13 Popular Festivals In San Francisco Bay Area, California

1. Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Cherry blossoms are beautiful, but they are not the only reason why the Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival is conducted annually. The activity is also a celebration of Asian traditions, particularly Japanese culture. The Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival takes place from April 14 to 22. While attending the event is free, there are some special events that will require a fee. Besides giving you the opportunity to enjoy views of the beautiful blooms, you will also be able to see cultural, musical, and martial arts performances. Food booths are also installed to give people the chance to grab some snacks and drinks as they explore the ins and outs of the festival.

Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival

Address: 1759 Sutter St, San Francisco, CA 94115, United States

Website: Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival

Takes place: Usually held in April

Price: Free

2. Annual Goat Festival [Last event in 2019]

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

San Francisco is known as a place of quirkiness, and the Annual Goat Festival is the event that probably best exemplifies that. Formerly known as Goatchella, the Goat Festival, in this instance, doesn’t mean a celebration for those known as the Greatest of All Time; instead, they’re really all about those furry, four-legged farm animals. This activity features a petting stable, food tasting (of what else but goat cheeses, yogurts, and ice cream), cooking demos, arts and crafts, and other fun activities. Food sellers and other vendors are also part of the festival for those who want to grab a bite to eat or grab some memorabilia.

Annual Goat Festival

Address: Ferry Plaza Farmers Market, San Francisco, CA 94111, United States

Takes place: April

3. Bay Area Brew Festival

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

This event is not to be missed if you’re a beer lover. Taking place in January, this activity sees over 70 breweries coming together to serve attendees over 200 kinds of beers. What’s more, dozens of food trucks take part in the event to serve all sorts of food items that you can pair with your favorite brews. Expect a DJ to churn out the tunes as you sample the food and the drinks served here. Do note that only those who are 21 years and older are allowed admission to this activity. Attendees have the option to purchase general admission or VIP tickets.

Bay Area Brew Festival

Website: Bay Area Brew Festival

Takes place: January

Price: 45 - 65 USD

4. Bay Area Book Festival

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

If you’re a bookworm, you’re in luck because there’s also a festival that awaits you in the Bay Area. The Bay Area Book Festival, which takes place every May, takes pride in being a “literary extravaganza”, hosting around 300 authors of books from different genres, ranging from non-fiction to fiction for teens and young adults to children’s books. The two-day activity is also a family-friendly event: it features an outdoor fair that offers a number of kids’ activities, perfect for families who want to introduce their tots to the world of reading.

Bay Area Book Festival

Address: Martin Luther King Jr. Civic Center Park, Berkeley, USA

Website: Bay Area Book Festival

Takes place: May

Price: 15 USD

5. Bay Area International Deaf Dance Festival

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

San Francisco is known as a city that welcomes inclusivity, and this festival certainly proves that. The Bay Area International Deaf Dance Festival, as the name suggests, provides a safe space for dancers and other artists to showcase their skills and prove to the world that their difficulty in hearing does not prevent them from showing their talents. Besides performances from artists from across the world, workshops are held to showcase the contributions of artists who are deaf or hard of hearing in the community. Take part in this event and be amazed and inspired by the talents of these artists.

Bay Area International Deaf Dance Festival

Address: Dance Mission Theater, 3316 24th Street, San Francisco, CA

Website: Bay Area International Deaf Dance Festival

Takes place: August

Price: 25 USD online, 30 USD at the door

6. Bay Area Playwrights Festival

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Theater lovers will love this event. The Bay Area Playwrights Festival, held every July, is one of the oldest and most successful play festivals in the country. Established as a way to hone and discover the talents of both playwrights and actors from and outside San Francisco, this activity counts Pulitzer Prize winners among its alum. The yearly event serves as the culmination of a three-week-long activity where playwrights, directors, and actors work together to bring scripts to life, on the stage.

Bay Area Playwrights Festival

Website: Bay Area Playwrights Festival

Takes place: July

7. Bay Area Lebanese Festival

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Love Lebanese culture? Visit San Francisco in September and take part in the Bay Area Lebanese Festival. The activity is a celebration of Lebanese culture and cuisines, and it welcomes Lebanese and non-Lebanese alike. Besides providing traditional homemade fare all day long, from full meals and different sorts of desserts to alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, the activity also features live entertainment, a variety of games, and dancing. If you’re feeling lucky, buy raffle tickets and get the chance to win fantastic prizes.

