Don’t Miss The 66th Annual North Beach Festival On June 18-19
Enjoy dozens of vendors, live music, Italian street painting, and more in SF's Little Italy.
Jamie Ferrell - Staff Writer
One of the nation’s longest-running street festivals is coming back for its 66th rendition! The historic North Beach Festival will take over the North Beach neighborhood from 10am-6pm on June 18 and 19. It’s an opportunity to enjoy live music at multiple stages, dozens of vendors selling gourmet food and arts and crafts, and exciting activities for kids and adults.
The event will host multiple stages with live music, 20 gourmet food vendors, and 100 arts and crafts vendors. Plus, guests can take their pets to a “blessing of the animals ceremony” between 2-3pm at the National Shrine of Saint Francis of Assisi.
Attendees will also have the chance to watch artists create gorgeous Italian street paintings called Madonnari, which are painted on the sidewalk using chalk as a medium. An accompanying kids’ chalk area will be available for younger attendees to try their hand at this traditional art form, which is a favorite of many at the festival.
The North Beach Festival began in 1954, making it one of the longest-running outdoor festivals in the United States. It takes place in the historically Italian neighborhood of North Beach in San Francisco, which is also known for major players of the Beat generation including Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Jack Kerouac, and Allen Ginsberg. Some iconic landmarks in the neighborhood include City Lights Bookstore, Coit Tower, Saints Peter and Paul Church, and Washington Square.
Save the date for the 66th annual North Beach Festival, happening from 10am-6pm on June 18 and 19 at Grant Avenue and Columbus.
Featured image: Photo by @jejim via Shutterstock