Theater and the Arts
The Philharmonia Baroque
Orchestra
Herbst
Theater, Van Ness Avenue and McAllister Street.
For more information and to
purchase tickets, call 392-4400
San Francisco Ballet
455 Franklin Street, 861-5600
865-2000
The San Francisco Opera
War Memorial Opera House
301 Van Ness Avenue.
For more information and to
purchase tickets, call 864-3330
The San Francisco Symphony
Davies Symphony Hall, Grove
Street between Van Ness Avenue and Franklin Street.
features a varied program of
performances, ranging from Beethoven to the San Francisco premiere of El Nino, A
Nativity Oratorio. For information, and to purchase tickets, call the SFS Box
Office at 415 864-6000 or visit
The Smuin Ballet
710 Mission Street.
978-2787
Yerba
Buena Center for the Arts
For tickets, call 978-ARTS
710 Mission Street. For
information, call 978-2700
Annual Events
January
Grand National Roadster Show
San Mateo County Exposition
Center, 503 236-0632.
The show contains one of the
biggest gatherings of roadsters anywhere, complemented by a NASCAR virtual
reality ride and vintage hot rods.
Berlin and Beyond Festival
Castro Theater, 263-8760.
This unique German language film
festival provides highlights of recent European cinema.
Chinese New Year Festival &
Parade
Chinatown, 391-9680.
San Francisco's largest
festival, highlighted by the New Year Flower Market on January 20 and 21, a
fantastic parade on February 3, at 5:30 p.m. from Market and Second Streets to
Columbus Avenue and a community street fair on February 3 and 4.
The Human Rights Watch
International Film Festival
Yerba Buena Center For The Arts,
923-0222.
A film festival representing
personal points of view on threats against political and
individual freedom.
January-April
Whale-watching
can be enjoyed throughout the winter, when hundreds of gray whales migrate along
the Pacific coast. Contact the California Office of Tourism 801 K St., Suite
1600, Sacramento 95814, tel. 800-862-2543.
February
San Francisco Tribal, Folk &
Textile Arts Show
Fort Mason, 310 455-2886.
Over 80 folk and ethnic art
dealers sell North American pottery, basketry, textiles and jewelry.
Pacific Orchid Exposition
Fort Mason Center, 546-9608.
The annual edition of the San
Francisco Orchid Society's show dazzles with dozens of breathtaking floral
collections.
Tulip Mania
PIER 39, 705-5500,
www.pier39.com
More than 39,000 brilliantly
colored tulips from all over the world coupled with
free guided tours.
March
San Francisco International
Asian American Film Festival
AMC Kabuki
Theaters, 863-0814.
The biggest event in North
America dedicated to the exhibition of Asian American and Asian cinema.
St. Patrick's Day Parade
Second and Market to the Civic
Center, 731-0924.
One of San Francisco's largest
annual parades and one of the longest-running parades in the U.S. Begins at
12:45 p.m. at Second and Market Streets and concludes at City Hall.
San Francisco Flower and
Garden Show
Cow Palace, 800 829-9751,
www.gardenshow.com
Cutting-edge landscape design
and high-quality exhibits of plants and superior
gardening products.
Opening Day - San Francisco
Giants
Pacific Bell Ball Park, 800
5GIANTS 800-544-2687,
April
Street Performers Festival
PIER 39, 705-5500,
www.pier39.com.
Comedians, jugglers,
unicyclists, slack ropewalkers and many more perform on two stages.
Cherry Blossom Festival
Contact the Japan Center 1520
Webster St., 94115, tel. 415-922-6776.
an elaborate presentation of
Japanese culture and customs, winds up with a colorful parade through San
Francisco's Japantown.
San Francisco International
Film Festival
AMC Kabuki, Castro Theater and
other venues, 931-FILM.
More than 100 films and videos
from 30 countries will be showcased during this annual
festival.
Cinco de Mayo
Parade on Mission Street,
Festival in Civic Center Plaza, 826-1401,
A parade and festival featuring
Mexican and Central American art and entertainment. Also included is a classic
low rider and bomb car show with over 80 cars on display. There will also be a
children's area. 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
San Francisco Youth Arts
Festival
Golden Gate Park, 759-2916.
An annual exhibition and
celebration showcasing the visual and performing arts by San Francisco students
in grades K-12.
Carnaval
Harrison Street, between 16th
and 22nd, 826-1401.
San Francisco's version of Mardi
Gras, and one of its largest annual public events, featuring exotic carnaval
dancers with a mixture of Latino, jazz, samba Caribbean,
and more.
June
Haight Street Fair
Haight Street, 661-8025.
One of San Francisco's most
famous neighborhoods celebrates its creative roots with
arts, crafts and entertainment.
San Francisco Black Film
Festival
346-0199,
Showcases films that celebrate
black independent film and filmmakers.
Juneteenth Celebration
Kimball Park, located at Geary
and Steiner Streets, 229-1220.
A celebration of African
American culture.
San Francisco International
Lesbian and Gay Film Festival
Castro Theatre and other venues,
703-8663.
More than 250 films from around
the globe are showcased in this 25th annual flick festival, the largest and
oldest event of its kind in the world.
San Francisco
Lesbian-Gay-Bisexual-Transgender Pride Celebration Parade
Embarcadero to Civic Center,
864-FREE.
San Francisco's annual
celebration of lesbian and gay pride culminates with a
festive parade from the
Embarcadero to the Civic Center
Jewish Film Festival
Castro Theater and other venues
around the Bay Area, 621-0556.
