SF SketchFest: the talents of Bay Area comedy groups and performers are presented in venues around the city for two weeks of original comedy.

Chinese New Year: North America’s largest celebration of its kind happens in Chinatown over two weeks, culminating with the Golden Dragon Parade.

San Francisco Independent Film Festival: this renowned Indie-fest supports the work of local independent filmmakers by showing their latest films.

St Patrick’s Day: this traditional celebration is done in style with snake races, a parade and all other sorts of merrymaking.

Noise Pop Festival: a week full of the best Indie music, film, art, drink and more at venues around the city.

Cherry Blossom Festival: an elaborate presentation of Japanese culture and customs spanning two weekends with a colourful parade through Japantown.

San Francisco International Beer Festival: more than 200 beers from dozens of breweries are on hand at this fun, festive annual event.

San Francisco International Film Festival: premiers from around the world are presented during this renowned film festival.

Carnival San Francisco: this traditional Latin American festival is celebrated in May to avoid the damp, chilly weather of February. Food, music, art and dance are all part of the colourful celebration.

Cinco de Mayo: the Mission District is the place to celebrate this traditional Mexican holiday, with a parade, Mexican music, dancing, food and more throughout the streets of this Latin neighbourhood.

The Haight Street Fair: this bizarre neighbourhood becomes even crazier during this outdoor street party featuring live music, food, crafts and crowds of revellers.

The Pride Parade: the city’s vibrant gay community celebrates their diversity with a colourful flamboyant parade that winds its way through the city.

North Beach Festival: the area around Grant Avenue and Washington Square Park are transformed into a lively Italian marketplace during this festive event.

Fourth of July Waterfront Celebration: from Pier 30 to Aquatic Park, this waterfront area bursts into life with family festivities and a huge firework display at night.

Filmore Street Jazz Festival: this free jazz festival features live music on three stages, as well as 200 arts and crafts booths.

North Beach Jazz Festival: one of the city’s premier jazz festivals is held in the North Beach neighbourhood, which has a long history of great jazz. The five-day event features jazz greats at over 40 different bars along Grant Street.

San Francisco Shakespeare Festival: throughout the month, free performances of his plays are given on the weekends in relaxing outdoor venues around the city.

A La Carte A La Park: the city’s best restaurants provide the food for this weekend event at Golden Gate Park.

Opera in the Park: again, Golden Gate Park is the site for this annual event, which brings free opera to the lush outdoor realm of the park.

The San Francisco Blues Festival: blues is the order of the weekend, as some of the country’s great musicians perform on the Great Meadow at Fort Mason.

Reggae in the Park: another popular musical celebration in Golden Gate Park brings the sweet sounds of reggae for two days of outdoor concerts.

Castro Street Fair: you can be assured of plenty of colour and flair at this art, craft, food and music fair in the streets of the city’s gay district. 

San Francisco Jazz Festival: one of the world’s greatest jazz festivals brings the masters of the genre to venues around the city for three wonderful weeks.

Tree Lighting Ceremony: Ghiradelli Square kicks off the holiday season with its annual tree lighting. A spectacular 50-foot Christmas tree is the centre of all the hoopla, accompanied by lots of chocolate-related festivities.

Berkeley Artisans’ Holiday Open Studios: more than 100 artists and craftspeople open their studios to the public in their culturally explosive town of Berkeley, across the bay.