San Francisco Events in April 2025

San Francisco events in April 2025 include theater performances, sporting events, festivals, concerts and so much more.

The flowers are blooming and the weather is cool, yet sunny. It's one of the best times to visit. 

This month, enjoy several shows at SF's theaters.

One of my favorite festivals, the Cherry Blossom Festival, is planned for the first part of the month. You will also discover several film festivals, SF Giants baseball and free museum admission days.

Discover something new at one of more than a dozen traveling museum exhibits or visit a museum for free toward the beginning of the month.

The SF Symphony and SF Ballet also offer several performances throughout the month.

Read on to uncover even more of my favorites and other fun things to do this April in San Francisco.

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Sporting Events

Both the San Francisco Giants and Golden State Warriors have games in April.

SF Giants

Dates: 4/4 - 4/6, 4/7 - 4/9, 4/21 - 4/24, 4/25 - 4/27

Tickets: Ticketmaster

Head over to Oracle Park for the home opener of the SF Giants 2025 season on April 4. It is the first of a three-game series against the Seattle Mariners.

The SF Giants have 13 home games this month.

In addition to the Mariners, they also play host to the Milwaukee Brewers, Cincinnati Reds, and Texas Rangers.

• 4/4 - 4/6: Seattle Mariners
• 4/7 - 4/9: Cincinnati Reds
• 4/21 - 4/24: Milwaukee Brewers
• 4/25 - 4/27: Texas Rangers

You will find Oracle Park in the South of Market District.

>> Discover the full schedule & more on my SF Giants page

Golden State Warriors

Dates: 4/4, 4/6, 4/9, 4/13 + Post season play

Tickets: Ticketmaster | TicketNetwork

The Golden State Warriors wrap up their regular season home games on April 13 against the LA Clippers. They also hope to make the playoffs. This month, they also play the Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets and San Antonio Spurs.

• 4/4: Denver Nuggets
• 4/6: Houston Rockets
• 4/9: San Antonio Spurs
• 4/13: LA Clippers

The Chase Center is located in the Mission Bay District. 

>> Read more about requirements for the games and to find tickets

Concerts & Live Music

SF boasts a variety of live music venues with great performances all year long. Catch some of the best concerts at the Fillmore, the Nob Hill Masonic, the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, and the Independent. 

Additional top venues include the Great American Music Hall, and Cafe du Nord. You'll find smaller venues all around town with activities nearly every night of the week. 

The SF Bay Area offers large concerts at venues such as the Oracle Arena and the SAP Center. 

Here are some of my top recommendations:

• 4/4 & 4/5: Film with Live Orchestra: Titanic with the San Francisco Symphony at Davies Symphony Hall
• 4/4: Matt Nathanson: King of (un)simple Tour at the Palace of Fine Arts
• 4/5: Daily Bread with Maddy O'Neal at The Regency Ballroom
• 4/10: The Avett Brothers at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
• 4/22: Kylie Minogue - Tension Tour at the Chase Center

>> Check out the full list of April shows

Theater Performances in April

April offers a variety of theater performances from top Broadway shows to small, intimate productions. The biggest shows are at the Orpheum, Curran, and the Golden Gate Theatres.

• Six, The Musical (4/8 - 4/20) at the Orpheum Theatre
• Mamma Mia! (4/30 - 5/11) at the Orpheum Theatre

• Fat Ham (3/20 - 4/19) at the SF Playhouse
• Two Trains Running (4/15 - 5/4) at the Toni Rembe Theater
• The Comedy of Errors (4/22 - 5/3) at the Toni Rembe Theater

>> Find additional theater performances in San Francisco and around the Bay Area this month

Easter 2025

Date: Sunday, April 20

Easter is on April 20 this year. It's a fun time to visit with dozens of San Francisco events in April all weekend long.

You can catch a theater show, hunt for eggs in Golden Gate Park, or attend the annual Hunky Jesus contest. Another great way to kick off Easter morning is to head up to the top of Mount Davidson for their popular sunrise service. 

