July marks street fair season in San Francisco, with a lot of outdoor events and concerts, such as the Stern Grove Festival. There are always a ton of things happening in the Bay Area during the summer and the onset of high Summer means that there are even more fun things to do in the great outdoors. From San Francisco Marathon, to murder mysteries on trains, via nights at the museum and trips back to London in 1814, this is my take on the ten best things to do in SF in July. Enjoy!

Events & Activities in San Francisco This Month

1. STERN GROVE FESTIVAL (DATES THROUGH JULY)

The Stern Grove is celebrating 86 years of its free Sunday concerts this summer. However, although it is free you do need to make a reservation prior to the concert to get tickets (they do sell out, so don’t wait). The line-up this year includes Indigo Girls, Lyle Lovett, Patti Smith, the San Francisco Symphony and The Flaming Lips. 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 can be fickle.

More information here.

2. NAPA WINE TRAIN MURDER MYSTERY (DATES THROUGH JULY)

Okay, so it’s not, strictly speaking a San Francisco event, but it is close to the Bay Area. These events give you an excuse to get all dressed up in period attire for the Napa Wine Train, where you’ll witness a murder and conduct an investigation – while enjoying an elegant three-course dinner (with wine pairings natch). The themes include Death of a Gangster, Til Death Do Us Part, Dance with Death and more.

More information here.

3. CELEBRATE U.S. INDEPENDENCE DAY (JULY 4)

Every year San Francisco has a huge fireworks display in the bay and its always one of the best things to do in SF in July.

There are two sets of fireworks and both are synced, with one set at the end of the Municipal Pier and the other one by Pier 39. Most of the SF waterfront is closed to traffic, due to the large crowds that normally come. If you want to go (and it’s definitely one of the best things to do in SF in July), you’re best advised to get there early, using public transport, The fireworks display starts shortly before 9.30pm and lasts around 30 minutes.

More information here.

4. GO TO A CONCERT (DATES THROUGH JULY)

Seeing an artist that you really like perform live is just a great thing to do. In July Taylor Swift is coming to the Levi’s in Santa Clara (more information here).

Alternatively Bryan Adams is playing the Chase Center, near downtown, at the end of the month (more information here).

5. FREE MUSEUM DAYS (DATES THROUGH JULY)

For several days of the month – and for certain people on every day of the month – many SF museums are free. We have great museums – you should make the most 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.

6. TAKE A CABLE CAR AND TRAM TOUR OF SAN FRANCISCO (ALL MONTH)

San Francisco is a wonderful place to explore, its unique geography, with water, hills and parks creating a unique topography for such a big city. What this means is lots of small neighborhoods, with quite different ascetics and vibes, even when close together.

We use SF’s famous cable cars and historic trams (as well as a modern bus) to take guests on tour of some of the most interesting neighborhoods (with many of our best views), while recounting their history and some funny and insightful stories. Join us on our Half Day SF City Highlights tour, which runs every day, 10am-2pm, finishing with lunch at Haight Ashbury. SF Metro travel is included in the price.

More information here.

7. PARTY AT A MUSEUM (DATES THROUGH JULY)

If you like museums, but would like them even more if there it was at a party with DJ’s and cocktails (and who doesn’t, frankly), then you’re in luck, because two SF museums are hosting Thursday night events just for you. Check out After Dark at the Exploratorium, where you don’t have to politely wait for the kids to finish to try out the hands-on exhibits (more information here).

There’s a similar event, called NightLife, at the California Academy of Sciences, where you can explore a four-story rainforest, sip cocktails in the aquarium and catch a show at the Planetarium (more information here).

8. VISIT NINETEENTH CENTURY LONDON FROM SF (DATES THROUGH JULY)

London | 1814 – Vanity Fair

Explore the spoiled decadence and luxury of England’s Regency Period. Inspired by W.M. Thackeray’s novel Vanity Fair and its tale of a social upstart climbing her way through class and corruption in London society, this menu is an opulent culinary affair that fuses English, French, and Indian cuisine.

Merchant Roots

Sounds interesting, right? More information here.

9. WALK, RUN OR BIKE ACROSS SAN FRANCISCO (ALL MONTH)

How about putting on some really comfortable shoes and taking the Crosstown Trail, a seventeen-mile route that crosses the peninsula and passes through tons of beautiful neighborhoods, including McLaren Park, Glen Canyon, Golden Gate Park and Seacliff. The trail is a mix of roads, paths and trails, rising to an elevation of 2,600 feet and offers a chance to see the city from all kinds of different perspectives. You don’t even have to do it all at once, you can break it off into bite-sized pieces.

More information here.

10. SAN FRANCISCO MARATHON (JULY 22 AND 23)

Continuing the theme of crossing San Francisco on your own two feet… How about doing the San Francisco Marathon? Or if that’s too energetic for you (and it is for me!) you can just watch other people put themselves through hell for your enjoyment. The route starts at the Embarcadero and goes along the waterfront to the Golden Gate Bridge, then back through the Presidio to Golden Gate Park where it turns again to pass through Haight Ashbury, the Mission District and downtown to where it finishes, back near the Ferry Building.

More information here.

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

– By Damien Blackshaw (Twitter)