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Festivals & Fairs

San Francisco features more than 100 festivals throughout the year that celebrate everything from jazz to chocolate. They present an eclectic array of educational and recreation opportunities highlighting the diversity of the City.

Some of the More Prominent Festivals & Fairs in San Francisco

  • Bay to Breakers Footrace
    A 12k run that starts at the San Francisco side of the Bay Bridge, the ‘Bay,' and ends at the end of Golden Gate Park, the ‘Breakers.' The end of the race features a costume contest and "Footstock" music festival.
  • Fillmore Street Jazz Festival
    A large, free concert featuring several musical performers and over 200 artists presenting their work.
  • Ghirardelli Square Chocolate Festival
    An opportunity for the public to taste- test many different samples of San Francisco's finest chocolates from both Ghirardelli and other local restaurants hotels and chocolatiers.
  • Opera in the Park
    The San Francisco Opera hosts a free outdoor concert every September at Sharon Meadow in Golden Gate Park. The SF Opera is accompanied by the San Francisco Opera Orchestra.
  • Fleet Week
    The US Navy brings 3,500 sailors to San Francisco each fall. During this time, the public is able to view several naval ships. Fleet week also features air races and aerial acrobatics by both private groups and the Blue Angels.
  • North Beach Festival
    This outdoor arts and craft festival in the heart of San Francisco's little Italy brings together food and music each summer in June. It features alternative, rhythm and blues, Latin rock, pop rock, reggae, salsa and swing music, as well as a cooking stage with celebrity chefs, and street art.  
  • Gay Pride Parade and Festival
    The festival's mission is to commemorate the heritage and celebrate the culture of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community of San Francisco. The annual festival takes place at the Civic Center and hosts a world-famous parade along Market Street.
  • San Francisco Chinese New Year Festival and Parade
    A two-week festival that takes place every year in the spring, The Chinese New Year celebration is encapsulated by the Chinese New Year Flower Fair and the Chinatown Community Street Fair. The festivities conclude with the Chinese New Year Parade. It is the largest parade in San Francisco of its kind and ranks in the top ten in the world.
  • San Francisco Shakespeare Festival
    Starting each year in July and offering programs until October, the festival is put on by a regional theater company. They offer free Shakespeare in The Park throughout the Bay Area, live performances through Shakespeare on Tour and Bay Area Shakespeare Camps, and Midnight Shakespeare—a program for at-risk youth.
  • Treasure Island Music Festival
    Put on by Noise Pop and Another Planet Entertainment, this two day music festival in October boasts a lineup of the most popular bands in alternative music. It takes place at Treasure Island, which has become a renowned venue for the music scene.
  • San Francisco Outside Lands Festival
    With its inaugural year in 2008, the 3-day outdoor music festival takes place in August at San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. Noteworthy performers have included Radiohead, Jack Johnson, Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals, and Tom Petty. The Festival also hosts many wine and food vendors to provide them with a chance to market their business. Outside Lands also takes an active approach in ensuring that the festival can be as environmentally sustainable as possible, using a solar-powered stage, refillable water bottles, promoting biking and public transportation as means to arrive to Golden Gate Park, and inviting non-profit organizations to educate festival attendees.
  • San Francisco Waterfront Festival
    The City's annual Independence Day Festival celebrates with fireworks, live entertainment, food, and arts and crafts along the City's Embarcadero waterfront.