The Bay Area is well known for its fog. Many residents have a love-hate relationship with the lingering fog, while visitors are either delighted or surprised at the foggy summer days. Whether you find the fog endearing or unbearable, you can’t deny that it’s a pillar of the Bay Area.
This weekend, Pacifica is honoring the iconic fog with its 36th annual Fog Fest. The two-day festival is free admission and runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Palmetto Avenue Pacifica. The celebration fittingly takes place just a block from the ocean, perfect for celebrating the waterfront fog.
Featured activities
The festivities include a parade with a fitting sea life and mermaid theme. Participants can win various prizes for the best float, group costume, and more. The parade kicks off the celebration at 10 a.m. on Saturday, September 23.
For the more active, you can participate in the Fog Jog, a 5-mile coastal run that starts at 9 a.m. on Sunday. Plus, you can view entries in the local photography contest showing Pacifica in all its foggy glory.
The fest will have plenty of food and beverage options, including Mexican cuisine, deep-fried delights, and classic fair food like kettle corn and corn dogs. True to its coastal location, you can also find fish tacos and delicious calamari.
The event also includes a Family Fun Fest that was started just a few years before the Fog Fest. The two events have merged into one big event, perfect for the whole family. The Family Fun Fest encourages healthy play and a sense of community and takes place from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.
Music and Crafts
If a parade and family fun isn’t enough, the fest also includes music featuring three different stages on Saturday and Sunday. Music genres include rock, jazz, surf, folk, and reggae. You can also shop the over 200 arts and crafts vendors showing off their best creations.
The festival takes place on Palmetto Ave in Pacifica. From San Francisco, you can take Highway 280 south to Highway 1/Pacifica to reach the Fog Fest.