SIGN UP FOR MY EMAIL TO RECEIVE YOUR FREE SAN FRANCISCO PLANNING GUIDE.
Presidents Day Weekend in San Francisco 2026
By: Jill Loeffler • Updated: October 12, 2025
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 16. All events and activities below are for the weekend of February 14 - 16.
SFTourismTips is made possible by readers like you! If you book through my links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support! Learn more.
Broadway Shows & Other Theater Performances in SF
You will find several great theater performances this weekend in San Francisco.
"The Notebook, The Musical" at the Orpheum Theatre
Tickets: Ticketmaster | TicketNetwork
The top Broadway show on stage this weekend is "The Notebook, The Musical," a beautifully staged story of love tested by class, time, and memory, brought to life through Ingrid Michaelson’s music.
Based on Nicholas Sparks’s beloved novel, which was also adapted into film, this is your chance to see Noah and Allie’s decades-long romance played out on a grand Broadway stage.
>> Additional theater productions this weekend
"Dear San Francisco" at Club Fugazi
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 daytime 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.
>> Find tickets
Twilight Boat Cruise
This 2-hour evening cruise allows you to enjoy the scenery around the SF Bay at dusk. You will also cruise under the Golden Gate Bridge, around Alcatraz, and more. The schedule varies by season.
>> Find details and ticketing information
Bay Sailing with Drinks
This fun 2-hour 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!
Valentine's Day Celebrations
This year, Presidents Day Weekend coincides with Valentine's Day, which the city celebrates in a number of ways.
You'll find everything from special, romantic bay cruises to the unsanctioned Great San Francisco Pillow Fight held annually at Embarcadero Plaza.
My V-Day guide includes recommendations for SF's most romantic restaurants, bars, hotels, and more.
>> Discover more ideas for celebrating Valentine's Day in SF
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 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.
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.
You will find additional shows in Oakland, Berkeley and San Jose all weekend long.
Here are the top options in San Francisco this weekend:
- 2/10 - 3/7: Sam Smith at the Castro Theatre
- 2/11 - 2/15: Joss Stone at the SFJazz Center/Miner Auditorium
- 2/15: PlayStation: The Concert at the Golden Gate Theatre
Chinese New Year Celebrations
While SF's famous Chinese New Year Parade won't take place until March this year, the festivities begin mid-February and last for about a month.
This Presidents Day Weekend is when you will find the colorful Flower Market Fair in Chinatown.
The day after Presidents Day, February 17, is the Opening Ceremony and Choy Sun Doe Day, when thousands of “Lai Sees” will be passed out to eagerly waiting children.
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 Billionaire's Row: Outer Broadway Architecture 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.
SF Symphony
Dates: 2/14
Location: Davies Symphony Hall
This holiday weekend, you will find one show offered by the SF Symphony.
On Saturday at 2 pm, you and your little ones can enjoy a live, engaging classical concert series, Music for Families, aimed at kids age 5 to 12.
A visit to the symphony makes for a lovely day 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 15 stops at the most important attractions.
You can get tickets for one or two days, and then hop on and 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 Presidents Day Weekend in San Francisco you will find a variety of traveling exhibits at our museums. Some of my top picks include:
Gurjeet Singh: When Words Hurt: All month long at the Asian Art Museum
Embroidered Histories: All month long at the de Young Museum of Fine Art
Fortuna and the Immortality Garden (Machine): All month long at the SF Museum of Modern Art
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.
Some of my top picks include visiting Lombard Street, checking out the murals in the Mission District, and strolling along the Golden Gate Bridge.
Hi, I’m Jill!
I’ve been sharing San Francisco travel advice since 2009 and have helped millions of people explore the city like a local. Whether you’re dreaming of sea lions, cable cars, or a great sourdough bread bowl, I’m here to help you plan an unforgettable trip with real tips from someone who actually lives here.
 |
 |
 |
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 are familiar with the area.
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!
