Happy April, San Francisco! Whether you want to enjoy some of San Francisco’s stellar cuisine or go see the spring flowers in Golden Gate Park, we’ve got you covered with some exciting and creative ideas this month. Read on for the lowdown about things to do in San Francisco this April, from local wildflower blooms to SFMOMA’s Art Bash.
1. Enjoy classical music by candlelight at this magical concert series in SF
The extremely popular concert series known simply as Candlelight is turning heads right now in San Francisco. Enjoy works by Taylor Swift, Joe Hisaishi from Studio Gibili, Hans Zimmer, and more, all while being surrounded by beautiful flowers. The Bay Area’s top musicians perform classical music in lovely settings, including the International Art Museum of America.
Check out these Candlelight concerts in April:
- Candlelight: The Best of Joe Hisaishi
- Candlelight: A Tribute to Coldplay
- Candlelight: A Tribute to Queen and More
- Candlelight: A Tribute to Taylor Swift
- Candlelight: The Best of Hans Zimmer
- Candlelight: A Tribute to Adele
2. Pay a visit to the NorCal Cherry Blossom Festival
April 13-14 and 20-21
The Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival will be celebrating its 55th year on the weekends of April 13-14 and 20-21 from 11 am-6 pm. It is set to take place at Japantown Peace Plaza in San Francisco and will include plenty of Japanese cultural performances, a Grand Parade, traditional art, live music, food, and much more.
3. Check out this free screen printing pop-up at SF parks
SF Parks Alliance has announced the return of Heart Your Parks in San Francisco this April! With it comes a series of free screen printing pop-ups on Saturdays from 11 am-4 pm through Earth Day (April 22), where you can pick up your own screen print depicting one of SF’s beloved parks. The event is meant to encourage fundraising for SF’s parks and public spaces, so if you pick up a screen print, be sure to also make a contribution on the Heart Your Parks donation page to ensure that we can continue to enjoy our beautiful parks well into the future.
- Mar. 30 – Cargo Way / Heron’s Head Park
- Apr. 6 – Golden Gate Park (Murphy Windmill)
- Apr. 13 – McLaren Park (Tai Chi Court)
- Apr. 30 – Crane Cove Park
4. The Academy of Sciences’ Spring Festival is a must for kids and families
Through Apr. 28
Spring has sprung, and San Francisco’s California Academy of Sciences is ready for it! The Academy recently announced new programming as part of the Spring Festival happening from March 9-April 28. Activities abound for kids and families, including a tea sampling from Cafe Ohlone, an interactive play river for kids to tinker and explore, an up-close look at a real beehive, and more.
5. Spot some local wildflower blooms around the Bay Area
After heavy rains throughout California this winter, we’re gearing up for a bountiful wildflower season this spring. Read our guide to California super blooms and Bay Area wildflowers, from local hiking trails to proper wildflower etiquette.
6. Grab tickets to the 2024 SFFILM Festival
Apr. 24-28
SFFILM is the longest-running film festival in the Americas, featuring consistently impressive lineups from filmmakers, both local and international. This year, they’ll present dozens of programs from various countries.
7. Find your new favorite meal at SF Restaurant Week
Apr. 5-14
Make room in your schedule and your belly because San Francisco Restaurant Week is about to take over the city this April. Get ready for 10 days of special menu items, excellent prices, and great times. It’s the perfect time to try a new restaurant while on a budget, so we definitely recommend checking it out.
8. Enjoy a swanky party at de Young Late Night
The de Young’s late night event is a fabulous party at the iconic museum. The event serves as the after party for the swanky FAMSF Gala, and if you want to partake in the festivities (and support SF museums) de Young Late Night is the perfect event. The tickets are much less then the gala prices, and you can still party it up at the beautiful museum.
9. Check out the vibrant Cesar Chavez Day Parade in SF’s Mission District
Apr. 13
San Francisco will go all-out again this year to celebrate Cesar Chavez Day, a national holiday celebrating California’s own civil rights and labor movement activist, Cesar Chavez. The official holiday is on March 31st, but SF’s Mission District parade and festival will happen on Saturday, April 13th, 2024.