Plenty of places are open on Easter Sunday so you can enjoy lunch or dinner with your family. You can then head out on an afternoon cruise or explore SF on one of many walking tours. 

>> My full calendar of events this Easter Day Weekend in SF

Museums: Free Days & Exhibits

Most of San Francisco top museums are open in April.

Below are some of the upcoming free days this month as well as their traveling exhibits.

You will also find a list of some of the other top museums currently open.

Free Museum Admission Days

Dates: Several in early April

Save money during these free museum admission days. Each month, several museums offer free entry into their permanent collection. 

Admire the exhibits of top museums including the Asian Art Museum and the de Young Fine Arts Museum.

Many of them offer free days toward the beginning of the month. Find a full calendar of dates through the link below.

>> Find the free days for San Francisco museums this April

Museum Exhibits in April

Dates: Throughout the Month

de Young Museum: Top exhibits in April at the de Young include Leilah Babirye: We Have a History, Paul McCartney Photographs and Matisse's Jazz Unbound.

SF Museum of Modern Art: Top exhibits on display here include Ruth Asawa: Retrospective, Yayoi Kusama: Dreaming of Earth's Sphericity - I Would Offer My Love, Fortuna and the Immortality Garden (Machine) and Unity through Skateboarding.

>> Find additional museum exhibits this month in SF

Other Museums To Visit in April

San Francisco is full of amazing museums. Here are just a few that I think you will enjoy visiting. 

California Academy of Sciences: One of our top museums in SF with a four-story rainforest, aquarium, and a natural history museum. Find advanced tickets.

Aquarium of the Bay: This museum is open every day and you will find it on Pier 39. Learn more about visiting.

Cable Car Museum: This free museum just opened over the Easter holiday weekend. The cable cars are not running, but this small, interesting museum about them is open. Find out more about visiting.

Festivals

Earth Day

Date: 4/19

Celebrate Earth Day in SF's Yerba Buena Gardens. This festival offers live music, vendors, and your chance to learn even more about the environment.

It runs from 10 am to 3 pm at 750 Howard Street. It's free to attend. 

Bay Area Brew Fest

Date: 4/19

Head over to the Main Lawn in the Presidio for the 2025 Bay Area Brew Fest.

The event features beer from more than 60 breweries. You can also enjoy food trucks, live music and more.

They have two sessions in the afternoon and in the evenings. The first is from Noon to 4 pm and the second is from 6 pm to 10 pm.

Visit their site to learn more.

Cherry Blossom Festival

Dates: 4/12 & 4/13 + 4/19 & 4/20

This event takes place over two weekends, and is a celebration of springtime and the blossoms all over Japantown.

During the festival, you can enjoy traditional music, dance, and food.

The Taiko drummer performances are the most popular, so make sure to arrive early for these free shows. You can also sample gourmet treats and learn more about these gorgeous blossoms. 

Visit this page to learn more.

Ocean Film Festival

Dates: 4/11 - 4/13

One of the top San Francisco events in April is the International Ocean Film Festival. It features dozens of ocean-themed independent films from around the world.

The festival is designed to raise awareness about the environmental, social, and cultural significance of the sea. 

This year, you will find it at the Cowell Theatre in SF's Fort Mason.

Visit their site for more details.

San Francisco International Film Festival

Dates: 4/17 - 4/27

This year brings the longest-running film festival in the Americas—the SF International Film Festival—which features an impressive mix of marquee premiers, international winners, documentaries, musical performances, and more. 

Events will take place at several locations around SF.

Great Chefs and Wineries

Date: 4/5

Yet another food and wine celebration on our calendar of SF Bay Area events in April is the Great Chefs and Wineries charity event that benefits Lifehouse Agency, supporting hundreds of folks with developmental disabilities.

You'll find this gathering of 50 distinguished local restaurants and wineries at Fort Mason Festival Pavilion in SF. 

