1. San Francisco Pride Celebration
#1 Parade, Holiday Event & Fair
San Francisco is home to the largest L.G.B.T. pride celebration in the United States. In 2018, nearly a million people turned out for the weekend, including 50,000 marchers and 282 parade contingents. It’s common practice in the Bay Area for businesses such WeWork, Equinox, and others to enter floats or groups in the parade, so participation becomes a manifestation of a company’s inclusive policies. In addition to the main parade route, organizers arrange a variety of side stages and activations where revelers can enjoy music, dancing, storytelling, kink, and more. Next: June 29-30, 2019
San Francisco is home to the largest L.G.B.T. pride celebration in the United States. In 2018, nearly a million people turned out for the weekend, including 50,000 marchers and 282 parade contingents. It’s common practice in the Bay Area for businesses such WeWork, Equinox, and others to enter floats or groups in the parade, so participation becomes a manifestation of a company’s inclusive policies. In addition to the main parade route, organizers arrange a variety of side stages and activations where revelers can enjoy music, dancing, storytelling, kink, and more. Next: June 29-30, 2019
Photo: Dululoz Cats, (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
2. Fleet Week
#2 Parade, Holiday Event & Fair
San Francisco is known for its cool, foggy climate, but Fleet Week has a way of bringing out the best in the city: sunshine, warm afternoons, and lots of rooftop parties. Officials describe the 37-year-old tradition as the “largest and most significant event of its kind in the nation,” with an emphasis on “advancing cooperation and knowledge among civilian- and military-based Humanitarian Assistance personnel.” The week includes naval ship tours and the famous Blue Angels air shows, as well as a projected $10 million boost to the local economy. Next: October 1-8, 2018
San Francisco is known for its cool, foggy climate, but Fleet Week has a way of bringing out the best in the city: sunshine, warm afternoons, and lots of rooftop parties. Officials describe the 37-year-old tradition as the “largest and most significant event of its kind in the nation,” with an emphasis on “advancing cooperation and knowledge among civilian- and military-based Humanitarian Assistance personnel.” The week includes naval ship tours and the famous Blue Angels air shows, as well as a projected $10 million boost to the local economy. Next: October 1-8, 2018
Photo:Â Bernard Zee
3. Chinese New Year Parade & Street Fair
#3 Parade, Holiday Event & Fair
Drawing an estimated 1.2 million spectators to San Francisco’s Chinatown, the Southwest Airlines-sponsored parade and street fair is one of the most beloved events in the city, and one of the largest celebrations of its kind in the U.S. According to organizers, it takes $1 million and 300 volunteers to bring the event to life each year, including more than 100 participants from a martial arts group to carry the 268-foot “Gum Lung” dragon through the streets. Next: February 23, 2019
Drawing an estimated 1.2 million spectators to San Francisco’s Chinatown, the Southwest Airlines-sponsored parade and street fair is one of the most beloved events in the city, and one of the largest celebrations of its kind in the U.S. According to organizers, it takes $1 million and 300 volunteers to bring the event to life each year, including more than 100 participants from a martial arts group to carry the 268-foot “Gum Lung” dragon through the streets. Next: February 23, 2019
Photo:Â Knight Lights Photography
4. Carnaval
#4 Parade, Holiday Event & Fair
Carnaval in San Francisco is the ultimate melting pot. More than 400,000 spectators line up each year as groups blend traditions from Brazil, Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago, and more into a two-day cultural celebration. There are Brazilian-style samba dancers in lavish headdresses and swirling Bahia skirts; Mexican Aztec performers; traditional African drummers; folkloric groups representing Guatemala, Honduras, and Bolivia; and Caribbean contingents dancing to the beats of the Bahamas, Cuba, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and Trinidad and Tobago. While ticketed grandstand seating is available, most watchers line the sidewalks of the parade route through the Mission District. Next: May 25-26, 2019
Carnaval in San Francisco is the ultimate melting pot. More than 400,000 spectators line up each year as groups blend traditions from Brazil, Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago, and more into a two-day cultural celebration. There are Brazilian-style samba dancers in lavish headdresses and swirling Bahia skirts; Mexican Aztec performers; traditional African drummers; folkloric groups representing Guatemala, Honduras, and Bolivia; and Caribbean contingents dancing to the beats of the Bahamas, Cuba, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and Trinidad and Tobago. While ticketed grandstand seating is available, most watchers line the sidewalks of the parade route through the Mission District. Next: May 25-26, 2019
