We can’t wait to enjoy these activities, events, and seasonal things to do this May in San Francisco. Enjoy the peak of the spring season with a lively afternoon at Bay to Breakers, a sunny stroll through blooming flower fields, and a massive party over Memorial Day weekend at Carnaval SF.
Whether you’re a foodie planning ahead for the Embarcadero Center Wine Walk or you want to get the best deals for a museum visit, we’ve got all the details. Scroll down to start planning your May in SF!
May is typically a pretty dry month in SF, with temps in the mid-60s and less fog than usual. But no matter when you’re seeing the sights in San Francisco, it’s always worth dressing in layers.
1. Free concerts at Golden Gate Park’s Bandshell
The San Francisco live music scene is on another level! The Illuminate Live series is bringing dozens of free concerts courtesy of Illuminate and SF Rec & Parks. All performances are free and family-friendly, with the impressive Golden Gate Bandshell as the backdrop. The Bandshell, which is 120 years old, added new lighting, a state-of-the-art sound system, and a new stage during the pandemic.
- Wednesdays – Singer-Songwriters from 4 – 7 pm
- Fridays – Happy Hours from 4:30 – 7:30 pm
- Sundays and select Saturdays – Reggae from 4:20 – 7:30 pm
🌐 Learn more: Read our article for the latest lineup announcements.
2. Cinco de Mayo lowrider show and block party
Don’t miss out on the ultimate Cinco de Mayo celebration courtesy of SF Lowrider Council and Hella Paisa. The celebrations feature 30+ street vendors, music, and fun at John Connell High School. Make sure you stay till the end to catch the lowrider cruise. And if you’re seeking a more toned-down activity for Cinco de Mayo this year, check out our list of where to get the best margaritas in the city.
🗓️ Date: May 3, 2025
🌐 Learn more: Read our article about Cinco de Mayo in San Francisco.
3. Bubble Planet: An Immersive Experience
Bubble Planet has officially debuted in Oakland’s Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts, and you don’t want to miss out on experiencing these surreal, fantastical landscapes. Journey through ten themed rooms decked out with bubbles, VR tech, simulators, and compelling illusions.
🗓️ Date: Open as of May 7, 2025
🌐 Learn more: Get tickets to Bubble Planet here!
4. Take a twilight cruise
Enjoy the later sunsets this month with a beautiful twilight cruise on the bay. The cruise will pass the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz on the two-hour catamaran cruise. The trip also comes with a complimentary drink while you enjoy the iconic views. There are 7 pm cruises almost every day in May, and you can book your ticket here.
5. Valencia Live
A new night market and neighborhood party is coming to Valencia Street in the Mission District. The new event will close Valencia Street to cars between 19th and 16th, with a pop-up market and live music filling the streets. The event will occur on the second Thursday of every month until October, starting on May 8, 2025.
🗓️ Date: May 8, 2025
📍 Location: Valencia Street, between 16th and 19th
6. Free museum days in SF
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 of free museum days will certainly help you save some bucks.
🌐 Learn more: See the full list of free admission days in San Francisco.
7. Downtown Hoedown
SF’s monthly event, Downtown First Thursdays, is expanding starting this May. Aside from the typical Downtown First Thursdays block party on 2nd Street, you can also check out a western-themed “hoedown” party on Front Street. The entertainment zone will have a mechanical bull, live music, line dancing, and more.
🗓️ Date: May 1, 2025
8. Movie nights and more 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. This May brings an exciting new lineup of activities, including a vintage market pop-up and “Ferry Flicks,” or movie nights, at Fort Point Beer.
🌐 Learn more: Read our Ferry Building guide for the latest schedule.
9. Neon Brush sip & paint experience
Lean into your artistic side at this unique paint-and-sip experience at San Francisco’s Hotel Zeppelin. A professional artist will be on-site to give you pointers as you create a glowing masterpiece with fluorescent paints. Grab a drink and groove to great music while you work.
🌐 Learn more: See upcoming dates and get tickets to Neon Brush in San Francisco.
10. Fort Mason Center events
The popular art center hosts numerous exhibitions and events throughout the year. They announced a new series of lively night markets with West Coast Craft and Off The Grid, which you’ll definitely want to enjoy as the weather warms up.
🌐 Learn more: Read our guide to Fort Mason Center in San Francisco.
11. Candlelight Concerts
The extremely popular concert series known simply as Candlelight is turning heads right now in San Francisco! The Bay Area’s top musicians perform classical covers of everything from Vivaldi to Taylor Swift, surrounded by hundreds of flickering candles. Venues include St. Ignatius Church and the International Art Museum of America.
🌐 Learn more: See the full schedule and get tickets here.
12. Enjoy a wonderful jazz show
The Palace Theater is hosting a delightful live jazz show on May 18 and May 29 called We Call It Jazz: A Journey to the Heart of New Orleans. The show features a mixed setlist of jazz, both set songs and improvisational, for an hour of nostalgic music. You can get your tickets for the May showtimes here.
🗓️ Dates: May 18 and 29
13. Mother’s Day celebrations and activities
Heads up – Mother’s Day is around the corner! Whether you’re looking to celebrate Mother’s Day on a budget or you want to go all-out with a nice meal, we’ve got plenty of exciting ideas to help you get the ball rolling.
