Annual Events in San Francisco: A Month-by-Month Calendar

At a glance

• Where: Across San Francisco, from Japantown and Chinatown to Golden Gate Park and the waterfront
• When: Usually February or March through October; there is no verified pick for January, June, November or December in this guide
• Cost: Mixed: Carnaval San Francisco, the Autumn Moon Festival and Hardly Strictly Bluegrass are described as free; races and Outside Lands are ticketed or registration-based. Check each official site.
• Dates: Dates shift every year. Each entry gives the usual month and links to the official site for current dates.

San Francisco's biggest annual events run from late winter into autumn: the Chinese New Year Festival and Parade in February or March, the Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival in April, Bay to Breakers in May, The San Francisco Marathon in July, Outside Lands in August and San Francisco Fleet Week in October. This guide lists eleven events whose organizers' own websites show them still running, in the order the year brings them.

We give the usual month, not this year's dates, because dates move. Every entry links to the official site, and that is where to confirm days, routes, tickets and any venue changes before you plan around them.

How we chose

We started with the city's best-known events and added others that locals mention by name. Each one had to have a live official website, take place inside the city, and recur every year. We left out anything we could not confirm on its own site, which is why some months below have no entry. We did not pad the calendar with one-off shows or ticketed gigs that happen to fall in a given month.

One caution on dates: organizers publish them for the next edition, and they sometimes change. Treat the month as a planning guide and the official site as the answer.

What are the big annual events in San Francisco, by month?

The short answer: February or March for Chinese New Year, April for cherry blossoms and film, May for Bay to Breakers and Carnaval, July for the marathon, August for Outside Lands, September for the Autumn Moon Festival and October for Fleet Week, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass and the Italian Heritage Parade.

February or March: Chinese New Year Festival and Parade

The San Francisco Chinese New Year Festival and Parade is run by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, which is based at 730 Sacramento Street in Chinatown. Its usual month moves between February and March because it follows the lunar calendar. The organizer's site also lists a Community Street Fair alongside the parade. The City of San Francisco describes this celebration as the largest of its kind in the world, so book lodging early if you are coming from out of town. Official site: chineseparade.com.

April: Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival

The Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival takes place in Japantown over two weekends in April, centered on Peace Plaza, Sutter Street and Osaka Way, and ends with a Grand Parade on the final Sunday. Parts of Japantown's public spaces have been under renovation in some years, so check the official site for where the stages and activities will be. Official site: sfcherryblossom.org.

Late April to early May: SFFILM Festival

The San Francisco International Film Festival, run by SFFILM, typically opens in the last week of April and runs into early May. It has been running for decades, which makes late April a reliable time to catch premieres in San Francisco. Screening venues change from year to year, so use the festival's schedule page to see where films play. Official site: sffilm.org.

May: Bay to Breakers

Bay to Breakers is a footrace across San Francisco held each May, and the name is the route: the official site says all distances start at Howard and Fremont Streets near the bay, and the course runs to the Great Highway, where the breakers hit Ocean Beach. The main race is a 12K, with a 15K option, and it is famous for costumes, which is what most people remember about it. Check the official site for race-day logistics and road closures. Official site: baytobreakers.com.

May: Carnaval San Francisco

Carnaval San Francisco fills the Mission District on a late-May weekend. The official site describes a free two-day festival covering 17 blocks, with five music stages. The Grand Parade runs on Sunday, starting at 24th and Bryant Streets, going west and then north on Mission Street to 15th Street. Arrive early, ride Muni or BART instead of driving, and expect crowds around 24th Street. Official site: carnavalsanfrancisco.org.

July: The San Francisco Marathon

The San Francisco Marathon takes over a weekend in July and is more than one race. The organizers list an ultramarathon, the full marathon, two half marathons, a 10K, 5Ks and a 1K, so there is a distance for nearly everyone. Registration happens online well ahead of race weekend, and road closures follow the course, so check the official site if you are not running but need to cross town that day. Official site: thesfmarathon.com.

