There’s plenty to do this July 2024 in and around San Francisco! Keep an eye out for new museum exhibitions, amazing free music, and dazzling Bay Area fireworks shows this July 4th. Read on to discover dozens of activities that will make for a fantastic July in SF and beyond.
1. Enjoy captivating classical music by candlelight at this magical concert series
The popular concert series is back for another month of delightful classical music covering some of your favorite artists, such as Taylor Swift, Nirvana, Queen, and more, played by a talented string quartet in an intimate environment surrounded by hundreds of luminous candles. The Bay Area’s top musicians perform classical music in lovely settings, including St. Ignatius Church. Check out the full schedule of candlelight concerts in July for a night of music in a beautiful setting.
2. Celebrate the Fourth of July with a dazzling local fireworks show
The Fourth of July is back in full swing for 2024. Bay Area cities and counties are returning to the parades, markets, live music, and fireworks displays that we know and love, from the famous show at Pier 39 to a massive celebration in Redwood City. Here’s what to look for in SF:
- Fisherman’s Wharf: starting at 9:30 pm
- USS Hornet: Music, food, and drinks from 10 am-5 pm
- Pier 39: Celebration at the pier, details TBA
- A Red, White, and Band Independence Day: Free concert by the Golden Gate Park Band at the Bandshell
3. Here’s the July lineup of free concerts at Golden Gate Park’s Bandshell
The Illuminate Live series is bringing dozens of free concerts to Golden Gate Park’s beautiful Bandshell. All performances are free and family-friendly, with everything from singer/songwriter nights to the ever-popular Reggae Sundays. The beloved music series will continue throughout July, and the lineup is packed with great local musicians, as always.
4. Check out all the fun activities coming to the Ferry Building
San Francisco’s Ferry Building is a center for events, pop-ups, a farmers’ market, and countless excellent merchants who sell their wares daily in the building’s many stalls.
- July 7: Gardeneur Plant Market
- July 7: Head West Market Place
- July 14: Foodwise Summer Bash
- Sundays: July summer Sundays
- Wednesday: Free yoga
- Thursdays: Live music on the Plaza
5. Get tickets to the best upcoming local music festivals
It’s hard to beat the SF arts and culture scene, especially when it comes to Bay Area music festivals. Here are all the festivals on our radar for July 2024:
- Fillmore Jazz Festival – July 6-7, 2024 – Fillmore District, San Francisco
- Mosswood Meltdown – July 6-7, 2024 – Mosswood Park, Oakland
- Stanford Live Arts Festival – July 14-27, 2024 – Frost Amphitheater, Stanford
- Festival Napa Valley – July 6-21, 2024 – Meritage Resort, Napa
- and more
6. Enjoy free concerts at Noise Pop’s new Summer of Music series
Saturdays
Get ready for a summer of free music in SF because legendary music promoter Noise Pop is partnering with the newly-formed nonprofit organization Civic Joy Fund to bring back the Summer of Music. The live music series will take place from 2-5 pm every Saturday from now through August.
7. Dance the night away at the new Bhangra and Beats Night Market
July 12
This Friday night event called Bhangra and Beats Night Market is returning to Downtown SF after a successful debut last year. The event exciting event will feature a variety of street food vendors, cocktails, and goods from local artisans. Over 30 unique local artisans and retailers will participate in the event. Goods include hard-to-find Indian goods and San Francisco Bay Area-made jewelry, apparel, personal care, and art.
8. Check out another round of NightLife events at the Academy of Sciences
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, ambiance lighting, and more alongside the Academy’s nearly 40,000 animal residents.
9. Cheer on our home teams at these July major league sports events
Bay Area sports fans are lucky to enjoy a year-round rotation of top-tier sporting events with 6 local major league teams in the realms of baseball, football, basketball, hockey, and soccer.
We’re already well into baseball season this June, meaning you can catch numerous SF Giants home games at Oracle Park or Oakland A’s home games at the Coliseum. Soccer season is also in full swing for the San Jose Earthquakes at PayPal Park.