Films from American and
international filmmakers showcase the diversity and
vitality of the Jewish culture.
July
Fourth of July Waterfront
Festival
Fisherman's Wharf, 705-5500.
A day long event featuring the
West Coast's largest display of fireworks, live entertainment, food, arts and
crafts at this annual waterfront party. Fireworks begin around 9:00 p.m.
Cable Car Bell-Ringing
Competition
Union Square, 923-6217.
Muni cable car operators clang
out melodies on a cable car bell during this annual
competition for top bell-ringer.
August
Afro Solo Arts Festival 2001
Yerba
Center of the Arts & other locations, 771-AFRO.
The Afro Solo Arts Festival
features celebrity and emerging African American artists in various performances
such as theater, dance, music, spoken word and visual arts. Most shows begin at
8:00 p.m.
Nihonmachi
Street Fair
Japantown
and Japan Center, 771-9861.
This Japanese festival features
lion dancers, taiko drummers, Japanese arts and crafts, musical entertainment,
food and children's events.
ACC Craft Fair
Fort Mason Center,800 836-3470.
This is the largest juried craft
fair on the West Coast featuring necklaces, stoneware bowls and silk goods.
Renaissance Pleasure Faire
Nut Tree, Vacaville, 800
523-2473.
Journey back to 16th century
England with 1,500 brilliantly costumed performers, jousting knights, rare
handmade crafts, theater, dance, food and drink. 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Weekends only.
September
San Francisco Shakespeare
Festival
Golden Gate Park, 422-2222.
Relax in a tranquil environment
and enjoy Shakespeare's classics, beginning on Labor Day and running every
Saturday and Sunday through September 30. Shows begin at 1:30 p.m. but locals
arrive by noon for a seat. Free.
San Francisco Fringe Festival
Exit Theater and other downtown
venues, for information call 931-1094, for tickets call 673-3847.
A non-juried, non-censored
marathon of 260 performances by 50 local, national and international theater
companies in several locations in downtown San Francisco, with a broad spectrum
of classic theater, performance art and outrageous comedy.
Festival of the Sea
Hyde Street Pier, 561-6662.
Re-live San Francisco's
seafaring past with a tugboat rodeo, free boat rides,
hands-on activities, a
boat-building contest, hands-on crafts demonstrations and
much more.
Ghirardelli Square Chocolate
Festival
Ghirardelli Square, 775-5500.
A chocolate lover's dream.
Attendees sample various chocolate treats including chocolate covered
strawberries, brownies, chocolate cheesecake and more. Proceeds benefit Project
Open Hand.
Vivas Las Americas!
Pier 39, 705-5500.
Hispanic Heritage is the focus
of this event, featuring music and dance performances commemorating the artistry
of Mexico and Central and South America.
San Francisco International
Art Exposition
Fort Mason Center, Herbst and
Festival Pavilion, 312 587-3300.
100 fine art galleries will
exhibit, representing the work of 1500 artists, ranging from painting to drawing
to sculpture to prints and video art.
San Francisco Blues Festival
Great Meadow at Fort Mason,
979-5588.
The oldest blues festival in
America presents some of the best blues musicians in the world.
Wells Fargo Fall Cup Regatta
Pier 39, 705-5500,
www.pier39.com.
Watch America's Cup
participants, Olympic veterans and former World Champions in two days of
fleet-style racing on the San Francisco Bay. The public is invited to watch from
noon to 5:00 p.m.
October
Italian Heritage Parade and
Festival
tentative
Fisherman's Wharf and North
Beach, 989-2220.
The City celebrates its Italian
heritage with a lively parade through North Beach, beginning at 1:30 p.m.
San Francisco Jazz Festival
Various locations, 788-7353.
One of San Francisco's biggest
and best musical festivals features local, national and international jazz
artist performances at locations throughout San Francisco. The line-up includes
many renowned musicians such as Abbey Lincoln, Jimmy Scott, John McLaughlin, and
Zakir Jussain in Remember Shakti.
October/November
Grand National Rodeo, Horse
and Stock Show
Cow Palace, 469-6057, for
tickets, 469-6065.
Enjoy concerts, art, food,
livestock and rodeo competitions at the annual Grand National.
October
October/November
San Francisco Fall Antiques
Show
Fort Mason Center, 546-6661.
Over 65 distinguished antique
dealers from America and Europe sell a broad range of antique merchandise.
November
Film Arts Festival of
Independent Cinema
Castro and Roxie Theaters,
552-8760.
More than 300 films by local
artists showcase the richness and diversity of San
Francisco and Northern
California as a major hub in the independent film world.
American Indian Film Festival
Palace of Fine Arts Theater,
554-0525.
Presenting documentaries and
dramas by new and emerging Native American artists.
San Francisco International
Automobile Show
Moscone Center, 331-4406.
The latest and greatest
automobiles in the world at this annual show.
December
Christmas at Sea
Hyde Street Pier, 561-6662.
Climb aboard a historic ship and
enjoy caroling, storytelling, hot cider, cookies,
kids' crafts and a visit from
St. Nick.
San Francisco Ballet
Nutcracker
War Memorial Opera House, 301
Van Ness Avenue, 865-2000.
America's oldest ballet company,
regarded as one of its finest, presents Tchaikovsky's beloved family classic
every December.
The New Pickle Circus
tel. 415-544-9344, a particularly joyous group that started as a band of street
performers during the early 1970s, performs annually during the holiday season
at the Palace of Fine Arts Theater in the Marina District or at nearby Fort
Mason.
