February in San Francisco brings plenty of special events and activities, including the Chinese New Year Parade, Black History Month, Valentine’s Day, and the Super Bowl. Not sure how you’ll keep track of it all? Read on to discover some awesome activities for a fun and refreshing February in the Bay Area.
1. These exquisite Candlelight concerts are happening now in SF and Oakland
The immensely popular Candlelight concert series is turning heads right now in San Francisco! Hear your favorite songs on strings including classics from Frank Sinatra and Queen, recent pop hits, and Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. The Bay Area’s top musicians perform in an intimate setting surrounded by thousands of flickering candles, making for an unforgettable musical experience. Get tickets now!
- Feb. 9 – Candlelight: A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac
- Feb. 11 – Candlelight: A Tribute to BTS
- Feb. 14 – Candlelight: Valentine’s Day Special ft. “Romeo and Juliet” and more
- Feb. 23 – Candlelight: Featuring Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and More at St. Ignatius Church
- Feb. 24 – Candlelight: A Tribute to Coldplay
- Feb. 25 – Candlelight: A Tribute to Beyoncé at IAMA
2. See hundreds of dazzling magnolias in bloom at SF Botanical Garden
Now through March
Every year, the San Francisco Botanical Garden explodes into a beautiful spectrum of deep magentas and bright pinks. The “Magnificent Magnolias” event occurs in late January through March, so be sure to find a day soon to see these spectacular blossoms at their best.
Magnolias are ancient flowering trees native to Asia and the New World. The SF Botanical Garden cultivates species from dozens of different climates, including the forests of the Himalayas and Mesoamerica. Find hundreds of blossoms, many of them rare and exotic, in the Great Meadow and the Camellia Garden.
3. Get tickets to the Haunted Tavern Cocktail Experience at Winchester Mystery House
This 4-part interactive cocktail journey at Winchester Mystery House is guided by the tavern keeper himself, a spooky character all his own. Run by the descendants of Ichabod Crane, this experience will leave you wanting more, considering all the delicious drinks you’ll be able to try. The event is happening on a few select days in March, but tickets are already on sale and sure to go fast.
4. Ring in the Year of the Rabbit with these fun Chinese Lunar New Year festivities
The Chinese New Year Festival and Parade is one of the most iconic events on San Francisco’s cultural calendar. It’s been happening since 1851, making it the oldest and largest celebration of this kind outside of Asia.
The festival normally includes two street fairs, a beauty pageant, a YMCA run, children’s basketball games, and of course the grand finale: the Chinese New Year Parade. Here are some dates to keep track of:
- Jan. 7 – Feb. 4: Rabbit on Parade photo contest
- Feb. 3: Miss Chinatown Pageant and Coronation Ball
- Feb. 4: Chinese New Year Parade
- Feb. 4-5: Community Street Fair
5. Honor Black History Month with these fantastic activities
Explore the Museum of the African Diaspora
San Francisco’s extraordinary Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD) has served as a vital Bay Area institution since 2005. Be sure to visit the current exhibition The New Black Vanguard: Photography Between Art and Fashion, which showcases the work of 15 contemporary Black fashion photographers from around the world. Other events include:
- Feb. 4 – ENGAGE Symposium 2023: Photography, Fashion, and Black Representation
- Feb. 9 – Community Voices: Poets Speak Closing Reception
- Feb. 11 – Community Free Day: KP Thrive @ MoAD
- Feb. 15 – Film Screening & Discussion: Favela é Moda (Favela Is Fashion)
- Feb. 23 – Poetry Reading: Black Fire This Time
- And more
Check out More Than a Month at SF Public Library
Each year, the San Francisco Public Library puts on More Than A Month, a celebration of Black history spotlighting Black creators. This year will emphasize the theme of resistance, with free meditation, film screenings, musical performances, panels, craft programs, and more.
Walk beneath a waterfall at the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial
Yerba Buena Gardens is home to the country’s second-largest memorial to Martin Luther King Jr., an enormous sculptural waterfall fountain. Water cascades over a granite walkway, blocking out the city sounds and creating a tunnel in which visitors can contemplate inscribed quotations from Dr. King’s speeches. When’s the last time you visited this profound monument?
Attend the Black Joy Parade
Feb. 26 – This massive parade and festival will celebrate the Black experience in epic form. With over 200 vendors, plenty of performances, and a lively parade route, this is the largest free event of its kind in California.
6. Get a handmade portrait of your pet at SFMOMA
© Estate of Joan Brown; photo: Wilfred J. Jones; courtesy Estate of Joan Brown. Image via SFMOMA.
