Sponsored by
San Francisco Festivals and Events in October
All dates and locations are subject to change and should be confirmed with sponsors before making travel plans.
Fleet Week San Francisco
Aquatic Park and PIER 39, Fisherman’s Wharf
https://fleetweeksf.org/
Fleet Week is the Bay Area’s opportunity to honor the men and women of the U.S. Navy and marine services. Navy ship tours and an exciting air show will be happening. Reserved seating and corporate packages available.
Mill Valley Film Festival
Various Locations
www.mvff.com
Presented by the California Film Institute, the Mill Valley Film Festival celebrates the best in independent and world cinema. Founded in 1978, it has established an impressive track record for launching new films and filmmakers.
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass
Hellman Hollow, Golden Gate Park
www.hardlystrictlybluegrass.com
This free celebration of music in the park includes a who’s who of top entertainers.
Castro Street Fair
Castro Street
www.castrostreetfair.org
Arts and crafts booths, live entertainment, dancing and music are all part of the fun at this gay-friendly street festival.
San Francisco Italian Heritage Parade
Fisherman’s Wharf and North Beach
www.sfitalianheritage,org
The city celebrates its Italian heritage with an annual parade through North Beach with food, music, entertainment and celebrities. 2018 marks the 150th anniversary.
San Francisco Fall Antiques Show
Fort Mason Center
www.sffas.org
The oldest continuously operating international antiques show on the West Coast! This show includes 60 distinguished antiques dealers from America and Europe selling a broad range of antique merchandise.
Litquake
Various Locations
www.litquake.org
This San Francisco literary festival showcases hundreds of the Bay Area’s finest writers for a week of readings, discussions, films, cross-media happenings and more.
Grand National Rodeo, Horse and Stock Show
Cow Palace, 2600 Geneva Ave.
www.grandnationalrodeo.com
Bareback riding, steer wrestling, barrel racing, saddle bronco riding, team and tie-down roping and bull riding are among the competitive events at the Cow Palace.
SF Street Food Festival
Potrero Power Station,420 23rd St.
www.sfstreetfoodfest.com/
This annual food festival chooses a different focus each year. For 2018, over 30 Bay Area chefs and restaurants will salute American cuisine and how it has been shaped by immigrant cultures from all over the world.
ArtSpan/SF Open Studios
Various Locations
www.artspan.org
San Francisco’s most exciting artists open their doors to the public and reveal their latest projects, how they work and what’s for sale.
Wharf Fest
Fisherman’s Wharf
www.sresproductions.com
Celebrate San Francisco’s historic waterfront district. This year’s festival includes a chowder cook-off competition, exhibitors, fun family activities and entertainment.
Superfest: International Disability Film Festival
The Magnes Collection of Art and Life (Berkeley) and Contemporary Jewish Museum, 736 Mission St. (San Francisco)
www.superfestfilm.com
The longest-running festival of its kind in the world, Superfest showcases an innovative range of juried short and feature-length films that celebrate disability as a generative and creative force in cinema and more broadly in culture.
San Francisco Trolley Dances
www.epiphanydance.org
Site-specific performances parallel major Muni routes in San Francisco. Artists and ensembles are matched with specific sites to create 8- to 15-minute pieces in response to the physical environment, architecture and history of the area.
Potrero Hill Festival
Potrero Hill, 20th Street between Missouri and Arkansas streets
www.potrerofestival.com
The Potrero Hill Festival returns with a full day of fun, food, music and community activities. There will be special activities for the kids, including a puppet show and a petting zoo.
American Indian Film Festival
415-554-0525
www.aifisf.com
The world’s oldest festival dedicated to films by and about Native Americans showcases new and exciting work.
LEAP Sandcastle Classic
Ocean Beach
www.leapsandcastleclassic.org
Teams comprised of architects, engineers, contractors, designers, corporations, and local elementary school students work together to build giant sand sculptures. The funds raised by teams and sponsors make it possible for LEAP to continue to provide arts programs to Bay Area students.
Sponsored by United Airlines
United Airlines is the leading carrier into SFO, with the most domestic and international flights serving the airport annually. Get started on a trip to San Francisco with United here.