Head over to the Castro District on Sunday, October 1 to celebrate the 44th anniversary of the Castro Street Fair.
Published: October, 2017
Castro Street Fair
Head over to the Castro District on Sunday, October 1 to celebrate the 44th anniversary of the Castro Street Fair. This fun festival features mouth-watering gourmet food, live music performers from around the world and plenty of dancing in the streets. Initially founded by the original “Mayor of the Castro,” Harvey Milk, this local tradition celebrates the LGBT community. It’s a time when everyone comes together and enjoys the diversity within the city. This lively event is held the first Sunday in October from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the intersection of Market and Castro Streets. Here you will find two live music stages, two “dance alleys,” and Kink Karnival Way. For more information, visit castrostreetfair.org.
Wine Walk
The Seventh Annual Union Street Harvest Wine Walk returns on Thursday, October 5 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. The tasting event will include merchants offering wine samples inside their stores on Union Street from Gough to Steiner and on Fillmore Street from Union to Lombard. Attendees wishing to participate in the sampling program may purchase on-site tickets for $25 or advance tickets for $20 via the website at www.sresproductions.com. The on-site tickets sales location is 2040 Union Street (across from the Metro Theater). Participants will receive a wine glass and map with all of the tasting locations. Ticket sales on the day of the event will be cash only.
Fleet Week Cruise
The SS Jeremiah O’Brien’s annual San Francisco Fleet Week Cruise is coming up on Saturday and Sunday, October 7 and 8, sailing from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. The O’Brien SF Fleet Week Cruise travels around San Francisco Bay out under the Golden Gate Bridge, around Alcatraz, the Bay Bridge, along the San Francisco waterfront to view both the visiting Navy ships and the air show featuring the U.S. Navy Blue Angels. Food and drink are provided with your ticket: hamburgers, hot dogs and clam chowder will be provided by Boudin Bakery and handcrafted ales from Beach Chalet will be served. Live music is provided on Sunday by the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps’ Band of the West. Tickets are $140 for adults and $85 for children 5-16, or $330 for a family of two adults and two children. Boarding is at 9 a.m. For more information or to order tickets, visit www.ssjeremiahobrien.org.
Waterfront Weekend Returns to Vallejo
Vallejo’s annual Waterfront Weekend comes to the city’s beautiful waterfront on Saturday and Sunday, October 7 and 8. The free event is held to celebrate life in Vallejo as well as to show what the city has to offer to out-of-town visitors. Event hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. The Whaleboat Regatta is the signature event of the weekend. As many as 30 teams will row full-size whaleboats up and down the Mare Island Strait between Vallejo and Mare Island as they compete over the two-day event. Other events during the weekend include a chili cook-off, triathlon, kayak races, the 5K Glo Run/Walk, the Glo Boat Parade, children’s activities, a car show, food and crafts vendors, an art village and various nonprofit information booths. The Vallejo Waterfront Weekend unites downtown Vallejo and the waterfront communities and also celebrates the historic significance of the Mare Island Naval Shipyard. Sol Trans will be offering a free hop-on hop-off bus tour with live commentary of both downtown Vallejo and Mare Island as well as all the activities along the waterfront. For more information about Vallejo’s Waterfront Weekend, visit www.VallejoWaterfrontWeekend.com.
Italian Heritage Parade
The Italian Heritage Parade in San Francisco is the city’s oldest civic event. It’s also the nation’s oldest Italian-American parade, dating back to 1868. This annual event is part of the Columbus Day celebration. It starts in Fisherman’s Wharf and makes its way from block to block until it reaches San Francisco’s North Beach District—the area also known as Little Italy. The parade begins at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, October 8 at the foot of Jefferson and Powell Streets in Fisherman’s Wharf, proceeds south through North Beach on Columbus Avenue and ends in Washington Square Park. At the park, there will be a family-friendly festival that includes a Ferrari sports car display. For more information, visit sfitalianheritage.org.
Marin Music Festival
The Second Annual Marin Music Festival returns on Saturday, October 14 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m to the Marin Rod & Gun Club. The event features live local bands, arts and crafts booths, food booths, craft beer and wine, kid’s activities and more. Music lovers will enjoy the sounds of local bands with a beautiful waterfront view in Marin, an area with a rich music history. This event is free and open to the public. Marin Rod & Gun Club is located at 2675 Francisco Blvd., just west of the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, in San Rafael. Visit sresproductions.com for additional information.
Wharf Fest
Wharf Fest, a free Fisherman’s Wharf festival, returns to San Francisco’s iconic neighborhood for the 5th year on Saturday, October 21 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Fisherman’s Wharf Community Benefit District is throwing the ultimate festival to celebrate San Francisco’s historic waterfront district and invite Bay Area locals to visit the district after the tourist season has ended and before San Francisco’s fabulous fall climate fades away. This year’s festival will include a chowder cook-off competition, exhibitors and fun family activities and entertainment. The festival will be held on the Little Embarcadero from Taylor to Powell Streets and in the parking lot at Jefferson and Taylor, under the famous Fisherman’s Wharf Sign.
Boo! Bark, Brews + Bites
On Saturday, October 28 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., pets and their humans are invited to enjoy a Halloween celebration on the Oakland waterfront with tricks, treats, frights and delights. The Boo! Bark, Brews + Bites festivities will fill Jack London Square with paw painting for pups, pets pampering, a pet psychic, pooch photo booths, doggy treats and more. From ghouls to ghosts, four-legged friends are also invited to participate in a canine costume contest to show off their Halloween spirit. Restaurants will offer Halloween specials at Boo! Bark, Brews + Bites, and pets are welcome to restaurants with outdoor dining year round. Visitors can bike, ferry or drive to Jack London Square. For more information, visit www.jacklondonsquare.com.
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