Happy spring, San Francisco! 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.
What’s spring weather like in San Francisco?
Spring in San Francisco brings temperatures between 50-70°F (10–21°C). You may catch some rain in March, but the weather (and fog) clears up a bit more in April. After daylight savings, the sun sets after 7pm, eventually going down as late as 8:25pm at the end of May. Learn more in our article about the best time to visit San Francisco.
1. Explore beautiful wildflower blooms in the Bay Area
Spring in the Bay Area is particularly beautiful because of the wildflowers blooming throughout local nature destinations. Luckily, there are plenty of great places a short drive away where you can see plenty of beautiful wildflowers. Whether you’re looking for a hike, a quick day trip, or want to venture further away, check out our recommendations for places where you can see flowers blooming.
2. Celebrate Easter San Francisco-style
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, Salesforce Park’s lively Spring Fling, and the sunrise ceremony at Mt. Davidson, and the legendary Bring Your Own Big Wheel Race. Whether you’re seeking a kid-friendly egg hunt or an adult-friendly bar crawl, we’ve got you covered with our Easter guide.
🗓️ When: This year, Easter falls on April 20th, 2025
3. Attend Pink Puma’s spicy “After Dark” cabaret show
This spring, World Champion athlete Pink Puma presents an adult-only cabaret show at the Great Star in San Francisco. Watch a dazzling combination of acrobatics, stunts, burlesque, and sultry music at one of SF’s most unforgettable live experiences. You can get tickets to After Dark here.
🗓️ When: Tickets are available for February and March performances
4. Have a cozy bonfire at Ocean Beach
Bonfire season at Ocean Beach is officially back. Starting on March 1, you can use one of the designated firepits at Ocean Beach to build a cozy bonfire. It’s the perfect way to enjoy the beach, especially when the weather is a little chilly (as it often is if we’re being realistic). The 16 firepits are open to the public between 6 am and 9:30 pm, and no alcohol or glass is allowed on the beach. The bonfires are allowed from March through October.
🗓️ When: The Ocean Beach bonfire pits are open from Mar. 1 – Oct. 31, 2025
5. Explore Golden Gate Park’s colorful tulip garden
Every spring, Queen Wilhelmina Tulip Garden in Golden Gate Park is filled with colorful tulips. The garden is at the edge of the park near Ocean Beach, making it perfect for a stroll on the water after visiting the garden. The flowers are nestled under the iconic windmill creating a charming scene to visit in the spring. Learn more about the tulip garden here.
🗓️ When: Peak tulip bloom usually occurs in March.
6. Embark on this self-guided mystery picnic experience
AmazingCo presents an all-inclusive, self-guided foodie adventure through SF’s Haight-Ashbury and Mission neighborhoods. Follow interactive clues to pick up your artisanal picnic spread and enjoy fun games and conversation starters during your meal.
🗓️ When: Tickets are available in February and March.
7. Plan the perfect Mother’s Day
Celebrate Mother’s Day in San Francisco with these lovely weekend plans, ranging from delicious brunch restaurants to family activities. You can visit the Ferry Building for free arts and crafts, reserve a table at one of SF’s best restaurants, or spend a day at the Exploratorium — more details here.
🗓️ When: This year, Mother’s Day falls on May 11, 2025.
8. Spend a day at this historic estate filled with flowers
Filoli Estate and Gardens is just a short drive south of San Francisco. The country estate has acres of beautiful gardens for visitors to explore. Each year, they plant tens of thousands of spring flower bulbs, which result in oceans of brilliant flower blooms during the spring months. Look for spring events including traditional Chinese music and performances, spring teas, watercolor sketching, tai chi, and garden tours. Learn more about springtime in Filoli here.
🗓️ When: Spring events are ongoing from March through May
9. Celebrate cherry blossom season around San Francisco
Bay Area cherry blossom season peaks in March and April, and there are numerous ways to enjoy this seasonal showcase of pale-pink blooms. Here are a few of our favorites…
- Japanese Tea Garden – Now’s the time to visit SF’s famous historic tea garden and see the cherry blossoms at their best. The garden is always free for SF residents with ID, and free for the general public on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays before 10am.
- Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival – Check out this popular festival in SF’s Japantown Peace Plaza from April 12-13 and 19-20, 2025.
- Harami at Hakone – From March 20-April 11, 2025, this Saratoga garden hosts a unique nighttime cherry blossom viewing event.
