Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
San Francisco LGBT Pride Celebration
Parade:
No city knows how to throw a gay
parade like San Francisco. Outrageous
costumes, huge floats, some half a million
celebrants, and glad-handing politicians
(in this town, they court the gay vote)
make this the most inclusive of any of the
annual festivals. You don't have to be gay,
or even if you are, you don't have to be
campy, to enjoy the spectacle. Last week-
end in the month. (www.sfpride.org)
July
Fourth of July Waterfront Festival:
Live
entertainment, food booths, and, of course,
a huge fireworks show mark this, the
biggest of the Independence Day festivities
in town. It's held at Fisherman's Wharf.
August
San Francisco Marathon:
The 26.2-mile
course visits just about every great land-
mark and neighborhood in the city,
including a crossing of the Golden Gate
Bridge—twice. In this race, though, par-
ticipants are not encouraged to do things
like dress like chickens, the way they do
at the Bay to Breakers. First Sunday of the
month. (www.runsfm.com)
Nihonmachi Street Fair:
Usually held on
the second weekend of August in
Japantown, this celebration of all Asian
culture features a range of musical styles
and cuisines, and performances that go
from drums to Lion Dances, with lots of
stalls selling unique crafts. Happily,
Japanese cuisine lends itself to noshing
on little bites of food as you stroll along.
Second weekend of August, most likely.
(www.nihonmachistreetfair.org)
September
How Berkeley Can You Be? Festival:
Berkeley is famous for its liberal attitude,
and this parade capitalizes on and magni-
fies that reputation—crazy floats made of
food, outlandish costumes, and other
over-the-top festivities. Think of it as
Mardi Gras for physics students. Usually
held on the last Sunday of the month.
Folsom Street Fair:
Leave the kids at
home for this one: A bawdy, anything-
goes fair celebrating the leather sexual
fetish and its pornography, particularly as
it applies to gay men. It attracts men
from around the country because most of
their own cities won't tolerate similar
public nudity. Don't be shocked if you wit-
ness people having nooky in the street—
if you attend, you asked for it. Often held
on the last Sunday of the month. (www.
folsomstreetfair.org)
October
Castro Street Fair:
As a contrast to
Folsom, this is a family-friendly event
with arts and crafts, information booths,
and the open support of the city. It was
begun by Harvey Milk back in the day
when gay folks needed the positive expo-
sure. Expect the street to be packed and
several music stages, including (surprise!)
a country-and-western one. Early October.
(www.castrostreetfair.org)
Halloween San Francisco:
The city is try-
ing to stamp out this informal October
31st tradition of people packing the
Castro in their costumes. Police already
ban alcohol, and the pubs close early to
squeeze out troublemakers. Many locals
are happy to go along with the changes
because in 2007, nine people were shot at
the event. Scary! So ask around to see
where the party has moved; the city is
working to move the whole shebang to
the Civic Center, but we all know you can't
force these things.
November
Dia de los Muertos:
Fans of folk art will
dig this pre-Columbian procession, which
is more sober than the raucous Cinco de
Mayo. Folks dress up as skeletons to sym-
bolize both death and rebirth, and they
move down 24th and 25th streets in the
Mission. It falls around Halloween, and
there are usually some adjunct events
such as art shows and craft demonstra-
tions. (www.sfmission.com/dod)