August: Outside Lands Music Festival

Outside Lands is a three-day music festival held in Golden Gate Park each August. According to the festival's own history page, it debuted in the park in August 2008. The organizers announce the next weekend's dates well in advance, in the form of a save-the-date on the site, and tickets are sold through the official page. If you are not going in, plan for crowds on the park's western side and on Muni lines serving it. Official site: sfoutsidelands.com.

September: Autumn Moon Festival

The Autumn Moon Festival is held along Grant Avenue in Chinatown between California Street and Broadway, with a main stage at Washington and Grant. Presented by the Chinatown Merchants Association, it is a free, one-weekend event, typically from 11 am to 5 pm, with lion dancing, food vendors, mooncakes and a Dragon Parade that closes out Sunday. Official site: moonfestival.org.

October: San Francisco Fleet Week

San Francisco Fleet Week is a week-plus of Navy, Marine Corps and other military displays over the bay and on the waterfront each October, with the Blue Angels as the headline air act. Past programs have included Fleet Fest near the SkyStar Wheel in Fisherman's Wharf, a Service and Safety Expo at Pier 27 and ship tours at Piers 27 and 35, with the Air Show ticketed through a separate link. The official site has listed free general admission for air show viewing at Marina Green, so you do not need a ticket to watch. Official site: fleetweeksf.org.

October: Hardly Strictly Bluegrass

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass is a free music festival in Golden Gate Park held over an early-October weekend, Friday through Sunday. The official FAQ calls it a free event with no tickets needed, spread across Hellman Hollow and the Lindley and Marx meadows. Plan to bring layers, because the western side of the park is cooler than most of the city. Official site: hardlystrictlybluegrass.com.

October: Italian Heritage Parade

The Italian Heritage Parade is a North Beach tradition each October. The organizers date the first San Francisco parade to 1869, so it has been marching through the city for more than 150 years. Their site also lists a Madonna del Lume Mass and Blessing of the Fleet on the weekend before the parade. Check the site for the route and the rest of the program. Official site: sfitalianheritage.org.

Which months have no event here?

January, June, November and December have no entry because we could not confirm a recurring event on an official site. San Francisco certainly has holiday and neighborhood events in those months, but we only list what we could verify. For a live listing, see events in San Francisco and this weekend.

The whole year on one list

• February or March: parade in Chinatown.
• April: cherry blossoms in Japantown, then film.
• May: Bay to Breakers by day, Carnaval in the Mission.
• July: marathon weekend.
• August: Outside Lands in Golden Gate Park.
• September: Autumn Moon on Grant Avenue.
• October: Fleet Week, bluegrass, Italian Heritage.

Before any of them, check the weather page: San Francisco's fog and wind can turn a warm afternoon cold, so a jacket belongs in your bag in every month.

Last verified: November 2026.

Frequently asked questions

What are the biggest annual events in San Francisco?

The biggest recurring events are the Chinese New Year Festival and Parade, the Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival, Bay to Breakers, The San Francisco Marathon, Outside Lands Music Festival and San Francisco Fleet Week. Each has an official site with the current year's dates.

When is Bay to Breakers held?

Bay to Breakers is held in May each year, with a 12K main race and a 15K option. It runs from near the bay downtown to the Great Highway at Ocean Beach. Confirm the date at baytobreakers.com.

When is Outside Lands in San Francisco?

Outside Lands is held in August in Golden Gate Park, over a three-day weekend. The organizers publish the next dates at sfoutsidelands.com.

Is there a free annual event in San Francisco?

Yes. Carnaval San Francisco, the Autumn Moon Festival and Hardly Strictly Bluegrass are each described as free. Races, Outside Lands and the film festival are ticketed or require registration.

When is Fleet Week in San Francisco?

San Francisco Fleet Week is typically held in October, around Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 27. Its official site at fleetweeksf.org lists the dates, events and ticketed parts such as the Air Show.

When is the Cherry Blossom Festival in San Francisco?

The Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival is held in April in Japantown over two weekends, ending with a Grand Parade. Dates are posted at sfcherryblossom.org.