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San Francisco Festivals in 2023
by Jill Loeffler •
Updated: May 3, 2023
The streets are alive again in 2023 with the San Francisco festivals and street fairs. Many of these SF events draw hundreds of people and are a tradition in many of these neighborhoods.
Entrance is free to many of them. At most festivals, you can walk the streets and enjoy live music, food and drinks. You can also visit booths with original art work, crafts, jewelry and more.
Types of SF Festivals
Click the links below for a list of popular annual festivals based on interests.
Disclaimer: I receive a small commission from some of the links on this page.
May 2023
Mission Carnaval Celebration
- Dates: 5/27 - 5/28
- Always the Saturday and Sunday of Memorial Day Weekend
- Street fair celebrating diversity in the neighborhood and throughout the world
- Focused on the Latin American and Caribbean cultures
- Food, music and dancing in the streets
- Festival is free
- Learn more about Carnaval
Taiwanese American Cultural Festival
- Enjoy Taiwanese food, music, and other cultural activities
- Free and open to the public
- Event in Union Square from 10am to 4pm
- Date is 5/13
>> More May events in San Francisco
Ideas to Help You Plan Your Stay
Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour: The best way to get around San Francisco is on the Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour. It runs from 9 am to 6 pm and takes you directly from one attraction to the next. You can select from their 24- or 48-hour tour. They also have a cool night tour. The Big Bus Tour Company is the most popular and highly rated option. Visit this site to learn more.
VRBO: Want to experience San Francisco like a local? Use VRBO to book a condo, room, or other local accommodation for your stay. Visit VRBO to find places to stay throughout SF and the SF Bay Area.
CityPass: Save up to 44% on 4 of San Francisco's top attractions with the CityPass. This discount card includes admission to the California Academy of Sciences and a Blue & Gold Fleet Cruise. In addition, you can visit two other attractions of your choice from the following four options: Aquarium of the Bay, SF Zoo, Walt Disney Museum, and the Exploratorium. Visit this site to learn more.
June 2023
North Beach Festival
- Dates are 6/17 & 6/18
- From 10 am to 6 pm in the North Beach neighborhood
- Arts and crafts booths
- Gourmet food booths
- Stages with live entertainment
- Italian street painting and beverage gardens
- Children's activity area
- Admission is free
- Find more details here
Stern Grove Festival Free Concerts in the Park
- Every Sunday afternoon from mid-June to mid-August
- Specific dates for 2023 are June 18 - August 20
- Weekly outdoor musical festival
- Starts at 2 pm
- Admission is free
- Click for more details
Union Street Festival
- June 3 & 4
- In the Marina District, on Union Street between Gough and Fillmore
- Crafts booths and food from local vendors
- Live entertainment and kids activities
- Admission is free
- Click here for more details
SF Jazz Fest
- 6/7 - 8/20
- Two week long festival of jazz performances
- All performances are virtual this year
Gay Pride Parade & Festival
- Annual event with a large parade and festival
- Dates: 6/25 & 6/26
- Parade is on Sunday morning along Market Street
- Festival is both days in and around the Civic Center District near City Hall
- Click here for more details
Juneteenth Festival
- Date is 6/19
- It's the 3rd year for this festival, celebrating the 157th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation
- Gilman Park near Candlestick Park
- Live music, amusement park rides for the kids, other community resources and activities
- Free and open to the public
- Click here for more details
Soy & Tofu Festival
- 6/3
- Japantown Peace Plaza
- Sample soy and tofu products from a variety of vendors
- Enjoy live music from Asian American performers
- Participate in the interactive games
- Attend an educational session on the uses of soy
Ethnic Dance Festival
- Four weekends of dance performances, workshops, panel discussions and more
- TBD
>> Additional festivals in June
July 2023
Stern Grove Festival Free Concerts in the Park
- Every Sunday afternoon from mid-June to mid-August
- Specific dates for 2023 are June 18 - August 20
- Weekly outdoor musical festival
- Starts at 2 pm
- Admission is free
- Click for more details
SF Free Folk Festival
- 7/8
- One full day of music, dance workshops, concerts, crafts and more
- Free festival, but you can support the festival with a donation
Fillmore Jazz Festival
- 7/1 & 7/2
- In the Pacific Heights neighborhood
- One of the largest free jazz festivals on the west coast
- From 10 am to 6 pm both days
- Hundreds of booths showcasing unique art, crafts and other goodies
- Dozens of food and beverage booths
- On Fillmore Street between Jackson and Eddy Streets
- Full live music schedule and event details
Yerba Buena Festival
- Annual event at the Yerba Buena Gardens in SOMA
- Runs from May through October
- Several performances each week from kids shows to local musicians
- Click here for this year's full schedule of performances
>> More events in July in San Francisco
August 2023
Outside Lands Festival
- One of the largest outdoor live music festivals in SF
- Dates: 8/5 - 8/7
- In Golden Gate Park on the western side of San Francisco
- Features gourmet food, internationally recognized wines and work of hundreds of arts on display.
