January

Grand National Roadster Show
San Mateo County Exposition Center,
503 236-0632.
If you love roadsters, then you definitely came to the right place. The largest gathering of roadsters of all types and sizes will surely charm you. A NASCAR virtual reality ride offers you a great experience and completes the scenery.

Berlin and Beyond Festival
Castro Theater
263-8760.
The Berlin and Beyond Festival invites you to a special German film festival. Here you can discover more about the European cinema.

Chinese New Year Festival and Parade
Chinatown
391-9680
The largest festival in San Francisco, the Chinese New Year Festival and Parade transforms Chinatown into a land of flowers on January 20 and 21 at the New Year Flower Market and invites you to join a special parade and a street fair on February 3. The parade starts at 5:30 pm on Market Street and ends on Columbus Avenue. Don’t miss it.

The Human Rights Watch International Film Festival
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
923-0222
How would you define freedom? Just how important is freedom for a human being? Let us show you our vision on individual and political freedom at the Human Rights Watch International Film Festival.

January through April, along the Pacific coast, we offer you the possibility to see a large number of grey whales migrate.
For more information, please call 800-862-2543.

February

San Francisco Tribal, Folk and Textile Arts Show
Fort Mason
310 455-2886
The San Francisco Tribal, Folk and Textile Arts Show offers San Francisco residents and visitors unique North American jewellery, pottery, basketry and textiles.

Pacific Orchid Exposition
Fort Mason Center
546-9608
Let the annual Pacific Orchid Exposition charm you and take you on a trip in the land of orchids. Hundreds or beautiful orchids will be the stars of the show.

Tulip Mania
PIER 39
705-5500
We offer all the people who love tulips a free guided tour into the world of tulips. Tulips from all over the world will meet you there.

March

San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival
AMC Kabuki Theaters
863-0814
The San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival is the greatest such festival in the United States.

St. Patrick's Day Parade
731-0924
Join the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade starting at 12:45 pm on Market and Second Streets and ending in front of the City Hall.

San Francisco Flower and Garden Show
Cow Palace
800 829-9751
If you love flowers and wish to have a garden of your own some day, a visit to the San Francisco Flower and Garden Show will definitely help you.

April

Street Performers Festival
PIER 39
705-5500
Comedians, ropewalkers, unicyclists and jugglers have prepared special performances to make you happy.

Cherry Blossom Festival
1520 Webster St.
415-922-6776
Discover the secrets of Japanese culture at a wonderful parade through Japatown, the Cherry Blossom Festival.

San Francisco International Film Festival
AMC Kabuki, Castro Theater and other venues
931-FILM
More than 30 countries have prepared quality films that we invite you to see at the San Francisco International Film Festival.

Cinco de Mayo
826-1401
The Cinco de Mayo parade on Mission Street and the Cinco de Mayo festival in Civic Center Plaza has prepared Mexican art and entertainment especially for you. A large part of the festival was created for children. Come and have a wonderful time.

San Francisco Youth Arts Festival
Golden Gate Park
759-2916
Every year, students invite you to the San Francisco Youth Arts Festival.

Carnival
Harrison Street, between 16th and 22nd
826-1401
Let us fill your heart with joy at the annual carnival in San Francisco. Carnival dancers have put on a great show for you.

June

Haight Street Fair
Haight Street
661-8025
During the Haight Street Fair, we invite you to visit this wonderful neighborhood, an amazing combination between remnants of the hippie culture and the modern technologies.

San Francisco Black Film Festival
346-0199
We celebrate black independent producers, directors, actors and films at the San Francisco Black Film Festival.

Juneteenth Celebration
Kimball Park, Geary and Steiner Streets
229-1220
The Juneteenth Celebration expresses a part of the importance we attach to African American culture.

San Francisco International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival
Castro Theatre and other venues
703-8663
The largest international lesbian and gay film festival in the world presents more than 250 productions every year.

San Francisco Lesbian-Gay-Bisexual-Transgender Pride Celebration Parade
Embarcadero to Civic Center
864-FREE
Join an amazing parade of gay and lesbian persons. The parade starts at the Embarcadero and ends at the Civic Center.

Jewish Film Festival
Castro Theater, Bay Area
621-0556
We present to you different aspects of the Jewish art and culture at the Jewish Film Festival.

July

Fourth of July Waterfront Festival
Fisherman's Wharf
705-5500
Celebrate the fourth of July at a wonderful waterfront party. Arts and crafts, fireworks, food, music, dances and a lot of joy will all be here for you all day long.

