The Stern Grove Festival
Longer days and a cessation to the winter rains promises to bring thousands of visitors to the California coast. For locals and visitors alike, almost every weekend between Memorial day and Labor day offers block parties, street festivals, concerts and special events in the San Francisco bay area.
Some of my personal favorites include Memorial Day weekend's Carnaval, Stern Grove's free concerts throughout the summer, July 4th weekend's Fillmore Street Festival, and October's Fleet Week. While in many cases, the final schedules are still being worked out, you can take a look at the CIUSF Events Calendar and of course on our Twitter and Facebook accounts.
So enjoy the summer and good music with any and/or all of the following festivals:
Young At Art Festival de Young Museum, Golden Gate Park, SF. (415) 695-2441. Through May 22, free. The creative achievements of our city's youth are celebrated in this eight day event curated and hosted by the de Young Museum.
DIVAfest Exit Theatre, 156 Eddy, SF. (415) 931-2699. Through May 28. Times and prices vary. Bastion of the alternative, EXIT Theatre showcases its 10th annual buffet of fierce women writers, performers, and directors. This year features two plays, beat poetry, musical exploration, and more.
* Yerba Buena Gardens Festival Yerba Buena Gardens, Mission and Third St., SF. (415) 543-1718. Through Oct. 31. Times vary, free. A series of cultural events, performances, activities, music, and children and family programs to highlight the green goodness of SoMa's landscaped oasis.
May 21
* Asian Heritage Street Celebration Larkin and McAllister, SF. 11am-6pm, free. This year's at the country's largest gathering of APA's promises a Muay Thai kickboxing ring, DJs, and the latest in Asian pop culture fanfare — as well as tasty bites to keep your strength up.
May 28-29
San Francisco Carnaval Harrison between 16th and 22nd St., SF. 10am-6pm, free. The theme of this year's showcase of Latin and Caribbean culture is "Live Your Fantasy" — bound to bring dreams alive on the streets of the Mission.
June 3 - July 3
SF Ethnic Dance Festival Zellerbach Hall, Berk. and Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, SF. Times and prices vary. A powerful display of world dance and music taking to the stage over the course of five weekends.
June 4-5
Union Street Eco-Urban Festival Union from Gough to Steiner and parts of Octavia, SF. (800) 310-6563. 10am-6pm, free. Festival goers will have traffic-free access to Cow Hollow merchants and restaurant booths. The eco-urban theme highlights progressive, green-minded advocates and products.
The Great San Francisco Crystal Fair Fort Mason Center, Building A., SF. (415) 383-7837. Sat.,10am-6pm; Sun.,10am-4pm, $6. Gems and all they have to offer: beauty, fashion, and mysterious healing powers.
June 5
* Israel in the Gardens Yerba Buena Gardens, SF. (415) 512-6420. 11am-5pm, free. One full day of food, music, film, family activities, and ceremonies celebrating the Bay Area's Jewish community and Israel's 63rd birthday.
June 12
* Haight Ashbury Street Fair Haight between Stanyan and Ashbury, SF. 11am-5:30pm, free. Make your way down to the grooviest corner in history and celebrate the long-standing diversity and color of the Haight Ashbury neighborhood, featuring the annual battle of the bands.
June 16-26
Frameline Film Festival Various venues, SF. Times and prices vary. This unique LGBT film festival comes back for its 35th year showcasing queer documentaries, shorts, and features.
Queer Women of Color Film Festival Brava Theater. 2789 24th St., SF. (415) 752-0868. Times vary, free. A panel discussion called "Thinkers and Trouble Makers," bisects three days of screenings from up-and-coming filmmakers with stories all their own.
June 18-19
North Beach Festival Washington Square Park, SF. (800) 310-6563. Sat, 10am-6pm; Sun, 10am-6pm, free. Make your way down to the spaghetti capital of SF and enjoy food, music, arts and crafts booths, and the traditional blessing of the animals.
June 20-Aug 21
Stern Grove Music Festival Stern Grove. Sloat and 19th Ave., SF. (415) 252-6252. Sundays 2pm, free. This free outdoor concert series is a must-do for San Francisco summers. This year's lineup includes Neko Case, the SF Symphony, Sharon Jones, and much more.