- Click here for this year's line-up and event details
Nihonmachi Street Fair
- Asian-Pacific American festival that features traditional and non-traditional performances, art, music and more
- Sample yummy foods from Asian Pacific Countries as well as San Francisco favorites
- Two stages with live music all weekend long including everything from jazz to rock
- Bring along the kids for Asian inspired crafts and other fun games
- Dates are 8/5 - 8/6
- Click here for details
Stern Grove Festival Free Concerts in the Park
- Every Sunday afternoon from mid-June to mid-August
- Specific dates for 2023 are June 18 - August 20
- Weekly outdoor musical festival
- Starts at 2 pm
- Admission is free
- Click for more details
>> More events in August in SF
>> Concert calendar for August
September 2023
Haight Street Fair
- Date: 9/17, 2023
- In the Haight Ashbury District
- Three stages of live music
- From 11 am to 5: 30 pm
- Six blocks of vendors from crafts to gourmet treats
- Admission is free
- Find more details here
Chinatown Mid-Autumn Moon Festival
- 2023 Dates 9/23 - 9/24
- Starts with a parade on Saturday morning
- Features live entertainment, arts & crafts, and traditional food all weekend long
- 11 am to 6 pm both days
- Click here for more details and the full entertainment schedule
Folsom Street Fair
- 2023 date is 9/24
- Worlds largest leather & fetish event
- From 11 am to 6 pm
- On Folsom Street between 8th and 13th Streets
- Admission is free
Fringe Festival
- Grassroots theater festivals
- 2023 Dates: 9/8 - 9/17
- All performances at the Exit Theaterplex at 156 Eddy Street
- 35 groups performing 150 shows
A Taste of Greece
- SF's only Greek Food Festival
- In the Mission at the Annunciation Cathedral
- 2023 dates are TBD
- Enjoy traditional food, music, and wine
>> Full concert calendar for September
October 2023
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass
- Free Bluegrass Festival held in Golden Gate Park
- Dates: 9/29 - 10/1
- Music is free, dozens of food and beverage vendors on hand selling a variety of items
- Find additional details
Castro Street Fair
- Date is 10/1 from 11 am to 6 pm
- Intersection of Market Street & Castro Street in the Castro
- Live music, almost a hundred booths
- Small entrance fee that is donated to local non-profit organizations
- More festival details
Fleet Week San Francisco
- Date: 10/2 - 10/10, 2023
- Along the waterfront in both Fisherman's Wharf and the Marina Districts
- Thousands of people attend every year
- Blue Angels perform over the weekend
- See pictures from previous years and find the calendar of events
Litquake
- Longest running literary festival in SF
- Dates are 10/5 - 10/21
- Literary events from panel discussions to author readings
- All around San Francisco
- Click here for this year's schedule
Potrero Hill Festival
- Date is TBD
- In Potrero Hill on 20th between Wisconsin and Missouri
- Local musicians, food, historians, and other activities for the entire family
November 2023
Dance Film Festival
- Date: TBD
- All films focus on the art of dance
- Most films show at the Bravo Theater in San Francisco
Ski & Snowboard Festival
- Explore the latest ski and snowboard gear for the upcoming snow season
- Sip wine and brews along the way
- Pier 35
- Dates are TBD
Tree Lighting Ceremonies
- Dozens of tree lighting ceremonies all around San Francisco
- Watch them in Union Square, Pier 39, and Ghirardelli Square
- Enjoy parades, live music, and other family fun as well
- Entire list of tree lighting ceremonies in SF this year
Hip Hop International Dance Fest
- One of the largest Hip Hop Dance Festivals in the world
- Three days of performances
- All shows at the Palace of Fine Arts Theater
- Dates: TBD
Craft Festivals at Fort Mason
- Offer unique pieces from popular local and national artists
- Buy gifts for the holidays or yourself
- Offer everything from jewelry to art work
- West Coast Craft Fair: TBD
- Renegade Craft Fair: TBD
- Find more details on the Fort Mason page
Great Dickens Christmas Fair
- Offers the history at the Great Dickens Christmas Fair
- Enjoy food, crafts, and entertainment
- Five weekends in November & December
- All activities are at the Cow Palace
- Dates: TBD
>> Full calendar of events in November
December 2023
Great Dickens Christmas Fair
- Dates for 2023: TBD
- Stroll through history at the Great Dickens Christmas Fair
- Enjoy food, crafts, and entertainment
- Five weekends in November and December
- All activities are at the Cow Palace
International Festival of Short Films
- Date is TBD
- All films play at the Roxie Theater in the Mission
- Shorts about important moments in people's lives including gains and losses, aspiration, and giving everything for your dream
Tree Lighting Ceremonies & Holiday Events
- Dozens of tree lighting ceremonies all around San Francisco
- Watch them in Union Square, Pier 39, and Ghirardelli Square
- Enjoy parades, live music, and other family fun as well
- Entire list of tree lighting ceremonies in SF this year
Another Hole in the Head
- Annual Film Festival
- Genre: Horror, Sci-Fi, Dark Fantasy, and Exploitation
- 10 days of independent films
- Dates: TBD
>> Full calendar of events for December
January 2024
ZAP Wine Festival (ZinEx 2024)
- Wine festival focused on Zinfandel wines
- Offers the best Zins from California producers and beyond
- At the Presidio and the Four Seasons Hotel
- Date: TBD
- More details on this year's event
Martin Luther King Jr. Festival and March
- Celebrate the work of Martin Luther King Jr.
