SEPTEMBER 1-30
ARCHITECTURE AND THE CITY – Sponsored by AIA San Francisco, the largest architectural and design festival in the U.S. includes a series of architectural tours, film screenings, exhibitions, design lectures, home shows, and more. Admission fees for some events. 415.362.7397.
www.aiasf.org/archandcity
SEPTEMBER 2-4
SAUSALITO ART FESTIVAL
Sausalito’s yearly art festival has been showcasing the contemporary art world since 1952. A juried exhibit of more than 20,000 original works of art, this festival also includes music—by jazz, rock, and blues performers from the Bay Area and beyond—and international cuisine enhanced by wines from some 50 Napa and Sonoma producers. Parking is just about non-existent … you might want to relax and take the ferry (www.blueandgoldfleet.com) from Pier 41 to the festival site. Admission is $20-25. 415.332.3555.
SEPTEMBER 3 (FIRST SUNDAY)
FREE ADMISSION DAY — Asian Art Museum
SEPTEMBER 5 (FIRST TUESDAY)
FREE ADMISSION DAY— Conservatory of Flowers, Contemporary Jewish Museum, DeYoung Museum, Legion of Honor Museum, Museum of Craft and Design, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
SEPTEMBER 7-9 and 26
BERNAL HEIGHTS OUTDOOR CINEMA/FILM CRAWL ON CORTLAND
Four nights of screenings and music, showcasing the work of local filmmakers and musicians in parks, playgrounds and smaller venues around the Bernal Heights neighborhood. Includes a film crawl on Cortland. Check website for late-breaking schedule changes. Free admission.
SEPTEMBER 8-23
SF FRINGE FESTIVAL
This annual festival is a marathon of 35+ shows with low-priced tickets and a wide range of alternative, classical, comedy, cabaret, and experimental theater open to all performers on a non-curated basis. Exit Theater (156 Eddy St.) and other downtown venues. General admission $12-$15. 415.931.1094.
SEPTEMBER 9-10
GHIRARDELLI CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL
Unique chocolate desserts and delicacies from Ghirardelli and beyond at this annual chocolate extravaganza. Brave souls may want to enter the sundae-eating contest and win their weight in chocolate. Mmm … chocolate. Noon-5 pm. 100% of profits benefit Project Open Hand. Tickets $20-$50. 415.775.5500.
SEPTEMBER 10
SF OPERA IN THE PARK
An open-air opera concert featuring arias and ensembles by the stars of the fall season of the SF Opera and Opera Orchestra. It helps mark the beginning of the opera season. Sharon Meadow, GG Park. Starts at 1:30 pm this year. Free. 415.864.3330.
SEPTEMBER 17
COMEDY DAY
A comedy event featuring 30+ of the U.S.’s and Bay Area’s funniest comedians. Noon-5 pm. Sharon Meadow, GG Park. Free. 415.820.1570.
SEPTEMBER 20-24
THE BIG BOOK SALE
Held at Fort Mason Center’s Festival Pavilion, this annual and epic sale by the Friends of the SF Public Library features over 500,000 books, DVDs, CDs, books on tape, vinyl, and other media in over 100 categories. Hardcovers: $3/ Paperbacks: $2/ Children’s Books: $1/ All Media: $1. Everything is a buck on 9/25. Best to bring your own shopping bags and/or boxes.
SEPTEMBER 21-23
IRISH FILM FESTIVAL
View contemporary Irish cinema, including short films, at the Delancey Street Screening Room, 600 Embarcadero St., SF. Check website for late-breaking details.
SEPTEMBER 22-24
OKTOBERFEST BY THE BAY
A small taste … well, sip … of Munich’s famous autumn beer festival in the Bay. Oktoberfest features non-stop drinking, singing, drinking, dancing, drinking, music, drinking, German food, and the occasional drinking. Pier 48 near AT&T Park. General admission $25 (online). Kids $5 early Sat. or Sun. only. 1.888.746.7522
www.oktoberfestbythebay.com
SEPTEMBER 23
IRANIAN FILM FESTIVAL
This is the 10th annual festival screening independent feature and short films made by or about Iranians. San Francisco Art Institute. General admission $12.
SEPTEMBER 23-24
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA INTERNATIONAL DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL
Nearly a hundred 40-foot dragon boat teams and 2,500 paddlers from across North America will race a 500-meter course. This festival offers a weekend of world-class dragon boat racing, cultural performances, delicious food, crafts vendors, and kid-friendly games and arts & crafts in Dragon Land. Lake Merritt, Oakland. Free.
SEPTEMBER 23-24
BAY AREA BLUES FESTIVAL
Two main stages, arts and crafts, gourmet food, and much more are all a part of this annual homage to the Bay Area’s deep blues roots. 10:00 am – 6:00 pm. Main Street from Alhambra to Court Streets, downtown Martinez. Free.
SEPTEMBER 25
FOLSOM STREET FAIR
The “big daddy of leather celebrations,” the Folsom Street Fair is the largest leather/ alternative/ kink/hardcore fetish street fair in the world–drawing 400,000 or so attendees every year. Attendees might be dressed in leather, feathers, rubber, glitter, uniforms, drag … or nothing at all. Five-star parental advisory in effect. Folsom Street between 7th and 12th Sts. 11 am to 6 pm. $10 donation requested.
SEPTEMBER 30
SAUSALITO FLOATING HOMES (HOUSEBOAT) TOUR
This is a self-guided tour (with docents aboard the homes) of 15 unique and fascinating Sausality houseboats. 11 am‒4 pm. Gate 6, Sausalito. $50-55.
www.hardlystrictlybluegrass.com
SEPTEMBER 30-OCTOBER 1
AUTUMN MOON FESTIVAL
This weekend event features multicultural entertainment, traditional lion and dragon dances, arts and crafts, a lantern village, lots of moon cakes, and children’s activities. Grant Ave. between California and Pacific. 11 am-6 pm. Dog talent and costume show Sunday 1:45 pm. Yes, there will be dragons at the White Crane Dragon Parade, Sunday 5:30 pm. Free admission. 415.982.6306.