Happy August, San Francisco! End your summer on a high note with free concerts, county fairs, new museum exhibitions, festivals, and plenty more to make the most of your month. From Jerry Day to Outside Lands, here are some must-do events to help you plan a totally memorable August in the Bay Area.
1. Jerry Day at McLaren Park
Jerry Day is back this year at the Jerry Garcia Amphitheater in McLaren Park! The beloved free musical event will kick off at 11:30am (doors open at 11am)in celebration of what would be Jerry Garcia’s 83rd birthday. Performers include Melvin Seals and JGB, Stu Allen and Mars Hotel, and more.
🗓️ Date: August 2, 2025 at 11:30am
📍 Location: Jerry Garcia Amphitheater, McLaren Park, 40 John F Shelley Dr, San Francisco, CA 94134
🌐 Website: Jerry Day
2. Dead & Company concert in Golden Gate Park
Dead & Company is playing three exciting shows in Golden Gate Park from August 1-3. Each show will have a unique set list, and the concerts are celebrating 60 years of the band. Dead and Company has a long history in San Francisco, so it’s exciting that the band will perform in SF this summer.
🗓️ Dates: August 1-3 🌐 Learn more: Read our article
3. Harry Potter night at Oracle Park
The SF Giants regularly host special theme nights during home games at Oracle Park. Themes for the nights range from “dog days” to Stephen Curry day. This August, the popular Harry Potter night is back for another year. On August 26, not only can you watch the Giants play, but you can also get a special themed shirt.
🗓️ Date: August 26, 2025
📍 Location: Oracle Park: 24 Willie Mays Plaza, San Francisco
4. Free Golden Gate Park Bandshell concerts
📍 Location: Golden Gate Park Bandshell, Golden Gate Park, Music Concourse Dr, San Francisco, CA 94118
🌐 Learn more: Read our article for the Bandshell concert lineup
5. World Dog Surfing Championships
Start the month off with the cutest surfing competition in Pacifica. Each summer, the World Dog Surfing Championships welcomes talented pups to take on the waves at Linda Mar Beach. The competition includes a dog fashion show, wellness check-ups, and adoption opportunities.
🗓️ Date: August 2, 2025 from 9am-1:30pm
📍 Location: Linda Mar Beach, Pacifica, CA
🌐 Website: World Dog Surfing Championships
6. Drag Bingo Night at the Ferry Building
This month, Fort Point Brewing Co. is hosting an exciting Drag Bingo night. The bingo night is hosted by drag queen Mama Celeste in the brewery’s outdoor beer garden. The fun starts at 6 pm on the third Wednesday of the month, and while you’re there, you can explore some of the other numerous restaurants and shops at the Ferry Building.
📍 Location: Fort Point Beer Garden
7. Free events at Salesforce park
Salesforce Park hosts a fantastic lineup of free events each week, including yoga classes, family activities, concerts, writing workshops, and workouts. Special events this August include Argentine Tango on August 17 and a K-Pop Up on August 24.
📍 Location: Salesforce Park, 425 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94105
🌐 Learn more: Read our article about Salesforce Park events
8. Stern Grove Festival
Nestled in a secluded eucalyptus grove, this annual free concert series is celebrating its 88th year through August. Admission is free, but tickets are required, so make sure you look into their lottery system to ensure your attendance.
- August 3: Michael Franti & Spearhead + Black London
- August 10: The Pointer Sisters + Lyrics Born
- August 16: Damian ‘Jr. Gong’ Marley & Stephen Marley (Big Picnic Weekend Day 1)
- August 17: Diana Ross (Big Picnic Weekend Day 2)
📍 Location: Stern Grove Park, Wawona St, San Francisco, CA 94132
🌐 Learn more: Read our article about Stern Grove Festival
9. Nihonmachi Street Fair
Celebrate the best of AAPI culture at this historic SF festival dating back to 1974. The popular Nihonmachi Street Fair will take over Japantown with over 150 small businesses and lively performances from local dance groups.
🗓️ Date: August 2-3 from 11am-6pm
📍 Location: Japantown SF
🌐 Website: Nihonmachi Street Fair
10. Valencia LIVE!
Valencia LIVE! is an exciting night market located on Valencia Street in the Mission District. The market closes the street to vehicle traffic, bringing in vendors and exciting community events. The night market debuted in May and is scheduled for every second Thursday of the month until October. Check out the next Valencia LIVE! on August 14, 2025.
🗓️ Date: August 14
11. Candlelight Concerts
The extremely popular concert series known simply as Candlelight is turning heads right now in San Francisco! Concerts offer various genres of music played by a talented string quartet, in an intimate environment surrounded by hundreds of luminous candles. The venues include St. Ignatius Church and the International Art Museum of America, both providing a stunning setting for the unique concerts.
🎟️ Tickets: Candlelight Concerts
12. Free museum days
We love San Francisco for its vibrant culture, history, and resources, but it’s no secret that living here costs a pretty penny. Whether you’re a college student on a budget, or a bargain hunter wanting to see the sights, this list will certainly help you get started. Check out the full list of free-admission days here.