- All day long event with a film festival, art festival, march and more
- Date: TBD with most events on the holiday itself (TBD)
- Click here for more details
Bay Area Brews Festival
- Sample wines from dozens of national and international brewers
- Enjoy gourmet food from SF's famous food trucks (food sold separately)
- General admission $50 from 1 pm to 4 pm or from 7 pm to 10 pm
- Early admission is $65 and runs from Noon to 4 pm or 6 pm to 10 pm
- VIP admission $90 from Noon to 4 pm or 6 pm to 10 pm
- Fort Mason Center
- Date: TBD
SF Sketchfest
- San Francisco comedy festival
- Performances at venues throughout the city
- 2024 Dates: TBD
- More event details and the full schedules
>> More things to do in January
February 2023
Chinese New Year's Street Festival & Parade
- Dates: TBD
- Parade is on TBD
- Fair includes traditional dancing, art, and Chinese food
- Discover lion dancing, calligraphy, and other activities
- Click here for more details
SF Giants Fan Fest
- 2024 Date is TBD at Oracle Park
- Meet some of the players, get autographs, and pick up single game tickets
- Find gear for the 2024 season
- Get your picture taken with the World Series trophies
- Meet other SF Giants fans
- Click here for more details and ticketing information
SF Indie Fest
- Independent Film Festival heading into its 24th year
- Show include the best in independent, alternative and subversive movies from around the world
- One of SF's largest film festivals
- 2024 dates are TBD
Noise Pop Festival
- Independent film, art, and music
- 2024 Dates are TBD
- Several venues around San Francisco
>> More on these and other SF festivals in February
March 2024
Saint Patrick's Day Parade
- Parade: TBD, starts at 11:30 am
- At Civic Center Plaza in the heart of the city
- 2024 theme is "TBD"
- See pictures and learn more about this SF parade
>> More details on our March festivals
April 2024
Ocean Film Festival
- 2024 festival is TBD
- More than 50 works that explore our amazing oceans
- Pieces about the ocean's ecosystem, interesting plants and animals and more
Cherry Blossom Festival
- Two weekend long celebration every spring
- In SF's Japantown neighborhood
- Dates: Weekends from TBD
- Listen to traditional Japanese music, sample gourmet treats and visit dozens of other vendors
- Find additional details
Cesar Chavez Holiday Parade and Festival
- Celebrates the life and work of this labor and civil rights leader
- Date: TBD
- Parade starts at 11 am at Dolores Park
- Festival is on 24th Street between Folsom and Bryant from 10 am to 5 pm
- Festival includes entertainment, music and arts & crafts booths
- More information on this year's event
International Film Festival
- 66th Annual International Film Festival
- Features over 150 films and live events over a two week time period
- Showcases narrative feature films, live action, animated shorts, television and theatrical dramas
- Dates: TBD
- More on this year's event
Bay Area Dance Week
- 600+ free performances in San Francisco and the Bay Area
- Shows from both amateur and professional dancers
- 10-day event
- Dates: TBD
Glen Park Festival
- Family friendly event in the Glen Park neighborhood
- Food, entertainment and crafts from local artists
- Two children's areas with live entertainment, games and two jumpy houses
- Event runs from 10am to 4:30pm
- Date: TBD
>> A calendar of more festivals in April
Comments? Questions? Suggestions?
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