Bay Area Lebanese Festival

Website: Bay Area Lebanese Festival

Takes place: August

Price: Free admission

8. SF Street Food Festival [Lat event in 2019]

Food lovers and snacking enthusiasts should waste no time in bringing their palates and appetites to the Bay Area in October, for the SF Street Food Festival. This event features over 50 restaurants and chefs from the Bay Area. Beyond the gastronomic experience, the activity is also a celebration of culture, as it puts the spotlight on the food businesses of women, people of color, and immigrants, which makes this a great festival to attend if you want to see and celebrate San Francisco’s diversity.

SF Street Food Festival

Website: SF Street Food Festival

Takes place: October

Price: 5 USD pre-sale entry; 10 USD at the door; free for kids five years old and younger

9. Bay Area Science Festival

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Bring out those test tubes, robots, and microscopes because the Bay Area Science Festival is all about celebrating science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The annual event features a number of hands-on activities, interactive exhibits, and discussions with the leading scientists and engineers. Because the activities are spread across the Bay Area, attendees will also get the chance to explore the cultural, educational, and scientific institutions across the neighborhood.

Bay Area Science Festival

Website: Bay Area Science Festival

Takes place: October

Price: Free admission

10. San Francisco Fleet Week

Aviation enthusiasts will get a kick out of viewing the key activities held during the San Francisco Fleet Week, a waterfront air show. The main event is the Navy Blue Angels’ air show, but there are also other activities that you can watch out for during the week, including the parade of Navy ships and the awe-inducing performances (including the death-defying feat of flying under the Golden Gate Bridge!) of stunt plane pilots and a daredevil team of parachuters. A number of performances are also made available upon sunset. An estimated one million spectators attend the event yearly.

San Francisco Fleet Week

Website: San Francisco Fleet Week

Takes place: October

Price: Standard admission is free

11. San Francisco Jazz Festival

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

San Francisco played a key role in the history of jazz. In fact, the Fillmore district was dubbed as “the Harlem of the West”. Today, it remains true to its roots, celebrating the 11-day-long San Francisco Jazz Festival every year. The activity, which is one of the biggest jazz festivals in the country, sees over 40 live concerts conducted across the city, performed by both established and up-and-coming artists. The activity also sees food trucks and drinks open and ready to serve attendees of the festival. The festival is organized by SFJAZZ, a non-profit organization that focuses on jazz and jazz education. Be sure to check the schedule that the organizers release beforehand so you can watch your favorite performers.

San Francisco Jazz Festival

Website: San Francisco Jazz Festival

Takes place: June

12. Stern Grove Festival

The Stern Grove Festival, which is the original outdoor music festival in the Bay area, has become a summer tradition in San Francisco for the past 80 years. Thousands of people flock to Sigmund Stern Grove, a natural amphitheater, to enjoy listening to music for free. The activities of the festival are spread from July to August. Different genres of music - including rock, hip hop, blues, funk, opera, dance music, jazz, and classical music - are given equal mileage during the festival. The venue also provides other activities and attractions for attendees in case they want to have fun before or after the performance, such as playing tennis or pitching horseshoes.

Stern Grove Festival

Address: 19th Avenue and, Sloat Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94132, United States

Website: Stern Grove Festival

Takes place: June to August

Price: Free admission

13. Bay Area International Children’s Film Festival

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

This activity is perfect for those who are with their kids, or kids at heart. The Bay Area International Children’s Film Festival is held every February and is packaged as an event where “education and imagination collide”. Featured movie presentations represent various cultures and stories from across the globe. Besides showcasing short and full-length films made for kids, the activity also sees a number of workshops and activities that families and children of all ages will have fun doing. Do note, however, that the workshops require pre-registration, so walk-in participants will not be allowed to join.

Bay Area International Children’s Film Festival

Website: Bay Area International Children’s Film Festival

Takes place: Usually held in February

Price: 22 USD one-day pass/32 USD weekend pass for adults; 14 USD day pass/20 USD weekend pass youth

Experience one of the Bay Area's festivals

Each year sees dozens of festivals celebrated in San Francisco. The sheer number of these activities can quickly overwhelm those who are not familiar with the events that the city, particularly the Bay Area, is fond of. By using this list, you get to shortlist the top events that you can check out when you visit the Golden Gate City.