San Francisco Fall Festivals – Fall 2024 Bay Area Events

San Rafael Parade of Lights and Winter Wonderland - San Rafael, CA - Nov 30 to Nov 30, 2024
Marketplace with arts & crafts, parade, children’s activities, and more.

Burlingame Gobble Wobble - San Mateo, CA - Nov 28 to Nov 28, 2024
Held at Coyote Point Park in San Mateo on Thanksgiving morning – a 5K celebrating friends, family, and community and give thanks!

Marin Turkey Trot - Novato, CA - Nov 28 to Nov 28, 2024
5K, 10K and one mile on Thanksgiving morning in Marin

Modesto Turkey Trot and Gobble Walk - Modesto, CA - Nov 28 to Nov 28, 2024
5k and kids run on Thanksgiving morning

Petaluma Turkey Trot and Food Drive - Petaluma, CA - Nov 28 to Nov 28, 2024
The annual Petaluma Turkey Trot is healthy, family-friendly, and fun! No fee, quick registration and photo shares.

Piedmont Turkey Trot - Piedmont, CA - Nov 28 to Nov 28, 2024
Annual 5k on Thanksgiving morning

Point Pinole Nitro Turkey Trot - Richmond, CA - Nov 28 to Nov 28, 2024
10/k, 5k, and free little gobbler’s run. Thanksgiving themed costumes encouraged

San Francisco Turkey Trot - San Francisco, CA - Nov 28 to Nov 28, 2024
5 mile, 3 mile, kids gobbler chase at Golden Gate Park on Thanksgiving morning

Silicon Valley Turkey Trot - San Jose, CA - Nov 28 to Nov 28, 2024
All proceeds from the Silicon Valley Turkey Trot provide health, hope, and a home and directly benefit several local charitable organizations.

Stockton Turkey Trot/Run Against Hunger - Stockton, CA - Nov 28 to Nov 28, 2024
10k, 5k and kids run on Thanksgiving morning supporting the Emergency Food Bank

Walnut Creek Forma Turkey Trot - Walnut Creek, CA - Nov 28 to Nov 28, 2024

Union Square Tree Lighting - San Francisco, CA - Nov 14 to Dec 31, 2024
For 2024, no tree lighting event listed but Macy’s will gift their Great Tree to the city and it will be lit all season long

Ice Skating in Union Square - San Francisco, CA - Nov 6 to Jan 20, 2025
60 min sessions with prepurchased tickets only

Lakeport Harvest Festival - Lakeport, CA - Oct 26 to Oct 26, 2024
This is a free family fun event with something to do for everyone: Ballet Folkloric dancers, children’s crafts, corn hole tournament, petting zoo, scarecrow contest for youngster/teens, interesting vendors. There will be food, beer and wine for sale plus a DJ, great live music and street dance

Novato Oktoberfest - Novato, CA - Oct 19 to Oct 19, 2024
Hosted by the Novato Rotarians, this Oktoberfest includes dinner and a drink ticket, an “Oom-pah” band, dancing, and prizes.

Oktoberfest in Campbell - Campbell, CA - Oct 19 to Oct 20, 2024
German foods, a variety of beers and ales, over 100 artisans and live entertainment. Attendance is generally 30,000.

Half Moon Bay Art and Pumpkin Festival - Half Moon Bay, CA - Oct 19 to Oct 20, 2024
The top 5 pumpkins from the giant pumpkin weigh-off are displayed at this epic festival in the “World Pumpkin Capital”.

San Francisco International Dragon Boat Festival - Oakland, CA - Oct 19 to Oct 20, 2024
Enjoy the Northern California International Dragon Boat Festival by watching teams compete on Lake Merritt in 40-foot long dragon boats.

San Francisco Dance Film Festival - San Francisco, CA - Oct 16 to Oct 20, 2024
Dance films from San Francisco and around the world, including experiemental shorts, live performance capture, dance documentaries, live performances and more.

Riverbank Cheese & Wine Exposition - Riverbank, CA - Oct 12 to Oct 12, 2024
Annual street festival with carnival, arts/crafts, kids rides/games and live music in addition to the wine and cheese.

San Carlos Arts & Wine Faire - San Carlos, CA - Oct 12 to Oct 13, 2024
Find 150 quality artists, crafters and specialty food vendors presenting their beautiful handcrafted works for fairegoers. There will be a treasure trove of ceramics, paintings, photography, wood working, wearables and so much more! Enjoy fine wines and microbrews, delicious foods, entertainment and the Family Fun Zone with lots of hands-on activities for the kids.

Sonoma County Harvest Fair - Santa Rosa, CA - Oct 12 to Oct 12, 2024
Showcases the grand harvest which results in world-class wines, award winning beer and a plethora of culinary wealth. Voted the Best Annual Festival of Sonoma County by The Press Democrat readers.

Sacramento Turn Verein Oktoberfest - Sacramento, CA - Oct 11 to Oct 12, 2024
Eat, drink and dance like a German. Outdoor biergarten. Kid friendly activities.

Castro Street Fair - San Francisco, CA - Oct 6 to Oct 6, 2024
Lots of activities with live music, entertainers, dance alley, and vendors, craftspeople and organizations. Funds raised go to fund charitable causes and to fund the rainbox flag that flies in Harvey Milk Plaza.

Oaktoberfest - Oakland, CA - Oct 5 to Oct 6, 2024
Family friendly craft beer festival in Oakland.

PortFest - Redwood City, CA - Oct 5 to Oct 5, 2024
Features live music, lots of great food, marching and jazz high school bands, and boat and harbor tours. Don’t miss the annual charity run. Plenty of arts and craft vendors.

