Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Average Monthly Rainfall
MM
125
Inches
Rainfall Chart
The average annual
rainfall for San Francisco
is about 19 in (122 cm).
Most rain falls from
November to March,
sometimes for days at a
time, and there are
often torrential storms.
The driest months are
May to September.
5
100
4
75
3
50
2
25
1
0
0
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Winter
The Christmas shopping season
starts the day after Thanksgiving
with the lighting of the Union
Square tree, while appealing
pets appear in the windows of
Gump's store
(see p122)
. Families
of gray whales pass on their
annual migration between
Alaska and Mexico.
December
Christmas Displays
in Union
Square store windows
(see p118)
compete to be the best.
Holiday Lights Boat Parade
(mid-Dec)
. More than 100
boats with lights and holiday
decorations parade along the
waterfront.
The Nutcracker
(3rd week)
is
performed by the San Francisco
Ballet at the War Memorial
Opera House
(see p252)
.
Sing for your Life
(Dec 30-31)
.
24 hours of singing in Grace
Cathedral
(see p105)
.
Chinese New Year celebrations in Chinatown
January
New Year's Day Swim
(Jan 1)
.
Sponsored swim at Aquatic Park
(see pp174-5)
.
Russian Orthodox Christmas
(Jan 7-8)
. Ceremony in Holy
Virgin Cathedral
(see p63)
.
Gray Whale Migration
(Jan-
Apr)
. Watch from the coast,
or take a boat
(see p260)
.
February
Black History Month
. African-
American events take place
throughout the city.
Chinese New Year Parade
(date varies, usually early Feb)
.
Parade through Financial District
and Chinatown featuring a
colorful dragon
(see pp96-102
and 109-123).
Public Holidays
New Year's Day
(Jan 1)
Martin Luther King Day
(3rd Mon in Jan)
President's Day
(3rd Mon
in Feb)
Memorial Day
(last Mon in May)
Independence Day
(Jul 4)
Labor Day
(1st Mon in Sep)
Columbus Day
(2nd Mon
in Oct)
Election Day
(1st Tue in Nov)
Veterans Day
(Nov 11)
Thanksgiving Day
(4th Thu
in Nov)
Christmas Day
(Dec 25)
Christmas tree and decorations in Nieman Marcus department store
