05 Sep It’s Finally “Summer” in San Francisco
Everyone likes to joke about how cold the San Francisco summers are. And it’s true! Lots of fog and wind make for gray, chilly summer months. But, around Labor Day, the fog retreats back out past the Golden Gate, the tourists go home, sunshine comes out and the temperatures climb. Welcome to the REAL San Francisco summer! This is the locals’ favorite season, and the City celebrates the arrival of warmer weather with loads of free outdoor festivals and events.
Coming to San Francisco in September? Check out these free happenings:
Flower Piano in Golden Gate Park (9/8 – 9/12) – The San Francisco Botanical Garden is transformed into the City’s own alfresco concert hall where everyone is invited to play and listen. Pianos are placed throughout the gardens for amateurs and pros alike to take their turn making music.
Autumn Moon Festival in Chinatown (9/23-9/24) – 2 fun-filled days of entertainment, food, shopping, parades and more along along vibrand Grant Avenue in the heart of San Francisco’s Chinatown. Full festival schedule here.
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass in Golden Gate Park (9/29 – 10/1) – A world-renowned, 3-day free festival with up to 500,000 attendees featuring the best in bluegrass music and related genres.
Dahlia Bloom in Golden Gate Park (early September) – The beautiful dahlia is San Francisco’s official flower, and they are blooming right now in the Dahlia Dell near the Conservatory of Flowers. There is a free guided tour of the Dell on 9/16 from 11:00am – 12:30pm.
Sundown Cinema (9/8 and 9/29) – The City’s free outdoor movie series with local food, drinks, music and movie-themed entertainment. 9/8 is Black Panther: Wakanda Forever at India Basin Shoreline Park; 9/29 is Legally Blonde at the Ferry Building. Bring a lawn chair and settle in!
Free Museum Days –
· Asian Art Museum – 1st Sunday of the month
· Conservatory of Flowers – 1st Tuesday
· DeYoung – 1st Tuesday and 1st Saturday for locals
· Legion of Honor – 1st Tuesday and 1st Saturday for locals
· Museum of African Diaspora – 2nd Saturday
· SF Museum of Modern Art – 1st Thursday from 1 – 8pm for locals
· SF Botanical Garden – 2nd Tuesday
Haight Ashbury Street Fair (9/17) – The iconic annual event with live music, local vendors, beer tents and more.
Comedy Day in Golden Gate Park (9/17) – The longest running, free outdoor comedy festival in the world features 50 comedians over the course one funny day in Robin Williams Meadow.
Now that you’ve got a list of things to do – what do you wear during September in San Francisco? Dressing for outdoors in the City is always about having multiple layers of clothing. September days tend to be warm and sunny, and then it cools off at night. Temperatures can also swing from one part of the City to the other. Short-sleeved shirts and shorts may work in the Mission, but if you head out to Golden Gate Park, bundle up with pants and a jacket!
Finally, after a fun-filled day enjoying San Francisco’s fun September events, come settle in for classically authentic Chinese food at the award-winning Z and Y Restaurant at 655 Jackson Street near Grant, in Chinatown. Z and Y is popular with visitors and locals alike, and features an expansive and authentic Szechuan menu from Chef Lijun Han that has won a Michelin Bib Gourmand and a ZAGAT rating.
Z and Y Restaurant is open daily for lunch and dinner, and reservations are recommended at Open Table or by calling (415) 981-8988.
Written by,
Grier McCurdy Mathews
