slides, hike up to Coit Tower, or picnic in Alamo Square for views of the famous “Painted Ladies”. The Presidio Tunnel Tops and Crissy Field offer vast outdoor spaces ideal for enjoying nature and taking in panoramic views of the bay.

Festivals and Special Outings

  • Music for Families (San Francisco Symphony): Fun, interactive concerts designed for young audiences.​

Outdoor and Neighborhood Activities

  • Golden Gate Park: Bison paddocks, playgrounds, Japanese Tea Garden, Botanical Garden, and pedal boats on Blue Heron Lake (formerly Stow Lake).​

  • Fisherman’s Wharf: Sea Lion Center, Musée Mécanique arcade, historic ship tours, and free Pier 39 performances.​

  • Urban Hikes and Scenic Walks: Numerous city trails with views and nature stops are perfect for families and kids.​

Other Resources

  • SF Funcheap – Kids & Families – Daily listings of fun, often free or inexpensive events specifically for kids and families in San Francisco.
  • San Francisco Rec & Park – Events and activities hosted by the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department, often including park-based fun, classes, and special annual events. (Check main site for city-wide listings)
  • Mommy Poppins – San Francisco – A curated guide for things to do with kids, featuring lists of attractions, seasonal guides (like pumpkin patches and holiday fun), and event roundups.
  • San Francisco Department of Early Childhood (SFDEC) – Calendar primarily focused on events and resources for very young children and their families, often including playgroups and support services.
  • Bay Area Kid Fun – A broad calendar for family-friendly events across the entire Bay Area, a great resource for weekend highlights and regional activities.
  • Bay Area Parent Magazine – A comprehensive event calendar covering activities, classes, and special events for families throughout the Bay Area.

SF Events (Not Kid-Friendly Specific)

Jan

Feb

  • Bernal Heights Valentine’s Day Stroll – a festive evening of music, shopping, and dining along Cortland Avenue! Feb 14, 2025
  • 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 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. Feb 15, 2025
  • Annual Youth Speaks Teen Poetry Slam – Youth Speaks works with 45,000 teens annually and presents local and national youth poetry slams, festivals, reading series, and more, including the Grand Slam Finals in April, following the preliminaries in March and the semi-finals.

Mar

  • Ocean Beach Bonfires – Fires permitted Mar 1 – Oct 31 (NO FIRES permitted Nov 1 – end of February). The No-Burn Season is observed during the Bay Area Air Quality Management District’s (BAAQMD) Winter Spare the Air season, when burning is avoided.
  • 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 8, 2025
  • 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 15, 2025
  • “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 gained popularity among non-Hindus in many parts of South Asia, as well as people from other communities outside Asia. Hosted by FIA in March each year, the event attracts over 5,000 attendees. Mar 15, 2025
  • 80,000 Free Tulips Are Coming to SF’s Union Square – Tulip Day is coming to America! We will be back on Mar 9. A colorful display of over 80,000 tulips will cover Union Square in San Francisco. You are invited to visit the square and choose your tulips. Mar 22, 2025

Apr

  • 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 Apr 7, and they’ll need some help getting the summer off to a great start. You can help them by rooting for the home team this Opening Day. Apr 4, 2025
  • 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. Apr 6, 2025
  • 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 numerous cultural and community organizations that contribute to the Festival’s continued success. April 12-13 & 19-20, 2025
  • 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 one of California’s largest events honoring Cesar Chavez. Apr 13, 2024
  • Free National Parks Day – Apr 20, 2025
  • SF’s Easter In the Park & Hunky Jesus Contest – The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence to host their Annual Easter in the Park and celebrate their 46th Anniversary ON EASTER SUNDAY! Apr 20, 2025
  • Earth Day 2025– Earth Day’s 2025 theme: OUR POWER, OUR PLANET™ – commit to harnessing renewable energy to build a healthy, sustainable, equitable, and prosperous future for us all; let us commit to Renewable Energy Now. Apr 22, 2025
  • 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 for this year’s theme, “Rockin’ on the Bay.” This theme is open to many interpretations of anything associated with music. Apr 27, 2025
  • 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 in San Francisco is a celebration of 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 people, young and old, have “range fever.” Here is music, a variety of Dutch activities, and food trucks serving Dutch delicacies. Dutch King’s Day in San Francisco is a celebration not just for Dutch expatriates or Americans, but for the entire Dutch community in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. TBD

May

  • Taiwanese American Cultural Festival – Since 1993, the Taiwanese American Cultural Festival has evolved into an annual landmark event for the Bay Area community, attracting thousands of visitors worldwide to experience Taiwan’s unique cultural heritage and acknowledge the contributions of Taiwanese Americans today. May 10, 2025
  • 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 evolved into a vibrant celebration that showcases the community’s music, dance, and art. The festival features a grand parade, as well as a celebration 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 24-25, 2025
  • 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. This is a perfect photo opportunity for the gram. The event starts on Sunday, just before Mother’s Day.

