August is a great month to be in San Francisco. It’s usually warm (sometimes even hot, it is California after all) and the weather’s just a tiny bit more reliable, so here in the Bay Area you just have to make the most of that to get OUT! There are always a lot of events going on in SF, and more than enough activities to keep most people entertained, but what we try to do here is break it all down into a bite sized list with a decent range of possibilities. So, in pursuit of helping YOU make the most of your valuable time, here are the 10 best things to do in SF in August. Enjoy!

Events & Activities in San Francisco This Month

1. JERRY DAY (AUGUST 1)

It’s back! Jerry Day returns to the Jerry Garcia Amphitheater in McLaren Park at the beginning of August. This much loved free musical event is a celebration of what would be Jerry Garcia’s (Grateful Dead) 84th birthday. Performers include Melvin Seals and JGB, Stu Allen and Mars Hotel.

More information here.

2. FISHERMAN’S WHARF CHOCOLATE & GOLD TOUR (EVERY SUNDAY)

Chocolate and gold have to be two of the most popular things known to man, and woman for that matter. And if you combine them on a tour, that is surely an experience that will appeal to most. 

There’s a surprising amount of history in the buildings and streets of Fisherman’s Wharf, as well as an actual fishing fleet. Locals may think of it mainly as a tourist attraction, but that would be to underestimate the neighborhood to a large degree. 

The tour starts near Aquatic Park, with some of the best views of the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz, before snaking through the wharves, back alleys and some fascinating local museums, to Boudin’s, a San Francisco landmark. 

Over the course of an entertaining two hours you’ll learn some fascinating history, going back to the Gold Rush and the infamous Barbary Coast, see some friendly seal lions and cable cars, and try some delicious local chocolate.

The tour ends in the perfect place to grab some lunch, or head into North Beach (Little Italy), to continue the San Francisco exploration.

More information here.

3. YOGA ON THE LABYRINTH (EVERY TUESDAY AND SATURDAY)

Join this weekly yoga class surrounded by the awe-inspiring architecture of Grace Cathedral. Set to live music from world-renowned musicians, this weekly yoga and meditation practice looks and feels like the amazing diversity of San Francisco itself. 

Grace Cathedral

Could there be a more awe-inspiring, and oddly appropriate place to practice yoga, than the venerable Grace Cathedral on Nob Hill? Not just one of the best things to do in SF in August, but any month, really.

More information here.

4. FREE MUSEUM DAYS (DATES THROUGH AUGUST)

For several days of the month (and for some special people on every day of the month) many SF museums are free. We have great museums – you should make the most of one of these opportunities.

Exploratorium: free admission for EBT cardholders and San Francisco Medi-Cal or CalFresh recipients. Also free for California public school teachers.

SF Botanical Gardens: free admission second Tuesday of every month.

Japanese Tea Gardens: free Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9-10 am.

De Young Museum: free first Tuesday of every month, also free every Saturday for Bay Area residents.

SFMOMA: free first Thursday of the month for Bay Area residents.

Legion of Honor: free Saturday’s for Bay Area residents and free Tuesday’s for all.

Cable Car Museum: free everyday and one of the most interesting museums in San Francisco.

Other museums well worth visiting:

The Walt Disney Family Museum

California Academy of Sciences

Museum of the African Diaspora

5. OUTSIDE LANDS (AUGUST 7-9)

Outside Lands is back in its usual timeslot this year and really rocking. The line-up for this three-day festival includes. Charli XCX, The Strokes, Glorilla and Empire of the Sun.

The event is at the Golden Gate Park, near Haight Ashbury. You can get married at Outside Lands City Hall and there is a designated marijuana-enjoyment zone, called – you guessed it – grasslands. Either way, getting hitched, feeling some Summer of Love vibes, or just listening to some great music, this is definitely one of the best things to do in SF in August.

More information here.

6. NIHONMACHI STREET FAIR (AUGUST 1-2)

What makes this street fair a uniquely San Francisco event is the broader cultural context participants can experience in addition to traditional Asian-Pacific influences. The Nihonmachi Street Fair organizers have a long history of including local entertainment that have spanned genres from Taiko to hip-hop to salsa, rock, and jazz. The street fair takes place in and around Japantown, near the Civic Center.

More information here.

7. STERN GROVE FESTIVAL (DATES THROUGH AUGUST)

The Stern Grove is celebrating its 88th season of free Sunday concerts this summer. However, although it is free you do need to reserve tickets (and they reserve out fast, so don’t wait). The line-up this year includes Al Green, Public Enemy Suki Waterhouse and Japanese Breakfast.

To make the most of it, pack a picnic and bottle of wine (alcohol is permitted) AND layer up, because the weather in Outer Sunset (and SF in general) can be fickle.

More information here.

8. SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (DATES THROUGH AUGUST)

Those long summer nights are perfect for catching a game at one of the most beautiful stadiums in the U.S. the world. The Giants are one of the oldest and most successful teams in professional baseball, with more wins than any other team in the history of major American sports.

More information here.

9. ENJOY SOME LIVE COMEDY (DATES THROUGH AUGUST)

We could all do with a good giggle right now, in fact many experts say that there’s nothing better for easing tension than a good belly laugh. Cobb’s, a legendary North Beach comedy club, has a series of shows coming up in August. The neighborhood makes a great place to have fun after the show too. More information here.

Secret Improv Society and Punchline Comedy Club, are also well-established comedy clubs that organize regular events, often with well-known stand-ups.

10. SAN FRANCISCO FERRY BUILDING (ALL MONTH)

The Ferry Building is one of the city’s most iconic buildings, serving as a hotspot for tourists and locals alike. It’s a center for events, pop-ups, a farmers’ market, and countless excellent merchants who sell their wares daily in the building’s many stalls.

During the course of the month there are a ton of events going on:

• Monday outdoor yoga
• Wednesday Mahjong meetups
• Thursday music on the plaza
• Friday evening board game nights
• Other fun and interesting events, including markets and Drag Bingo

More information here.

If you have any feedback on 10 Best Things to Do in SF in August please email us or reach out on social media, we’d love to hear from you.

– By Damien Blackshaw (Twitter)