Through OCTOBER 1 (Weekends only and Labor Day Monday)
SAN FRANCISCO SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL
Bring your family, friends, a blanket, and a picnic to enjoy Hamlet in a beautiful park setting!
San Francisco, Pleasanton, Cupertino, and Redwood City. 415.558.0888 www.sfshakes.org
AUGUST 1 (FIRST TUESDAY)
FREE ADMISSION DAY, VARIOUS MUSEUMS
Conservatory of Flowers, Contemporary Jewish Museum, DeYoung Museum, Legion of Honor Museum, Museum of Craft and Design, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (please confirm with the museum calendar, as free days may vary).
AUGUST 4
SUMMER CRAFT DAY | PIER 39
Friends from the Museum of Craft & Design will be in the Entrance Plaza from 1-4 pm to teach kids of all ages cool summer crafts like paper plate fans, decorative bubble wand bands, and Sharpie-dyed bandanas. Free while supplies last.
Pier 39, The Embarcadero, 1 to 4 pm www.pier39.com/pier-39th/
AUGUST 4-6
AMERICAN CRAFT COUNCIL SAN FRANCISCO SHOW
This is the largest juried craft event west of the Rockies, featuring more than 225 of the nation’s top contemporary jewelry, clothing, furniture, and home décor artists.
Fort Mason Center, Festival Pavilion 612.206.3100 www.craftcouncil.org
AUGUST 5
FILM NIGHT IN THE PARK: “FOOTLOOSE” | DOLORES PARK
Films are free of charge in beautiful park settings and projected on a giant outdoor screen. Arrive early, spread out a blanket, and picnic prior to the screening, but, to spare the lawn, please avoid bringing chairs.
Dolores Park, 19th Street and Dolores Street, 8 pm www.filmnightsf.org/
AUGUST 5-6
NIHONMACHI STREET FAIR
A celebration of the Asian and Pacific communities in the Bay Area, with an emphasis on the nonprofit organizations that provide vital services. Live musical and cultural performances, Asian artisans, food, information tables, exhibits, and Children’s World. The Nihonmachi Street Fair considers itself the original “melting pot” of street fairs, with many aspects of Asian-Pacific American life—and San Francisco’s cultural life—expressed through performance, tradition, art, music, food, and community outreach and service. Over 30,000 have attended in past years.
Japantown and Japan Center 415.771.9861 www.nihonmachistreetfair.org
AUGUST 6 (FIRST SUNDAY)
FREE ADMISSION DAY, ASIAN ART MUSEUM www.asianart.org
AUGUST 6
15th ANNUAL JERRY DAY
SF’s Excelsior District celebrates its native son and Grateful Dead leader Jerry Garcia with an outdoor concert and family fun.
Jerry Garcia Amphitheater, McLaren Park, 40 John F. Shelley Dr., SF. 11 am to 6 pm. 415.272.2012 www.jerryday.org
STERN GROVE FESTIVAL: AMADOU & MARIAM + IBIBIO SOUND MACHINE
Amadou & Mariam are a GRAMMY-nominated duo from Mali whose unique “Afro-blues” sound has landed them at Coachella and Glastonbury, and opening for bands such as Coldplay and the Scissor Sisters.
Fronted by London-born Nigerian singer Eno Williams, Ibibio Sound Machine is a clash of African and electronic elements inspired by the golden era of West African funk, disco, modern post-punk, and electro.
Stern Grove, 19th Avenue and Sloat Blvd., 2:00 pm. Free. www.sterngrove.org/80th-season.html
AUGUST 8 (SECOND TUESDAY)
FREE ADMISSION DAY, SAN FRANCISCO BOTANICAL GARDEN
The San Francisco Botanical Garden is one of the most diverse gardens in the world. A unique urban oasis, the garden is a living museum within Golden Gate Park, featuring 55 acres of both landscaped gardens and open spaces, and showcasing over 8,000 different kinds of plants from around the world.
Golden Gate Park @ 1199 9th Avenue. Open 9 am to 6 pm (spring and summer). Free docent tours every Saturday, April 1 to August 26, at 2 pm. Free admission with proof of SF residency (free to all on the second Tuesday of the month). www.sfbotanicalgarden.org
AUGUST 11-13
SAN FRANCISCO’S OUTSIDE LANDS MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL
Outside Lands is the major music event of the summer for SF, drawing roughly 200,000 enthusiasts over three days. There are somewhat steep prices for tickets, but it’s an array of sounds that includes up to 100 artists (in years past, everyone from Dave Matthews Band and Arctic Monkeys to Metallica and The Killers). Golden Gate Park proves the venue. According to Rolling Stone, this festival is a “one-of-a-kind world-class experience.” All but VIP tickets sell out quickly!!
