San Francisco is a town associated with eccentricity and creativity. The festivals in San Francisco are no different because the wacky and unique side of the town is on display. Some of the festivals are truly hard to explain while others just seem like thrilling and creative events. Discover these festivals that truly embody the spirit of San Francisco.
1. How Weird Festival
Billed as as the Weirdest Show on Earth, as well as offering a host of fun events.
Expect lots of people wearing the strangest costumes and make up around Howard Street and 2nd Street in the city. The How Weird Festival happens in May usually.
2. Bay to Breakers Festival
The Bay to Breakers race is 12 kilometers and spans west through the city and finishes at the Great Highway at Ocean Beach. However, Bay to Breakers is well known for many participants wearing costumes. This is a very colorful celebration that is symbolic of everything San Francisco. The festival is in May.
3. Folsom Street Fair
The Folsom Street Fair is a yearly BDSM and leather subculture street fair held on the last Sunday in September and ends San Francisco's "Leather Pride Week" This is the most eclectic fall festival. This truly unique festival happens in late summer.
4. Ocean Film Festival
A festival dedicated to films about the oceans. Not many can boast to have film festivals with such a narrow focus. Celebrate the wonder and mystery of the ocean with more than 50 independent films from around the world. The festival happens in March.
5. Superhero Street Fair
The SuperHero Street Fair is an electronic music festival dedicated to making everyone a superhero. This fantastical event features interactive challenges, out-of-this-world lighting displays, Tesla Coils and more. The fair is usually in October.
6. San Francisco Street Food Festival
What other town celebrates street food as well gourmet food! Support some of the city's best small food companies (over 100 are represented) and try incredibly delectable specialties from around the world. If you can't find anything you totally salivate over, you may not be human.
7. Noise Pop Festival
The curiously named "Noise Pop" focused on the best of the up-and-coming artists, with an alternative music specialty. Being in San Francisco, you get to hear the most outrageous independent music with ease. Noise Pop is happening in late February.
8. Great Dickens Christmas Fair
The Great Dickens Christmas Fair is a one-of-a-kind holiday adventure into Victorian London that is great for adults and children alike. The Christmas productions will include over 750 joyous performers. Not your typical Christmas fair at all.
9. Carnaval Festival
The Carnaval celebration in San Francisco is one of California’s largest annual festivals. You'll expect to celebrate both Latin-American and Caribbean culture and traditions with influences from Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago, Cuba, and Bolivia. However, what makes this festival so unique is the range of events and cultures uniting. The festival is in late May.
10. Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass is an annual free and non-commercial music festival held the first weekend of October in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. Not as much wacky, but one-of-a-kind and awesome to think so many people get together in San Francisco for free every year to listen to good tunes.
Have you been to any of these festivals? Let us know. Share your opinions. If you are curious about one of the festivals listed above then check out This Epic Festival In San Francisco .
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