The event will not only feature delicious treats, but live and silent auctions, raffle drawings, a special performance by Lifehouse, and an intimate concert. 

It runs from 5:30 pm to 11 pm.

>> Visit their site to learn more

Art Market

Dates: 4/17 - 4/20

Art Market SF has partnered with the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco in inviting thousands of visitors to view and buy an impressive selection of contemporary and modern pieces.

This year, it will include 85 contemporary and modern art galleries inside the Fort Mason Center.

It's one of the top San Francisco events in April for art lovers!

Opening Day on the Bay

Date: 4/27

This is an annual celebration for the maritime community, which includes the Blessing of the Fleet, a boat parade, and lots of sailing! More than 100 historic boats participate and it's the official kick off to the boating season in SF.

This is the most popular day to go out on the water, and you'll see the bay dotted with sails all around the bay.

Cesar Chavez Parade & Festival

Date: April 12

Each year, SF's Mission District celebrates Cesar Chavez, California's legendary labor and civil rights leader who fought to improve the working conditions of farmers and migrant workers.

The annual festival features a parade at 11 am and street fair from 10 am - 5 pm. During the festival, you can enjoy Latin cuisines, dancing in the streets and so much more. 

Click here for more details about the Cesar Chavez event.

Sunset Mercantile Spring Event

Date: Every Sunday

The Sunset Mercantile event is a fun place to eat, shop, and connect. The weekly event features artists, crafters, food merchants, small businesses, entrepreneurs and other local businesses.

This event is Sunday afternoons in the Outer Sunset neighborhood from 9 am to 3 pm.

Bay Area Dance Week

Date: 4/25 - 5/4

Enjoy one of more than 400 free dance classes, performances and workshops during this year's annual Bay Area Dance Week. For 10-days, dance teams from around the SF Bay Area will perform and teach classes to the public.

It's a chance to see traditional dances from countries from around the world.

During this event, more than 100 forms of dance will be on display.

Comedy Shows

San Francisco sure does appreciate getting its laughs with stand-up and other comedic entertainment. 

Head over to Cobb's Comedy Club or the Punch Line to see stars like Dana Carvey and Anjelah Johnson. 

You can also catch performances of BATS Improv, comedy shows, and more. Many of the venues are in North Beach or near Union Square.

Here are some top shows this month:

• 4/4: Aziz Ansari at the Curran Theatre
• 4/11: Mo Amer at The Masonic
• 4/15: Jarlath Regan at the Palace of Fine Arts
• 4/30: Tom Green at Bimbos 365 Club

>> Check out the full list of upcoming comedy shows

Performing Arts

SF Ballet

This month the SF Ballet offers four programs in April. Follow the links for ticketing information.

• Van Manen Dutch Grandmaster (4/5 - 4/19)
• Broken Love (4/8 - 4/18)
• Frankenstein Encore Performances (4/26 - 5/4)

All shows are at the War Memorial Opera House in the Civic Center District. 

Find additional details & ticketing information.

SF Symphony

The SF Symphony is set to perform several shows in April. They perform around a dozen shows this month.

Here are some of their top performances:

• 4/4 & 4/5: Titanic, Film with Live Orchestra
• 4/10 - 4/12: Marin Alsop - Music of the Americas
• 4/27: Chamber Music

All shows are at Davies Symphony Hall in the Civic Center District. 

Discover additional details on attending an SF Symphony performance.

Tours

Many of SF's bay cruises, Alcatraz tours, and others are running at a smaller capacity. Here are a few to check out this month.

Cruises on the San Francisco Bay

In addition to all of these fun San Francisco events in April, make sure to book your seat on one of our popular bay cruises. It's the best way to spend a few hours during your trip and learn all about our waterfront attractions.

All of the cruises on my list take you under the Golden Gate Bridge as you learn all about this magnificent structure. You will also ride by Alcatraz Island as you learn more about its history and infamous prisoners.

Many of the cruises also offer both indoor and outdoor seating, so you can comfortably enjoy your journey. Make sure to bring along a jacket too as its cool on the water all year long.