10. Check out these must-see museum exhibitions
San Francisco has plenty of great museums with world-class art. While their permanent collections are always amazing, there are some really special exhibitions that are only on display for a short time. You can check out amazing dresses from SF’s history at the de Young or explore Kusama’s beautiful infinity rooms at the SFMOMA.
11. Free concerts are in full swing at the Bandshell! Here’s the lineup for April
The Golden Gate Park Bandshell is in the midst of its 2023 season of Lift Every Voice, which runs all the way through mid-November. These weekly free and family-friendly concerts are some of the most beloved events in the park. Catch over 100 performances in a variety of genres including R&B, soul, jazz, funk, big band, strings, indie, rock, reggae, salsa, electronic, and EDM.
12. Find some other ways to celebrate 420
Although SF’s massive 420 Hippie Hill celebration was called off this year, there are still some good alternatives to make the most of what would’ve been a lively weekend. Here we’ve compiled a list of events, shows, concerts, and activities that you can refer to for your plan B.
13. Bonfires are back on at Ocean Beach
San Francisco’s Ocean Beach is back in business for bonfire season! As of March 1, the beach’s 16 public fire pits are available for use between Stairwells 15-20. Guests may not use them between 9:30 pm and 6am.
14. Visit one of San Francisco’s bustling open-air markets
These open-air markets in San Francisco showcase a diverse range of artists, makers, farmers, and other types of vendors. Whether you’re looking for a lovely weekend farmers market to pick up some local produce or a craft market to buy a unique gift, we’re sure these local open-air markets will put you in touch with the best SF has to offer.
15. 10 wonderful SF museums with free admission days in April
We love San Francisco for its vibrant culture, history, and resources, but just about anyone in SF could benefit from finding new free things to do. Whether you’re a college student on a budget or a bargain hunter wanting to see the sights, this list of free museum days in San Francisco will certainly help you get started.
16. SF’s floating Salesforce Park has free activities every week
San Francisco’s Salesforce Park is an amazing modern marvel in the Financial District. The verdant oasis rests 70 feet above the street atop the Salesforce Transit Center, and it’s completely free and open for the public to visit at any time. It also hosts a collection of free events every week, including yoga classes, bootcamps, live music, bird walks, garden tours, drum circles, and much more.
17. See cherry blossoms in bloom now at the Japanese Tea Garden
Every year we eagerly await the return of the beautiful cherry blossoms, and they are indeed starting to bloom now at Golden Gate Park’s famous Japanese Tea Garden, which is the oldest public Japanese garden in the US. Be sure to visit soon and catch these beautiful flowers through the beginning of April.
If you’re looking for more places to spot the cherry blossoms this spring, be sure to read our article to point you in the right direction.
18. Check out interesting things to do at Fort Mason Center this April
When’s the last time you paid a visit to San Francisco’s amazing Fort Mason Center? The popular art center hosts numerous exhibitions and events throughout the year, and there are some special ones coming up.
19. Pay a visit to the Ferry Building‘s pop-up plant market and more
San Francisco’s Ferry Building is one of the city’s most iconic buildings, serving as a hotspot for tourists and locals alike. Here’s what’s going on there in April:
- Wednesdays – Wednesday Flight Nights
- Apr. 7 – HEAD WEST Marketplace
- Apr. 14 – Gardeneur Plant Market
- Apr. 21 – Earth Day Activities
20. Check out this month’s After Dark events at the Exploratorium
The Exploratorium at Pier 15 in San Francisco is an exciting place for discovery any time of the day, but these 18+ After Dark events are a must for some epic kid-free fun at their exhibits. After Dark happens each Thursday from 6-10 pm with a different theme every week, featuring guest speakers, films, great music, and more.
21. …and NightLife events at the Academy of Sciences
NightLife at the California Academy of Sciences is one of our favorite ongoing events, and we’re thrilled to see more of these awesome themed soirees on the calendar! The popular Thursday night festivities feature live DJs, outdoor bars, ambiance lighting, and more alongside the Academy’s nearly 40,000 animal residents. Heads up that the highly-anticipated Fungus Among Us NightLife will likely sell out.
