Note
This is an incomplete list, so please don't assume nothing is happenning
just because nothing is listed. There's always something going on here.
Also,
I'm sorry that I'm very short on actual dates for these events, I'm
trying to get them. But I thought I'd put out this page even though
it's still under construction.
For detailed
info, check the blue-edged pages at the front of the Yellow Pages
phone book when you get into the city. This section is called the
"Calendar of Events" and contains up-to-date info for the current
year. It's where I got some of the infor below.
Another
really good source is the Sunday paper. Check the "Pink Section" for
a complete list of all fairs, celebrations, block parties, festivals,
theater, etc happenning in and around the city.
All
events are free unless otherwise noted.
Chinese New Year
Held during the first weekend in March. Thousands throng into Chinatown
to help celebrate the beginning of the Chinese new year. Lots of opportunity
to learn about Chinese culture.
St.
Patrick's Day Parade
St Patty's San Francisco style, from 5th and Market street
to the foot of Market street.
Cherry Blossom Festival
A
celebration of the Japanese influence in San Francisco culture, held
at Japantown
KQED
Wine and Food Festival
KQED
is the local PBS affiliate. It's a pretty useless station, putting
out very little content for the PBS network, but at least they put
on this festival. Over a hundred restaurants and a hundred wine bottlers
prepare a feast at the Concourse Exhibition Center. Unsure about what
the entrance/gnoshing fee is.
San
Francisco International Film Festival(Blurb
provided by the Festival people)
Held in late April /early May, the Festival is a great place to learn
about the City and to meet people. The San
Francisco Film Society, presenter of the San Francisco International
Film Festival, is a nonprofit arts organization whose aim is to lead
in expanding the knowledge and appreciation of international film
art and its artists. Now in its 42nd year, the Festival has become
a showcase for nearly 200 new features, documentaries and shorts.
The Festival is dedicated to highlighting current trends in international
film and video production with an emphasis on work which has not yet
secured U.S. distribution.
Bay-to-Breakers footrace
This race definitely shows off our silly side. Real athletes get a
headstart and win a big prize. However, right behind them, over 100,000
goofballs trace the same course, a few of them dressed up in costume.
I have seen runners dressed as cows, buildings, shoes, and "Far Side"
characters. Teams of runners dress as centipedes, the Golden Gate
Bridge and triple-engine passenger airplanes. Along
the way, radio personalities stand atop the tallest point in the race
and offer to pull 20 people up the hill with a rope, and costume judges
throw people in "jail" for bad costumes.
Carnaval
Parade and Festival
Held in the Mission, celebrates Caribbean, Latin and Brazilian culture.
24th and Mission streets
Cinco
De Mayo
"Fifth of May", commemorates a Mexican victory over occupying French
troops. Two-day celebration, held between 24th and mission
and the Civic Center.
Haight Street Fair
A hippy block party, entertainment, arts and crafts, face-painting
and food.
Lesbian,
Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Celebration
aka Gay Pride Parade
A parade, booths, entertainment and food.
Stern
Grove Midsummer Music Festival
Wonderful
free classical music, (in general) June through August. 1996 marks
this festival's 59th year, and Stern Grove is a wonderful
place for it.
4th of July
We're
laid back about everything, but the 4th is celebrated here pretty
much as it is probably everywhere. Some patriotism, lots of partying.
Traditionally, the 4th is celebrated with an afternoon-long party
(from about 1 pm to 9 pm) at Crissy Field. Crissy Field is a beach.
If
you go back and look at the map,
look for The Presidio, the big park at the top of SF. Look for the
words "Fort Winfield Scott". Crissy Field is at the water's edge above
the word "Winfield". They
have live music, food, comics, etc. At night (9 pm) the fireworks
come on, they are fired from barges in the bay, off Crissy Field.
In
recent years the celebration hasn't taken place at Crissy Field, a
few years ago they were moved to the Marina, which was a lot less
fun. There have been no announcements regarding what they'll do this
year, I hope they go back to CF. Wherever
they're held, the place is totally packed, as is every parking spot
for miles. Some people bike, many take public transportation (which
gets gridlocked on the way back, along with everything else) and many
people walk from their far-away parking spot.
Comedy
Celebration Day
This is a fun one! Go to the (huuuge) polo field in Golden Gate park
and kick back among tens of thousands of fellow comedy lovers while
local comics put on an hours-long show. Bring a picnic basket and
hang out in a very convivial and well-humored atmosphere.
A la carte a la park
This
is a very nice event, where all the top restaurants of the city set
up tents in Sharon Meadow in Golden Gate park, and have their fanciest
dishes set up to be nibbled at. I'm not sure what prices are like,
but I know the food is not your typical public event tent hot dog.
I suspect they price them modestly in order to lure you to the restaurant,
but I don't know for sure.
Opera
in the park
The San Francisco Opera graciously opens its season at Golden Gate
Park with this free concert at Sharon Meadow.
Fleet week
Jet fighters buzz San Francisco! The navy steams in with many of their
big ships, and some of them offer guided tours. At the culmination
of the events, the Blue Angels perform hair-raising maneuvers above
the bay, with the Golden Gate bridge as the backdrop. If we're lucky,
they buzz downtown and other parts of the city.
Halloween
Thousands of costumed or nearly-naked people throng the gay-friendly
areas of the city and have a great street party. It's kind of like
Mardi Gras without all the public drunkenness.
Castro
Street Fair
A block party at gay-friendly Castro street, held the first weekend
in October, for gay, straight and bi alike.
Run To The Far Side With Gary Larson
Runners dressed up like Gary Larson characters complete a 5K walk and
a 10K run.
