Happy April, San Francisco!
Whether you want to enjoy some of the city’s stellar cuisine or go see the cherry blossoms, 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 the Easter Hunky Jesus Contest.
If you’re looking to add a dose of culture to your April plans, the 14th San Francisco Art Fair brings more than 80 galleries to the Festival Pavilion at Fort Mason Center from April 16–19, featuring Bay Area and international artists with a focus on AAPI creators. The fair also includes panels, drawing sessions, artist talks and other educational programs.
Experience Project Hail Mary in IMAX 70mm at just two Bay Area theaters starting April 17. If you’re up for an epic big-screen outing this April, SF’s AMC Metreon and Dublin’s Regal Hacienda Crossings are screening Project Hail Mary in IMAX 70mm for the limited engagement.
The Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival is celebrating its 58th year in San Francisco. The event is set to take place at Japantown Peace Plaza and will include plenty of Japanese cultural performances, a Grand Parade, traditional art, live music, food, and much more.
Looking for a feel-good way to treat yourself this April? Stephen Curry is partnering with Sotheby’s for a two-week online auction running April 13–28, 2026, offering over 70 pairs of his personal game-worn and exclusive sneakers. All proceeds will benefit the Currys’ Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation to support youth programs in Oakland.
The extremely popular concert series known simply as Candlelight is turning heads right now in San Francisco with its spring series. Enjoy works by The Beatles, Imagine Dragons, Coldplay, and more while surrounded by soft flickering candles and hundreds of flowers. The Bay Area’s top musicians perform classical music in lovely settings, including St. Ignatius Church and the Bayview Opera House. See the full schedule of upcoming Candlelight concerts here.
If you’ve been looking for a reason to fall in love with the Bay Area all over again, we’ve got you covered.
The 69th San Francisco International Film Festival is calling your name from April 24 to May 4, 2026. As the longest-running film festival in America, SFFILM has been bringing the world’s leading storytelling to our city since 1957, and this year’s explosive lineup is completely stacked. Get ready for 11 days of top-tier cinema, with stories that stick with us long after the house lights come up.
This year’s edition features 100 films from over 40 countries. Film documentaries, immersive narratives, and memorable short films. Whether you’re a devoted cinephile or just looking for a cinematic night out in San Francisco, you’ve got a date with the silver screen.
The lights are dimming — get your tickets and secure your seat!
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.
Downtown First Thursdays is a monthly block party featuring over 175 vendors, performers, and activities on 2nd Street. The enormous free events attract thousands of San Franciscans for a memorable and cost-effective night out in the city.
San Francisco’s chaotic Bring Your Own Big Wheel race rolls down Vermont Street on Easter Sunday — wild costumes, tiny bikes, and free fun.
An annual, volunteer-run big wheel bike race down Vermont Street in Potrero Hill, San Francisco, held on Easter Sunday. The event is free, family-friendly, and features a children’s race followed by adult heats with costumed participants.
Experience Monet’s luminous Venetian paintings and iconic Water Lilies at the de Young.
Monet and Venice opens March 21, 2026 at the de Young Museum in San Francisco and runs through July 26, 2026. The exhibition highlights Claude Monet’s Venetian paintings alongside works from across his career, including his iconic Water Lilies series.
The Fort Mason Center, West Coast Craft, and Off The Grid food team up for this monthly night market combining great shopping, food, and music. Dozens of WCC vendors will be present selling their creations, including handmade jewelry, clothes, ceramics, and more. Not to mention 25 or so food trucks representing the best of the Bay Area food scene.
AURA at Grace Cathedral is a 45-minute immersive show that blends music, visual projections, and the cathedral’s breathtaking architecture. Celebrated around the world, the experience turns the historic space into a dynamic art installation, illuminating its arches and intricate details through light and sound.
Join the Hunky Jesus Contest and Sisters’ Easter celebration at Dolores Park — free and drawing thousands. For a uniquely San Francisco April outing, Sisters’ Easter in Dolores Park returns on Sunday, April 5 with contests including the Hunky Jesus Contest, live drag performances, and family-friendly activities running from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
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.
Every single month, local museums refresh and replace dozens of fascinating art exhibits in San Francisco. We’re keeping tabs on the best new temporary displays, including San Francisco Museum of Modern Art exhibitions, fine art at the de Young and the Legion of Honor, and contemporary art exhibits at the Asian Art Museum.
April is peak bloom at Filoli, meaning that thousands of colorful flowers will cover every square inch of their gardens. The beautiful and historic estate plants over 75,000 spring bulbs, and now is the time to make the trip to see them at their best. Plus, you can have an elegant tea inside the estate’s Garden House.
Illuminate LIVE, a free concert series at the Golden Gate Bandshell in Golden Gate Park, offers 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.
Easter in San Francisco brings us a fun lineup of lively parties, egg hunts, festive brunches, and memorable activities. This year, consider attending events like the iconic Hunky Jesus Contest at Dolores Park to the sunrise service at Mt. Davidson Cross. Whether you’re looking for a fun-filled egg hunt for kids or a spirited gathering for adults, here’s your guide to celebrating Easter in SF.
Walk through massive red-thread installations that explore living between places, histories, and identities. If you’re looking for a thought-provoking April museum outing in San Francisco, the Asian Art Museum opens Chiharu Shiota’s Two Home Countries on April 3, 2026—a large-scale installation of red-thread networks and related works exploring memory, identity, and absence. The temporary exhibition runs through July 20, 2026, in the museum’s Yang Yamazaki Pavilion.
If you’re looking for a can’t-miss night out this April, ‘Dear San Francisco’ delivers a vibrant, genre-defying tribute to the city—masterfully weaving together breathtaking acrobatics, poetry, music, and movement into a powerful love letter to San Francisco’s 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.
We’re looking ahead at an exciting schedule of San Francisco Bay Area concerts for 2026. Here’s what’s coming up in April:
- April 2: Jackson Wang at Oakland Arena
- April 6: The Strokes at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
- April 13: Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band at Chase Center
- April 22: Hatsune Miku at San Jose Civic
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.
Earth Day provides a great opportunity to connect with nature, volunteer, and celebrate our beautiful city. From arts and crafts to block parties, here are some ways to honor Earth Day this year.
San Francisco celebrates its vibrant jazz history with ‘The Jazz Room,’ a new show at The Palace Theater. This hour-long performance features timeless classics and improvised solos, immersing audiences in the rich musical tradition of New Orleans. Experience a captivating evening filled with beloved songs and talented local musicians, all while enjoying drinks in a setting reminiscent of iconic jazz bars. Secure your tickets for an unforgettable night of jazz and history!
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 late-night event, depending on which fits your budget and preference best.
The Civic Center Soundtrack concert series is back for its third year! Look for free weekly performances from local musicians every Tuesday and Thursday in Fulton Plaza from 12-3pm.
Union Square has launched a series of free events this spring, ranging from tai chi to sketching lessons. Don’t miss the “Sunday Fun Days in April and May. Click “Read More” below to see the schedule.
The massive 420 Hippie Hill celebration has been called off the last few years, but SF always finds another way to celebrate. Luckily, 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.
Beachgoers can enjoy a cozy bonfire experience at SF’s Ocean Beach, with 16 public fire pits available from 6 am to 9:30 pm between Stairwells 15-20. The fire pits are open until October, offering a great way to enjoy the sunset.
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.
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.
Ferry Building events
San Francisco’s Ferry Building is one of the city’s most iconic buildings, serving as a hotspot for tourists and locals alike. Keep an eye on their schedule of events, which often includes cooking classes, open-air markets, and seasonal attractions.
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.
