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Presidents Day Weekend in San Francisco 2024
by Jill Loeffler •
Updated: January 31, 2024
Presidents Day Weekend in San Francisco offers live theater performances and concerts, whale watching tours, excellent museum exhibits, professional hockey, and more.
This year's holiday is on Monday, February 19. All events and activities below are for the weekend of February 16 - 19.
Disclaimer: I receive a small commission from some of the links on this page.
Broadway Shows & Other Theater Performances in SF
You will find several great theater performances this weekend in San Francisco.
MJ the Musical
Tickets: Ticketmaster
The top Broadway show on stage this weekend is called MJ the Musical. It's a musical based on the music of Michael Jackson and the story behind his popular 1992 Dangerous World Tour.
Listen to his popular songs as you learn more about what it's really like behind the scenes.
This performance is at the Orpheum Theater and is 2 hours and 30 minutes.
>> Additional theater productions this weekend
Cirque du Soleil - Kooza
Tickets: Ticketmaster | StubHub
Enjoy a high energy performance of Cirque du Soleil in San Francisco. This weekend's performance is Kooza.
It's the story of a wonderful clown who has lost his way. Each show feature colorful costumes, high flying performers, and so much more. I love catching a show when they are in SF.
There are two shows on Friday, two on Saturday, and one show on Sunday.
All shows are in the Grand Chapiteau at Oracle Park.
Dear San Francisco
Tickets: Find tickets
This fun, local performance is an entertaining tribute to the great city of San Francisco.
It features fun and lively acrobats, original music, spoken word and other art performances that take you through the best that San Francisco has to offer from landmarks to top districts.
SF Bay Cruises for Presidents Day Weekend in San Francisco
Dates: Daily
Head out on the water this Presidents Day Weekend in San Francisco. You will find dozens of cruises each day that offer you the chance to get amazing views of our waterfront attractions.
Most cruises also include narration, so you can learn more about SF's history and our top attractions. You will cruise under the Golden Gate Bridge, around Alcatraz, and along our northern coast.
Here are just a few of the top options this weekend.
60-Minute Bay Cruise
This fun and popular 60 minute cruise runs several times a day from Fisherman's Wharf.
You will cruise under the Golden Gate Bridge, around Alcatraz, and along the SF shoreline.
Twilight Boat Cruise
This is a late afternoon and evening cruise that allows you to enjoy the scenery around the SF Bay. You will also cruise under the Golden Gate Bridge, around Alcatraz, and more.
It's a 90 minute cruise that leaves at 5:30 pm.
Find details and ticketing information.
Bay Sailing with Drinks
This fun 90 minute cruise is on a smaller, 28-passenger sailboat. You'll get a chance to see all of SF's top attractions along the waterfront including Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge, and more.
Your ticket also includes two beverages during your journey.
Find out more and pick up your tickets today!
Hotel Deals
Make sure to check out the links below for deals on top hotels. I recommend booking early for Presidents Day Weekend in San Francisco as there are many highly popular events, so hotels will book up early!
Booking: Find great deals all around San Francisco for your upcoming stay!
TripAdvisor: What's the #1 hotel in San Francisco? Read reviews & find hotel deals on TripAdvisor!
VRBO: Besides hotels, you'll also find some great places to stay locally through VRBO. Book an apartment or a room and feel more like a local. Find some great places to stay on VRBO here.
Free Walking Tours
Dates: All weekend long
A great way to get to know San Francisco more intimately is on the free guided walking tours offered daily by the SF Public Library.
This Presidents Day weekend, you have lots of neighborhoods and themes to choose from, ranging from the Japanese Tea Garden and the Hidden History of Fisherman's Wharf on Friday, to the Golden Gate Bridge and the Victorian Homes of SF on Sunday.
Many more tours will be offered all weekend. Take a look at the full schedule to pick the ones that best suit your interests.
Chronicle Wine Competition
Date: 2/17
Location: Fort Mason Center
On the Saturday of Presidents Day Weekend in San Francisco, you'll find the public tasting event for the world's largest competition of North American wines, held at the large Fort Mason Center in the Presidio.
Of the more than 7,000 entries in over 100 categories, the 1,500 gold medal-winning wines will be available for you to sample and pair with delightful gourmet treats. You'll also have the opportunity to mingle with the winemakers and other wine aficcionados.
>> Get more details and tickets on the website
SF Symphony
Dates: 2/16 - 2/19
Location: Davies Symphony Hall
This holiday weekend, there is are two different programs offered at the SF Symphony.
You can catch Inspirations Letters Legacies (2/15, 2/16 & 2/18) and the Lunar New Year, Year of the Dragon performance on 2/17.
A visit to the symphony makes for a lovely day or evening in the Civic Center district.
Hop-On/Hop-Off Bus
Dates: Any day this weekend
An easy way to get around SF is the Hop-On/Hop-Off Bus. This is a city tour that lets you go at your own pace, and choose your own destinations from among more than 20 stops at the most important attractions.
Simply get tickets for one day, and hop on or off as many times as you'd like. The bus will take you to Fisherman's Wharf, North Beach, Union Square, the Golden Gate Bridge, and many more popular sights.
Traveling Exhibits at Our Local Museums
Dates: All Weekend Long
This President's Day Weekend in San Francisco you will find a variety of traveling exhibits at our museum. Some of my top picks include:
L'Chaim: Celebrating Our Building at the Contemporary Jewish Museum
Fashioning San Francisco, A Century of Style: All month long at the de Young Museum of Fine Art
Ragnar Kjartansson, The Visitors at the Museum of Modern Art
You can also click the link below for a full list of exhibits on display this weekend.
Concerts This Weekend
Dates: Several this weekend
This Presidents Day Weekend in San Francisco offers dozens of concerts in San Francisco and throughout the Bay Area.
Top shows include those at the Warfield, the Nob Hill Masonic Center, and the Fillmore.
You will find additional shows in Oakland, Berkeley and San Jose all weekend long.
- 2/16: Chance Pena at Cafe du Nord
- 2/17: Chris Wong at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
- 2/17: Keller Williams at The Independent
- 2/18: Jon Batiste at The Fillmore
- 2/19: The Beaches at The Fillmore
Free Things to Do in San Francisco
A trip to San Francisco can be expensive, but it doesn't have to be.
If you know where to look, you can visit hundreds of famous sights, events, and museums for free, and even get free guided tours so you can really understand what you're looking at.
Click the link below for a complete list of insider's tips on how and when to get free admission and tours.
Comments? Questions? Suggestions?
I would love for you to join me in my private Facebook group!
It's a great place to interact with me and others who know the area well.
You can ask questions, get advice for your upcoming stay, and then share your photos and advice with others when you return home. It's a great community and the fastest way to get answers to those nagging questions about your visit!