13. Outside Lands 2025
Outside Lands is the city’s largest music festival and is back for 3 days of music in Golden Gate Park. 2025 headliners include Doechii, Tyler, The Creator, Hozier, Doja Cat, and many more. This annual festival draws music lovers from across the country and is famous for its misty forested setting.
🗓️ Date: Aug. 8-10, 2025
📍 Location: Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA
🌐 Learn more: Read our article about Outside Lands
14. Museum exhibitions
As we enter a new season in San Francisco, many local museums are refreshing and replacing their temporary exhibitions. Now’s a great time to take stock and plan ahead to see some of these wonderful displays before they’re gone.
- Paul McCartney Photographs 1963-64: Eyes of the Storm at the de Young Museum
- Black Gold: Stories Untold at Fort Point
- Ruth Asawa: Retrospective at SFMOMA
- Wayne Thiebaud: Art Comes from Art at Legion of Honor
- See the full list of museum exhibitions here
15. Dahlia Dell
The Dahlia Dell, located in Golden Gate Park right near the Conservatory of Flowers, is about to reach peak bloom, and these colorful, unique flowers are not to be missed. According to Golden Gate Park, Dahlias generally start to bloom there in June, reaching peak bloom in August and September. You can still catch them all the way into October, although last year they bloomed until about the beginning of September.
🗓️ Date: Peak bloom is in August and September
📍 Location: Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA
🌐 Learn more: Read our article about the Dahlia Dell
16. Watch Pro Women’s soccer at Oracle Park
The Bay FC, a women’s professional soccer team based in the Bay Area, will play an exciting game at Oracle Park, the first time in the iconic stadium. The match is against Washington Spirit on August 23 at 1 pm, and is an exciting moment in women’s sports. You can learn more about the match and get tickets here.
🗓️ Dates: Aug. 23, 2025
📍 Location: Oracle Park: 24 Willie Mays Plaza, San Francisco
17. 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. It’s a center for events, pop-ups, a farmers market, and countless excellent merchants who sell their wares daily in the building’s many stalls.
📍 Location: 1 Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA 94105
🌐 Learn more: Read our article about the Ferry Building
18. NightLife 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. They’ve just started their new NightLife LIVE series which brings live concerts to the Academy.
📍 Location: 55 Music Concourse Dr, San Francisco, CA 94118
🌐 Learn more: California Academy of Sciences
19. SF Fringe Festival
Every year, the EXIT Theater showcases SF Fringe, featuring works of performance art. As the name suggests, the festival showcases “fringe” performances, proudly deciding not to curate or censor performers.
🗓️ Dates: Aug. 8-24, 2025
📍 Location: 156 Eddy Street, San Francisco, CA
🌐 Learn more: SF Fringe Festival
20. Downtown First Thursdays
Downtown First Thursdays are a free, monthly block party that is open to the public. The event features live music, DJs, drag, performances, a giant disco ball, and more, and it’s only a few streets away from Hoedown on Front Street.
🗓️ Dates: August 7, 2025
📍 Location: 2nd Street between Market and Howard, San Francisco, CA
🌐 Learn more: Read our article about Downtown First Thursdays
21. Hungry Ghost Festival
The Chinese Culture Center hosts a memorable day of performances and interactive art at an awesome family-friendly event. The Hungry Ghost Festival is a Taoist and Buddhist festival held in East Asian countries to honor ghosts and spirits coming out of the lower realm.
🗓️ Dates: August 23, 2025
📍 Location: Chinatown, San Francisco, CA
🌐 Learn more: Hungry Ghost Festival
22. Trans History Month events
In 2021, San Francisco declared August Trans History Month, becoming the first U.S. city to do so. August marks the anniversary of the Compton’s Cafeteria riots, in which a large group of transgender women and drag queens resisted arrest in the Tenderloin. They fought back with handbags and high heels to protest violent abuse and harassment they suffered at the hands of the police. The Transgender District hosts the popular Riot Party to remember this essential day in trans history.
🗓️ Dates: TBA
🌐 Learn more: The Riot Party
23. Yoga at Grace Cathedral
Every week, spiritual worlds unite in a darkened cathedral, illuminated with colorful light trickling in from the stained glass windows. Multicolored mats cover the floors of the vast cathedral as a yoga session begins, accompanied by beautiful live instrumentals. It’s fair to say that yoga sessions at Grace Cathedral are simply divine.
🗓️ Dates: Tuesdays and Saturdays
📍 Location: Grace Cathedral, 1100 California St, San Francisco, CA 94108
🌐 Learn more: Yoga on the Labyrinth at Grace Cathedral
24. After Dark at the Exploratorium
The Exploratorium isn’t your average museum experience – in fact, they’ve been making their own interactive exhibits since 1969. It’s a popular place for kids and families, but adults have a great time as well, especially at their monthly 21+ After Dark events.
📍 Location: Exploratorium, Pier 15 Embarcadero, Green St, San Francisco, CA 94111
🌐 Learn more: After Dark at the Exploratorium
25. Fort Mason Center events
The popular art center hosts numerous exhibitions and events throughout the year, and there are some special ones coming up. Here’s what to watch out for this summer.
📍 Location: Fort Mason Center, 2 Marina Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94123
🌐 Learn more: Read our article about Fort Mason Center