March brings the first glimpse of spring flower blooms, Pi Day, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, and events celebrating Women’s History Month. Read on for some of the best things to do this March in San Francisco that will get you geared up for the spring season.
1. Catch the last few days of Noise Pop Festival
Noise Pop Festival is a week-long music and arts festival that has been going strong for over 30 years in San Francisco. This year’s headliners are St. Vincent, Benjamin Gibbard, and Earl Sweatshirt, and the early March performances include Soccer Mommy at the Fillmore and MeloDious at SFJAZZ. Check it out at venues around the city.
🗓️ Dates: Feb. 20 – Mar. 2, 2025
2. See a collection of photographs by Paul McCartney at the de Young
A highly anticipated exhibition of photographs by Paul McCartney is opening at the de Young on March 1, 2025. The exhibition features hundreds of personal photos the iconic musician took during the height of the Beatles’ fame. Many of the photographs are recently unearthed, and the exhibition promises to be a fascinating look into history.
3. See Head West Marketplace back at the Ferry Building this month
San Francisco’s Ferry Building is one of the city’s most underrated landmarks, especially if you manage to visit during the farmers market or another event. March brings the return of Head West, a large craft fair with local makers and merchants, live music, and great food.
🗓️ Dates: Mar. 2, 2025, from 11-5 pm (and the first Sundays after that)
4. Enjoy an amazingly festive St. Patrick’s Day
St. Patrick’s Day arrives soon in San Francisco, and we’re not about to miss a party. Save the date for SF’s famous St. Patrick’s Day Parade on March 15th, and keep the momentum going with pub crawls, parties, community events, and endless delicious Irish fare.
🗓️ Date: St. Patrick’s Day Parade is Mar. 15, 2025, at 11 am
đź“Ť Location: 2nd and Market Streets to Civic Center
5. Spot some spring flowers around the city
Magnolias
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.
Tulips
Queen Wilhelmina Tulip Garden is a quaint spot in the northwest corner of the park, next to an authentic Dutch windmill. Early spring is the best time to see it in full bloom.
Cherry Blossoms
Cherry blossoms will soon start to bloom at the Japanese Tea Garden and other key spots in the city. Catch them from March through the beginning of April.
6. Pick a free tulip bouquet at Flower Bulb Day at Union Square
San Francisco’s wholesome Flower Bulb Day is officially back on the calendar. The gorgeous outdoor garden will cover Union Square with over 80,000 tulips, all of which are free for visitors to pick and take home.
🗓️ Date: Mar. 22, 2025
7. Watch a free performance at Downtown First Thursdays
Downtown First Thursdays has another exciting event planned for March 2025. The monthly block party features numerous vendors, performers, and activities that get dozens of local businesses involved. This March, Blu deTiger is set to perform a DJ set that includes live bass playing. The event is scheduled for March 6 from 5 to 10 pm on 2nd Street between Market and Howard.
🗓️ Date: March 6, 2025
8. This floating park in SF has free yoga, live music, and more
Did you know that Salesforce Park hosts many free activities every week? They include yoga classes, boot camps, live music, bird walks, garden tours, drum circles, and much more. If you have yet to visit this fascinating rooftop escape, consider checking the event calendar for a one-of-a-kind experience. Get more details here.
9. Registration opens this month for spring activities with SF Rec & Parks
San Francisco is full of amazing activities and resources for just about any hobby you can think of – and SF Rec & Parks knows it! If you’re looking to try a new sport or learn a new skill, they’ve lined up some excellent programming that will kick off this spring, with activities like tennis, sewing, volleyball, photography, ceramics, kayaking, rock climbing, and much more.
🗓️ Date: General registration for spring activities opens on March 1, 2025
10. Start your art collection at a massive art fair
An exciting art fair is once again coming to San Francisco, taking over Fort Mason’s Gateway Pavilion. The fair will sell numerous original artworks, ranging in price. Superfine is intended for young art enthusiasts who want to start building their collections. Tickets start at $22 and are on sale now.
