San Francisco’s May Festivals & Street Fairs 2025
Here’s a round-up of fun and fabulous May festivals, street fairs, and events including San Francisco’s Carnaval, Bay to Breakers, and more you can look forward to this May 2025.
> We’ll be updating this guide with more May events soon! Please note, this guide includes events from 2024; the 2025 dates have not yet been announced, but we expect them to return in 2025.
MAY 2025
- 2025 Slavic Festival – May 2-3, 2025
- The Bay’s Huge “626 Night Market” – May 2-4, 2025
- de Youngsters Day Out 2025 – May 3, 2025
- 2025 Yerba Buena Gardens Festival – May 10, 2025 (Season Kick Off – events held typically through November)
- Focus Fest: Climate Photography Festival – May 10, 2025
- 2025 Taiwanese American Cultural Festival – May 10, 2025
- Hawaiian May Day Festival 2025 – May 10-11, 2025
- The Exploratorium’s Free Admission Day 2025 – May 11, 2025
SF’s “Sundown Cinema” Film Night in the Park– Cancelled for 2025- Bay to Breakers 2025 – May 18, 2025
- 2025 San Francisco Carnaval Festival & Parade – May 24-25, 2025
- Union Street Festival 2025 – May 31-June 1, 2025
- 2025 Bay Area Book Festival – May 31-June 1, 2025
2025 Slavic Festival
May 2-3, 2025 – SF (Sutter Street) – $17.85 – Experience the rich traditions of Slavic culture at San Francisco’s two-day Slavic Festival held in a historic venue on Sutter Street in Lower Pacific Heights. The festival features live performances, authentic cuisine, and handcrafted goods.
The Bay’s Huge “626 Night Market”
May 2-4, 2025 – Pleasanton (Alameda County Fairgrounds) – $5 – Inspired by the famous open-air nighttime bazaars of Asia, come ready to feast and explore 200+ food, merchandise, crafts, arts, games, music, and entertainment attractions.
2025 Yerba Buena Gardens Festival
May 10, 2025 (Season Opener with events through November typically) – SF (SoMa) – FREE – Yerba Buena Gardens Festival hosts a full lineup of free outdoor music, theater, circus, dance, poetry, and children’s programs. The Festival kicks off on Saturday, May 10, 2025 with La Santa Cecilia.
“Focus Fest” Alameda’s 1st-Ever Climate Photography Festival
May 10, 2025 – Alameda – FREE – Radium Runway transforms into an open-air gallery showcasing national and international works, climate-friendly cuisines curated by the Bizerkeley Vegan, artist talks, walking tours, art projects and other family friendly activities.
2025 Taiwanese American Cultural Festival
May 10, 2025 – SF (Union Square) – FREE – The West Coast’s largest celebration of Taiwanese American culture features tasty Taiwanese cuisine in the festival food court, show-stopping performances, fun, cultural activities and crowd-favorite vendors.
Hawaiian May Day Festival 2025
May 10-11, 2025 – Pleasanton – $25 – Join the family-friendly festival dedicated to perpetuating Native Hawaiian and Polynesian culture through arts, language, music, and dancing. New in 2025, it’s now a two-day festival.
The Exploratorium’s Free Admission Day 2025
May 11, 2025 – SF (Embarcadero) – FREE (Pay What You Wish) – The Exploratorium opens up its doors to everyone each year to celebrate Mother’s Day. It’s typically the only “pay what you wish” day all year.
SF’s “Sundown Cinema” Film Night in the Park
Cancelled for 2025 – SF – FREE – This free outdoor movie series, the only one of its kind in the Bay Area, will feature seven films in seven parks across San Francisco
Bay to Breakers 2025
May 18, 2025 – SF (From Howard & Main to the Great Highway) – FREE to watch or ‘race’ unofficially – Welcome back to “Bay to Breakers,” the crown jewel of San Francisco events since 1912 with 20,000+ people racing (and 100,000+ watching) from the Bay to the Breakers at the western end of Golden Gate Park in a costumed mass of everything we love about San Francisco.
