San Francisco City Guide - Special Events

Dr Martin Luther King Jr's Birthday, Jan 15, celebrations, march and rally, Yerba Buena Gardens
Independent Film Festival, Jan-Feb, Castro, Roxie and Parkway theatres (website: www.sfindie.com)
Chinese New Year, Feb, largest night-time illuminated parade in North America, Chinatown
San Francisco Korean American Film Festival, Feb, Presidio Theatre
Pacific Orchid Exposition, Feb, Festival Pavilion, Fort Mason Centre (website: www.orchidsanfrancisco.org)
San Francisco Tribal, Folk & Textile Art Show, Feb, North American folk art dealers selling pottery, baskets, jewellery, and textiles, Fort Mason
Antiquarian Book Fair, Feb, world's largest rare book fair takes, Concourse Exhibition Centre
San Francisco Flower and Garden Show, Mar, largest in California, six acres of plants and flowers, hundreds of exhibits, Cow Palace (website: www.gardenshow.com)
NAATA's San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival, Mar, features over 130 films and videos from around the globe, Castro and Kabuki Theatres
San Francisco Jazz Spring Season, Mar-Jun, Masonic Auditorium (website: www.sfjazz.org)
St Patrick's Day, 17 Mar, celebrations and parade, Ghirardelli Square and parade from Second Street and Market Street to City Hall
Cherry Blossom Festival, Apr, stalls, Martial arts demonstrations, tea ceremonies, Japanese music and dance and a parade, Japantown, Post Street and Webster Street, parade from Civic Centre to Fillmore Street
San Francisco International Film Festival, Apr-May, more than 200 films and videos showcased, Castro Theatre and other venues (website: www.sffs.org)
St Stupid's Parade, 1 Apr, celebration of April Fool's Day, from Embarcadero Plaza to Washington Square in North Beach
Union Street Easter Parade and Festival, Apr, Union Street
Citibank Spring Cup Regatta, May, America's Cup and USA Olympic team sailors compete, northern waterfront
Opening Day on the Bay, Apr 30, kick off the sailing season, boat parade in formation across San Francisco Bay
Cinco de Mayo Festival, May 5, national Mexican celebration, food, music, dance, art and crafts, Parque de Ninos, 23rd and Folsom Streets
San Francisco Bay To Breakers Footrace, May, the world's largest footrace with more than 80,000 costumed runners, The Embarcadero to Great Highway and Ocean Beach
Carnival, May, San Francisco's version of Mardi Gras, Mission District
Memorial Day, May 29, national holiday, throughout the city San Francisco
International Arts Festival, May-Jun, various Mission District venues (website: http://sfiaf.org)
North Beach Festival, Jun, the city's oldest street fair, North Beach (website: www.sfnorthbeach.org/festival)
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Pride Parade, Jun, The Embarcadero to Civic Centre
San Francisco Accordion Festival, Jun, music, special events, The Cannery, Fisherman's Wharf
Frameline: San Francisco International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, Jun, various theatres (website: www.frameline.org/festival)
Stern Grove Festival, Jun-Aug, free events every Sun afternoon, 19th Avenue and Sloat Boulevard
San Francisco Jazz Festival, Jun and Oct, one of the biggest and best around, with stars from all over the world, various outdoor venues San Francisco Jazz & Wine Festival (SFJAZZ), Jul, The Embarcadero Centre (website: www.sfjazz.org)
San Francisco Marathon, Jul, Golden Gate Park to the Civic Centre (website: www.runsfm.com)
Fourth of July Festival, Jul 4, celebrations and fireworks, Oakland and Fisherman's Wharf
San Francisco Jewish Film Festival, Jul-Aug, international filmmakers showcase diversity and vitality of Jewish culture, Castro Theatre and other venues (website: www.sfjff.org)
Obon Festival and Bon Dance, Aug, Buddhist festival, family and special events, Japantown
San Francisco Shakespeare Festival, Aug-Sep, free performances on Sat and Sun 1330, Golden Gate Park (website: www.sfshakes.org)
Opera in the Park, Sep, Golden Gate Park
San Francisco Fringe Festival, Sep, theatre performances, various downtown venues (website: www.sffringe.org)
Chocolate Festival, Sep, Ghirardelli Square (website: www.ghirardellisq.com)
Viva Las Americas, Sep, music and dance celebrating Hispanic heritage, Pier 39
Polk Street Fair, Sep, music, arts, crafts and food, Polk Street
Blues Festival, Sep, Great Meadow above Fort Mason (website: www.sfblues.com)
Folsom Street Fair, Sep, kinky adults-only festival, Folsom Street (website: www.folsomstreetfair.com)
San Francisco International Dragon Boat Festival, Sep, nearly 100 dragon boats and 2,500 paddlers from across North America race the 500m course, Treasure Island (website: www.sfdragonboat.com)
Castro Street Fair, Oct, fine arts and crafts, merchants, dance, performances, and community groups, Castro Street (website: www.castrostreetfair.org)
Fleet Week, Oct, one of country's largest air shows featuring Blue Angels, and flotilla of naval vessels in Parade of Ships, Embarcadero and Fisherman's Wharf (website: http://fleetweek.us/fleetweek)
Italian Heritage Parade, Oct, along Columbus Avenue, ending at Washington Square
San Francisco Arts Festival, Oct, arts and crafts, Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
Exotic Erotic Ball, Oct, adult indoor masquerade ball, Cow Palace (website: www.exoticeroticball.com)
San Francisco Jazz Festival, Oct, various venues
Halloween San Francisco, 31 Oct, Civic Centre and Castro Street
Veterans Day Parade, 11 Nov, Market Street
Tree Lighting Festivities, Nov, Pier 39, Ghirardelli Square and Esplanade Gardens at Yerba Buena Centre
Great Dickens Christmas Fair, Nov-Dec, recreation of a 19th-century Victorian London fair, Cow Palace (website: www.dickensfair.com)