Outside Lands is back August 9–11. | Alive Coverage/Outside LandsOutside Lands is back August 9–11. | Alive Coverage/Outside Lands
As anyone who’s spent time in San Francisco knows, there’s never a dearth of fun to be had. That’s especially true when it comes to eating and drinking. Whether it’s sipping cocktails at one of SF’s Best Bars, grabbing fancy coffee, hitting up one of the city’s breweries, or taking advantage of a rooftop bar on a sunny day… or a heat lamp on a rooftop when bundled up in a puffy jacket.
And though “getting outside” via a rooftop bar definitely counts as getting fresh air, SF also makes it easy to enjoy the great outdoors in a billion other ways. Whether going on a beautiful hike, cozying up on a cliffside beach, or simply strolling around our famous hills (your calves and thighs may object to the word “strolling” depending on which hill you pick), SF is as much about playing outdoors and chilling inside.
And while you can do all those things year-round, this town also boasts some amazing events, most of which are only-in-SF experiences not to be missed. Planning a trip or just want to make sure you don’t miss out on any of the greatest hits? Be sure to consult this annual calendar so you don’t miss the most exciting things happening in San Francisco right now.
January
January 16, 2025–February 2, 2025
Various locations
SF’s annual comedy festival pretty much guarantees non-stop hilarity from well-known and up-and-coming comedians. From variety shows to tributes to roasts, there are dozens of comedic programs guaranteed to make you (at the very least) chuckle.
January 23, 2025–January 26, 2025
Fort Mason Center
Every January, FOG Design+Art celebrates leading contributors to the world of contemporary design and visual arts with a weekend of exciting programming and special installations. If you’ve got the cash to splurge, be sure to get tickets for the opening night gala, a preview of the showcase, as well as food, cocktails, and art with proceeds supporting SFMOMA.
February
February 24–25, 2025
Chinatown
Usher in the Year of the Snake at the San Francisco’s Chinese New Year Parade, which is considered one of the top 10 parades in the world and is definitely something that should be on your SF Bucket List, if it’s not already. Find a good spot along the route to take in the elaborate floats, beautiful costumes, the newly crowned Miss Chinatown USA and her court, and the pièce de résistance: the 288-foot Golden Dragon, which is carried by more than 180 men and women. Good to know: The parade and festival are free, but you can purchase bleacher seats if you don’t want to deal with the crowds.
Late February 2025, exact dates TBD
Various locations
The Noise Pop Music & Arts Festival is a week of non-stop independent films, concerts, art shows, and happy hours all over SF and the East Bay. Get a badge and gain access to every single one of the 90+ events, or buy tickets to individual events.
SFMOMA Art Bash | Photo by Myleen Hollero
March
Late March, 2025, exact dates TBD
Sonoma
Cheese, please! The California Artisan Cheese Festival is a celebration of the artisan cheesemaking community, which means you get to take farm and producer tours, go to seminars, and spend all of Saturday and Sunday afternoon tasting products from more than 100 artisan cheese and food producers, winemakers, brewers, distillers, and more.
April
April 20, 2025
Dolores Park
The irreverent cross-dressing nuns-of-fun take over Dolores Park every Easter for their annual and cheeky celebration. Go early if you’re looking for family-friendly events, as the party gets decidedly more adult as the afternoon goes on, ultimately culminating in the very beloved and irreverent Foxy Mary and Hunky Jesus costume contests.
April 2025
SoMa
This is one of SF’s best parties of the year (and the museum’s biggest) and well worth the price of admission. There is so much to explore at the rollicking museum-wide party, including multiple DJs, performances and drag shows, pop-up activations, tons of art, and full bars and bites everywhere you turn. And best of all, every ticket helps fund SFMOMA’s education and family programs, and community engagement events.
May
May 24–25, 2025
Mission
SF empties out over Memorial Day, but the one party that’s guaranteed to be a good time is Carnaval, a massive two-day celebration that includes global cuisine, international music, dance, and arts, and lots of other entertainment, including the Grand Parade at 9:30 am on Sunday.
May 23–25, 2025
Napa
The food, wine, and brew take the spotlight as much as the headliners (TBA) at this three-day festival in downtown Napa. If you can score tickets, be sure to check out the Culinary Stage, where you’ll see famous chefs cooking and rocking out with musicians. (And go VIP to get exclusive food options.)
Credit: Zappos Bay to Breakers
May 18, 2025
Begins at the Embarcadeo
Bay to Breakers is one of the largest foot races in the world, and though it does attract world-class competitors, it’s not just for serious runners. Thousands of people dress up, many without any intention of ever completing the 12K course—which is literally run from the bay to the breakers (ocean)—but instead to take to the streets and cheer people on (and perhaps start tying one on) at a very early hour. Whether you plan to run the course, walk the course, or drink the course, everyone should register, as it’s what allows the event to continue to exist.
Courtesy SF Pride
June
June 2025, exact dates TBD (usually mid-June)
North Beach
This two-day festival is one of the country’s oldest outdoor street fairs and one of the city’s best. Every year, there are 11 blocks of entertainment with over 200 arts and crafts booths, gourmet food booths, adult beverage gardens, two stages of live music, and the blessing of the animals.
June 27–28, 2025
Civic Center
Pride takes place throughout all of June in SF (and, let’s be real, every single day), but this is the biggest weekend with a huge parade and festival. The celebration is free, but donations are appreciated.
