For a city that finds every possible reason to celebrate, it’s really not hard to get caught in the middle of a fair, festival, or parade — especially in the summertime. Yes, we’ve got the big music festivals here, but there’s also plenty of iconic celebrations and quite a few weird and wild street fairs that make this city so unique. We truly know how to party here, as these 14 unique festivals in San Francisco attest to. I mean, this was the home of the original Burning Man, after all…
- Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival
Flickr/Andrew Whalley This free (and corporate-free) event is one of the best musical showcases around, and it’s not just bluegrass (hence the “hardly”), so you can catch everyone from MC Hammer to Conor Oberst to Emmylou Harris. It’s held during the first weekend of October, which typically means excellent weather. BYOB (bring your own beer and blanket).
- Bay to Breakers
Facebook/ Zappos.com Bay to Breakers While this is really just a race at heart, it’s exploded into one giant citywide celebration since its inception back in 1912. (In fact, it was the world’s largest footrace for sometime). Watch for plenty of skin, banana hammocks, and ridiculous costumes (or better yet, wear one yourself, or wear nothing at all).
- San Francisco Pride
Facebook/San Francisco Pride The city is flooded with rainbows over two days in June for one of the world’s biggest parades and celebrations for the LGBT community. It’s a time to spotlight the community’s struggles, fight for equality, and, of course, celebrate being YOU.
- Stern Grove Festival
Facebook/Stern Grove Festival More free music! Every summer sees an even more impressive lineup of stars performing amid the eucalyptus trees in Stern Grove. It kind of feels like a camp performance — on a totally epic level.
- How Weird Street Faire
How Weird Street Faire If you feared San Francisco has sold its soul to the techies, this tie-dye-colored street fair will give you hope that the city still has plenty of weird to go around.
- Treasure Island Music Festival
Facebook/ Treasure Island Music Festival The most unique part of this indie/electronic festival is the incredible view of San Francisco from this quaint (artificial) island smack-dab in the middle of the Bay. And this is also one of the most organized music fests ever – the schedule allows you to see pretty much every act.
- San Francisco Street Food Festival
Facebook/San Francisco Street Food Festival Support some of the city’s best small food companies (over 100 are represented) and try incredibly delectable specialties from around the world. If you can’t find anything you totally salivate over, you may not be human.
- Outside Lands Music Festival
Stephanie Garr You may have to bundle up for this eco-friendly fest on par with the Lollapaloozas of the world, but you’ll definitely be guaranteed some incredible live music moments. That said, some people (with money to blow, we imagine) are only interested in the food and wine (which features some of the best in the Bay Area).
- SF Sketchfest
Yelp/Tara B. It’s totally worth checking out the lineup for this multiple-week festival, because it’s often filled with some of the biggest names in TV and comedy. You may even be able to catch some cool anniversary events and cast reunions of iconic shows and films.
- Folsom Street Fair
Flickr/Ed Bierman Their website simply calls it as it is: “The World’s Biggest Leather Event,” which means throw on those chaps and keep your vegan (and prude) friends at home.
- Fillmore Jazz Festival
Flickr/Charles Wagner Tons of jazz music to fill your soul. You’ll leave feeling relaxed, and anticipating next year’s event.
- Chinese New Year Festival and Parade
Flickr/dannebrog Originating in the 1860s, this huge celebration has become the largest Asian event in North America. Be sure to stay for the annual parade’s grand finale, featuring a 200-foot Golden Dragon.
- Noise Pop Festival
Flickr/Jason Lloren This annual indie music and arts festival has been going strong since 1993 and spreads across the city at various venues for a few weeks in February. It’s a great way to discover new bands and see some old faves.
- Ghirardelli Chocolate Festival
Yelp/Jenny O. Um, because chocolate?! Oh, and wine, too!
So, get out there and get wild, folks! And no complaints about the cost, because a lot of these celebrations are free! What are some of your favorite festivals in San Francisco? Let us know in the comments!
Flickr/Andrew Whalley
This free (and corporate-free) event is one of the best musical showcases around, and it’s not just bluegrass (hence the “hardly”), so you can catch everyone from MC Hammer to Conor Oberst to Emmylou Harris. It’s held during the first weekend of October, which typically means excellent weather. BYOB (bring your own beer and blanket).
Facebook/ Zappos.com Bay to Breakers
While this is really just a race at heart, it’s exploded into one giant citywide celebration since its inception back in 1912. (In fact, it was the world’s largest footrace for sometime). Watch for plenty of skin, banana hammocks, and ridiculous costumes (or better yet, wear one yourself, or wear nothing at all).
Facebook/San Francisco Pride
The city is flooded with rainbows over two days in June for one of the world’s biggest parades and celebrations for the LGBT community. It’s a time to spotlight the community’s struggles, fight for equality, and, of course, celebrate being YOU.
Facebook/Stern Grove Festival
More free music! Every summer sees an even more impressive lineup of stars performing amid the eucalyptus trees in Stern Grove. It kind of feels like a camp performance — on a totally epic level.
How Weird Street Faire
If you feared San Francisco has sold its soul to the techies, this tie-dye-colored street fair will give you hope that the city still has plenty of weird to go around.
Facebook/ Treasure Island Music Festival
The most unique part of this indie/electronic festival is the incredible view of San Francisco from this quaint (artificial) island smack-dab in the middle of the Bay. And this is also one of the most organized music fests ever – the schedule allows you to see pretty much every act.
Facebook/San Francisco Street Food Festival
Support some of the city’s best small food companies (over 100 are represented) and try incredibly delectable specialties from around the world. If you can’t find anything you totally salivate over, you may not be human.
Stephanie Garr
You may have to bundle up for this eco-friendly fest on par with the Lollapaloozas of the world, but you’ll definitely be guaranteed some incredible live music moments. That said, some people (with money to blow, we imagine) are only interested in the food and wine (which features some of the best in the Bay Area).
Yelp/Tara B.
It’s totally worth checking out the lineup for this multiple-week festival, because it’s often filled with some of the biggest names in TV and comedy. You may even be able to catch some cool anniversary events and cast reunions of iconic shows and films.
Flickr/Ed Bierman
Their website simply calls it as it is: “The World’s Biggest Leather Event,” which means throw on those chaps and keep your vegan (and prude) friends at home.
Flickr/Charles Wagner
Tons of jazz music to fill your soul. You’ll leave feeling relaxed, and anticipating next year’s event.
Flickr/dannebrog
Originating in the 1860s, this huge celebration has become the largest Asian event in North America. Be sure to stay for the annual parade’s grand finale, featuring a 200-foot Golden Dragon.
Flickr/Jason Lloren
This annual indie music and arts festival has been going strong since 1993 and spreads across the city at various venues for a few weeks in February. It’s a great way to discover new bands and see some old faves.
Yelp/Jenny O.
Um, because chocolate?! Oh, and wine, too!
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