2025 San Francisco Carnaval Festival & Parade
May 24-25, 2025 – SF (Mission Dist.) – FREE – San Francisco’s Carnaval features a free, two–day festival covering 17 blocks in the Mission District, with five main stages, 50 local performing artists, and 400 vendors, plus its Grand Parade which boasts a 60-contingent lineup, with over 3,000 artists representing the cultural heritages of Brazil, Mexico, Panama, Bolivia, Cuba, Peru, Puerto Rico, Nicaragua, Colombia, Trinidad & Tobago, Guatemala, El Salvador, and more.
Union Street Festival 2025
May 31 – June 1, 2025 – SF (Cow Hollow) – FREE – Kick off the summer with one of the largest street festivals in San Francisco with the two-day long Union Street Festival with live music, food and goods vendors, family-friendly activity zones, artists, makers and fun for all ages.
2025 Bay Area Book Festival
May 31 – June 1, 2025 – Berkeley – Most Events Free – The Bay Area Book Festival returns with four headliner events, eight Writers’ Workshops, a lively outdoor fair/block party, and six indoor stages packed with top-notch programming in Downtown Berkeley.
2025 Festa Italiana Street Fair
May 31 – June 1, 2025 – SF (North Beach) – FREE – San Francisco’s only Italian street festival features Italian Marionette show, tarantella dancing, the famous pizza toss, live Italian music, a “symphony” of accordions, an Italian marketplace and more.
Sunday, December 14
Sunset Mercantile’s weekly outdoor market featuring farmers, ranchers, food trucks, live music, children’s activities, vendors, makers, merchants, artists, and local organizations. Bring the whole family for free seasonal art activities at the Sunset Mercantile Artship. Enjoy shopping an array of farm fresh produce, artisan goods. ...Every Sunday
Let’s Glow SF, the nation’s largest FREE holiday projection arts festival, is making a triumphant return to downtown San Francisco for its fifth and grandest year yet. This all-ages, family-friendly event runs for 10 nights from December 5-14, 2025. Experience breathtaking animated projections illuminating eight ...
Winter Walk Presented by JPMorganChase, San Francisco’s signature holiday event, returns to Union Square December 13-24, 2025 for a 12-day celebration that transforms two blocks of Stockton Street into a festive holiday destination. This annual event will once again feature a holiday marketplace, food trucks, ...
Lighting it up since 1975, San Francisco celebrates the 50th anniversary of the first giant public menorah outside Israel, a landmark Bill Graham project that went on to inspire thousands of menorahs around the world. This year’s eight-night festival brings music, community gatherings, and nightly ceremonies ...
Monday, December 15
Winter Walk Presented by JPMorganChase, San Francisco’s signature holiday event, returns to Union Square December 13-24, 2025 for a 12-day celebration that transforms two blocks of Stockton Street into a festive holiday destination. This annual event will once again feature a holiday marketplace, food trucks, ...
Lighting it up since 1975, San Francisco celebrates the 50th anniversary of the first giant public menorah outside Israel, a landmark Bill Graham project that went on to inspire thousands of menorahs around the world. This year’s eight-night festival brings music, community gatherings, and nightly ceremonies ...
Tuesday, December 16
Winter Walk Presented by JPMorganChase, San Francisco’s signature holiday event, returns to Union Square December 13-24, 2025 for a 12-day celebration that transforms two blocks of Stockton Street into a festive holiday destination. This annual event will once again feature a holiday marketplace, food trucks, ...
Lighting it up since 1975, San Francisco celebrates the 50th anniversary of the first giant public menorah outside Israel, a landmark Bill Graham project that went on to inspire thousands of menorahs around the world. This year’s eight-night festival brings music, community gatherings, and nightly ceremonies ...
Lighting it up since 1975, San Francisco celebrates the 50th anniversary of the first giant public menorah outside Israel, a landmark Bill Graham project that went on to inspire thousands of menorahs around the world. This year’s eight-night festival brings music, community gatherings, and nightly ceremonies ...
