San Francisco has a rainbow of diverse cuisines and also boasts a thriving culinary scene — to start with, it’s home to 36 Michelin Star restaurants, including Atelier Crenn, Benu, and Quince. That means there’s plenty of food festivals and events to look forward to.
*Things change, so please check in with the organizers of these events for details.
January
SF starts off the year with a massive fireworks show that turns the city into one big party. After that, there’s plenty to do; Fog Design + Art fair, Sketchfest and volunteering events for MLK Day.
Read more about the best things to do in San Francisco in January here.
February
February sees the arrival of San Francisco’s massive Lunar New Year celebrations, featuring a parade with decorated floats, martial arts demonstrations, the fabulous Lion Dance, firecrackers and more. Plus, it’s beer week, there’s the San Francisco International Film Festival and it’s a month to honor Black History.
Read more about the best things to do in San Francisco in February here.
March
One of San Francisco’s largest annual parades and one of the longest-running parades in the United States, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade is celebrated with live music, dance, beverages and traditional Irish cuisine. March is also the time to get green beer, and there’s plenty of arts and sports events to look out for.
Read more about the best things to do in San Francisco in March here.
April
April sees spring show itself in pink in Japantown at the Cherry Blossom Festival. It’s also Earth Day and Easter which brings plenty of events, along with being the month for Art Market San Francisco and the San Francisco International Film Festival.
Read more about the best things to do in San Francisco in April here.
May
May is a month of celebration: Carnaval, Bay to Breakers, and all things female, being both Women’s History Month and Mother’s Day.
Read more about the best things to do in San Francisco in May here.
June
A two-day weekend Pride Parade in late June draws well over one million participants and spectators is the culmination of a month-long celebration. June also sees the arrival of Juneteenth, the SF DocFest, the North Beach Festival and the San Francisco Jazz Festival.
Read more about the best things to do in San Francisco in June here.
July
Happy 4th of July! It’s also the month to celebrate Bastille Day and the San Francisco Marathon.
Read more about the best things to do in San Francisco in July here.
August
Since 2008, the city’s best music festival, Outside Lands, has grown to include outstanding food and drink, and more. Once the lineup is announced, festival passes and one-day tickets sell fast for the three-day event in Golden Gate Park. It’s also the month of Eat Drink SF, the Stern Grove Festival and Oysterfest.
Read more about the best things to do in San Francisco in August here.
September
September is Hispanic-Latino Heritage Month, Day of the Dead, Oktoberfest, and sees the arrival of festivities in the form of Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, the Folsom Street Fair and the Portola Festival.
Read more about the best things to do in San Francisco in September here.
October
Fleet Week is in October, which features Navy ship tours and exciting — and oftentimes scary — air shows that defy physics. It’s also the time of year for Litquake, Halloween and the San Francisco Fall Show.
Read more about the best things to do in San Francisco in October here.
November
More than a dozen permanent and temporary eco-friendly light art installations transform San Francisco nights into a citywide gallery of light during Illuminate SF. Also, It’s time for the Renegade Craft Fair, the Fillmore Jazz Festival and of course, Thanksgiving!
Read more about the best things to do in San Francisco in November here.
December
SF Ballet — America’s oldest ballet company — presents Tchaikovsky’s beloved family classic, The Nutcracker. Other end of the year events include the San Francisco Coffee Festival, Lighted Boat Parade and the Dickens Christmas Fair.
Read more about the best things to do in San Francisco in December here.
Event Venues
Looking to see what’s happening right now in SF? Our comprehensive list of venues across the city below will help you find what you need to know what’s going on.
More Local Favorites in San Francisco
Looking for more things to do in the area?
Visit our What to Do in Northern California page!
