San Francisco City Guide - Special Events

Chinese New Year
February
Largest night-time illuminated parade in North America.
Chinatown
Website: www.sanfranciscochinatown.com

CAAM's San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival
March
Features over 130 films and videos from around the globe.
Castro and Kabuki Theatres
Website: www.asianamericanmedia.org

San Francisco Jazz Spring Season
March-June
Palace of Fine Arts Theatre and other venues
Website: www.sfjazz.org

San Francisco International Film Festival
April-May
More than 200 films and videos showcased.
Castro Theatre and other venues
Website: www.sffs.org

The Yerba Buena Gardens Festival
May-October
Features more than 100 free events, including classical, jazz and world music; theatre; traditional and contemporary dance; children's and family programmes.
Website: www.ybgf.org

Carnaval
May
San Francisco's version of Mardi Gras.
Mission District
Website: www.carnavalsf.com

International Arts Festival
May-June
Various Mission District venues
Website: www.sfiaf.org

North Beach Festival
June
The city's oldest street fair.
North Beach
Website: www.sfnorthbeach.org/festival

Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon
June
An icy cold 2.4km (1.5-mile) swim from Alcatraz Island to the San Francisco shoreline, a 29km (18-mile) hilly bike ride through the Presidio and a 13km (8-mile) trail run through the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
Website: www.escapefromalcatraztriathlon.com

San Francisco's Dine About Town
June
The annual prix-fixe promotion of more than 100 restaurants.
Website: www.onlyinsanfrancisco.com

San Francisco Jazz Festival
June and October
One of the biggest and best around, with stars from all over the world.
Various outdoor venues
San Francisco

Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival
August
More than 40 artists and groups including Radiohead, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and Jack Johnson.
Golden Gate Park
Website: www.sfoutsidelands.com

San Francisco Fringe Festival
September
Theatre performances.
Various downtown venues
Website: www.sffringe.org

Blues Festival
September
Great Meadow above Fort Mason
Website: www.sfblues.com

San Francisco International Dragon Boat Festival
October
Nearly 100 dragon boats and 2,500 paddlers from across North America race the 500m (550yd) course.
Treasure Island
Website: www.sfdragonboat.com

Litquake
October
The West Coast's largest independent literary festival with readings, panels, and events all week long, culminating in the notorious Lit Crawl.
Various venues
Website: www.litquake.org