It’s not even summer yet, and San Francisco is filled with exciting festivals, markets and outdoor events. May not only holds Cinco de Mayo and Mother’s Day, but it’s Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. In San Francisco — where Asian communities have contributed so much to the city’s culture — that means there’s plenty to celebrate.
Suffice it to say, we’ve done the deep research for you on the best things to do in San Francisco, including museums, cultural events, food tours and more. Speaking of food, we also have an extensive list of our best restaurants in San Francisco, and if you’re planning a weekend, the best places to stay.
Featured photo by Andres Acosta.
Spring Artisan Market
May 4–5
Looking for a unique gift for Mother’s Day? The Asian Art Museum’s annual Spring Artisan Market presents beautiful gifts and goods from skilled craft makers. Pick up hand-carved earrings from a local jeweler. Or, spruce up your pantry with specialty food items. After browsing the museum’s best wares, you could even check out its new exhibit of Chinese archaeology, Phoenix Kingdoms: The Last Splendor of China’s Bronze Age (on view starting April 19). On view at that exhibit: a 2,000-year-old wine fridge, among other relics.
More info: asianart.org
CAAMFest
May 9–19
The Center for Asian American Media supports the advancement of Asian American media, and every year its film festival highlights over 100 films about these communities’ diverse experiences. With shorts, documentaries and feature-length narratives, viewers can choose to view a range of films. Theaters across the city (and even some in Oakland and Berkeley) screen films and hold events throughout the ten-day festival.
More info: caamfest.com
Chinatown Night Market
May 10
An event that started during last year’s Asia–Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) conference, the Chinatown Night Market is now a monthly recurrence every second Friday on Grant Ave. Vendors and crowds gather at 5:30 p.m. for a night of great food and community gathering. Put together with love by the nonprofit BeChinatown, the night market celebrates local businesses and the culture of one of San Francisco’s most iconic neighborhoods.
More info: bechinatown.weebly.com
Bay to Breakers
May 19
Pink gorillas, naked people, groups of 13+ runners tied by a bungee cord — it must be Bay to Breakers! San Francisco’s favorite footrace attracts both serious runners and serious partiers. The half-marathon treds from downtown San Francisco to the Great Highway on Ocean Beach (hence it’s the eponymous route: “from the Bay to the Breakers”). Bay to Breakers began in 1906 after the Great Earthquake and fire decimated the budding city. Now rebuilt several times over, San Francisco still holds onto the tradition, and tens of thousands participate every year.
More info: baytobreakers.com
Carnaval San Francisco
May 25–26
Five performance stages, dozens of musicians, hundreds of vendors, 17 blocks worth of street party and one grand parade: San Francisco’s Carnaval festival is BIG. And feathered! This year’s parade theme is “Honor Indigenous Roots,” highlighting the celebration’s pre-Colombian history and the many native influences within Carnaval traditions. Moreover, the festival celebrates the Mission in all its glory and the diverse Latin American, Caribbean and African cultures within it.
More info: carnavalsanfrancisco.org
SF Decorator Showcase
Through May 27
Wander through the halls of a massive Dutch Colonial and see the handiwork of 28 interior and landscape design firms from across California. In this yearly fundraiser for San Francisco University High School, the rooms of an impressive SF building are divided among different firms. Each decorates their space to show their style on a gorgeous blank canvas (AKA a five-floor mansion in Pacific Heights).
More info: decoratorshowcase.org
San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park
Thirteen home games bring fans to the stadium this month when the Giants go up against the Cincinnati Reds, Los Angeles Dodgers, Colorado Rockies, Philadelphia Phillies and New York Yankees.
More info: mlb.com/giants
San Francisco Symphony at Davies Symphony Hall
Various Dates
There are more than a dozen performance dates throughout the month of May. Performances include chamber music, solo recitals from musicians like Yuja Wang and several live accompaniments to films such as The Wizard of Oz, Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, Encanto and more.
More info: sfsymphony.org
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.
Looking for more things to do in the area?
Visit our What to Do in San Francisco page!