Golden Gate Park www.sfoutsidelands.com
AUGUST 12
HILLWIDE GARAGE SALE
Bernal Height’s neighborhood extravaganza of massed garage sales—arguably the City’s largest single-day garage sale. 100% of proceeds from Hillwide registrations benefits Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center’s youth programs, senior programs, employment development, affordable housing, and community engagement work. 9 am–2 pm. See the website for locations. www.hillwide.com
AUGUST 13
STERN GROVE FESTIVAL: WAR + MALO
Musical melting pot WAR became a permanent part of America’s musical landscape as one of the first successful bands to fuse rock, jazz, Latin, and R&B, creating hits such as “Low Rider,” “Spill The Wine,” and “Why Can’t We Be Friends?” San Francisco natives Malo are pioneers of the Latin rock that defined the 1970s, hitting it big with their signature tune “Suavecito.”
Stern Grove, 19th Avenue and Sloat Blvd., 2:00 pm. Free. www.sterngrove.org/80th-season.html
AUGUST 17
7th ANNUAL NOE VALLEY WINE WALK
This popular wine-guzzling event involves merchants providing wine samples and nibbly bits inside their Noe Valley stores along 24th Street from Diamond to Chattanooga and on Castro Street near 24th Street. A good way to get to know the nearby businesses while imbibing.
4-8 pm rain or shine. 800.310.6563 www.sresproductions.com
AUGUST 19‒20
63rd Annual San Francisco Gem Show and Sale
The original and most established annual show of its kind in San Francisco: 30 dealers and more than 60 displays will feature gems, jewelry, minerals, and fossils from all over the world. Hosted by the San Francisco Gem and Mineral Society.
SF County Fair Building, Golden Gate Park, 9th Ave. @ Lincoln 10 am to 6 pm (Sat.) and 10 am to 5 pm (Sun.)
sfgemshow.org
AUGUST 20
STERN GROVE FESTIVAL: BRAZILIAN GIRLS + MOON HOOCH
Hailing from New York City, GRAMMY-nominated group Brazilian Girls are a dance floor-friendly and eclectic blend of electronic dance music reflecting styles as diverse as reggae, jazz, bossa nova, reggae, and lounge.
Explosive horn and percussion trio Moon Hooch first gained a following busking in the New York City subway, but have since moved on to much larger stages with their modern-day jazz fusion.
Stern Grove, 19th Avenue and Sloat Blvd., 2:00 pm. Free. www.sterngrove.org/80th-season.html
AUGUST 24-27
EAT DRINK SF
Chefs, wines, and spirits are celebrated in this interactive urban food and wine festival featuring local talent and regional ingredients in a series of tastings, classes, dinners, and events. See the website for detailed scheduling and ticket info.
Festival Pavilion, Fort Mason Center, 2 Marina Boulevard (most events) 7:15–10 pm www.eatdrink-sf.com
AUGUST 26
FILM NIGHT IN THE PARK: “LA LA LAND” | Washington Square Park
Films are free of charge in beautiful park settings and projected on a giant outdoor screen. Arrive early, spread out a blanket, and picnic prior to the screening, but, to spare the lawn, please avoid bringing chairs.
Purists might add not to munch on loud food like corn chips during the film, but feel free to ignore them and annoy the heck out of your neighbors.
Washington Square Park, Columbus and Union Street, 8 pm www.filmnightsf.org
AUGUST 27
STERN GROVE FESTIVAL 2017 FINALE: GOSPEL/SOUL LEGEND MAVIS STAPLES + KEV CHOICE ENSEMBLE
With a career spanning over 60 years, powerhouse vocalist Mavis Staples crosses easily between gospel, soul, folk, pop, R&B, blues, rock, and hip-hop. From the Delta-inflected gospel sound she helped create with her father and The Staples Singers, to her recent Kennedy Center Honor and collaborations with Arcade Fire and Gorillaz, Staples is a truly iconic American artist. Kev Choice Ensemble is a jazz/hip-hop/funk band led by Oakland-based pianist, emcee, producer, and music historian Kev Choice.
Stern Grove, 19th Avenue and Sloat Blvd., 2:00 pm. Free. www.sterngrove.org/80th-season.html
AUGUST 27
SF GIANT RACE
The 8th annual San Francisco Giant Race Half Marathon, 10K, 5K, Kids Race, and Family Relay. The Half Marathon, 10K, and 5K courses tour the scenic San Francisco waterfront. Participants receive a shirt, finisher medal, and exclusive runner bobblehead featuring a Giants player. Kids Race and Family Relay participants receive a medal and bobblehead. All races finish on the field at AT&T Park, home of the San Francisco Giants. The Kids Race AND Family Relay are on Saturday. Check the website for confirmation.
AT&T Park 415.972.1881 www.race-sfgiants.com
AUGUST 29
SF HISTORY NIGHT: SAN FRANCISCO HISTORY ASSOCIATION
Each month, a local history expert hosts a themed talk usually accompanied by a slide show with light refreshments. Monthly presentations cover a diverse variety of SF history topics, from the history of the San Francisco Fire Department to appreciation of our unique Victorian houses to vintage stories and photos from Playland-at-the-Beach. This month’s topic is “Masters of Escape” (Alcatraz), by noted San Francisco crime historian and writer Paul Drexler.
Doors open 7:00 pm, lecture starts at 7:45 pm. $5 admission.
St. Philip’s Church, 725 Diamond Street near 24th St. sanfranciscohistory.org