There’s plenty to do this July 2025 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.
1. Fourth of July fireworks shows
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 to know.
2. Free concerts at the Bandshell
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.
3. Events and activities at 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. This July, look for outdoor yoga and live music. Read more about the Ferry Building here.
4. 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 2025.
- Stern Grove Festival – Sundays – Stern Grove, San Francisco
- Fillmore Jazz Festival – July 5-6, 2025 – Fillmore District, San Francisco
- Mosswood Meltdown – July 19, 2025 – Mosswood Park, Oakland
- Festival Napa Valley – July 5-15, 2025 – Meritage Resort, Napa
- And more – see the list here
5. Candlelight Concerts
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.
6. 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.
🗓️ Date: July 25, 2025
7. 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.
🗓️ Dates: Thursdays
8. 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. The museum is especially great on Thursdays when they host an after-dark event, including drinks and special presentations.
🗓️ Dates: Thursdays
9. Fort Mason Center events and activities
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. We’re looking forward to the West Coast Craft x Off The Grid collab on July 18th, but you can see the full schedule here.
10. Free activities at Salesforce Park
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.
11. SF museum exhibitions 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. See the full list here.
- Closing July 6 – Paul McCartney Photographs 1963-64: Eyes of the Storm
- Closing Aug. 17 – Wayne Thiebaud: Art Comes from Art
- Closing Sept. 2 – Ruth Asawa: Retrospective
12. Free Circus Bella performances
Circus Bella is back for its 16th 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 on their website.
13. Free events 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 summer. If you’re willing to make the trip, you’re in for a treat.
14. West Coast Craft Waves
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.
🗓️ Dates: July 12, 2025
15. Stern Grove Festival
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. Learn about their new ticketing system for 2025 here.
🗓️ Dates: July 12, 2025
16. San Francisco Marathon
The 48th 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.
🗓️ Dates: July 26-27, 2025
17. Yerba Buena Gardens Festival
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.
18. 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. Here are all the save-the-dates.
19. 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.
🗓️ Dates: July 3, 2025
20. 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.
🗓️ Dates: July 5-6, 2025
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.