🗓️ Dates: March 6-9Â
11. Don’t miss these magical classical concerts by Candlelight
The immensely popular Candlelight concert series is putting on some great shows right now in San Francisco. Hear your favorite songs on strings, including classics from Hans Zimmer and major hits like The Beatles. Experience the magic of these intimate concerts by the light of thousands of flickering candles in venues like the International Art Museum of America, the Bayview Opera House, and more. Get tickets now!
12. See what’s coming up at 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.
13. See an incredible Cabaret experience called AfterDark by Pink PumaÂ
This exciting show combines acrobatics, burlesque, aerial arts, and cabaret to create an incredible experience. The show is produced by champion athlete Pink Puma with a team of talented performers. There are limited showtimes for March, so we recommend getting your tickets as soon as you can.
14. Visit the elephant seals
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.
15. …and look out for whales
California’s coastline is the perfect spot to catch several whale migration seasons – gray whales from January through April, orcas between February and May, and humpbacks between April and December. 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.
16. Enjoy science with a cocktail at the Exploratorium’s After Dark events
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 6-10 pm with a different weekly theme featuring guest speakers, films, great music, and more. Get tickets here.
17. Honor Women’s History Month with a visit to these lesser-known murals around the city
March is Women’s History Month, and we can’t wait to celebrate. The street artists of San Francisco never disappoint, and we rounded up 20 lesser-known murals that celebrate iconic female figures around the city.
18. Embrace your creative side at Neon Brush
Get creative and make your own unique painting at Neon Brush: A Glow-in-the-Dark Painting Experience. The event features a UV-lit studio where you can create your own painting with glow-in-the-dark paints. Hosted at the stylish Hotel Zeppelin, the event lasts 90 minutes and has drinks available.
19. Check out these amazing museum exhibitions around San Francisco
As we enter a new month, many museum exhibitions in San Francisco are getting refreshed and replaced. We’re keeping tabs on the best new exhibitions from SFMOMA to the Asian Art Museum, so you’ll never miss an amazing new display! Read on to start planning your next museum visit.
20. Look for free admission days this March at SF museums
We love San Francisco for its vibrant culture, history, and resources, but just about anyone in SF could benefit from finding new free things to do. Whether you’re a college student on a budget or a bargain hunter wanting to see the sights, this list of free museum days in San Francisco will certainly help you get started.
21. Have a delightful bonfire at Ocean Beach
Bonfires will be allowed once again on Ocean Beach from March 1 through October 31. People are welcome to use the designated fire pits on Ocean Beach to build their bonfires, and you can sit and enjoy the beautiful view while staying warm by the fire. Make sure to check all the guidelines for the fires, including putting the fire out 1 hour after sunset.
22. Road trip down to Calla Lily Valley in Big Sur
Big Sur’s Garrapata Beach is taken over by countless white calla lilies every year in early spring. If you can manage to catch them in bloom between January and April, you’re in for a real treat. Just keep in mind that Big Sur has experienced significant landslides, and there may be traffic or road closures.
23. Explore the Haight with a unique picnic
This self-guided food tour is the perfect way to explore either the Haight with friends or a partner. Participants solve clues to get local food to create their gourmet picnic baskets, leading to a scenic spot to enjoy your food. The picnics run Tuesdays through Thursdays, and you can even add a bottle of wine.
24. Explore over 50 vendors at this gigantic crystal fair
The Crystal Fair Marketplace will soon touch down at the San Francisco County Fair Building. This giant event brings over 50 vendors to San Francisco and Walnut Creek on select weekends through November. Peruse thousands of crystals, minerals, geodes, beads, and gems while learning about their properties from the best local and international curators. Visitors will also have the opportunity to meet with healers, psychics, aura readers, and masseuses.
🗓️ Date: Mar. 8-9, 2025
25. Stock up at a weekend farmers market
If you live in the Bay Area, you know that we have access to some of the best produce in the country. That’s why farmer’s markets are a must for countless SF residents who enjoy getting their food from local sources. See our full guide to farmers’ markets here.
26. Have a lovely outdoor brunch at these essential spots
Some would argue that brunch is the most important meal of the day. Be sure to get your recommended daily allowance of crispy bacon, fluffy pancakes, mimosas, and egg scrambles at these spectacular brunch spots with outdoor patios around the city.
Written by Jamie Ferrell and Dana Flynn