Hardly The Only Festival
Don’t get us wrong; the huge and free Hardly Strictly Bluegrass music festival taking place this weekend in Golden Gate Park is cool and everything, but getting to and from the festival by car or transit can be a nightmare, and maybe you don’t want to spend your entire weekend in the company of 750,000 music lovers?
Here’s a few festive alternatives for the festivally-oriented among you.
Cathedral Festival of Flowers
Renowned floral artists from all over the Bay Area have decorated the cathedral’s soaring 19 story interior with a kaleidoscope of colors and an array of magnificent floral displays to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the building’s dedication. Flowers on display for three days with a free “Festival of Choirs” concert taking place on Sunday.– Friday 10/1 – 9am to 7:30pm | FREE
– Saturday 10/2 – 9am to 7:30pm | FREE
– Sunday 10/3 – 8:30am to 6pm (Festival of Choirs at 4pm)| FREEThe Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption | 1111 Gough Street (@ Geary), San Francisco, CA
27th Annual Sand Castle Contest
The Sandcastle Contest is Northern California’s largest sandcastle building event and a spirited competition between teams of architects, engineers, contractors, designers and local elementary school students each October at Ocean Beach (just below the Cliff House).– Saturday, October 2, 2010 – 10:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE
Ocean Beach | Balboa Street and Great Highway, San Francisco, CA
Home Front: WWII Festival By the Bay
The city of Richmond celebrates its special role in the history of modern America and in WWII with its annual “Home Front: Festival By The Bay.” Three different locations (including Craneway Pavilion & Kaiser Shipyard #3) host USO style performances, tributes to real life “Rosie the Riveters”, tours of the Kaiser Shipyard, Air Force Band performances and more.– Saturday, October 2, 2010 – 11:00 am to 6:00 pm | Cost: FREE
Richmond | Harbour Way South and Hall Ave, Richmond, CA
1st Annual “Art in Nature Festival”
Stroll along the nearly 1 mile Stream Trail of Redwood Regional Park in Oakland and be entertained by nearly 100 different artists and performers tucked among the meadows and redwoods in this brand new family friendly (and dog friendly) all-day festival. Enjoy roaming performances and 12 different areas of live music, dance, martial arts, poetry, henna, circus arts, theater, painting, storytelling, arts, crafts and kids events.– Sunday, October 3, 2010 – 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm | Cost: FREE
Redwood Regional Park | 7867 Redwood Road, Oakland, CA
4th Annual Live Graffiti Battle
Twenty of California’s most talented graffiti artists will compete in a live painting battle as part of the 4th Annual Estria Invitational Graffiti Battle at deFremery Park in Oakland – a national, traveling, one-day, urban art competition that honors and advances creativity in the Hip Hop arts. Always admired their work on the street? Now is your chance to see them in action up close and personal.– Sunday, October 3, 2010 – 11:00 am to 5:00 pm | Cost: FREE
DeFremery Park | 1651 Adeline Street, Oakland, CA 94607
Here’s our full calendar of events for this weekend (Oct1-3)