Jun

  • Union Street Festival – The Union Street Festival in the historic Cow Hollow District has a long-standing tradition of connecting the community, and more than ever, it looks to rebuild the neighborhood atmosphere of San Francisco. We believe in creating a space that fosters diversity, unity, and inclusion, allowing for a safe gathering of local artists, musicians, and families while charting a path forward towards sustainability and reducing the event’s overall carbon footprint. TBD
  • 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.
  • Juneteenth Festival – Juneteenth celebrates the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States, specifically when African Americans in Texas were informed 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 the owner of the Texas Playhouse on Fillmore Street, invited all Bay Area African Americans to celebrate Juneteenth in his lounge. Jun 15, 2025
  • 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, 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. TBD
  • 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! TBD
  • 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 in a beautiful outdoor theater in the heart of San Francisco. Jun 15– Aug 17, 2025

Jul

  • Fourth of July Celebration at The Pier – Join the annual waterfront party at PIER 39 for dazzling fireworks, local bands, food, and arts and crafts, perfect for the entire family. Don’t forget to bring a jacket; the fireworks are scheduled to begin around 9:30 pm, weather permitting.
  • Free Shakespeare in the Park: Every summer, the San Francisco Shakespeare Festival presents a series of free outdoor performances of one of Shakespeare’s plays in various parks throughout the city. TBD
  • 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. TBD

Aug

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, heighten appreciation among neighborhood and citywide residents, and bring the community together. Sept 4-6, 2025
  • 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. TBD
  • A Taste of Greece – San Francisco’s Original Greek Festival “Taste of Greece” returns 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 by public transportation, and parking is available nearby. Admission is free! We hope to see you celebrate Greek culture at San Francisco’s original Greek festival. TBD
  • Annual Chinatown Lion Dance Festival – Vibrant lion dance parades take place on Grant Avenue (between Sacramento and Jackson Streets), bringing luck and a cultural spectacle. TBD
  • Free National Parks Day – National Public Lands Day, Sept 27, 2025
  • Fiesta on the Hill – BBHNC’s annual street fair and fundraiser that gets amazing…even after 30 years. Join us for a fun-filled day featuring local vendors and artisans, great food, live music, a costume parade with a marching band, fun rides for the kids, and much more. This is a great way to meet your neighbors and enjoy a day in the special community we call Bernal Heights. TBD

Oct

  • Castro Street Fair – Founded in 1974 by Harvey Milk, Join Us on the First Sunday of October at the Intersection of Castro and Market Streets. TBD
  • 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 SSF’s Very Own Blue Angel Flying High Above Their Hometown. Oct 5-13, 2025
  • Italian Heritage Parade – The San Francisco Italian Heritage Parade is an annual event held in celebration of 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 terminates in Washington Square, adjacent to Saints Peter and Paul Church. Parade viewing is available throughout the entire route. The first wave of Italian immigrants arrived in San Francisco during the 1850s, coinciding with 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 12, 2025
  • Indigenous Peoples Day – A celebration of San Francisco Indigenous Peoples Day at Yerba Buena Gardens with Native American art, music, and vendors. The program showcases the diverse and talented Indigenous community of artists in the Bay Area, California, and beyond. TBD
  • Potrero Hill Festival – The Potrero Hill Festival is a one-day street fair in San Francisco, California. A fundraiser for the Potrero Hill Neighborhood House, a local community center. TBD
  • Sunday Streets “Phoenix Day” Block Party Day – The 4th Annual Sunday Streets Phoenix Day, with over a dozen community-led block parties and activities happening across the city. TBD
  • SSF’s Annual Sandcastle Classic – Leap Sandcastle Classic: Giant sand sculptures, music, and food at Ocean Beach. Oct 25, 2025
  • 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. TBA

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 (26th and Harrison, 4–11 pm) to honor the departed. TBD
  • 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 TBD
  • San Francisco International Auto Show – San Francisco Chronicle International Auto Show presented by Golden 1 Credit Union. TBD
  • 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

Dec

  • Bernal Heights Holiday Stroll – from 5:00 to 7:00 (BBAA hosting) with festive tree lighting and caroling. TBD
  • Ogden Tree Lighting – Support Ogden Avenue Gardens. TBD
  • SantaCon SF – 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 13, 2025

Calendar – Bernal Heights and Beyond