Feb. 4
Heads up, pet owners of San Francisco — you could get a free handmade portrait of your pet this February! SFMOMA and SF SPCA have partnered for Pet Portraits Day on February 4th in celebration of the museum’s exhibition Joan Brown. Over fifty local artists will take over the museum to create pet portraits using a variety of mediums. Anyone can submit a digital portrait of their pet for consideration, and if your portrait is chosen you’ll receive it in the mail a few weeks after the event.
7. Save on a trip to the movies with the AMC Black Ticket
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.
8. Don’t miss out on February free admission days at SF museums
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This list shows SF museums and gardens currently offering free admission days to the general public. Many museums including the Exploratorium and Academy of Sciences also take part in Museums for All, which gives free or reduced admission to low-income visitors, or Discover and Go, which gives free admission to visitors with an SF Public Library card.
- Feb. 1 – GLBT Historical Society Museum
- Feb. 2 – SFMOMA
- For Bay Area residents only, 1:30-8pm
- Feb. 2 – San Francisco Zoo
- Free for anyone who pledges to make an environmentally friendly change in their life on Groundhog Day.
- Feb. 3 – Contemporary Jewish Museum
- Feb. 5 – Asian Art Museum
- Feb. 7 – de Young Museum & Legion of Honor
- Also free every Saturday for Bay Area residents
- Feb. 7 – Conservatory of Flowers
- Also free daily for SF City & County Residents
- Feb. 11 – Museum of the African Diaspora
- Feb. 14 – SF Botanical Garden
- Also free daily for SF City & County Residents
- Also free daily between 7:30-9am for the general public
- Wednesdays – Museum of Craft and Design
- “Pay what you can” Wednesdays
- MWF before 10am – Japanese Tea Garden
- Also free daily for SF City & County Residents
9. Catch the last week of SF Sketchfest
Through Feb. 5
San Francisco’s popular annual comedy festival, SF Sketchfest, is celebrating its 20th anniversary this month with over two weeks of performance across SF. Don’t let the name fool you, this festival is far from just sketch. It’s a celebration of comedy in all of its forms including improv, stand-up, movie screenings, podcasts, special tributes, retrospectives, panel discussions, and more.
10. Attend a Super Bowl watch party
Feb. 12
The Super Bowl is coming up and there are plenty of fun ways to celebrate. If you’re looking for some great energy, consider checking out these sports bars around the city which will surely be hosting watch parties.
Thrive City will also be screening the Super Bowl on its giant jumbotron, as will Oakland’s New Parkway Theatre.
11. Spend a romantic Valentine’s Day in the city
Feb. 14
Happy Valentine’s Day, San Francisco! Make it a day to remember with these memorable activities, concerts, events, and restaurants in the Bay Area. Read on to get inspired, whether you’re spending the day with your partner, friends, family, or yourself.
- Enjoy a dreamy Valentine’s Day concert by candlelight
- Scroll our list of creative date ideas in the Bay Area
- Get a new perspective of the city with these sailing and bike trips
- And more
12. …or skip the romance and lean into anti-Valentine’s Day
Who said Valentine’s Day had to be romantic? Read on for the best anti-Valentine’s Day activities to get you through the corniest time of year.
- Feb. 14 – Goat My Valentine Fashion Show at Union Square
- Feb. 14 – Anti-Valentine’s Day Power Ballad Sing-Along at the Roxie Theater
- Feb. 18 – Cupid’s Undie Run at Woodbury
- And more
13-14. Search for elephant seals and gray whales along the California coast
Elephant seal viewing
It’s elephant seal breeding season on the coast of California, an exciting natural phenomenon that’s iconic to our state. Northern elephant seals inhabit the waters from Baja California, Mexico to the Gulf of Alaska and the Aleutian Islands. They generally breed from December to March at Point Reyes, Año Nuevo, the Channel Islands and Piedras Blancas.
Whale watching
15,000 gray whales are currently migrating along the California coast through April, and NorCal is full of countless epic viewing spots to see this phenomenon for yourself. 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.
15. Take stock of the latest must-see SF museum exhibitions
As we enter a new month 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.
Closing soon
- Hung Liu: Golden Gate (金門) – closing Feb. 5 at the de Young
- Ramses the Great and the Gold of the Pharaohs – closing Feb. 12 at the de Young
- Richard Diebenkorn in Color at Crown Point Press – closing Feb. 12 at the de Young
- Bearing Witness: Selected Works by Chiura Obata – closing Feb. 27 at the Asian Art Museum
Opening soon
- Walt Disney’s The Jungle Book: Making a Masterpiece – reopening Feb. 2 at the Walt Disney Family Museum
- Cara Levine: To Survive I Need You to Survive – opening Feb. 16 at the Contemporary Jewish Museum
- L’chaim: Celebrating Our Building at 15 – opening Feb. 16 at Contemporary Jewish Museum
- Corporeal – opening Feb. 18 at SFMOMA
16. Find your new favorite brewery at SF Beer Week
Feb. 10-19
San Francisco Beer Week arrives this month, and it’s a special opportunity to explore some of the best craft beers the Bay Area has to offer. Plenty of local breweries will be putting on special promotions and events including tap takeovers, blind tasting challenges, parties, games, and beer releases.
