San Francisco October Festivals & Street Fairs
Here’s a round-up of fun and fabulous October festivals, street fairs, and events including Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, San Francisco Fleet Week, Sunday Streets “Phoenix Day” massive city-wide block party, and much more you can look forward to this October 2024.
> We’ll be updating this guide with more October events soon!
- San Francisco Oktoberfest Comedy Festival – September 29 – October 3, 2024
- Hardly Strictly Bluegrass 2024 – October 4-6, 2024
- 50th Annual Castro Street Fair – October 6, 2024
- 2024 San Francisco Fleet Week – October 7-14, 2024
- New! SF’s World of Dumplings Food Festival – October 12, 2024
- 2024 Italian Heritage Festival & Parade – October 13, 2024
- Bearrison Street Fair 2024 – October 13, 2024
- Indigenous Peoples Day 2024 – October 14, 2024
- 2024 Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off – October 14, 2024
- New! Castro Night Market – October 18, 2024
- Potrero Hill R&B Festival 2024 – October 19, 2024
- New! Red Bull “Skyline” Pop-up Skate Park atop Twin Peaks – October 19, 2024
- 2024 Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival – October 19-20
- 2024 Sunday Streets “Phoenix Day” Block Party Day – October 20, 2024
- SF’s Annual Sandcastle Classic 2024 – October 26, 2024
- SF’s “Kite by the Bay” Festival in the Park – October 27, 2024
- SF’s “Nightmare on Front Street” Halloween Block Party – October 31, 2024
- 9 Awesome Trick-or-Treat Streets in San Francisco – October 31, 2024
San Francisco Oktoberfest Comedy Festival
Sun-Thu, September 29 – October 3, 2024 – SF’s brand new – very first (and only) Black-owned comedy club (The Function) – FREE – Get ready for five nights of laughs, rare Oktoberfest beers on tap, and unforgettable performances of top-tier comedians who usually grace the stages of Punchline, Cobb’s, or SF Sketchfest.
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass 2024
Fri-Sun, October 4-6, 2024 – SF (Golden Gate Park) – FREE – One of the largest, free-est, and beloved music festivals in the country. Be one of over 750,000 attendees over the three-day musical extravaganza in beautiful Golden Gate Park.
50th Annual Castro Street Fair
Sunday, October 6, 2024 – SF (Castro) – FREE – Community street celebration that was founded by Harvey Milk in 1974 features hundreds of local artists, vendors, craftspeople, and multiple stages with live entertainment and dancing throughout the neighborhood.
2024 San Francisco Fleet Week
October 7-14, 2024 – SF (Northern Waterfront) – FREE – The annual Fleet Week airshow and festival is back with nearly a full week of events including ship tours, K9 showcases, ship tours and the three-day airshow running October 11-13, 2024 highlighted by the Blue Angels buzzing the city.
SF’s World of Dumplings Food Festival
Saturday, October 12, 2024 – SF (FiDi) – FREE – A brand new food festival celebrates dumplings from around the world from 15+ restaurants, eating contests, cooking demos, a beer garden, and more.
2024 Italian Heritage Festival & Parade
Sunday, October 13, 2024 – SF (North Beach) – FREE – The San Francisco Italian Heritage Parade launched in 1868, and is now the longest continuously running Italian Heritage Parade in the United States.
2024 Bearrison Street Fair
Sunday, October 13, 2024 – SF (SoMa) – FREE – Enjoy burly entertainment, including attendee competitions building off the fan-favorite wrestling stage and the buns-out deadlift competition.
2024 Indigenous Peoples Day
Monday, October 14, 2024 – SF (Yerba Buena) – FREE – Join the celebration of San Francisco’s Indigenous Peoples Day at Yerba Buena Gardens with Native American art, music and vendors. The program highlights the vastly diverse and talented community of Indigenous artists in the Bay Area, California and beyond.
2024 Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off
Monday, October 14, 2024 – Half Moon Bay – FREE – The excitement is building in Pumpkintown as the World’s Greatest Gourd Growers and their Goliath, mind-bending, Rhinoceros-sized orange orbs hope to squash the world record at the 51st Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off –– the “Super Bowl of Weigh-Offs” –– in the World Pumpkin Capital, Half Moon Bay.