10. Experience an unforgettable spring candlelight concert in San Francisco
If you’ve never experienced a San Francisco Candlelight Concert, you’re in for a treat this spring. These memorable performances deck out SF’s most stunning venues with thousands of flickering candles, making for the perfect accompaniment to classical renditions of your favorite songs. This year, we’re looking forward to hearing music by Coldplay, The Beatles, Hans Zimmer, Adele, and Vivaldi.
🗓️ When: Candlelight concerts are ongoing in San Francisco, but they have a special spring performance with Beatles music on April 4, 2025.
11. Go whale watching around Bay Area waters
You can see whales near SF almost all year, but gray whale season occurs between December and April, when thousands of these majestic animals migrate along the California coast. If you haven’t seen whales before, we definitely recommend it; it’s pretty awe-inspiring. Plus, you don’t have to go far to find good places to look for them.
🗓️ When: Gray whale season occurs between December and April
12. Check out our guide for things to do on a rainy day
Photo by @derick.daily on Instagram
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.
13. Spend an afternoon at one of San Francisco’s many bustling markets
SF has plenty of markets to check out, ranging from classic weekly neighborhood farmers’ markets with plenty of produce to more niche craft fairs. Some to look forward to include West Coast Craft, a massive craft fair featuring handmade goods from local creatives.
🗓️ When: West Coast Craft is hosting events on Apr. 12, Apr. 18, and May 30 at Fort Mason Center.
14. Explore your creative side at Neon Brush, a glow-in-the-dark painting experience
San Francisco’s Hotel Zeppelin is hosting a memorable sip-and-paint experience with a few twists. Step into a UV-lit art studio and paint whatever you like in an upbeat, retro-futuristic environment. Drinks are available to purchase on site to get your creativity flowing. Tickets are available here.
🗓️ When: Tickets are currently available through May 2025
15. Go strawberry picking at one of these local farms
California’s abundance of fresh produce is a major perk of living here, especially during strawberry season from April to August. Starting in late spring, local fields are filled with ripe, juicy berries ready for picking. If you haven’t picked strawberries straight from the plant before, these Bay Area farms are the perfect place to start.
16. Go for a scenic hike in and around SF
You don’t have to go far to find beautiful scenery in the Bay Area. If the winter has made you want to get out and enjoy some nature, check out these beautiful local hiking routes. Some are even right in San Francisco, so you can easily take public transit to the trails. Some of our favorites include Land’s End Trail and the Presidio Loop.
17. Try a new cocktail at a beautiful rooftop bar
San Francisco has plenty of rooftop bars with delicious drinks and even better views. While the winter months are often too cold for a rooftop bar, as spring comes, we can look forward to some warmer days. Check out our full list of recommendations for the perfect spring drinks spot.
18. Take a road trip to this hidden valley filled with calla lilies in Big Sur
Just off the road in Big Sur, a small valley is nestled near the ocean. Accessible via a short trail, the valley fills with hundreds of beautiful calla lilies every spring. Plus, it’s right on the beach, giving you unforgettable views of the coast. The flowers are currently in bloom, and Big Sur is a doable day trip from SF.
🗓️ When: The calla lilies usually bloom between January and April.
19. See what’s blooming at the Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park
If you want to be surrounded by flowers and plants but the weather’s not exactly ideal, the Conservatory of Flowers is a great place to spend a chilly spring day in SF. Plus, the Conservatory of Flowers offers free admission to SF residents and the general public on the first Tuesday of the month, so it’s a great way to spend an afternoon while staying on budget.
🗓️ When: The Conservatory of Flowers is open every day except for Wednesdays from 10 am-4:30 pm.
20. Check out this beautiful meadery
North of San Francisco, near Point Reyes sits a beautiful meadery serving sparkling honey wine. Heidrun Meadery has beautiful gardens that are perfect for a nice spring day. You can either buy a bottle of sparkling wine, or you can try it by the glass while you enjoy the view.
21. Visit this historic garden for free
Elizabeth F. Gamble Garden is a historic estate in Palo Alto that features beautifully manicured gardens with numerous blooming flowers. The estate is free and open to the public, and it’s just 40 minutes from San Francisco. Plus, they have an upcoming market with local vendors and garden supplies on April 25 and 26.
Written by Dana Flynn and Jamie Ferrell