Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
into an occasion to drink heavily, and this
one is no exception. It falls sometime
around the 17th, but not always right on
the day, and its centerpiece is a parade
from 2nd and Market to the Civic Center,
where a stage and food booth are set up.
(
%
415/395-8417;
www.sfstpatricksday
parade.com)
Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence Easter
Celebration:
Gay men dressed up as nuns
flit about Dolores Park blessing the peo-
ple and absolving them of sins of which
they are probably not remotely guilty—
until they cheer along to the Hunky Jesus
look-alike contest.
April
Northern California Cherry Blossom
Festival:
Held two weekends in mid-April
in Japantown with tea ceremonies, flower
arranging demonstrations, a food bazaar,
and an elaborate parade. Most events are
free. Check out www.nccbf.org for more
information.
May
Cinco de Mayo:
San Francisco's sizable
Latin community comes out to the Civic
Center parks for this shindig—music,
parades, fireworks—which celebrates
Latin culture in the way that other holi-
days honor other nationalities. Get good
food and tequila, and party in the street.
Bay to Breakers foot race:
Held at 8am
on the third Sunday in May, this 12km
race is one of the city's institutions, hav-
ing been started in 1912, and it's typical
of the city's carefree, thumb-nosing atti-
tude. Anything goes, from dragging a beer
keg alongside you to dressing up like a
mariachi band to (gasp!) actually trying
to take it seriously and run it in a decent
time. It goes from the eastern end of
Howard Street through Golden Gate Park
all the way to Ocean Beach, a clear cut
across town. (www.ingbaytobreakers.com)
Carnaval:
Latin and South American cul-
tures combine in the Mission for this
Memorial Day street fair of drum perform-
ances, scantily clad performers, tradi-
tional foods, and lots and lots of dancing.
Attendance usually numbers in the hun-
dreds of thousands. (www.carnavalsf.com)
Uncorked! San Francisco Wine Festival:
Better show up early for this festival,
because it'll be over in 5 hours. Still,
those 5 hours, held at Ghirardelli Square,
are packed with tastings, seminars, chef
demonstrations, and participation from
dozens of local wineries. The fest tends to
fall on the third Saturday of the month
(but check www.localwineevents.com for
the exact date when you visit).
June
Haight Ashbury Street Fair:
The '60s, to
which this neighborhood clings, come
back in force during this 1-day street
festival, where some 200 booths sell hip-
pie clothes, pot pipes, and other accou-
trements of the lifestyle. Early June and
Sunday, usually. (www.haightashburystreet
fair.org)
North Beach Festival:
One of the most
worthwhile neighborhood parties is the
one specializing in quality Italian foods.
This 2-day event at Washington Square
Park, which has been going for genera-
tions, promises food stalls, music, animal
blessings by a local church (seriously),
and even a celebrity pizza-dough-tossing
demonstration. Mid-month most likely.
(www.sfnorthbeach.org)
Union Street Festival:
It seems like every
city neighborhood wants to throw its own
festival day; in this case, it's the yuppie
drag Union Street, which mounts this
“Eco-Urban” (whatever that is) carnival of
gourmet food stands and artists' stalls.
The folks in this 'hood care about their
fine foods, so it's a great chance to throw
some top chow down your gullet. (www.
unionstreetfestival.com)