The Flaming Lips | Courtesy Stern Grove
July
July 6–21, 2024
Napa
Every summer, Festival Napa Valley brings a diverse program of arts to Wine Country to raise money to bring the arts to all through world-class performances and inspiring arts education programs. More than 200 artists, wineries, resorts, theaters, restaurants, chefs, and vintners participate each year to highlight renowned artists and emerging talent through free concerts, film screenings, and patron dinners. If you can only pick one event, Taste of Napa (Saturday, July 13, at The Meritage Resort and Spa) is the way to go. There, you’ll spend the afternoon tasting food and wine from over 70 local restaurants, and that’s probably all we need to say about that ‘cause it kinda sells itself.
Through August 25, 2024
Parkside
One of SF’s most beloved summer traditions is the Stern Grove Festival, a free Sunday festival that brings something for everyone while enjoying a picnic (wine and beer are allowed) in the sunshine (or fog). This year’s remaining performers include The Commodores, Masego, Alex G, Herbie Hancock, Lucinda Williams, and more. You’ve gotta be on your game, though, because ever since the pandemic, Stern Grove requires you to get (free) tickets, which are released one month prior to the show date (plus a couple more releases after that, in case you miss out the first time.)
Blair Brown/Outside Lands
August
August 9–11
Golden Gate Park
Outside Lands is so much more than a music festival, though obviously, it’s worth noting that this year’s headliners (there are over 90 performances on six stages) are The Killers, Sabrina Carpenter, and Sturgill Simpson. For the best experience, plan to arrive early in the day (and very hungry). That way, you can maximize your food-eating experiences (OSL is known for its stellar culinary lineup) and check out Wine Lands, Beer Lands, Cocktail Magic, Grass Lands, and more. Wear your walking shoes because you’ll probably get around 20K steps each day, and check the weather closely because you may want to ditch your usual festival attire for layers.
September
September 8, 2024
Golden Gate Park
Pack a picnic and head to Golden Gate Park for a Sunday afternoon of arias, duets, and more from the SF Opera’s stars from the fall season, all led by the San Francisco Opera Orchestra. The event is free to all, but you’ll want to get there early if you want to snag a good spot. Picnics (with wine and beer) are not mandatory but will likely raise your enjoyment by at least a few points.
September 21, 2024
SoMa
Get weird at the How Weird Street Faire, the self-proclaimed longest-running dance festival on the West Coast. Expect eight stages of EDM, an art alley, crafts, local wares for sale, lots of food and drinks, and endless costumes. No, seriously, costumes are basically required.
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass | Jane Tyska/MediaNews Group/Getty Images
October
October 4–6, 2024
Golden Gate Park
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass is a rare event in that it’s a free concert without a single sponsor. This year there will be dozens of performances on multiple stages from acts that are actually bluegrass and some of which are hardly so at all. Food will be sold (beer will not), but you’re also allowed to bring it along with beer and wine (no glass containers), and, the best part of all: you can also bring your well-behaved pup.
October 2024, exact dates TBD
SoMa
The Terror Vault takes over the basement of the San Francisco Mint with an immersive journey full of sets and characters whose sole purpose is to make you scream, jump, and wonder why on earth you paid good money to be terrorized. In the best and most Halloween-appropriate way possible, of course. By going into The Terror Vault, you’re automatically on the journey and part of the story, and we highly recommend opting into the full experience, which means you may be pulled away from the crowd for a journey for one or asked to crawl, drink, and more.
October 19–20, 2024
Half Moon Bay
The perfect way to get in the mood for cozy sweaters, PSLs, and corn mazes? Head to the World Pumpkin Capital to shop wares from artists, enjoy live music on multiple stages, participate or watch a pie eating contest, explore a haunted barn, enjoy homemade food, carve a pumpkin, and take pics of all gigantic pumpkin champions to post on Instagram.
Courtesy Dickens Fair
November
Fall 2024, exact dates TBD
Various locations
Eat your way through over 200 SF restaurants without going broke. During Restaurant Week, tons of spots offer special prix fixe menus at some incredible price points. It’s the perfect excuse to finally go check out a spot that’s been on your list or revisit an old favorite.
Weekends from November 23–December 22, 2024
Daly City
Thanks to that whole Scrooge and Tiny Tim teaching us patience and generosity, Charles Dickens has become an important part of Christmas. And while you should definitely see A.C.T.’s new version of A Christmas Carol, you should also take it a step further and enter the world of Charles Dickens’ Victorian London at the Cow Palace. For six weekends leading up to Christmas, the Dickens Fair transforms the Cow Palace into an elaborate party with hundreds of colorful costumed characters mingling about the music halls, pubs, a bar selling absinthe, dance floors, and Christmas shops.
December
December 6–29, 2024
Civic Center
There’s nothing more quintessentially Christmas than a holiday performance of Nutcracker, a ballet about a broken wooden nutcracker, toy soldiers who battle a Mouse King, and a tree that magically grows (no mushrooms required). This version takes place on a foggy evening in San Francisco (well, at least until things go slightly off the rails and Clara visits The Land of Snow and The Crystal Palace), so keep an eye out for references throughout. And here’s a fun fact you may want to drop: San Francisco Ballet was the first to perform Nutcracker in the United States (on Christmas Eve 1944).
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Daisy Barringer is a San Francisco-based freelance writer with over 15 years of professional experience as a copywriter and editorial journalist. Her areas of expertise include hamburgers, road trips, the 49ers, and anything and everything NorCal. She grew up in San Francisco and has a BFA in Dramatic Writing from New York University and an MFA in Creative Writing from UNC Wilmington, the latter of which she commonly refers to as “the time she spent three years at creative writing summer camp.” Follow her on Instagram @daisysf, where you’re guaranteed cute pics of her 160-pound Saint Bernard named Monkey.
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