Local Events

4th of July Fireworks
Where should you go see the best fireworks displays in the San Francisco Bay Area? Fisherman's Wharf is San Francisco's premier spot to celebrate America's Independence Day holiday. Visitors can typically enjoy free, fabulous entertainment throughout the Wharf during the afternoon and evening, culminating in a spectacular fireworks display over San Francisco Bay beginning at 9:30 p.m. Plan your visit today!

At Fisherman's Wharf. For reservations call (800) 325-3535

Billy Elliot The Musical - Through September 27, 2011
Plan on seeing this joyous celebration of one young boy's journey to make his dreams come true. Set in a small town, the story follows Billy as he stumbles out of the boxing ring and into a ballet class, discovering a surprising passion that inspires his family and his whole community. A big musical with an even bigger heart, Billy Elliot will enchant the dreamer in all of us.
 
At the Orpheum Theatre. For further info call: (888) SHN-1799

SF Chefs 2011 - August 1 thru 7, 2011
San Francisco's premier food, wine, and spirits festival is set at venues throughout the City. The festival offers numerous opportunities to mingle with master chefs, mixologists, winemakers and other culinary superstars! The Grand Tasting Tent on Union Square on August 5th features over 200 of San Francisco's finest restaurants, bars, distilleries, breweries & wineries displaying their finest creations.

At Union Square. For more info call (415) 781-5348 x 2

San Francisco Marathon - Sunday July, 31st
Just named one of the Top 10 Marathons in the World, marathoners find their heart in San Francisco as the course begins on the Embarcadero, passes thru Fisherman's Wharf, the Marina, across the Golden Gate Bridge through the Presidio and Golden Gate Park. Then it's on to Haight Street, and through the Portero and Mission Bay Districts.

Sign up at www.runsfm.com or call (888) 862-0640 for info.

Picasso: Masterpieces from the Musée National, Paris
Be sure to see this one of a kind extraordinary exhibition of more than 100 masterpieces by Spanish artist Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) from the permanent collection of Paris's world-renowned Musée National Picasso. The works on view comprise paintings, sculptures, drawings, and prints drawn from every phase of the artist's career and demonstrate the wide range of artistic styles.

At the DeYoung Museum from June 11, 2011 - October 9, 2011

Golden Gate Bridge 75th Anniversary
In 2012, the now famous Golden Gate Bridge will turn 75 years old. To celebrate this remarkable milestone, the 2011 Marin County Fair will showcase this engineering marvel inside the 6,000-square-foot Golden Gate Bridge Pavilion from June 30th to July 4th. The Pavillion will take fairgoers on a journey of this famous landmark from yesterday, through today and into tomorrow thru a variety of educational and informative exhibits.

At Marin Civic Center, San Rafael. For more info call: (415) 499-6400

Tales of the City - A New Musical 
The ‘70s. The bustling streets of San Francisco. The arrival of a wide-eyed Midwestern girl looking for a new home. It's the beginning of a new kind of family in this irrepressible new musical from the creators of "Avenue Q" based on Armistead Maupin's book presented at the American Conservatory Theater in Union Square at 415 Geary Street thru July 10, 2011.

At ACT in Union Square. For more info call: (415) 749-2228

Wicked Plants - Through October 30, 2011
It's mayhem under glass, as the Conservatory of Flowers transforms its Special Exhibits Gallery into an eerie Victorian garden full of Mother Nature's most appalling creations. The Conservatory introduces visitors to living examples of dozens of infamous plants that have left their mark on history and claimed many an unfortunate victim.

At Golden Gate Park. For more info call (415) 831-2090

Snakes & Lizards: The Summer of Slither
The California Academy of Sciences at Golden Gate Park presents a creepy crawly attraction for the entire family to squirm to. Be prepared to be charmed by exotic snakes from around the world including an albino reticulated python measuring 15 feet long and more than 60 new squamates hopping, crawling, climbing and slithering their way into the Academy this summer.

In Golden Gate Park. For more info call: (415) 379-8000

Blue and Gold Fleet Happy Hour Cruise
Take advantage of this fun way to unwind after a long day. Meet your friends and co-workers to sip and sail onboard Blue and Gold Fleet's 90-minute Happy Hour Cruise. Enjoy $4.00 specialty drinks, light bites and fun music while sailing the bay! Includes one complimentary well alcoholic beverage or two complimentary non-alcoholic beverages.

At PIER 39, Gate 3. For more info call: (415) 705-8200

The Steins Collection - Matisse, Picasso, the Parisian Avant-Garde
The American expatriate Stein family were among the first to recognize the talents of avant-garde painters like Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso. Through their friendship and patronage, they helped spark an artistic revolution. This landmark exhibition at SF MOMA brings dozens of works by Matisse, Picasso, Cézanne, Renoir, Toulouse-Lautrec, and many others.

At Yerba Buena Center. For further info, call (415) 357-4000

Mapping the West Coast - Thru October 31, 2011
A world-class exhibition of rare maps, books and documents, dating from the 1700's to Lewis and Clark's era, comes to the Maritime Museum, tracing many of the greatest adventures in history, including dangerous ocean voyages by Spanish, French, English and Russian explorers, the race to discover the northwest Passage, sightings of "sea monsters," and the very first contacts between Native Americans and Europeans.
 
At the Maritime Museum. For more info, call: (415) 561-7049

Bali: Art, Ritual Performance - Thru September 11, 2011 
This exhibit brings the art and artists of this Indonesian island to San Francisco so you can experience firsthand its culture, beliefs, and practices. See not only artworks but explore the context in which they were made and used, as the museum comes alive with the kinds of music and performance that fill Balinese ritual life.

