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There are always plenty of things to see in the vibrant city of San Francisco, and the coming year is no different. Festivals, food fairs, music shows, and museum openings are all on the menu for the next ten months, so here are some cool local events worth checking out.
The best part? A lot of them are free!
SFMOMA Reopens, May 14th
This one is at the top of the list because it’s one of the coolest things happening this year. After two years of closed doors for maintenance and expansions, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art will reopen in the spring with new exhibits and artworks, including the largest photography gallery in the country and three California art galleries named after veteran banker and philanthropist Thom Weisel. Unfortunately, this event won’t be free, but it will be awesome.
Bay Area Brew Festival, March 12th, Pier 35
Good news, beer lovers: The Bay Area Brew Festival will feature dozens of local and international craft beers for your tasting pleasure. There will also be lots of San Francisco’s food trucks on site to nourish you! Tickets are $45 for general admission and $55 for VIP. Both tickets include unlimited beer tastings, and the VIP ticket includes an extra hour with specialty beers. Yum.
International Film Festival, April 22-May 1
For two weeks, the San Francisco International Film Festival will screen over 150 independent films from up-and-coming directors around the world. The longest film festival in the country, it’s estimated that 70,000 people will attend. This year, highly anticipated films include a documentary titled Steve Jobs: The Man in the Machine, and The End of the Tour, a new film starring Jason Segel and Jesse Eisenberg.
Gay Pride Parade and Festival, June 25-26
One of the most exciting events in San Francisco, this year’s Gay Pride Parade takes places the last weekend of June on Market and Beale Streets. Festival performances include Moonlighting, The Ladies of Asia, Carnie Asada, Morning Gloryville, and Matthew Vines, as well as many others. The event is free and open to the public.
Of course, there are hundreds of other things to do around the city or in the surrounding nature. Go for walks along the California Coastal Trail, visit the Sutro Baths, or have a picnic in Golden Gate Park!