Special Events
Dr Martin Luther King Jr’s Birthday, celebrations, march and rally, Jan 15, Yerba Buena Gardens Independent Film Festival, Jan-Feb, Castro, Roxie and Parkway theatres Chinese New Year, largest night-time illuminated parade in North America, Feb, Chinatown San Francisco Tribal, Folk & Textile Art Show, North American folk art dealers selling pottery, baskets, jewelry, and textiles, Feb, Fort Mason Antiquarian Book Fair, world’s largest rare book fair takes, Feb, Concourse Exhibition Center San Francisco Jazz Spring Season, Mar-Jun, Masonic Auditorium St Patrick’s Day, celebrations and parade, 17 Mar, Ghirardeli Square and parade from Second Street and Market Street to City Hall Cherry Blossom Festival, stalls, Martial arts demonstrations, tea ceremonies, Japanese music and dance and a parade, Apr, Japantown, Post Street and Webster Street, parade from Civic Center to Fillmore Street San Francisco International Film Festival, more than 100 films and videos showcased, Apr-May, Castro Theatre and other venues St Stupid’s Parade, celebration of April Fool’s Day, 1 Apr, from Embarcadero Plaza to Washington Square in North Beach Union Street Easter Parade and Festival, Apr, Union Street Citibank Spring Cup Regatta, America’s Cup and USA Olympic team sailors compete, May, northern waterfront San Francisco Examiner Bay To Breakers Footrace, the world’s largest footrace with more than 70,000 costumed runners, May, The Embarcadero to Great Highway Carnival, San Francisco’s version of Mardi Gras, May, Mission District Memorial Day, national holiday, 26 May, throughout the city North Beach Festival, the city’s oldest street fair, Jun, North Beach Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Pride Parade, Jun, The Embarcadero to Civic Center Stern Grove Festival, free events every Sun afternoon, Jun-Aug, 19th Avenue and Sloat Boulevard San Francisco Jazz Festival, Jun-Oct, various outdoor venues San Francisco Jazz & Wine Festival, Jul, The Embarcadero Centre San Francisco Marathon, Jul, Golden Gate Park to the Civic Center Fourth of July Festivals, celebrations and fireworks, 4 Jul, Oakland and Fisherman’s Wharf San Francisco Shakespeare Festival, free performances on Sat and Sun 1330, Aug-Sep, Golden Gate Park Al la Carte, A la Park, food, wine and beer festival, Aug-Sep, Golden Gate Park Opera in the Park, Sep, Golden Gate Park Labor Day, national holiday, Sep, throughout the city San Francisco Fringe Festival, theatre performances, Sep, various downtown venues Chocolate Festival, Sep, Ghirardelli Square Viva Las Americas, music and dance celebrating Hispanic heritage, Sep, Pier 39 Polk Street Fair, music, arts, crafts and food, Sep, Polk Street Blues Festival, Sep, Great Meadow above Fort Mason Folsom Street Fair, kinky adults-only festival, Sep, Folsom Street Castro Street Fair, fine arts and crafts, merchants, dance, performances, and community groups, Oct, Castro Street Italian Heritage Parade, Oct, along Columbus Avenue, ending at Washington Square. San Francisco Arts Festival, arts and crafts, Oct, Bill Graham Civic Auditorium Exotic Erotic Ball, adult indoor masquerade ball, Oct, Cow Palace San Francisco Jazz Festival, Oct-Nov, various venues Halloween San Francisco, 31 Oct, Civic Center and Castro Street Veterans Day Parade, 11 Nov, Market Street Tree Lighting Festivities, Nov, Pier 39, Ghirardelli Square and Esplanade Gardens at Yerba Buena Center Great Dickens Christmas Fair, recreation of a 19th-century Victorian London fair, Nov-Dec, Cow Palace
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