One of the nation’s longest-running street festivals is coming back for its 71st rendition this weekend. The historic North Beach Festival will take over the North Beach neighborhood from 11 am to 7 pm on June 14 and 15, 2025. The free festival is open to all ages, with numerous events planned, including acrobats, live music, dog blessings, and more.
You can catch live music from three different stages across the festival, featuring local musicians. On Sunday, Club Fugazi acrobats will perform at 11 am on the Broadway stage. Club Fugazi is known for its incredible shows with acrobatics, so it’s an exciting opportunity to see a performance for free. Leave plenty of time to wander around tasting food and buying artisanal items from hundreds of vendors lining the streets, and settle into a beer garden for a cold drink. Plus, guests can take their pets to a Blessing of the Animals ceremony at the National Shrine of Saint Francis of Assisi at 1 pm on each day.
Attendees will also have the opportunity to watch artists create stunning Italian street paintings called Madonnari, which are painted on the sidewalk using chalk as the medium. Other interactive art activities include a Loom and Shuttle Guild, silk screening, live painting, and even jewelry making. The festival will also have a family-friendly zone complete with activities and games
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 71st annual North Beach Festival, happening from 11 am to 7 pm on June 14-15 at Grant Avenue and Columbus. Expect plenty of crowds and delays on Muni due to the reroutes.