17. Take a day trip to Calla Lily Valley in Big Sur
Now through April
Big Sur is one of California’s most spectacular natural wonders, and any drive down that stretch of Highway 1 is truly a sight to behold. One of its lesser-known elements is Calla Lily Valley at Garrapata Beach, which becomes overtaken with hundreds of blooming white calla lilies every year. If you can manage to catch them in bloom between January-April, you’re in for a real treat.
18. Keep an eye out for even more early spring flower blooms around the Bay Area
As we head into February, it’s time to keep our eyes peeled for the beginnings of even more spring flower blooms! In addition to the magnolias and calla lilies, this month may also bring us almond blossoms in Tracy, wild mustard in Half Moon Bay, and perhaps a few cherry blossoms in the Japanese Tea Garden.
After the heavy rains we experienced this year in California, 2023 is expected to bring a decent amount of superblooms to the state. Now’s a time to take stock of prime wildflower viewing in the Bay Area so you can catch them at the right time.
19. This rare glowing ‘Firefall’ will happen soon in Yosemite
Feb. 10-28
Every year from mid to late February, for a few fleeting moments, if the conditions are exactly right, Yosemite’s Horsetail waterfalls illuminate into a spectacular orange spectrum, as the water reflects the setting sun. For this to happen though, the temperatures need to be within a certain range, so that there’s a sufficient amount of snow and water flowing. Prime glow time this year is between February 10 and February 28 just before sunset.
20. Snap pics with the newly-unveiled Hearts in San Francisco sculptures
Now through Feb. 28
The San Francisco General Hospital Foundation (SFGHF)’s 19th annual Hearts in San Francisco art project has now revealed its 2023 display. A selection of heart sculptures by local artists is on display at SF’s Neiman Marcus through Feb. 15, and even more hearts are on view at the Ferry Building now through Feb. 28.
21. Check out these special events at the Ferry Building
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.
- Now through Feb. 28 – Hearts in SF
- Feb. 9 – Love Bites!
- Feb. 12, 19 – The Art of Sushi Making
- Wednesdays beginning Feb. 15 – All-Levels Vinyasa Yoga
- And more
22. Grab tickets to NightLife at the California Academy of Sciences
Recurring Thursdays
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, ambience lighting, and more alongside the Academy’s nearly 40,000 animal residents.
- Feb. 2 – NightLife with Cafe Ohlone – Enjoy food, teas, and cocktails using traditional Ohlone ingredients while learning from Cafe Ohlone co-founders Vincent Medina and Louis Trevino.
- Feb. 9 – NightLife – no set theme.
- Feb. 16 – NightLife: Noise Pop – Party it up for Noise Pop Music Fest’s 30th anniversary.
- Feb. 23 – NightLife of Tomorrow – Explore futuristic art and science.
23. Learn about the naughty side of nature at the Exploratorium’s ‘Sexplorations’ After Dark event
Recurring Thursdays
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 6-10pm with a different theme every week, featuring guest speakers, films, and great music.
- Feb. 2 – Wondrous Fungus – Learn about a variety of fungi including local species, fungus art, and more.
- Feb. 9 – Sexplorations – Discover the naughtiest parts of nature, from mating rituals to genetics and more.
- Feb. 16 – Black Excellence, Black Invention – A collaboration with SF Public Library about the discoveries of Black inventors.
24. Have a dazzling snow day near the Bay
San Francisco is a magical, beautiful, exciting place, with one caveat – there’s never any snow. Lucky for us, California is home to dozens of different climates and it’s not so difficult to pack up the car for a drive out to the snowy mountains in the distance. Just make sure to check weather and snow conditions before heading out. Here are some places to go enjoy this fluffy white stuff before it’s gone!
25. Get cozy with a cocktail around the best restaurant fireplaces in SF
A homey, roaring fire is a hot commodity during winter (and basically any other season) in SF’s characteristic foggy weather. We’ve rounded up some of our favorite fireplaces in San Francisco, ranging from outdoor patios to neighborhood bars to fine dining restaurants. Read on to discover your next cozy haunt.
26. Plan a relaxing day at these local spas and saunas
San Francisco is known for its famously chilly weather but is luckily also home to some world-class saunas and spas. Enjoy an intimate and romantic day at these popular saunas in and around the city.