June 25-26
San Francisco Pride Celebration Civic Center Plaza, SF; Parade starts at Market and Beale. (415) 864-FREE. Parade starts at 10:30am, free. Gays, trannies, queers, and the rest of the rainbow waits all year for this grand-scale celebration of diversity, love, and being fabulous.
San Francisco Free Folk Festival Presidio Middle School. 450 30th Ave., SF. (415) 661-2217. Noon-10pm, free. Folk-y times for the whole family — not just music but crafts, dance workshops, crafts, and food vendors too.
July 2-3
Fillmore Jazz Festival Fillmore between Jackson and Eddy, SF, 1-800-310-6563. 10am-6pm, free. Thousands of people get jazzed-up every year for this musical feast in a historically soulful neighborhood.
July 4
City of San Francisco Fourth of July waterfront celebration Pier 39, Embarcadero and Beach, SF. (415) 709-5500. Noon - 9:30pm, free. Ring in the USA's birthday on the water, with a day full of music and end up at in the city's front row when the fireworks take to the sky.
July 9-10
Renegade Craft Fair Fort Mason Festival Pavilion. Buchanan and Marina, SF. (312) 496-3215. 11am-7pm, free. Put a bird on it at this craft fair for the particularly indie at heart.
SF Jewish Film Festival Various Bay Area venues. Times and prices vary. A three week smorgasbord of world premiere Jewish films at theaters in SF, Berkeley, the Peninsula, and Marin County.
SF Shakespeare Festival Various Bay Area venues. Various times, free. Picnic with Princess Innogen and her crew with dropping a dime at this year's production of Cymbeline. It's by that playwriter guy... what's his name again?
July 31
Up Your Alley Dore between Folsom and Howard, SF. 11am-6pm, $7.00 - $10.00 suggested donation. Whether you are into BDSM, leather, paddles, nipple clamps, hardcore — or don't know what any of the above means, this Dore Alley stroll is surprisingly friendly and cute once you get past all the whips!
SF Chefs Various venues, SF. Times and prices vary. Those that love to taste test will rejoice during this foodie's paradise of culinary stars sharing their latest bites. Best of all, the goal for 2011's event is tons of taste with zero waste.
Aug 7
SF Theater Festival Fort Mason Center. Buchanan and Marina, SF. 11am-5pm, free. Think you can face about 100 live theater acts in one day? Set a personal record at this indoor and outdoor celebration of thespians.
Aug 13-14
* Nihonmachi Street Fair Post and Webster, SF. 11am-6pm, free. Founded by Asian Pacific American youths, this Japantown tradition is a yearly tribute to the difficult history and prevailing spirit of Asian American culture in this SF neighborhood.
Aug 20-22
* SF Street Food Festival Folsom St from Twenty Sixth to Twenty Second, SF. 11am-7pm, free. All of the city's best food, available without having to go indoors — or sit down. 2011 brings a bigger and better Street Food Fest, perfect for SF's burgeoning addiction to pavement meals.
Sep 10-11
* Autumn Moon Festival Street Fair Grant between California and Broadway, SF. (415) 982-6306. 11am-6pm, free. A time to celebrate the summer harvest and the end of summer full-moon, rejoice in bounty with the moon goddess.
Sept 17-18
SF International Dragon Boat Festival California and Avenue D, Treasure Island. 10am-5pm, free. The country's largest dragon boat festival sees beautiful man-powered boats take to the water in 300 and 500 meter competitive races.
Sept 23-25
SF Greek Food Festival Annunciation Cathedral. 245 Valencia, SF. Fri.-Sat., 11am-10pm; Sun., noon-9pm, free with advance ticket. Get your baba ghanoush on during this late summer festival, complete with traditional Greek dancing, music, and wine.
Sept 25
Folsom Street Fair Folsom between 7th and 12th St., SF. 11am-6pm, free. The urban Burning Man equivalent for leather enthusiasts, going to this expansive SoMa celebration of kink and fetish culture is the surest way to see a penis in public (you dirty dog!).
Sept 30-Oct 2
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Speedway Meadows, Golden Gate Park, SF. 11am-7pm, free. Pack some whiskey and shoulder your banjo: this free three day festival draws record-breaking crowds — and top names in a variety of twangy genres — each year.
Items with asterisks note family-fun activities.
|
|