Castro Night Market
Friday, October 18, 2024 – SF (18th & Castro) – FREE – A brand new all-ages night market with merchants, local food vendors and entertainment launching October 2024 with six total events planned on the 3rd Friday of select months in the next year.
Potrero Hill R&B Festival 2024
Saturday, October 19, 2024 – SF (Potrero Hill) – FREE – Jam out to R&B music while we celebrate the Potrero community outdoors on 20th Street as we stretch out over 4 blocks with live music, food, family, and fun.
2024 Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival
Sat-Sun, October 19-20, 2024 – Half Moon Bay – FREE – The World Pumpkin Capital of Half Moon Bay celebrates with a smashing lineup of heavyweight champion pumpkins, four stages of stellar live music, the fantastically fun Great Pumpkin Parade, and tons more.
Red Bull “Skyline” Skate Park Pop-Up atop SF’s Twin Peaks
Saturday, October 19, 2024 – SF – FREE – Red Bull is transforming this iconic lookout with 360° views into a “Skyline” skateboard competition with rainbow ramps and jumps over dumpsters. 10:30a to 3:30p-ish
Sunday Streets “Phoenix Day” Block Party Day 2024
Sunday, October 20, 2024 – SF – FREE – SF’s biggest block party with over a dozen community-led block parties and activities happening across the city, there’s something for every San Franciscan and visitor to enjoy.
SF’s Annual Sandcastle Classic 2024
Saturday, October 26, 2024 – SF (Ocean Beach) – FREE – For one day, Ocean Beach is home to the largest sandcastle contest in Northern California; featuring dozens of jaw-dropping, supersized sand sculptures; plus there are food trucks and live music all day.
SF’s “Kite by the Bay” Festival in the Park
Sunday, October 27, 2024 – SF (Candlestick Park) – FREE – Kite By The Bay is a free, family-friendly event and attendees are invited to bring kites or assemble and decorate kites that will be provided. The festival will also feature a free pumpkin patch, pumpkin painting, face painting, music by local DJ BeatsMe, and free food on a first come first serve basis.
SF’s “Nightmare on Front Street” Halloween Block Party
Thursday, October 31, 2024 – SF (Downtown) – FREE – San Francisco’s first “entertainment zone” will transform into a Halloween haven for the city’s brand-new “Nightmare on Front Street” Halloween Block Party with DJs, live music, horror movie screenings, adult carnival games, and costume contests.
9 Awesome Trick-or-Treat Streets in San Francisco
Thursday, October 31, 2024 – SF (All Over) – FREE – Walk safely around on Halloween with 9 neighborhood trick-or-treat street closures.
Saturday, December 21
Come experience a Holiday Mercantile at Union Square’s Winter Walk! Union Square is the perfect destination for holiday shopping, and this season from December 14th-22nd, Sunset Mercantile is partnering with Union Square Alliance to feature a holiday marketplace at Winter Walk 2024. Our tented outdoor ...
Sunday, December 22
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
Come experience a Holiday Mercantile at Union Square’s Winter Walk! Union Square is the perfect destination for holiday shopping, and this season from December 14th-22nd, Sunset Mercantile is partnering with Union Square Alliance to feature a holiday marketplace at Winter Walk 2024. Our tented outdoor ...
Winter Walk returns to Union Square from December 13 – 22, located on Stockton Street to O’Farrell to Post! This 10-day event will turn two blocks into a pedestrian plaza with lush turf, diverse food truck offerings, enticing bars, and Instagram-worthy arctic-themed décor. Enjoy live performances and ...
Glowfari returns in November 2024! 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 ...
Wednesday, December 25
Lighting it up since 1975! This is our 49th Year! The First Giant Public Menorah outside of Israel has inspired thousands of Menorahs around the world! Chanukah In Union Square Dec 25th – Jan 2nd The 1st Lighting: Wednesday, Dec 25th Bill Graham Menorah Day ...