Here are just a couple of our best bay cruises.

SF Bay Cruise: This cruise offers 60-minutes of fun on the SF Bay. It's the most popular cruise and runs several times a day. The Blue & Gold Fleet leaves from Pier 39. Find out more about this cruise and check for ticket availability. 

Sunset Sailing Cruise: Hop aboard the Adventure Cat for a 90-minute sail on the SF Bay. You'll get the chance to see the sunset as you cruise around the bay. Their indoor area offers intimate tables and comfortable seating with the perfect views all around. Learn more and check for ticket availability for April.

Bridge to Bridge Cruise: This is another fun cruise. What I like most about going on this cruise is that you go under the Golden Gate Bridge AND the Bay Bridge. It's a little longer, lasting 90 minutes, and only runs once a day. Find out more here. 

Other Tours of San Francisco

Get to know San Francisco even better on one of these tours. The Hop On Hop Off Tours are running as well as a few walking tours that you might find interesting. These tours offer you the chance to learn all about some of SF's top attractions, districts, and hidden gems. 

Here are a few of the top picks that I think you will enjoy.

Hop On Hop Off: The Hop On Hop Off is one of the best ways to really get to see San Francisco. You can hop off and explore at one of more than two dozen locations around the city. When you are done, you simply hop back on and continue on to the next stop. Find out more about the stops on this Hop On Hop Off tour. 

Chinatown Food and History Walking Tour: This 2-hour walking tour will offers you the chance to learn all about this famous and historic district. You will get to sample some homemade dim sum, visit the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Company, and discover some hidden gems. Check for availability for this tour. 

GoCar Tour: Ride around SF on one of those small, yellow GoCars. They fit just two people, so you can safely cruise past some of SF's top attractions. Learn more and check for availability.

Day Trips

This month, you can head up to wine country, explore Muir Woods, or spend a few hours in Yosemite. Here are some top day trips from San Francisco this April.

Napa & Sonoma Full Day Tour

Tour Length: 8+ hours

Tickets: Find ticket availability for this tour (and others like it)

This is the one that I love and recommend the most. It's a great overview of these regions and you'll get a chance to do a little tasting as you learn more about our local wine country regions.

It lasts around 8 hours, so you'll leave in the morning and then return sometime in the early evening. Another thing I like about going on this tour is that it often stops at Vista Point for a great photo opportunity at the Golden Gate Bridge.

One Day Yosemite Tour

Tour Length: This one is a LONG tour, but so worth it. It usually lasts 14 to 15 hours

Tickets: Find ticketing availability and more

In my experience, April is a great time to take this tour. Yosemite is just waking up from it's winter slumber (although parts of it might still have snow) and this creates a beautiful time of year to visit without having to worry about the parking when you get there.

When I've taken this tour, I find that the ride is long, but I've always had plenty of time to explore around Yosemite Valley when I arrive (usually a couple of hours).

It's a great way to get an overview of Yosemite if you are short on time.

Half-Day Muir Woods & Sausalito

Tour Length: Around 5 hours, unless you stay in Sausalito to explore on your own, then it could be most of the day

Tickets: Check out upcoming dates and find more details 

This is one of the most popular tours from San Francisco. It's another one I've taken quite a few times and find it's the easiest way to get to Muir Woods from SF. The entire tour is about 5 hours.

They often stop at Vista Point to get a view of the Golden Gate Bridge, allow you to spend about 90 minutes in Muir Woods, and then offer a short tour around Sausalito.

I think it's the best way to check out our famous redwoods

>> Find additional day tours near San Francisco

More Tips to Visit SF in April

See More Cherry Blossoms in Bloom at the Japanese Tea Garden

April is the perfect time to visit the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park. Toward the beginning on the month, the cherry blossoms begin to bloom and the garden is absolutely beautiful.

You will get some of the best photos of this attraction during this time of year. Get in free if you arrive between 9 and 10 am on a Monday, Wednesday, or Friday morning. 

