There’s plenty to do this July 2026 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.
Whether you’re hoping to take a memorable summer day trip or make the most of seasonal events, you’ll find plenty of options to choose from around the Bay Area. Read on to discover dozens of activities that will make for a fantastic July in SF and beyond.
This Fourth of July, Bay Area cities and counties return 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. Read our guide to the Fourth of July for everything you need to know.
This July, watch 1,200 illuminated drones illuminate the sky over the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds, recreating your favorite characters and most beloved moments from the Harry Potter™ films.
If you can’t make it on Fourth of July weekend, DroneArt Show heads to Sacramento’s Cal Expo Race Track on August 14-15.
During the World Cup, more than 30 Fan Zones will pop up at venues including Thrive City, Pier 39, and China Basin Park, welcoming locals and out-of-towners alike. To make the most of this massive global event in the Bay, make sure you read our full guide to World Cup activities—and if you’re new in SF, read our article for tips about how to get to Levi’s Stadium.
Every year, the Illuminate Live series presents hundreds of free concerts at 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.
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. This July, look for the Head West Marketplace on July 5th and Ferry Fest on July 12th.
Experience AURA’s 45-minute immersive projection at Grace Cathedral.
AURA is a 45-minute immersive show that blends music and large-scale visual projections to transform Grace Cathedral’s soaring architecture into a dynamic art installation. The experience illuminates arches and intricate details for a memorable multimedia presentation.
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.
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. Catch fantastic live music at different venues throughout the Fillmore neighborhood.
While West Coast Craft’s massive, two-day craft fair usually happens in June, a smaller version of the market is coming back in July. West Coast Craft Market will have plenty of amazing vendors selling jewelry, art, ceramics, and more.
Experience San Francisco’s history through dazzling acrobatics and live performance.
Dear San Francisco is an ode to San Francisco featuring music, acrobats, dancers, and historical storytelling. The show at Club Fugazi highlights impressive acrobatics and talented performers — tickets often sell out, so book soon.
West Coast Craft and Off the Grid food trucks teamed up with Fort Mason Center to create a monthly night market series with craft vendors, delicious food, and more. The lively events are a hit, regularly drawing crowds to enjoy Fort Mason at night.
July is a big month for movie lovers, with some of the year’s most highly anticipated films coming to Bay Area theaters. Buy tickets below.
- July 1: Minions & Monsters
- July 10: Moana (live action)
- July 17: The Odyssey
- July 31: Spider-Man: Brand New Day
Bhangra and Beats Night Market
This Friday night event features a variety of street food vendors, cocktails, and goods from over 30 unique local artisans and retailers. Products include hard-to-find Indian goods and San Francisco Bay Area-made jewelry, apparel, personal care, and art. Learn more at their website.
The 49th 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.
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.
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 2026.
- Stern Grove Festival – Sundays from June 14 to August 16 – Stern Grove, San Francisco
- Fillmore Jazz Festival – July 4-5, 2026 – Fillmore District, San Francisco
- Mosswood Meltdown – July 18-19, 2026 – Mosswood Park, Oakland
- Festival Napa Valley – July 4-19, 2026 – Various venues in Napa Valley
Hayes Valley Carnival
The 115-year-old Hayes Valley Carnival delivers a dose of old San Francisco this month. This free neighborhood celebration mixes live Circus Bella performances at PROXY, carnival games, and prizes with street food from local restaurants and vendors.
A free block party will take over SF’s Front Street entertainment zone at the end of July! The party will run from 4 to 9 pm on Friday evening, with local bars participating, live music, and lawn games.
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.
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.
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, boot camps, live music, bird walks, garden tours, drum circles, and much more.
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. Look for Monet and Venice at the de Young and Chiharu Shiota: Two Home Countries at the Asian Art Museum.
Free Circus Bella performances
Circus Bella is back for its 17th year of performing free shows in Bay Area parks. The one-ring circus will perform a 60-minute show called AH HA! featuring a one-ring circus complete with acrobats, aerialists, clowns, and more. Check out the schedule for shows in July on their website.
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 summer. If you’re willing to make the trip, you’re in for a treat.
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.
Every year, Yerba Buena Gardens Festival hosts fantastic free programming. 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.
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. Here are all the save-the-dates.
