45th Union Street Festival: 2023 Summer in the City Kick-Off (June 3-4)
EVENT UPDATE: There are no upcoming events known for this event series - please check the organizer website for any updates.
The Union Street Festival returns to the historic and charmingly cool Cow Hollow neighborhood on June 3-4, 2023 to kick off summer in the City.
While this is the 45th rendition it’s definitely a new day for one of San Francisco’s longest running street fairs. There’s an all-new highly-curated food and art vendor lineup highlighting many of The City’s top artists and designers, several of the most popular food trucks and local restaurants in the neighborhood.
This is no longer your normal run-of-the-mill street fair with the same vendors you see in every other neighborhood. Everything is hand-picked just for the Union Street Festival.
The festival lineup features exceptional non-stop live music and DJs on stage and street throughout the event, high-end handmade arts and crafts by the west coast’s top art designers and creators, delectably delicious food and drink offerings from the Bay’s best food trucks and vendors, premium wine, seasonal craft beer, and signature cocktails, and artisan specialty food makers.
Also showcased at the event will be a brand new collaborative paint temple, a DJ Dancepark, the iconic Waiters Race started more than two decades ago, and family-friendly entertainment and vendors.
45th Union Street Festival
– Saturday, June 3, 2023 – 11a-7p
– Sunday, June 4, 2023 – 10a-6p
Union Street, Fillmore to Octavia, San Francisco
FREE
- Rain or shine
- This is a smoke-free event.
Miramar Events, producer of popular, high-profile festivals around the Bay Area since 1986 is partnering with the Union Street Association to bring a fresh, new energy and vibe to the festival.
Cruise or walk on over, ride your bike or scooter, catch a ride share or public transit, or hop in your car, just get over here to Kick-off Summer In The City with two sun-splashed days of fabulously festive fun.
Live Music + DJs
The stellar music bill on the Unity Stage includes Freestone Peaches, Coast Tribe, Victoria George and the High Lonesome, Wreckless Strangers, The Rockmakers, Michelle Lambert and Bob Culbertson plus special guest DJs bringing entertainment from end to end on the street stroll all weekend. See the day-by-day concert lineup.
Art & Shopping
Featuring 75 artist and design creators from some of West Coast’s top artisan brands – Jentana (jewelry), Lisa Flemming Ceramics, McKinnon Collective (hand made leather bags), Michael Rohner Art (fine art), Flyladytee (custom apparel), Demby | Co-Home (fragrance products), Alix Clo (bath, body and wellness) are among the headliners.
Food, Wine, Craft Beer & Cocktails
Bring your appetite for three food epicenters showcasing a diverse lineup of the Bay’s best food trucks and vendors – Berber, Cochinita, Bowl’d Acai, Cousins Maine Lobster, The Empanadas King, Respectable Bird, Kaiyo Restaurant, Alebrijes Oaxacan Kitchen, Gio Gelati, Gourmonade, Humphry Slocombe, Lins Dim Sum, Mariapilar Ice Creamery, Treats By The Bay, and Philly Cheesesteak Stockton.
Enjoy refreshing custom cocktails from our partner tents while strolling and taking in all the action. Local favorite Wilder will be serving it’s award-winning Espressotini cocktail, a neighborhood signature. Whiskey fans will savor 10th Street Distillery’s satisfying cocktails – California Coast Highball or California Coast Gold Rush.
2023 Waiters Race (Sunday at Noon)
The Union Street Festival has a unique tradition started more than two decades ago by legendary San Francisco event producer Terry Pimsleur: the highly-entertaining
Waiters Race with teams of servers from neighborhood bars and restaurants who compete to see who can race up the hill fastest while carrying a serving tray with full glasses of drinks. Sunday, June 4th at noon; the showdown begins on the corner of Webster St. and Union St. to see which team has the skill to take home the title. Teams of 3 will race 100 feet up and down the street with a serving tray and drink in a relay format. Each relay teammate will add an additional drink to their serving tray with the last relay teammate with 3 drinks on their tray.
Interactive Paint Wall & DJ Dancepark
Dynamic new features include a collaborative paint temple “Unity & Love Wall” with a dance park DJ collective spinning house music from the perch on top of their one-of-a-kind Neptune themed art car.
Bay Area artist Richard Art Felix is an internationally exhibited and collected will be leading a collaborative paint wall. Join in and paint a section, and leave your mark at the event.
Dancepark, a collective of artists, scientists, engineers, and DJs who have a passion for sharing music and bringing a feel-good vibe wherever they go. This band of creative artists has built a devoted fan base around the Bay playing house music, melodic house and deep house.
Kid Fun
Bring out the whole family to enjoy one-of-a-kind balloon artistry by Noah The Balloon Ninja, intricate henna art, glitter tattoos, and vendors who specialize in products geared to kids.
A Rare Chance to See Inside the “Historic Octagon House”
In partnership with the festival, the historic Octagon House, a Union Street landmark, will be opening its doors to visitors during the Union Street Festival! Stop by for a visit and to shop and learn more about this magnificent Colonial Dame. They’ll be open June 3-4 from 11am to 2pm each day. The Octagon House is located at 2645 Gough Street (at Union Street).
Octagon House is one of two remaining 19th century octagonal houses in San Francisco and is currently the state headquarters of the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in California. Octagon House was designated an Historical Landmark in 1968 by the City of San Francisco and was placed on the National Register of Historical Places in 1972.
Getting There / Parking
The festival’s designated ride share and taxi drop-off/pick-up location is at the southeast corner of Fillmore and Union Streets.
Avoid the traffic and ride your bike! Free centrally located and highly visible bicycle parking racks will be set up on Buchanan and Union Streets. Please bring your own lock.
There is limited vehicle parking capacity on city streets around the area. The Lombard Street Garage – Lot #202 (2055 Lombard Street) and Pierce Street Garage – Lot #206 (3236 Pierce Street) are the closest parking garage options. Drivers can also research and book parking in advance through IMPARK
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