Cable Car Bell-Ringing Competition
Union Square
923-6217
The best bell-ringers will prove their talent and abilities at the Cable Car Bell-Ringing Competition. It’ll be fun.

August

Afro Solo Arts Festival
Yerba Center of the Arts
771-AFRO
African American artists will amaze you with their talent in dance, theatre, music and visual arts starting with 8 pm at the Afro Solo Arts Festival.

Nihonmachi Street Fair
Japantown and Japan Center
771-9861
Lion dancers, drummers, music, dance and excellent food are waiting for you at the Nihonmachi Street Fair.

ACC Craft Fair
Fort Mason Center
800 836-3470
The ACC Craft Fair offers you silk goods, stoneware bowls and necklaces at the largest juried fair in the area.

Renaissance Pleasure Faire
Nut Tree, Vacaville
800 523-2473
During weekends, from 10 am to 6 pm we invite you to step back in time and enter the 16th century England. More than 1,500 performers will meet you there. Drink, sing, eat and have fun. The feast has just begun.

September

San Francisco Shakespeare Festival
Golden Gate Park
422-2222
We invite those who love Shakespeare to enjoy great performances for free at 1:30 pm, every Saturday and Sunday from Labor Day until the end of September.

San Francisco Fringe Festival
931-1094
673-3847
Classic theatre and original comedies meet on the same stage at the San Francisco Fringe Festival. About 50 theater companies present 260 performances, all trying to win your heart and applauses.

Festival of the Sea
Hyde Street Pier
561-6662
Free boat rides, a tugboat rodeo, hands-on crafts demonstrations and a boat-building contest invite you to try your luck at the Festival of the Sea.

Ghirardelli Square Chocolate Festival
Ghirardelli Square
775-5500
Do you love chocolate? Well, if you do, then your dreams are about to come true. Try all the chocolate delicacies you ever imagined: strawberries covered in chocolate, chocolate cheesecakes, brownies and many more chocolate specialties.
All the money will be donated to the Open Hand project.

Vivas Las Americas!
Pier 39
705-5500
Are you interested in the Central and South American culture? For those who are, Vivas Las Americas celebrates, through music and dance, the Hispanic heritage.

San Francisco International Art Exposition
Fort Mason Center, Herbst and Festival Pavilion
312 587-3300
The San Francisco International Art Exposition presents 100 art galleries exhibiting works of art created by more than 1,500 artists.

San Francisco Blues Festival
Great Meadow at Fort Mason
979-5588
Some of the world’s best blues musicians will come to San Francisco to perform at the San Francisco Blues Festival, the oldest such festival in the United States.

Wells Fargo Fall Cup Regatta
Pier 39
705-5500
The San Francisco Bay houses a two days fleet-style racing. From 12 to 5 pm, residents and visitors are invited to watch former great champions compete.

October

Italian Heritage Parade and Festival
Fisherman's Wharf and North Beach
989-2220
A North Beach parade, starting at 1:30 pm, celebrates San Francisco’s Italian heritage.

San Francisco Jazz Festival
788-7353
Jazz lovers have definitely come to the right place. Abbey Lincoln, John McLaughlin, Jimmy Scott and Zakir Jussain will all perform for you.

October/November

Grand National Rodeo, Horse and Stock Show
Cow Palace
469-6057
469-6065
Every year, the Grand National Rodeo, Horse and Stock Show offer you rodeo competitions, live music and excellent food.

San Francisco Fall Antiques Show
Fort Mason Center
546-6661
If you are interested in antiques, then you really shouldn’t miss the San Francisco Fall Antiques Show. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to buy objects you only dreamed of at incredible prices.

November

Film Arts Festival of Independent Cinema
Castro and Roxie Theaters
552-8760
Talented actors, great directors and more than 300 excellent independent films. All at the Film Arts Festival of Independent Cinema.

American Indian Film Festival
Palace of Fine Arts Theater
554-0525
The American Indian Film Festival offers you dramas and documentaries produced and directed by Native American artists.

San Francisco International Automobile Show
Moscone Center
331-4406
If you can’t afford to buy the car of your dreams, you can at least visit the San Francisco International Automobile Show.

December

Christmas at Sea
Hyde Street Pier
561-6662
Let the magic of Christmas charm you on board of a historic ship.

San Francisco Ballet Nutcracker
War Memorial Opera House, 301 Van Ness Avenue
865-2000
The oldest ballet company in the United States invites you to enter the world of art and beauty.

New Pickle Circus
415-544-9344
The New Pickle Circus, created in the 1970s as a band of street performers, is waiting for you at the Palace of Fine Arts Theater.