At the Asian Art Museum. For more info call: (415) 581-3500. 

Sea Lion Interpretive Program
A new visitor outreach program to provide insight into the boisterous world of the hundreds of California sea lions that reside at Pier 39 has been launched. Educators from The Marine Mammal Center and Aquarium of the Bay lead daily discussions 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on the important role the animals play to the Northern California Coast ecosystem, explain their crowd-pleasing habits and answer questions.

At Pier 39. For more info call: (415) 705-5500

Open Top Sightseeing by Night
Experience enchanting San Francisco by night with this special 2-hour tour is fully narrated by a step-on guide. Visit Twin Peaks and be treated to an impressive 270-degree view over the city, or marval at the San Francisco skyline from Treasure Island with a ride across the Bay Bridge and Fisherman's Wharf sparkling as part of the city's scenery! When the sun goes down, the City by the Bay comes to life.
 
For more information or reservations, call (877) 332-8689. 

TCHO Chocolate Tour
TCHO, the only chocolate manufacturer located in San Francisco, is now offering free daily tours at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. by reservation at their Pier 17 location. The hour-long experience includes a presentation and factory tour with knowledgeable and entertaining tour guides, as well as an in-depth guided tasting of TCHO's flavor-driven, artisan chocolate.
 
On the Embarcadero. For further info, call: (415) 963-5090

Historic Waterfront Walking Tours - Every Sat/Sun
Over the last 160 years, uses changed the environment of San Francisco's northern waterfront. Stroll with a National Park Ranger to discover the history of this vibrant area on a walking tour through the Aquatic Park Historic Landmark District, The Cannery, Hyde Street Pier, and Fish Alley at Fisherman's Wharf. The tour starts at 10:30 am, lasts an hour and covers one mile.

At the Maritime Museum. For information call: (415) 447-5000.

Walt Disney Family Museum
Three historic buildings within the nearby Presidio house 10 galleries devoted to the inspiring story of Walt Disney, the creator of Mickey Mouse, Disneyland and the global company that bears his name. Disney's story is portrayed through drawings, storyboards, a model of Disneyland, the narrow-gauge train built for Disneyland along with film clips, concept art, scripts, musical scores and cameras used by Disney and his staff.

At the Presidio. For information and tickets call (415) 345-6893.

Musee Mecanique
One of the world's largest privately owned collections of mechanically operated musical instruments and antique arcade machines is located at Fisherman's Wharf. Take a journey from turn of the century hand cranked music boxes to modern video arcade games. This is a trip down memory lane and a chance to show your children or grandchildren what you did for fun when you were their age, pre video-games.

At Pier 45, Shed A. For further info call: (415) 346-2000.

RocketBoat
Calling all thrill seekers! RocketBoat is blasting back on the Bay from Pier 39. Climb aboard RocketBoat for the ultimate high-speed adventure on San Francisco Bay. Get blown away as you hold on for the most exhilarating ride of your life. Enjoy stunning views while a a classic Rock 'n Roll soundtrack adds to the 30 minutes of fun. Never the same ride twice. RocketBoat...it's a BLAST!

Located at Pier 39. For further information call (415) 705-8200. 

California Academy of Sciences
The California Academy of Sciences is a world-class scientific and cultural institution that recently opened a new facility in Golden Gate Park, a 400,000 square foot structure that houses an aquarium, a planetarium a natural history museum and a 4-story rainforest all under a "living" roof. Home to world-class scientists, the Academy has earned a platinum award for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).

Located at the Golden Gate Park. For info call: (888) 670-4433

Beach Blanket Babylon
Steve Silver's musical is packed with spectacular costumes, outrageously gigantic hats, and one show-stopping number after. Watch Snow White on her fast-paced musical journey around the world in search of her "Prince Charming" as she encounters a star-studded, ever-changing line-up of hilarious pop culture characters along the way. At Club Fugazi, 678 Green Street in nearby North Beach.

Located in North Beach. For tickets call: (415) 421-4222

San Francisco Zoo
The San Francisco Zoo connects people with wildlife, inspires caring for nature, and advances conservation action. Located near the sweeping vistas of Ocean Beach, the zoo offers an African savanna, a lemur forest, children's zoo, carousel, Sumatran tiger cub exhibit and much more. Come check out the new "Hearst Grizzly Gulch"!

Located at 1 Zoo Rd. For information call: (415) 753-7080

SFMOMA Rooftop Sculpture Garden
The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art features a 14,400-square-foot exhibition space on the rooftop. The Rooftop Garden showcases SFMOMA's ever-expanding collection of modern and contemporary sculpture. Visitors also discover a place for reflection, relaxation and interaction. Works are from the museum's collection and are either recently acquired or rarely seen.

At Yerba Buena Center. For further info, call (415) 357-4000

Teatro ZinZanni Presents Joan Baez
Set along San Francisco's historic waterfront, Teatro ZinZanni is a bewitching evening of European Cabaret and Cirque, Divas and Madmen, Spectacle and Sensuality with Live Music and a Gourmet Five-Course Dinner. Joan Baez and Yvegeniy Voronin are featured in "Maestro's Enchantment", an enchanting evening of trickery and illusion, dreams and divas, music and merriment guaranteed to mesmerize the beholder and tickle the palate.

On the Embarcadero. For information call (415) 438-2668.