Wednesday, December 17
Winter Walk Presented by JPMorganChase, San Francisco’s signature holiday event, returns to Union Square December 13-24, 2025 for a 12-day celebration that transforms two blocks of Stockton Street into a festive holiday destination. This annual event will once again feature a holiday marketplace, food trucks, ...
Lighting it up since 1975, San Francisco celebrates the 50th anniversary of the first giant public menorah outside Israel, a landmark Bill Graham project that went on to inspire thousands of menorahs around the world. This year’s eight-night festival brings music, community gatherings, and nightly ceremonies ...
Thursday, December 18
Winter Walk Presented by JPMorganChase, San Francisco’s signature holiday event, returns to Union Square December 13-24, 2025 for a 12-day celebration that transforms two blocks of Stockton Street into a festive holiday destination. This annual event will once again feature a holiday marketplace, food trucks, ...
Lighting it up since 1975, San Francisco celebrates the 50th anniversary of the first giant public menorah outside Israel, a landmark Bill Graham project that went on to inspire thousands of menorahs around the world. This year’s eight-night festival brings music, community gatherings, and nightly ceremonies ...
Friday, December 19
Winter Walk Presented by JPMorganChase, San Francisco’s signature holiday event, returns to Union Square December 13-24, 2025 for a 12-day celebration that transforms two blocks of Stockton Street into a festive holiday destination. This annual event will once again feature a holiday marketplace, food trucks, ...
Lighting it up since 1975, San Francisco celebrates the 50th anniversary of the first giant public menorah outside Israel, a landmark Bill Graham project that went on to inspire thousands of menorahs around the world. This year’s eight-night festival brings music, community gatherings, and nightly ceremonies ...
Saturday, December 20
Winter Walk Presented by JPMorganChase, San Francisco’s signature holiday event, returns to Union Square December 13-24, 2025 for a 12-day celebration that transforms two blocks of Stockton Street into a festive holiday destination. This annual event will once again feature a holiday marketplace, food trucks, ...
This holiday season, SFMade is hosting their first-ever Holiday Pop-Up Store: a 3-week retail destination at Two Embarcadero Center showcasing the incredible products made by our members right here in San Francisco! December 2nd to 20th, we’ll be transforming a storefront into a curated shopping ...
Lighting it up since 1975, San Francisco celebrates the 50th anniversary of the first giant public menorah outside Israel, a landmark Bill Graham project that went on to inspire thousands of menorahs around the world. This year’s eight-night festival brings music, community gatherings, and nightly ceremonies ...
Sunday, December 21
Sunset Mercantile’s weekly outdoor market featuring farmers, ranchers, food trucks, live music, children’s activities, vendors, makers, merchants, artists, and local organizations. Bring the whole family for free seasonal art activities at the Sunset Mercantile Artship. Enjoy shopping an array of farm fresh produce, artisan goods. ...Every Sunday
Winter Walk Presented by JPMorganChase, San Francisco’s signature holiday event, returns to Union Square December 13-24, 2025 for a 12-day celebration that transforms two blocks of Stockton Street into a festive holiday destination. This annual event will once again feature a holiday marketplace, food trucks, ...
Lighting it up since 1975, San Francisco celebrates the 50th anniversary of the first giant public menorah outside Israel, a landmark Bill Graham project that went on to inspire thousands of menorahs around the world. This year’s eight-night festival brings music, community gatherings, and nightly ceremonies ...
Lighting it up since 1975, San Francisco celebrates the 50th anniversary of the first giant public menorah outside Israel, a landmark Bill Graham project that went on to inspire thousands of menorahs around the world. This year’s eight-night festival brings music, community gatherings, and nightly ceremonies ...
Monday, December 22
Winter Walk Presented by JPMorganChase, San Francisco’s signature holiday event, returns to Union Square December 13-24, 2025 for a 12-day celebration that transforms two blocks of Stockton Street into a festive holiday destination. This annual event will once again feature a holiday marketplace, food trucks, ...