Photo:Â Cheryl Guerrero
5. Folsom Street Fair
#5 Parade, Holiday Event & Fair (up from #7)
In some cities, a leather and bondage festival might raise a few eyebrows—but not in San Francisco. More than 400,000 head to the Folsom Street Fair each year for erotic art, live music, public “play” stations, and more than 200 exhibitor booths showcasing fetish gear and toys. (Fun fact: The fair is one of two public events in the city offering a clothing check at the entrance.) Most of the event caters to men, but “The Playground” at Folsom is a “women, trans, and gender-inclusive” space. Attendees must be 18 to enter. Next: September 30, 2018
In some cities, a leather and bondage festival might raise a few eyebrows—but not in San Francisco. More than 400,000 head to the Folsom Street Fair each year for erotic art, live music, public “play” stations, and more than 200 exhibitor booths showcasing fetish gear and toys. (Fun fact: The fair is one of two public events in the city offering a clothing check at the entrance.) Most of the event caters to men, but “The Playground” at Folsom is a “women, trans, and gender-inclusive” space. Attendees must be 18 to enter. Next: September 30, 2018
Photo:Â Ignacio Lopez
6. North Beach Festival
#6 Parade, Holiday Event & Fair
North Beach, San Francisco’s version of Little Italy, is one of the oldest, warmest, and most charming neighborhoods in the city, so it’s no surprise that the North Beach Festival draws massive crowds each summer. The two-day fête is recognized as one of the country’s original outdoor festivals. More than 70,000 people attend each year to enjoy artist and food booths, live music, Italian street painting, and—in a town known for housing more dogs than children—a blessing of the animals. Next: June 15-16, 2019
North Beach, San Francisco’s version of Little Italy, is one of the oldest, warmest, and most charming neighborhoods in the city, so it’s no surprise that the North Beach Festival draws massive crowds each summer. The two-day fête is recognized as one of the country’s original outdoor festivals. More than 70,000 people attend each year to enjoy artist and food booths, live music, Italian street painting, and—in a town known for housing more dogs than children—a blessing of the animals. Next: June 15-16, 2019
Photo: Courtesy of North Beach Festival
7. San Francisco Day of the Dead Ritual Procession
#7 Parade, Holiday Event & Fair
A solemn, community-organized procession in the Mission District since the early 1970s, this event continues the Dia de los Muertos tradition of honoring the deceased in San Francisco. Thousands show up each year in traditional skull face paint and Mexican dress for a candle-lit memorial procession through the Mission and the Festival of Altars in Garfield Park. Next: November 2, 2018
A solemn, community-organized procession in the Mission District since the early 1970s, this event continues the Dia de los Muertos tradition of honoring the deceased in San Francisco. Thousands show up each year in traditional skull face paint and Mexican dress for a candle-lit memorial procession through the Mission and the Festival of Altars in Garfield Park. Next: November 2, 2018
Photo: Courtesy of San Francisco Day of the Dead Ritual Procession
8. Home for the Holidays
#8 Parade, Holiday Event & Fair
A secular alternative to church-sponsored Christmas concerts, the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus Home for the Holidays concert is an outrageous—and mostly family-friendly—spectacle promoting peace on Earth and love to all through carols and a hefty dose of jazz hands. Hosted at the Castro Theatre, the choir performs three shows each year on Christmas Eve. Next: December 24, 2018
A secular alternative to church-sponsored Christmas concerts, the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus Home for the Holidays concert is an outrageous—and mostly family-friendly—spectacle promoting peace on Earth and love to all through carols and a hefty dose of jazz hands. Hosted at the Castro Theatre, the choir performs three shows each year on Christmas Eve. Next: December 24, 2018
Photo:Â Gareth Gooch
9. The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence Easter Celebration
#9 Parade, Holiday Event & Fair
You won’t find the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence in church on Easter Sunday. Instead, San Francisco’s “leading-edge order of queer nuns” host their services in Golden Gate Park. The festivities start with a late-morning egg hunt for the kids, continue at noon with a taste of self-described “PG-13” burlesque and drag, and edge closer to an R rating by the afternoon with Foxy Mary and Hunky Jesus contests. The annual pageant will celebrate its 40th year in 2019. Next: April 21, 2019
