What's on in San Francisco (SF), United States through the year

Quiet — the editor's quiet month, Winter / Christmas break in United States

• Nature

  Plum and magnolia blossom

  25 Jan – 15 Mar · usuallyCherry blossom

  The earliest blossom of any big American city: plum in January, magnolia through February, weeks before the east coast has thawed.

Still on: Pacific storm season (15 Nov – 31 Mar (usually)), Gray whale migration (15 Dec – 15 May (usually))

Quiet — the editor's quiet month

Nothing new starts in February.

Still on: Plum and magnolia blossom (25 Jan – 15 Mar (usually)), Pacific storm season (15 Nov – 31 Mar (usually)), Gray whale migration (15 Dec – 15 May (usually))

Busy — between the peaks, Spring break in United States

Nothing new starts in March.

Still on: Plum and magnolia blossom (25 Jan – 15 Mar (usually)), Pacific storm season (15 Nov – 31 Mar (usually)), Gray whale migration (15 Dec – 15 May (usually))

Shoulder season — between the peaks

Nothing new starts in April.

Still on: Gray whale migration (15 Dec – 15 May (usually))

Busy — between the peaks, Bay to Breakers

• Festival

  Bay to Breakers

  17 MayMajor festivalCrowdedClosures

  Twelve kilometres from the bay to the ocean in costume, or in nothing, on the third Sunday of May, with the east-west streets closed until early afternoon. Source ↗

Still on: Gray whale migration (15 Dec – 15 May (usually))

Quiet — the editor's quiet month, San Francisco Pride

• Season

  Fog season

  1 Jun – 31 Aug · usuallyRisk

  The marine layer sits over the western half of the city for weeks at a time while the inland valleys bake. The Mission and Potrero often sit in sun above it.

• Festival

  San Francisco Pride

  27–28 JunCrowdedBook early

  The last weekend of June: Civic Center on the Saturday, the Market Street parade on the Sunday, and hotel rates across downtown that reflect it. Source ↗

Quiet — the editor's quiet month, Summer break in United States

Nothing new starts in July.

Still on: Fog season (1 Jun – 31 Aug (usually))

Quiet — the editor's quiet month, Outside Lands

• Festival

  Outside Lands

  1–16 Aug · usuallyMajor festivalCrowdedBook early

  Three days in Golden Gate Park on the first or second weekend of August, in the coldest fog of the year, which catches out everyone who packs for California in summer. Source ↗

Still on: Fog season (1 Jun – 31 Aug (usually))

Peak crowds — the editor's peak month, Summer break in United States

Nothing new starts in September.

Peak crowds — the editor's peak month, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass

• Festival

  Hardly Strictly Bluegrass

  2–4 OctMajor festivalCrowded

  Free and ticketless in Golden Gate Park over the first weekend of October, in the city's warmest, clearest fortnight of the year. Source ↗

• Festival

  Fleet Week

  4–12 OctMajor festivalCrowded

  Ships in the bay and the Blue Angels over it for a week in early October; the noise is unavoidable across the northern half of the city and the waterfront is solid. Source ↗

Busy — between the peaks, Thanksgiving break in United States

• Season

  Pacific storm season

  15 Nov – 31 Mar · usuallyMonsoonRisk

  The year's rain arrives in a handful of atmospheric rivers rather than as steady drizzle, and the hills go green for it. The light between the storms is the payoff.

Quiet — the editor's quiet month, Winter / Christmas break in United States

• Nature

  Gray whale migration

  15 Dec – 15 May · usuallyWhale season

  The southbound run passes outside the Golden Gate around the turn of the year and comes back with calves in spring; the headlands work as well as a boat.

Still on: Pacific storm season (15 Nov – 31 Mar (usually))