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San Francisco January Festivals & Street Fairs 2026

Here’s a round-up of January’s winter festivals, MLK Day Jr. celebrations, and street fairs
By - posted 1/2/2026 No Comment

Winter is here.

Here’s a list of what to look forward to in January 2026! We’ll be updating this list frequently as we get more date confirmations.

Here’s a round-up of fun and fabulous January festivals and street fairs you can look forward to this January.

> Please note that we’ll continue to update our January Festivals & Street Fairs Guide for 2026.

SF’s Getting a Massive 95 ft. Tall Light Show

Opening Night: January 12, 2026 – SF (SoMa) – FREE – Yerba Buena Illuminated is a brand new massive, year-round 95-foot-tall projection light show transforming the Humboldt Bank Building on Market Street with rotating digital artworks nightly.

SF Sketchfest 2026

Jan. 15 – Feb 1, 2026 – All Over SF – Now in its 23rd year, the multi-day comedy festival brings major comedy stars and the best up-and-coming comedians together for over two weeks of all-star reunions, tributes, sketch, stand-up, alternative comedy, music, live podcasts, improv and more.

San Francisco Giants 2026 FanFest Tour

2026: January 17 (San Jose); January 24 (San Ramon); January 31 (Sac); March 14 (SF) – San Jose, San Ramon, Sac & SF – FREE – Current and former Giants players, coaches, broadcasters and Lou Seal caravan to meet fans in their local communities to sign autographs, participate in Q&A sessions, and more. The tour will conclude with an Open House at Oracle Park on Saturday, March 14, 2026, providing fans with access to exclusive ballpark locations, including the on-field activations as well as ample photo opportunities.

2026 Lunar New Year Lion Dance Festival

January 17-30, 2026 – SF (SF Public Libraries) – FREE – Celebrate the Year of the Horse with lion dance performances by Jing Mo Athletic Association at 16 San Francisco Public Library branches.

2026 Napa Lighted Art Festival

January 17 – February 15, 2026 – Napa – FREE –  This walkable outdoor experience is free in Downtown Napa featuring 15 lighted art sculptures for five weeks and projection artwork on three iconic downtown buildings for the first nine nights of the festival.

“Claude Forever”: Celebration of Life for Albino Gator in Golden Gate Park

January 18, 2026 – SF (Golden Gate Park) – FREE – San Francisco is honoring Claude, the beloved albino alligator who called the California Academy of Sciences home for nearly two decades, with a celebrate of life in Golden Gate Park.

SF’s MLK Jr. Day Celebrations

January 19, 2026 – All Over San Francisco – FREE – Celebrate Martin Luther King Jr Day with volunteering opportunities, a march and parade over the bridge, free Caltrain & BART Rides to SF’s MLK Day Festival, MoAD Free Museum Day MLK Jr. Day Music Festival and more.

2026 Hearts in San Francisco at the Ferry Building

Jan. 24 – Feb. 11, 2026 – SF (Ferry Building) – FREE – Head to the Ferry Building to see 21 one-of-a-kind heart sculptures by local artists, on public display before heading to auction to benefit Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital.

2026 White Elephant Sale in 90,000+ Sq Ft. Warehouse

Jan. 25 – Mar. 1, 2026 – Oakland – FREE (from 1-2pm on Open Warehouse Days; $7 general admission; free all day on the Clearance Weekend, Feb. 28 & Mar. 1, 2026; $50 on Preview Day Jan. 25) – At Northern California’s oldest and largest rummage sale, find a curated selection of one-of-a kind treasures from almost 20 departments in a warehouse nearly twice the size of a football field.