See additional pics & what it's like to visit the Japanese Tea Garden.

More Things To Do in San Francisco in April

April is a fantastic time to visit the City by the Bay!

Now that you've read my recommendations for special events that are happening this month, check out my tips for how to prepare for the April weather, great tours to take at this time of year, restaurants to try, and other fun things to do during your visit. 

Read about additional things to do in SF in April.

Weather in April

On my "Weather in April" page, you will find tips on what to pack and wear during your stay. You will also find information on average temperatures during the month and a few of my favorite things to do during this season. 

What to expect from the weather in April.

More SF Bay Area Events in April

Whalefest at Monterey Fisherman's Wharf

Dates: 4/12 - 4/13, 2025

Location: Monterey (2.5 hours south of SF) 

One of the most unique SF Bay Area events in April is the Annual Whalefest, a free event that educates guests about the migration of gray whales in Monterey, the "whale watching capital of the world."

This is an educational and interactive event for the whole family that includes documentaries, musical performances, a 60-foot model of Humphrey the Humpback Whale that attendees can climb inside, and other displays about marine life.

>> More info about the Whalefest

Passport to Dry Creek Valley

Date: 4/25 - 4/27

One of my favorite SF Bay Area events in April is Passport to Dry Creek Valley, a three-day festival featuring the best food and wine in Sonoma County.

You'll get the chance to discover over 45 Dry Creek Valley wineries, each with its own elaborate theme for the weekend.

In addition, you'll enjoy exquisite food and wine pairings with the area's best chefs at a series of intimate winemaker lunches and dinners. Head to the North Bay and soak in all that Northern California's wine country has to offer. 

Full Sonoma calendar for April.

Cupertino Cherry Blossom Festival

Dates: 4/26 - 4/27

In addition to the large Cherry Blossom Festival in San Francisco, the South Bay town of Cupertino will also honor this beautiful Japanese tradition with its own weekend-long program.

This community festival goes beyond celebrating the spring blossoms; it celebrates and promotes the years long cultural exchange between Cupertino and its sister city, Toyokawa, Japan.

Enjoy authentic dance, food, and more throughout the last weekend in April. 

Montclair Village Art Walk

Dates: 4/26 - 4/27

Montclair is a town located on a hill above Oakland and is a secret Bay Area gem. At the annual artisan fair, there are more than 50 artists, live music, and loads of arts and crafts for you to choose from and enjoy. 

There are also special areas for the kids to play and give you some time to chill out and check out the gorgeous view overlooking Oakland. If you don't know this area, make sure to put this festival on your list.

Petaluma Butter & Egg Days Parade & Celebration

Date: 4/19

A long-running tradition in the North Bay town of Petaluma is the annual Butter & Eggs Parade and Celebration, which honors the region's rich agricultural history as one of the nation's premier dairy producers.

The parade takes place at noon, and will feature over 100 entries representing the local community. The fair runs from 10 am to 5 pm, and includes four city blocks of booths for arts and crafts exhibitors, food vendors, and community organizations.

There will be plenty of entertainment and rides for the youngsters as well. 

Berkeley Bay Festival

Date: April 26

The Berkeley Bay Festival is a wonderful, free community event that started decades ago when the Berkeley Marina first opened.

This outdoor fair gives the whole family a chance to enjoy good food, listen to live music, and learn about the environment and other important issues at the various booths.

You'll find tons of activities and entertainment from 11 am to 4 pm on the lawn of this public waterfront park in the East Bay. 

Pebble Beach Food & Wine

Date: 4/10 - 4/13

Pebble Beach Food & Wine is a premier culinary event that brings together 250 acclaimed wineries and 100 celebrity chefs for four days of amazing wining and dining.

Held in beautiful Pebble Beach, famous for its panoramic California coastline, this festival truly provides guests an unforgettable experience at the wine tastings, cooking demos, and exclusive sit-down meals. 

More events around Monterey in April.

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