Thursday, December 26
Lighting it up since 1975! This is our 49th Year! The First Giant Public Menorah outside of Israel has inspired thousands of Menorahs around the world! Chanukah In Union Square Dec 25th – Jan 2nd The 1st Lighting: Wednesday, Dec 25th Bill Graham Menorah Day ...
Friday, December 27
Lighting it up since 1975! This is our 49th Year! The First Giant Public Menorah outside of Israel has inspired thousands of Menorahs around the world! Chanukah In Union Square Dec 25th – Jan 2nd The 1st Lighting: Wednesday, Dec 25th Bill Graham Menorah Day ...
Saturday, December 28
Lighting it up since 1975! This is our 49th Year! The First Giant Public Menorah outside of Israel has inspired thousands of Menorahs around the world! Chanukah In Union Square Dec 25th – Jan 2nd The 1st Lighting: Wednesday, Dec 25th Bill Graham Menorah Day ...
Sunday, December 29
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
Lighting it up since 1975! This is our 49th Year! The First Giant Public Menorah outside of Israel has inspired thousands of Menorahs around the world! Chanukah In Union Square Dec 25th – Jan 2nd The 1st Lighting: Wednesday, Dec 25th Bill Graham Menorah Day ...
Monday, December 30
Lighting it up since 1975! This is our 49th Year! The First Giant Public Menorah outside of Israel has inspired thousands of Menorahs around the world! Chanukah In Union Square Dec 25th – Jan 2nd The 1st Lighting: Wednesday, Dec 25th Bill Graham Menorah Day ...
Tuesday, December 31
Glowfari returns in November 2024! 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 ...
Lighting it up since 1975! This is our 49th Year! The First Giant Public Menorah outside of Israel has inspired thousands of Menorahs around the world! Chanukah In Union Square Dec 25th – Jan 2nd The 1st Lighting: Wednesday, Dec 25th Bill Graham Menorah Day ...
Wednesday, January 1
Lighting it up since 1975! This is our 49th Year! The First Giant Public Menorah outside of Israel has inspired thousands of Menorahs around the world! Chanukah In Union Square Dec 25th – Jan 2nd The 1st Lighting: Wednesday, Dec 25th Bill Graham Menorah Day ...
Glowfari returns in November 2024! 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 2
Get ready, San Francisco, for the return of this brand new free monthly party coming back to Downtown SF. A new, free, all-ages street party comes to Downtown SF every first Thursday of the month, from 5-10pm. Free kids activities, disco, two outdoor bars, live ...Monthly
Saturday, January 18
Saturday, January 25
The Chinese New Year Flower Market Fair is held on the weekend before Chinese New Year Day. The Flower Fair is the place to come to purchase fresh flowers, fruits, candies and brand new supplies for the home to begin the new lunar year. Delight ...
Sunday, January 26
The Chinese New Year Flower Market Fair is held on the weekend before Chinese New Year Day. The Flower Fair is the place to come to purchase fresh flowers, fruits, candies and brand new supplies for the home to begin the new lunar year. Delight ...
Glowfari returns in November 2024! 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, February 6
Get ready, San Francisco, for the return of this brand new free monthly party coming back to Downtown SF. A new, free, all-ages street party comes to Downtown SF every first Thursday of the month, from 5-10pm. Free kids activities, disco, two outdoor bars, live ...Monthly
Saturday, February 15
Immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of San Francisco’s exhilarating Chinatown during one of the community’s most exciting times of the year. The Chinatown Community Street Fair takes place the weekend of the Chinese New Year Parade. At the fair, experience Chinese cultural arts such ...
Sunday, February 16
Immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of San Francisco’s exhilarating Chinatown during one of the community’s most exciting times of the year. The Chinatown Community Street Fair takes place the weekend of the Chinese New Year Parade. At the fair, experience Chinese cultural arts such ...
Thursday, March 6
Get ready, San Francisco, for the return of this brand new free monthly party coming back to Downtown SF. A new, free, all-ages street party comes to Downtown SF every first Thursday of the month, from 5-10pm. Free kids activities, disco, two outdoor bars, live ...Monthly