10. See what’s going on at the Exploratorium this July
The Exploratorium isn’t your average museum experience – in fact, they’ve been making their own interactive exhibits since 1969. The museum is especially great on Thursdays when they host an after-dark event, including drinks and special presentations.
11. Check out all the events and exhibitions happening at Fort Mason Center
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. See the schedule here.
12. Get tickets to July concerts at the coolest Bay Area concert venues
We’re lucky to host some highly-anticipated Bay Area concerts including blink-182, Tate Mcrae, Illenium, and more. With a wealth of historic music venues in and around San Francisco you can count on creating some memories no matter who’s playing.
13. SF’s floating Salesforce Park has a ton of free activities like yoga and bird walks
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. See the schedule here.
14. Here are the current and upcoming museum exhibitions to look out for in July
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. Check out a few great exhibitions on display now:
- Leilah Barbirye: We Have a History at the de Young
- ExtraOrdinary! at the Exploratorium
- Art of Noise at SFMOMA
- !!!!! at MoAD
Closing soon:
- Rituals of Care at the de Young
- Fashioning San Francisco: A Century of Style at the de Young
15.Watch the exciting SailGP Grand Final
The SailGP Grand Final is an exciting race between the top teams from the SailGP season. SailGP features high-performance catamarans known for reaching high speeds during intense competitions. The Grand Final is scheduled for July 13 and 14, in a winner-takes-all competition for a seven-figure prize. Tickets for the event are on sale now, with several options available for different price points.
16. A free outdoor pop-up circus is making the rounds in SF and Oakland
Circus Bella is back for its 15th year of performing free shows in Bay Area parks. The one-ring circus will perform a 60-minute show titled WOW! features a one ring circus complete with acrobats, aerialists, clowns, and more. check out the schedule for shows in July:
- July 11: Lincoln Square Park, 6 pm
- July 14: TJPA Salesforce Park, 1 pm, 3 pm
- July 20: PROXY Hayes Valley, 1 pm, 3 pm
17. Catch a free concert or movie night at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Did you know that the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk puts on free programming all summer long? These free movie nights, concerts, magic shows, and performances are happening nightly all the way through August 8. If you’re willing to make the trip, you’re in for a treat.
- July 5 – The Sandlot
- July 12 – The Endless Summer
- Plus activities including 60th anniversary merch on sale, free musical performances, and meet-and-greets with special guests.
- July 19 – Wonka
- July 26 – Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
- And more – full schedule here
18. Check out link_url=”https://secretsanfrancisco.com/west-coast-craft-sf/”]West Coast Craft Market[/trackLink]
While the massive, two day craft fair already happened this pass June, the smaller version of the market is coming back for this July. West Coast Craft Market will have plenty of amazing vendors selling jewelry, art, ceramics, and much. The market is outside Fort Mason Center on July 6 from 10 am until 3 pm.
19. Snag free tickets to one of Stern Grove’s amazing outdoor concerts
Sundays
Summer in SF is filled with amazing live music, and one of the most iconic festivals is back for another year. Stern Grove Festival, a FREE outdoor concert series featuring a wide variety of genres, is in the middle of an epic summer. Guests must register online beforehand to reserve a spot, and tickets are released at 2pm exactly 1 month prior to each event, offering first-come, first-served free passes.
20. Watch Labyrinth at Sundown Cinema’s free outdoor film series
July 12
SF Parks Alliance and Do The Bay have brought back the popular Sundown Cinema series, which presents awesome FREE movies on a giant screen in various parks around the city. This month you can watch Labyrinth at Glen Park on July 12.
21. Cheer on runners at the SF Marathon
July 27-28
The 47th annual SF Marathon is coming up. See thousands of racers and spectators take to the streets for an epic route through the city. You can either take up a post along the route (Golden Gate Park is a nice place to watch) or welcome runners to the finish line on the Embarcadero at Folsom.
22. Don’t miss out on free performances and community programs at the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival
Yerba Buena Gardens Festival is now hosting fantastic free programming multiple days a week, and their upcoming schedule is worth putting on your calendar. The independent nonprofit organization is dedicated to presenting accessible cultural events during 6 months of the year, including world-class music, theater, dance, and more.