Tuesday, December 23
Winter Walk Presented by JPMorganChase, San Francisco’s signature holiday event, returns to Union Square December 13-24, 2025 for a 12-day celebration that transforms two blocks of Stockton Street into a festive holiday destination. This annual event will once again feature a holiday marketplace, food trucks, ...
Wednesday, December 24
Winter Walk Presented by JPMorganChase, San Francisco’s signature holiday event, returns to Union Square December 13-24, 2025 for a 12-day celebration that transforms two blocks of Stockton Street into a festive holiday destination. This annual event will once again feature a holiday marketplace, food trucks, ...
Sunday, December 28
Wednesday, December 31
Glowfari returns in November 2025! This wildly popular, family-friendly experience features hundreds of ALL new, larger-than-life animal lanterns throughout the Zoo. Each lantern tells the story of the ongoing journey of wildlife, the importance of every species on our planet, and Oakland Zoo’s commitment to ...
Thursday, January 1
Glowfari returns in November 2025! This wildly popular, family-friendly experience features hundreds of ALL new, larger-than-life animal lanterns throughout the Zoo. Each lantern tells the story of the ongoing journey of wildlife, the importance of every species on our planet, and Oakland Zoo’s commitment to ...
Downtown First Thursdays is back for a full year of street parties in 2026: Starting Jan 1, 2026 with a New Year’s Day Edition. DJs – Live Performances – Dancing – Drag – Food Trucks – Shopping – Fashion, and new surprises every month. All ...Monthly
Saturday, January 10
The Box SF presents EAT ME!, a monthly artisanal food fair, kicking off on January 10-11, 2026! Enjoy a flavorful weekend at The Box SF each month while exploring a wide selection of artisanal food products from local culinary vendors. “Eat Me!” Artisan Food Fair ...
Sunday, January 11
The Box SF presents EAT ME!, a monthly artisanal food fair, kicking off on January 10-11, 2026! Enjoy a flavorful weekend at The Box SF each month while exploring a wide selection of artisanal food products from local culinary vendors. “Eat Me!” Artisan Food Fair ...
Thursday, January 22
Join us for regular monthly art, food and cultural events on Folsom St (Between 6th-12th). Over 20 business participating, pop-up vendors, performances & street activations. SOMA Nights aims to foster a sense of community by connecting residents and local businesses during the Folsom Streetscape Project ...Monthly
Saturday, January 24
The Box SF Artists and Makers Fair is a multi-day weekend event held monthly at the historic building located in the heart of San Francisco! Originally the William Randolph Hearst printing plant built in the 1920’s, The Box SF is now home to two floors of premier ...
Sunday, January 25
The Box SF Artists and Makers Fair is a multi-day weekend event held monthly at the historic building located in the heart of San Francisco! Originally the William Randolph Hearst printing plant built in the 1920’s, The Box SF is now home to two floors of premier ...
Glowfari returns in November 2025! This wildly popular, family-friendly experience features hundreds of ALL new, larger-than-life animal lanterns throughout the Zoo. Each lantern tells the story of the ongoing journey of wildlife, the importance of every species on our planet, and Oakland Zoo’s commitment to ...
Saturday, February 14
The Box SF Artists and Makers Fair is a multi-day weekend event held monthly at the historic building located in the heart of San Francisco! Originally the William Randolph Hearst printing plant built in the 1920’s, The Box SF is now home to two floors of premier ...
Sunday, February 15
The Box SF Artists and Makers Fair is a multi-day weekend event held monthly at the historic building located in the heart of San Francisco! Originally the William Randolph Hearst printing plant built in the 1920’s, The Box SF is now home to two floors of premier ...