22. Humpback whale season is approaching! Here’s where to spot them in the Bay Area
California’s coastline is the perfect spot to catch several whale migration seasons – and humpback season is upon us between April and December. Even from land, you’re likely to see them spouting, slapping their tails (known as “lobtailing”) or even breaching. If you want to see them up close, a whale-watching tour will do the trick. Here’s everything you need to know about whale watching in the Bay Area.
23. Save on a trip to the movies with the AMC Black Ticket
For the cinephile in your life, the AMC Black Ticket grants admission to any 2D movie at any time in participating AMC Theatres®. Take advantage of this discounted price for a movie ticket that never expires so you can save it for a rainy day or catch the next big blockbuster.
24. 10 captivating places San Franciscans recommend to celebrate Earth Day in the Bay
Earth Day is April 22, and we can’t wait! Last year, we asked our followers for their best local outdoor escapes. They certainly didn’t disappoint, and these 10 spots come highly recommended by San Franciscans for San Franciscans.
- Tiburon
- Hawk Hill
- Point Reyes
- And more!
25. This plant store lets you create your own beautiful arrangements
Succulence Life and Garden is an adorable plant store in Bernal Heights where you can actually have an interactive planting experience after you browse their awesome selection. At the Planting Bar, you can create your own unique terrarium, vertical garden, or traditional horizontal planting with help from their staff.
26. See daffodils and tulips in bloom at this country estate and its breathtaking gardens
Filoli is entering its bountiful spring season, meaning that thousands of colorful flowers will soon cover every square inch of their gardens. The beautiful and historic estate planted over 75,000 spring bulbs, and April is the perfect time to see them blooming. Plus, you can have an elegant tea inside the estate’s Garden House.
27. 30 best restaurants that San Franciscans would eat at for the rest of their lives
Who’s hungry? It’s damn near impossible to round up the best restaurants in San Francisco, but we thought we’d give it a shot by asking our followers: “If you could only eat at one San Francisco restaurant for the rest of your life, which one would it be?”
28. Sip your way through these 10 bottomless brunches
Any weekend can be massively improved by a good old bottomless brunch. We’ve rounded up the best bottomless mimosas or mimosa deals in the city, which will surely spruce up your next daytime outing with friends. Read on to discover your next favorite spot!
29. Go to the reopening of SF’s beloved queer bar the Stud
The Stud has announced their highly-anticipated opening date, and its coming soon. On April 20th the iconic bar will reopen at their new SOMA location. The bar is the first collectively-owned queer bar in the country, and it’s well known for lively drag shows and themed parties, and we can’t wait for it to make a comeback.
30. 10 excellent happy hours you’ve got to try in San Francisco
Happy hour is a great excuse to get out of the house and try a new restaurant or to make a trip out to your favorite neighborhood haunt. Here is a list of some must-try happy hours in the city to put on your to-do list.
31. 10 beautiful spring flowers to look for in Golden Gate Park
Spring flowers will be appearing in San Francisco in the coming months. Any stroll through Golden Gate Park will feature plenty of colorful blooms, but we’ve rounded up some of the most iconic ones to seek out on your next outing. Read on to discover all of the spring flower blooms coming to the park and other places in the city.
32. 10 of the most unique gardens in San Francisco
San Francisco is home to plenty of memorable gardens, but the most unique ones can take some digging to find. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of interesting and unforgettable spots for you to get a breath of fresh air.
33. Explore the SFMOMA at their Annual Art Bash
The SFMOMA’s Art Bash is the museum’s biggest celebration of the year. The event helps support the museum’s programs, and is always a good time. There are multiple types of tickets you can buy, each at a different price-point. You can join for the dinner, party, or the late night event depending on which fits best with your budget and preference. The event takes place on April 24 at the SFMOMA.
34. Check out an concert by local musicians in unique venues
So For Sounds offer a unique, intimate concert at local venues featuring local musicians. The small concerts are a great way to see live music from different venue all around the city. You can find concerts in the Haight, Presidio, and more.
By Jamie Ferrell and Dana Flynn