While spring weather in the Bay Area can be unpredictable, there are plenty of fun things to do to celebrate the spring season. From looking for wildflowers to attending free events in the city, you have plenty of options to make your spring in SF memorable.
Pick up to eight free tulips at Union Square on March 21, 2026.
San Francisco’s Flower Bulb Day returns to Union Square on Saturday, March 21, 2026, with a pop-up tulip garden where visitors can pick up to eight free tulips. The free event runs from 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm and draws tens of thousands of attendees.
Candlelight Concerts are getting a spring makeover. Enjoy a tribute concert from talented musicians surrounded by warm, glowing candles, with added floral-inspired scenography perfect for spring. The Spring Candlelight concerts are held at the Chan National Queer Arts Center, and you can expect concerts featuring 90s hip-hop on strings or music by Hans Zimmer. Tickets go fast, so we recommend getting yours today.
Thousands of tulips bloom at their March peak beneath the park’s restored historic windmill.
Queen Wilhelmina Tulip Garden in the northwest corner of Golden Gate Park bursts into color each spring, with thousands of tulips reaching their peak in March around a historic Dutch windmill.
Illuminate LIVE returns March 1, 2026 with over 125 free concerts through November.
Illuminate LIVE, a free concert series at the Golden Gate Bandshell in Golden Gate Park, returns beginning Sunday, March 1, 2026, offering more than 125 free performances between March and November. Concerts are held primarily on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays with select Saturdays added throughout the season.
Enjoy a free, hour-long outdoor opera at Crane Cove Park.
San Francisco Opera stages Bohème Out of the Box — a free, abridged outdoor presentation of La Bohème — at Crane Cove Park on April 11 at 2:00 PM. The roughly one-hour performance features live piano and English translations available via phone.
Prepare to fall for the Bay Area all over again with ‘Dear San Francisco’, an exhilarating spectacle at the historic Club Fugazi. This genre-defying show, created by The 7 Fingers collective, masterfully weaves together breathtaking acrobatics, poetry, music, and movement, crafting a powerful love letter to the city’s vibrant heart and rich history. From the captivating stories of the Gold Rush to modern-day wonders, it’s an immersive journey designed to make you experience iconic moments and leave your own heart in San Francisco. This high-energy theatrical experience is recommended for ages 5+.
Bay Area cherry blossom season peaks in March and April, and there are numerous ways to enjoy this seasonal showcase of pale-pink blooms. We recommend heading to the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park to see cherry blossoms in the manicured garden. Plus, the Presidio and SF Botanical Garden are also home to many blooming cherry trees.
See Monet’s dazzling Venetian paintings at the de Young starting March 21, 2026.
Monet and Venice brings over 20 of Claude Monet’s Venetian paintings to the de Young in San Francisco, featuring his celebrated views of Venice and works like Water Lilies. The exhibition opens at the de Young on March 21, 2026.
NorCal Cherry Blossom Festival
The Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival is a vibrant celebration that features Japanese cultural performances, a Grand Parade, and a variety of exhibits and activities. Join the procession of taiko drummers and enjoy art, food, dance, and a Grand Parade on April 19.
Experience a 1912 grand piano played outdoors among blooming meadows at the San Francisco Botanical Garden.
IN A LANDSCAPE brings a 1912 grand piano and classical pianist Hunter Noack to the San Francisco Botanical Garden for an outdoor concert on May 20, 2026 at 5:00 PM. Tickets are on sale for $55.
Filoli Estate and Gardens is a historic estate just 30 minutes from San Francisco. The estate is known for it’s manicured gardens, and spring is the perfect time to visit and see the thousands of flowers blooming.
Enjoy free, nightly bonfires at Ocean Beach in designated pits from March through October. For a classic spring-in-SF activity, head to Ocean Beach’s 16 designated fire pits (between stairwells 15 and 20), a longtime San Francisco tradition that’s officially open for 2026. The pits are free to use from March through October and are available daily from 6:00 am to 9:30 pm on a first-come, first-served basis with strict no-alcohol, no-glass rules.
Make this Easter your best one yet with San Francisco’s epic lineup of exciting parties, egg hunts, brunches, and activities. Highly anticipated events include Dolores Park’s famous Hunky Jesus Contest. legendary Bring Your Own Big Wheel Race, and more.
See 45 cherry trees lit like pale-pink lanterns during Hakone’s nighttime Hanami.
Hanami at Hakone is a nighttime cherry-blossom viewing event at Hakone Estate and Gardens in Saratoga, where 45 cherry trees are lit after dark. Night viewing runs March 16 to April 3, 2026 on weekday nights from 6:00 PM to 9:30 PM; daytime viewing follows regular garden hours.
Spring in San Francisco can bring some rainy days. While the flowers may love it, we have plenty of recommendations for fun things to do when the weather isn’t all sunshine and blue skies. From checking out great museums to going roller skating in a beautiful church, there are plenty of ways to make the most of a rainy day.
