Below are a list of festivals and events that you may want to mark on your calendar:
- Bay to Breakers. May 15th, 2011. This year we celebrating the 100th anniversary of the race that was originally started as a way to increase the morale of the city after the devastation of the 1906 earthquake. It is now a tradition which defines the eccentricity that is San Francisco. There is a race component, but most people watch and participate for the costumes. Yes, I said costumes. Organizers are limiting the run/walk/crawl to 50,000 participants, and they do not allow alcohol this year. Really? No rolling kegs this year?
- Folsom Street Fair. Sunday, September 25, 2011. Even if black and blue are not your colors of choice, you will find the Folsom Street Fair interesting. Over 400,000 people attend each year, and it covers 13 city blocks. I can't really describe it here. All I can say is that you have to see it to believe it.
- San Francisco Pride Celebration & Parade. June 25th & 26th, 2011. This year's theme is "In Pride We Trust." Around 1,000,000 visitors will flood the city in order to attend the events and show their pride and support.
- San Francisco Fringe Festival. September 7th - 18th, 2011. The fringe festival will present over 200 different theatrical performances by local actors and playwrites. This will get your creative juices flowing. The link shows a list of the plays from 2010, and it will give you an idea of what you will see in 2011.
- Castro Street Fair. The first Sunday in October, 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Originally organized by Harvey Milk in order to build community, this event continues to thrive and grow with hundreds of artist booths, vendors, live entertainment, and dance stages.
- Santacon. 2011 - TBA. Grab your big black boots, your red velvet suit, fur lined hat, and head out on the town with hundreds of other similarly dressed individuals to bar hop the afternoon and evening away. Elves and the Mrs. are also welcome.