- Attend a Mother’s Day fashion show courtesy of Union Square In Bloom
- Take a stroll around the city’s unique gardens
- Make a reservation for a sunny outdoor brunch
🗓️ Dates: Mother’s Day is on Sunday, May 11, 2025
🌐 Learn more: Read our full guide to Mother’s Day in San Francisco here.
14. Bay to Breakers
Bay to Breakers is San Francisco’s famous fun run dating back to 1912! Hundreds will turn out to run, walk, or dance a 12km route through SF’s most iconic neighborhoods. The race always features elaborate costumes, en route entertainment, and unforgettable moments.
🗓️ Dates: Sunday, May 18, 2025
🌐 Learn more: Read our article about Bay to Breakers
15. Carnaval SF
Carnaval San Francisco is gearing up for a festive celebration taking over 17 blocks of the Mission District on Memorial Day weekend! The highly anticipated free event is back for its 46th year, and you can expect plenty of vendors, a queen and king competition, and a Grand Parade with over 3,000 artists.
🗓️ Dates: May 25-26, 2025
🌐 Learn more: Carnaval San Francisco website
16. NightLife at the California 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: Thursday evenings starting at 6 pm
🌐 Learn more: California Academy of Sciences website
17. 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, boot camps, live music, bird walks, garden tours, drum circles, and much more.
🌐 Learn more: Read our article about Salesforce Park events
18. Yerba Buena Gardens Festival
The Yerba Buena Gardens Festival kicks off on May 10, 2025, with a performance by La Santa Cecilia. The independent nonprofit organization is dedicated to presenting accessible cultural events during 6 months of the year, including world-class music, theater, dance, kids’ shows, and more.
🌐 Learn more: Yerba Buena Gardens Festival website
19. Embarcadero Center Wine Walk
Visit San Francisco’s Embarcadero Center for their popular annual Wine Walk presented by BXP and Sonoma County Fire Relief. Savor delicious local wines while browsing some of the city’s most beloved storefronts and businesses. Even better, all proceeds will go to Sonoma County Fire Relief.
🗓️ Date: May 7, 2025
🌐 Learn more: Embarcadero Center website
20. Bhangra and Beats Night Market
This lively nighttime event is coming back to Downtown SF starting in May. It includes a variety of street food vendors, cocktails, and goods from local artisans. Featured products include hard-to-find Indian goods and San Francisco Bay Area-made jewelry, apparel, personal care, and art.
🗓️ Date: Saturday, May 10, 2025
🌐 Learn more: Bhangra & Beats website
21. Taiwanese American Cultural Festival
The West Coast’s largest celebration of Taiwanese American Culture takes place this month at Union Square. Enjoy a day dedicated to Taiwanese cuisine, entertainment, and family-friendly activities at this event for 30 years running.
🗓️ Date: Saturday, May 10, 2025
🌐 Learn more: Taiwanese American Cultural Festival website
22. San Francisco Small Business Week
SF Small Business is marked by plenty of forums, networking events, and panels meant for business owners, but there are also opportunities for the public to come out and support the best of SF’s small business scene.
🗓️ Dates: May 5-9, 2025
🌐 Learn more: San Francisco Small Business Week website
23. Mill Valley Music Festival
This new Bay Area music festival is back for its 3rd year! The Mill Valley Musical Festival will celebrate music and arts at the base of Mount Tam, showcasing a variety of genres from both local and national touring musicians. 2025 headliners are Gary Clark Jr. and Nile Rodgers & Chic.
🗓️ Date: May 10-11, 2025
🌐 Learn more: Mill Valley Music Festival website
24. BottleRock Napa Valley
BottleRock Napa is once again coming up, and you can look forward to some majorly good music. 2025 headliners include Bay Area royalty Green Day, Sublime, Justin Timberlake, Benson Boone, Noah Kahan, and Khruangbin.
🗓️ Date: May 23-25, 2025
🌐 Learn more: BottleRock Napa Valley website
25. May museum exhibitions
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 temporary exhibitions from SFMOMA to the Asian Art Museum, so you’ll never miss an amazing new display. Some favorites right now include Paul McCartney Photographs at the de Young Museum and Ruth Asawa: Retrospective at SFMOMA.
🌐 Learn more: Read our full guide to temporary museum exhibitions in SF.
26. After Dark at the Exploratorium
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 theme every week, featuring guest speakers, films, great music, and more.
🌐 Learn more: Get tickets to After Dark at the Exploratorium here.
27. Spring flowers at Filoli
The historic Filoli House & Gardens is overflowing with colorful spring blossoms this spring. Visit in May for an impressive display of wildflowers, irises, wisteria, peonies, roses, and lavender. They’ll also host a “Dapper Days” weekend on May 24th and 25th, where you can dress in your favorite 1920s-1940s period clothing for some epic photo ops.
🌐 Learn more: Read our guide to springtime at Filoli.
28. Enjoy a Giants home game
Baseball season is in full swing, which means it’s the perfect time to watch a game at Oracle Park. The Giants have many home games this month, so you have plenty of chances to catch a game.