Thursday, February 26
Join us for regular monthly art, food and cultural events on Folsom St (Between 6th-12th). Over 20 business participating, pop-up vendors, performances & street activations. SOMA Nights aims to foster a sense of community by connecting residents and local businesses during the Folsom Streetscape Project ...Monthly
Sunday, March 1
Come for the Marketplace, stay for the experience! HEAD WEST is a marketplace for emerging + established local brands and small businesses. From hand-made ceramics to locally sourced vintage, there are always new categories of goods available to explore. Marketplaces becomes a destination to not ...Monthly
Thursday, March 26
Join us for regular monthly art, food and cultural events on Folsom St (Between 6th-12th). Over 20 business participating, pop-up vendors, performances & street activations. SOMA Nights aims to foster a sense of community by connecting residents and local businesses during the Folsom Streetscape Project ...Monthly
Sunday, April 5
Come for the Marketplace, stay for the experience! HEAD WEST is a marketplace for emerging + established local brands and small businesses. From hand-made ceramics to locally sourced vintage, there are always new categories of goods available to explore. Marketplaces becomes a destination to not ...Monthly
Friday, April 10
Friday, April 17
Sunday, May 3
Come for the Marketplace, stay for the experience! HEAD WEST is a marketplace for emerging + established local brands and small businesses. From hand-made ceramics to locally sourced vintage, there are always new categories of goods available to explore. Marketplaces becomes a destination to not ...Monthly
Sunday, June 7
Come for the Marketplace, stay for the experience! HEAD WEST is a marketplace for emerging + established local brands and small businesses. From hand-made ceramics to locally sourced vintage, there are always new categories of goods available to explore. Marketplaces becomes a destination to not ...Monthly
Sunday, July 5
Come for the Marketplace, stay for the experience! HEAD WEST is a marketplace for emerging + established local brands and small businesses. From hand-made ceramics to locally sourced vintage, there are always new categories of goods available to explore. Marketplaces becomes a destination to not ...Monthly
Sunday, August 2
Come for the Marketplace, stay for the experience! HEAD WEST is a marketplace for emerging + established local brands and small businesses. From hand-made ceramics to locally sourced vintage, there are always new categories of goods available to explore. Marketplaces becomes a destination to not ...Monthly
Friday, August 28
San Francisco will host Pokémon XP, a new official fan event running alongside the 2026 Pokémon World Championships, at the Moscone Center from Aug. 28-30, 2026. The event will offer panels, workshops, special guests, and a pop-up Pokémon Center store with exclusive merchandise. Pokémon XP ...
Saturday, August 29
San Francisco will host Pokémon XP, a new official fan event running alongside the 2026 Pokémon World Championships, at the Moscone Center from Aug. 28-30, 2026. The event will offer panels, workshops, special guests, and a pop-up Pokémon Center store with exclusive merchandise. Pokémon XP ...
Sunday, August 30
San Francisco will host Pokémon XP, a new official fan event running alongside the 2026 Pokémon World Championships, at the Moscone Center from Aug. 28-30, 2026. The event will offer panels, workshops, special guests, and a pop-up Pokémon Center store with exclusive merchandise. Pokémon XP ...
Sunday, September 6
Come for the Marketplace, stay for the experience! HEAD WEST is a marketplace for emerging + established local brands and small businesses. From hand-made ceramics to locally sourced vintage, there are always new categories of goods available to explore. Marketplaces becomes a destination to not ...Monthly
Sunday, October 4
Come for the Marketplace, stay for the experience! HEAD WEST is a marketplace for emerging + established local brands and small businesses. From hand-made ceramics to locally sourced vintage, there are always new categories of goods available to explore. Marketplaces becomes a destination to not ...Monthly
Sunday, November 1
Come for the Marketplace, stay for the experience! HEAD WEST is a marketplace for emerging + established local brands and small businesses. From hand-made ceramics to locally sourced vintage, there are always new categories of goods available to explore. Marketplaces becomes a destination to not ...Monthly
Sunday, December 6
Come for the Marketplace, stay for the experience! HEAD WEST is a marketplace for emerging + established local brands and small businesses. From hand-made ceramics to locally sourced vintage, there are always new categories of goods available to explore. Marketplaces becomes a destination to not ...Monthly