You won’t find the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence in church on Easter Sunday. Instead, San Francisco’s “leading-edge order of queer nuns” host their services in Golden Gate Park. The festivities start with a late-morning egg hunt for the kids, continue at noon with a taste of self-described “PG-13” burlesque and drag, and edge closer to an R rating by the afternoon with Foxy Mary and Hunky Jesus contests. The annual pageant will celebrate its 40th year in 2019. Next: April 21, 2019
Photo: Courtesy of The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence
10. Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival
#10 Parade, Holiday Event & Fair
The biggest cherry blossom festival on the West Coast, more than 220,000 people attend the springtime event each year. Since 1968, the festival has served to cultivate the continued alliance between Japan and the United States. Programming across the eight-day period includes live music, dance performances, arts demonstrations, and a parade. In 2018, figure-skating legend Kristi Yamaguchi served as grand marshall. Next: April 2019
The biggest cherry blossom festival on the West Coast, more than 220,000 people attend the springtime event each year. Since 1968, the festival has served to cultivate the continued alliance between Japan and the United States. Programming across the eight-day period includes live music, dance performances, arts demonstrations, and a parade. In 2018, figure-skating legend Kristi Yamaguchi served as grand marshall. Next: April 2019
Photo: Courtesy of Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival
11. Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival
#11 Parade, Holiday Event & Fair
The most gourd-geous affair in Northern California, Half Moon Bay lords its “world pumpkin capital” status over lesser pumpkin-growing regions each fall during this two-day harvest festival. The event is known for incorporating pumpkin into every type of food imaginable—pies, chilli, cheesecake, and more. While chowing down on pumpkin fare and kicking back pumpkin ales, the 200,000-strong crowd can also watch expert pumpkin-carving and jam out at the Pumpkinpalooza concert stage. Next: October 13-14, 2018
The most gourd-geous affair in Northern California, Half Moon Bay lords its “world pumpkin capital” status over lesser pumpkin-growing regions each fall during this two-day harvest festival. The event is known for incorporating pumpkin into every type of food imaginable—pies, chilli, cheesecake, and more. While chowing down on pumpkin fare and kicking back pumpkin ales, the 200,000-strong crowd can also watch expert pumpkin-carving and jam out at the Pumpkinpalooza concert stage. Next: October 13-14, 2018
Photo:Â Bradley Wittke
12. Edwardian Ball
#12 Parade, Holiday Event & Fair
The Edwardian Ball taps into the Bay Area’s love of steampunk and circus culture through a whimsical celebration of art, music, theater, fashion, technology, and the creations of Edward Gorey. Over the last 16 years, the ball has evolved from its underground roots into a sold-out weekend welcoming 4,000 guests to San Francisco’s Regency Ballroom. The party includes dancing, music, stage shows, fine art installations, a vendor bazaar, “mystical and nonsensical oddities,” absinthe cocktails, steam machinery, parlour games, and sideshows. Next: January 2019
The Edwardian Ball taps into the Bay Area’s love of steampunk and circus culture through a whimsical celebration of art, music, theater, fashion, technology, and the creations of Edward Gorey. Over the last 16 years, the ball has evolved from its underground roots into a sold-out weekend welcoming 4,000 guests to San Francisco’s Regency Ballroom. The party includes dancing, music, stage shows, fine art installations, a vendor bazaar, “mystical and nonsensical oddities,” absinthe cocktails, steam machinery, parlour games, and sideshows. Next: January 2019
Photo:Â Marco Sanchez
13. Great Dickens Christmas Fair
#13 Parade, Holiday Event & Fair (new to the list)
For six weekends in November and December, the Great Dickens Christmas Fair transforms San Francisco’s Cow Palace into Victorian London, with hundreds of costumed players interacting with guests across 120,000 square feet of temporary music halls, pubs, dance floors, and Christmas shops. Since 1970, Bay Area residents have wandered the winding lanes, shopped with street vendors, and even taken tea with Queen Victoria at the fair. Next: Weekends, November 17-December 23, 2018
For six weekends in November and December, the Great Dickens Christmas Fair transforms San Francisco’s Cow Palace into Victorian London, with hundreds of costumed players interacting with guests across 120,000 square feet of temporary music halls, pubs, dance floors, and Christmas shops. Since 1970, Bay Area residents have wandered the winding lanes, shopped with street vendors, and even taken tea with Queen Victoria at the fair. Next: Weekends, November 17-December 23, 2018
Photo:Â Rich Yee
