The Great Big List of Annual Fall Festivals and Activities in San Francisco
Music
The hills are alive with the sound of music in San Francisco in the fall.
Opera in the Park
The famous San Francisco Opera performs for free in this popular annual event in Sharon Meadow in Golden Gate Park. It’s been held every year since 1971. Bring a blanket and a picnic. Come early if you want to get a good spot. The event usually attracts more than 30,000 people. It’s held on a Sunday afternoon in September. (The 2006 date is September 10.) More information is available from the SF Chronicle, the event’s sponsor, on their Opera in the Park info page.
Jazz Festival
The London Observer wrote that this 24-year old festival is “probably the best jazz festival in the world..” It takes place during two weeks in the fall (2006 dates are October 20 – November 12), and features all styles of jazz, and all kinds of performers, from established big names to rising young stars. Advanced ticket purchase is recommended. SFJAZZ website .
Blues Festival
This is another long-running annual event, which has been going on since 1973. It’s held on a September weekend (2006 dates are September 22-24). The main events are two afternoon outdoor concerts, each featuring a long line-up of artists, on the Great Meadow in Fort Mason. You can buy tickets for one or both afternoons. (2-day tickets are only sold in advance). There are also a couple of films, and a Friday afternoon concert downtown. San Francisco Blues Festival website
S.F. World Music Festival
The World Music Festival brings together musicians from around the world. The San Francisco Chronicle wrote that the Festival “has a reputation for experimentation as an indirect call for cultures to share peace and understanding.” The Festival takes place over two weeks in the fall. (2006 dates are September 24 – October 7). San Francisco World Music Festival webpage.
San Francisco LoveFest
Now in its third year, this used to be the San Francisco Loveparade, but they lost the rights to use that name to somebody in Berlin. They’re forging on, though, with a parade down Market Street, a festival in Civic Center Plaza, and an after-party in the Bill Graham Auditorium. The parade floats feature dance music, and everyone is encouraged to dance alongside the floats, in the street. (2006 date is September 23). San Francisco LoveFest website
Theater
All the world’s a stage in San Francisco in the fall.
Shakespeare in the Park
It’s free, and it’s fun. The show travels all over the Bay Area, and is usually in San Francisco, in the pretty, but sometimes windy, Presidio Parade Ground on Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoons for part of September. (September 2 to September 24 in 2006). You can get the exact schedule and more information at the Free Shakespeare in the Park page
Fringe Festival
Anyone can put on a show during the San Francisco Fringe Festival. There’s no jury process – performers are selected by lottery, or on a first come, first served basis. This is a sprawling event, with about 40 different shows presented in 10 venues over 12 days, with more than 200 performances in all. Shows are short, an hour or less, and timed so that you can go from one to another and gobble up a whole bunch of theater in an evening. Tickets are cheap, no more than $10 per show, or you can get a pass for $35 for five shows, or $65 for ten. More information about the plays and schedules, along with audience reviews, can be found on the S.F. Fringe Festival website.
Street Fairs
The first one isn’t your grandfather’s street fair (unless your grandfather was a leather fetishist).
Folsom Street Fair
The Folsom Street Fair, celebrating leather kinkiness, is a huge event, attracting over 400,000 people from around the world. Fair organizers describe their mission as creating “volunteer-driven leather events that provide the adult alternative lifestyle community with safe venues for self-expression while emphasizing freedom, fun, frolic and fetish and raising critical funds to benefit San Francisco charities.” Held every year on the last Sunday in September (2006 date is September 24). Folsom Street Fair website
Castro Street Fair
The Castro Street Fair, one of the longest-running street fairs, was started in 1974 by Harvey Milk. Held in the heart of the gay Castro District, this popular fair features live music on multiple stages, dancing pavilions, and lots of food and crafts booths. (2006 date is October 1) Castro Street Fair website
Autumn Moon Festival Street Fair
This popular weekend Chinatown event features live traditional and contemporary entertainment on several stages, and lots of food and merchandise booths. There are hourly lion dance performances, and at the end of the day, the dragon comes out. Big crowds are expected, so taking public transportation is recommended. (2006 dates are September 23 and 24) Autumn Moon Festival Street Fair website.
Et Cetera events
And even more things to do:
Chocolate Festival in Ghiradelli Square
Chocolate! Yum. This annual event takes place over a September weekend (September 9-10 in 2006), and features live entertainment, cooking demonstrations, and, of course, lots of chocolate goodies made by hot-shot chefs and bakers. Tasting tickets cost $10 for 6 tickets, or $20 for 15 tickets. Proceeds benefit Project Open Hand. For more information, see the Ghiradelli Square Chocolate Festival page.
Day of the Dead (Dia de las Muertos)
This is an “annual celebration of death in the cycle of life, death and rebirth.” A ritual procession winds its way through the Mission District, ending in an outdoor exhibit of altars. (2006 date is November 2) Day of the Dead website
This features music, dancing, eating and, of course, beer-drinking. It’s held over a long weekend (October 12-15 for 2006) at Fort Mason. Admission is $15 for adults, $5 for teens, and free for children 12 and under. Oktoberfest By the Bay
Fleet Week with the Blue Angels
The Blue Angels spend a week buzzing the city, which annoys some residents and thrills others. Then on the weekend, they put on an awe-inspiring show. A million spectators are expected to show up! You can watch the show for free along the waterfront, or if you want to do something extra special, you can book a spot on a cruise (which you will need to do in advance). There will also be a parade of navy ships, and free ship tours. (2006 Fleet Week dates are October 5 – 9) For more info, including information on available cruises, see the S.F. Visitors Bureau, or see the official military site.
Litquake
Litquake is a celebration of the Bay Area literary scene. It’s a nine-day long festival of readings and performances held in many different venues, from large auditoriums to tiny back rooms of bars. Around 350 authors will be participating. The last night of the festival is the grand finale, the Lit Crawl, which the promoters describe as “designed for those who like their literature served neat, on the rocks or with a water back… Over 100 writers in genres as varied as travel, poetry, noir & mystery, literary, music erotica, science fiction, spirituality, Latino, queer, young adult and more will clamber onto bar counters in cocktail lounges, recline in chaise lounges or, in one case, stand around a Laundromat in order to read.” Some events require tickets, but many, including the Lit Crawl, are free. (2006 dates are October 6-14). Litquake
Sand Castle Contest
This is Northern California’s largest sand castle competition. It’s held on Ocean Beach near the Cliff House. It’s fun to go just to watch, and see what amazing creative things people can build out of sand. It’s a benefit for leap, an organization that brings artists and architects into classrooms. (2006 date is Saturday, October 7) Sandcastle Classic
Enough to do? You can rest up during the winter.