23. Look for giant water lilies in bloom this summer at the Conservatory of Flowers
These enormous water lilies are a prominent fixture in the San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers‘ Aquatic Plants Gallery. These impressive plants produce massive white and pink flowers that typically stick around for just 2 days. The gigantic leaves float on top of the water, growing to be between 4 and 6 feet across!
24. 11 wonderful SF museums and gardens offering free admission 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.
- June 29, July 4 – SFMOMA*
- July 2 – de Young Museum**
- July 2 – Legion of Honor**
- July 2 – Conservatory of Flowers***
- July 3 – GLBT Historical Society Museum
- July 5 – Contemporary Jewish Museum
- July 7 – Asian Art Museum
- July 9 – SF Botanical Garden***
- July 13 – Museum of the African Diaspora
25. Explore fascinating tide pools around the Bay Area
If you’re a California native lucky enough to live on the coast, then you know that tide pooling is an awesome way to enjoy the beach. We’ve put together a list of great tide pools to visit around the Bay Area, so put on your best waterproof shoes and get ready to explore. Tidepooling is a fun activity for kids and adults alike, but remember: you’re a guest in these critters’ habitat, so try not to disturb whatever you find and always watch your step. Be sure to visit at low tide, and watch out for sneaker waves.
- Duxbury Reef in Bolinas
- Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park in Pescadero
- Davenport Beach in Davenport
- And more!
26. Hang with your friends at a lively SF beer garden
The Bay Area is home to some of the best craft beer in the country, meaning that it’s cultivated an entire generation of beer lovers and aficionados. When it comes to breweries, we’re hard to beat, but SF’s beer gardens are also excellent places to kick back and try out a flight or sip on your favorite pils and watch the game.
27. Plan a scenic road trip around California
San Francisco is well-located for some of best road trips in California. We’re lucky to live near countless beautiful small towns and natural wonders, whether you’re just going for a short day trip or an extended vacation. Read on for some of our favorite road trip destinations from San Francisco.
28. Attend an epic soccer game of Brazil vs Columbia at Levi’s Stadium
This July, Levi’s stadium will host an exciting soccer match between Brazil and Columbia. The match is scheduled for July 2nd, and is a amazing opportunity for soccer fans to watch international soccer right in the Bay Area.
29. Check out Downtown First Thursdays
The free monthly block party is hosted in Downtown SF on the first Thursday of every month. The event starts at 5 pm and runs until 10 pm, featuring live music, bars, and art galleries. The party takes place on 2nd Street, between Market and Howard, with two outdoor bars welcoming San Franciscans 21 and up.
30. Enjoy live music at the Fillmore Jazz Festival
The Fillmore Jazz Festival is the largest free jazz festival on the West Coast, and we’re lucky enough to have it right in SF. The festival is scheduled for July 6 and 7, featuring 5 different Venues in the Fillmore neighborhood.
31. Buy limited-edition merch at the Hello Kitty Cafe Truck
32. Attend a unique burlesque show Empire Strips Back
This parody burlesque show places fan favorite sci-fi characters into a unique burlesque show. It’s perfect for a night out and there are plenty of dates available for July. Tickets range in price, but typically start at $39.
33. Spend the day at this hidden Bay Area beach
Kirby Cove is a secluded beach that is accessible by a short hike. The beach has some of the best views of Golden Gate Bridge, and is perfect for spending a sunny day enjoying the view of San Francisco and the iconic bridge. The beach is located in Marin, just a short drive across the Golden Gate bridge.
34. Take a day trip to this beautiful glowing meadow
The Sensorio light meadow in Paso Robles is a stunning immersive installation just three hours outside SF. While it’s not a short trip, it’s definitely worth it. Not only can you wander glowing meadows, there is a new installation that was just added in May 2024. Plus, there is often live music at select times.
No matter how you decide to spend your July in San Francisco, you’ll find there are plenty of summer events and activities to keep you busy every single week. From epic July Fourth fireworks shows to free events at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, the Bay Area is a great place to enjoy the month of July.