Festivals, Parades, Fairs
Northern California Pirate Festival: Free
The Northern California Pirate Festival takes place at Vallejo Waterfront Park next to the Vallejo Ferry Terminal (June 16 - 17, 2012). This is the biggest and best Pirate Festival in the country, featuring all things pirate: tall ships, pirate encampments, nautical inspired crafts, sword fighting and ship to shore canon battles. You'll also … [Read more...]
San Francisco’s North Beach Festival: Free
San Francisco's North Beach Festival (June 16 - 17, 2012) is a free event that presents an interesting array of juried arts and crafts exhibits and art for sale, all with an Italian flavor and flair. "The 2011 event will feature more than 125 arts and crafts booths, 20 gourmet food booths, three stages of live entertainment, Italian street … [Read more...]
Sonoma Lavendar Festival: Free
Find out everything you ever wanted to know about lavender ... and then some. The 2012 Sonoma Lavender Festival (June 23 - 24, 2012) is a free event (although parking is $5). For Saturday's Food & Wine event, you have the option of purchasing food tickets. WHAT: The Sonoma Lavender Food & Wine Festival -- Free Admission. WHEN: … [Read more...]
SFJAZZ Summerfest: Free
SFJAZZ Summerfest 2012 features dozens of free outdoor concerts from June through October. The concerts showcase local musicians and a range of musical styles, from straight-ahead jazz, to Latin rhythms, swing, blues, and vocals. WHAT: SFJAZZ Summerfest concerts are free. WHEN/WHERE: June through October, various times and two … [Read more...]
Gilroy Garlic Festival: Discount Tickets
The 34th annual Gilroy Garlic Festival (July 27, 28, and 29, 2012) is a popular South Bay tradition billed as the "Ultimate Summer Food Fair" -- three days of incredible food, beverages, arts & crafts, and live entertainment. You can save $2 off the gate price when you buy tickets in advance, either online or at one of the markets listed … [Read more...]
Fillmore Jazz Festival: Free
The 2012 Fillmore Jazz Festival in San Francisco (July 7 - 8, 2012), billed as the "largest free jazz festival on the west coast," will draw crowds of more than 90,000 to celebrate jazz, culture and great food and drinks. The annual event features up-and-coming jazz fusion and Latin jazz music on multiple stages. You'll also enjoy more than eight … [Read more...]
Berkeley Kite Festival: Free
The annual Berkeley Kite Festival at Cesar E. Chavez Park, at the Berkeley Marina (July 28 - 29, 2012) features high-flying kite activities of all kinds. Team Kite Ballet, Japanese-Style Rokkaku Kite Battle for the Skies, the Worlds Largest Octopus Kite, and 20,000 sq. ft. of Giant Creature Kites from New Zealand are just a few of the highlights. … [Read more...]
Yerba Buena Gardens Festival: Free
The Yerba Buena Gardens Festival, in San Francisco, celebrates it's 12th season (May 6 - October 11, 2012). The free fun includes no less than 100 events, from classical and jazz concerts, to opera and international music, to theater, dance, family programs, visual art exhibits, educational programs and cultural events. Yerba Buena Gardens … [Read more...]
Contra Costa County Fair: Free & Discounts
The Contra Costa County Fair in Antioch (May 31 - June 3, 2012) features live music, entertaining shows, fair food, traditional exhibits, youth livestock, a free Kids Zone, and everything we've come to expect from a county fair. The fair offers several ways to save on advance tickets. Even better, the fair offers several ways to save, and even … [Read more...]
Chocolate and Chalk Art Festival – Free
Chocolate and art and chocolate and music and chocolate and clowns ... Did I say chocolate? The Chocolate & Chalk Art Festival graces the streets of Berkeley June 2, 2012 (rain reschedule date will be June 9). And it's free, even if you want to enter as a chalk artist. First prize is $250 with $25 gift certificates awarded for runners … [Read more...]
Marin County Fair: Discounts
The Marin County Fair (June 30 - July 4, 2012) bills itself as the greatest fair on earth. Admission fees include concerts, exhibits, entertainment, nightly fireworks, and several free carnival rides. And if you go on the first day of the fair, you can usually get a couple of deals and discounts. "Enjoy spectacular fireworks shows every night of … [Read more...]
Marin Art Festival – Coupon
The 2012 Marin Art Festival presents not only art, but a variety of entertainment and delicious food. The festival costs $10 at the gate, but you can usually find coupons to get $2 off, or a 2 for 1 coupon to get in for $5. Each day of the festival (June 16 – 17, 2012) starts off with Taiko drumming. The Marin Dance Showcase Stage features … [Read more...]