Park Chalet Oktoberfest - San Francisco, CA - Oct 4 to Oct 4, 2024
Ceramic 1 L stein, German fare incuding beer and pretzels, live music

Clayton Oktoberfest - Clayton, CA - Oct 4 to Oct 6, 2024
Annual Munich-style celebration set under Mt. Diablo in this picturesque town. Two days of fun with parade, keg tapping, live music, biergarten, German food, California wines, arts and crafts show and carnival / street performers.

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass - San Francisco, CA - Oct 4 to Oct 6, 2024
A free concert in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco featuring over 100 musical artists on 7 stages.

Mill Valley Film Festival - San Rafael, CA - Oct 3 to Oct 13, 2024
An eleven-day, internationally acclaimed cinema event welcoming more than 200 filmmakers from 50 countries.

Piedmont Harvest Festival - Piedmont, CA - Sep 22 to Sep 22, 2024
Carnival, farmer’s market, contests, art exhibit, jazz show, and more

Tam Valley Oktoberfest - Mill Valley, CA - Sep 21 to Sep 21, 2024
Bratwurst, German beer, family friendly games, fun house, Bavarian dancers, polka and more!

Lafayette Art, Wine & Music Festival - Lafayette, CA - Sep 21 to Sep 22, 2024
Held the 3rd weekend in September, it is perhaps the largest annual festival in Contra Costa County. Typically attended by over 80,000.

Schroeder’s Oktoberfest - San Francisco, CA, CA - Sep 20 to Sep 20, 2024
Food and polka dancing at this San Francisco German restaurant.

Bike MS Waves to Wine - Rohnert Park, CA - Sep 14 to Sep 15, 2024
Bike MS is more than a ride. It’s an experience grounded in camaraderie and marked by passion, inspiration, determination and pure enjoyment. It will be an experience you’ll never forget, shared with new friends and old.

Mountain View Art & Wine Festival - Mountain View, CA - Sep 7 to Sep 8, 2024
You will love the live music, kids park, salsa dance class, pigskin party lounge, drinks, and food, in addition to the art and wine.

Pittsburg Seafood Festival - Pittsburg, CA - Sep 7 to Sep 8, 2024
An outdoor event for the last 30+ years. Features great food including BBQ, fish, seafood, and plenty of music, arts and crafts, amusement rides, jet ski races, a beer pavilion, and lots more fun.

Scottish Gathering & Games – The Caledonian Club of San Francisco - Pleasanton, CA - Aug 31 to Sep 1, 2024
A Bay Area tradition since 1866, California’s largest Scottish Games celebrates the very best of Scottish competition, culture and entertainment for all the family to enjoy. Traditional Scottish competitions include heavy athletics, highland dancing, piping and drumming, and sheepdog trials. Live entertainment includes Scottish folk musicians and celtic rock bands, as well as Scottish country dancing, living history, birds of prey and celtic animal exhibitions. The Grandstand Show includes performances from guest military and pipe bands, and also from the ‘massed bands’ when all the competing bands come together as one for the Games closing ceremonies.

Vacaville Oktoberfest - Vacaville, CA - Sep 23 to Sep 23, 2023
Annual Oktoberfest from 11 AM to 6 PM. German Food options include brats, sauerkraut, pretzels, potato salad and more. Live music most of the afternoon. Free admission.

Millbrae Art & Wine Festival - Millbrae, CA - Sep 2 to Sep 3, 2023
Celebrate the last blast of summer with sun-splashed, Mardi Gras-style fun in the Bay Area.

San Francisco SPCA & Macy’s Holiday Window Unveiling - San Francisco, CA - Nov 23 to Jan 2, 2023
See the wonder of the San Francisco SPCA Holiday Windows at Macy’s this Christmas season.

Cotati Oktoberfest - Cotati, CA - Sep 24 to Sep 24, 2022
Flagship Taproom hosts this Oktoberfest wtih live music, 10+ beers, bratwurst, yodeling contest and more. Costume contest so wear that lederhosen or dirndl!

Silicon Valley Comic Con - San Jose, CA - Aug 27 to Aug 28, 2022
Silicon Valley Comic Con brings together America’s two greatest superheroes: Pop Culture and Technology. Presented by Steve Wozniak and featuring top celebrities, comics, independent artists, cosplay, video games, consumer electronics, and more. Silicon Valley Comic Con is where entertainment and our electronic worlds intersect. Children under 5 get in free, child and adult passes are available for a day or the whole weekend, and there are several VIP tiers available.

San Francisco Ballet – Nutcracker - San Francisco, CA - Dec 10 to Dec 30, 2021
Step into the reverie of little Clara in this unforgettable holiday tale and enter a magical wonderland of toy soldiers, a blizzard of snowflakes, and a kaleidoscope of more than 150 dancers. Battle the Mouse King and of course, dance through the land of the Sugarplum Fairy. San Francisco Ballet is the oldest professional ballet company in the country.

International Auto Show - San Francisco, CA - Nov 25 to Nov 29, 2020
Canceled for 2022, look for their return in 2023. Normally: View the latest in technology and the future of personal transportation at Moscone Convention Center.

Wharf Fest - San Francisco, CA - Oct 19 to Oct 19, 2019
A free Fisherman’s Wharf festival with a chowder cook-off competition, exhibitors, and family fun.

Sausalito Art Festival - Sausalito, CA - Sep 4 to Sep 6, 2019
Looking for a venue. Normally: Fine art, music, food, and wine over Labor Day weekend at one of the most prestigious art festivals in the country.