San Francisco doesn’t really do “slow seasons.”
From boat parades to free outdoor concerts and neighborhood festivals, the next six weeks are packed.
Art, energy, and everything in between, here’s our curated list of what to check out.
April 24 – May 4 – San Francisco International Film Festival
- Time: Various showtimes across venues
- Location: Multiple venues throughout San Francisco
- What to Expect: This is the longest-running film festival in the Americas and it’s now in its 69th year. Expect world premieres, director Q&As, and world class cinema.
- Cost: Paid
April 25 – May 25 – San Francisco Decorator Showcase
- Time: Open daily during the run
- Location: 2315 Broadway, Pacific Heights
- What to Expect: Step inside a jaw dropping 1897 Queen Anne Victorian with nearly 10,000 sq ft transformed by the city’s top interior and landscape designers. It’s one of the city’s most celebrated design events and gives you a rare peek inside a landmark Pacific Heights home.
- Cost: Paid
April 26 – Opening Day on the Bay (Boat Parade)
- Time: Morning – Afternoon
- Location: San Francisco Bay waterfront
- What to Expect: Kick off sailing season with a festive boat parade and blessing of the fleet. This year’s theme is Myths & Legends, expect elaborately decorated vessels and a waterfront full of excitement. It’s a great excuse to get out on the water or watch from the shore.
- Cost: Free
May 10 – Mother’s Day at the Exploratorium
- Time: Open during regular museum hours
- Location: Pier 15, Embarcadero, San Francisco
- What to Expect: The Exploratorium opens its doors to pay-what-you-wish on Mother’s Day, it’s the one day a year they do it. A genuinely fun and unexpected way to celebrate mom with 600+ hands-on exhibits.
- Cost: Pay what you wish
May 17 – Bay to Breakers
- Time: Race starts around 8:00 AM; spectators welcome all morning
- Location: Embarcadero to Ocean Beach (12K route through the city)
- What to Expect: SF’s most beloved tradition since 1912. Over 70,000 costume-clad runners and walkers make their way from the Bay to the Pacific. Come to race, come to spectate, come for the chaos — live music stages line the route the whole way.
- Cost: Free to watch / Paid to race
May 23-24 – Carnaval SF
- Time: Festival: both days; Grand Parade: Sunday morning
- Location: Mission District (Harrison St between 16th & 24th)
- What to Expect: The Mission turns into a 17-block fiesta with five stages, 50+ local performers, 400 vendors, and a Grand Parade featuring 3,000+ artists representing cultures across Latin America and the Caribbean. Pure San Francisco energy!
- Cost: Free
Ongoing Through the Season
Yerba Buena Gardens Festival – Free outdoor concerts, dance, circus, and theater every weekend from May through November in SoMa. Starting May 9th.
Cost: Free
Golden Gate Park Band Free Concerts –
- Time: Happening every Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday through September.
- Location: Golden Gate Park Music Concourse
- What to expect: Jazz, reggae, big band, indie. Grab a blanket and make an afternoon of it!
- Cost: Free
Stern Grove Festival Lottery Opens
- Time: May through July
- Location: Stern Grove
- What to expect: Did you know the nation’s longest-running free nonprofit music festival happens right here in San Francisco? This year’s lineup is stacked and it’s all completely free.
- The only catch: tickets are released via lottery. So be sure to pick the artists you want to see, mark the lottery dates, and set a reminder so you don’t miss your shot.
Cost: Free
Events like this are what helps make living here so special. If you know of an event we should add to the list, we'd love to hear from you.
And if you're thinking about buying, selling, or simply staying informed on what's happening in SF real estate, follow us on Instagram @havengroupsf or visit havengroupsf.intersectwp.com/.
We're always here to help you make the most of this incredible city, whether that's finding your next favorite event or finding your next home.
