Inside SF - The San Francisco Scoop
10 Best Things To Do In SF In May
With the advent of May Spring has become Summer (apart from a few days, when it switches back to deep winter :-) ). This is a great time to be in the Bay Area as the days get warmer and longer, and there are some really fun events happening in San Francisco this month, so you can start to actually enjoy the weather. There’s Cinco de Mayo, the Bay to Breakers run, Giants’ games and Carnaval. However, as you consider your options, be sure to check our list of the 10 best things to do in SF in May, so you can make the most of these beautiful Bay Area opportunities.
Events & Activities in San Francisco This Month
1. FISHERMAN’S WHARF CHOCOLATE & GOLD TOUR (EVERY SUNDAY, 2.30 PM)
Chocolate and gold have to be two of the most popular things known to man. 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.
2. CELEBRATE CINCO DE MAYO (MAY 1-5)
This is one of those weird anniversaries that’s celebrated much more in another country, than it is in its home nation. On May 5th the Mexican Army defeated the army of the French Emperor (Napoleon III) at the Battle of Puebla. The war continued for a while longer, but it was a morale-boosting victory for the Mexicans and the end of the brief French flirtation with our southern neighbor.
Although it’s been largely forgotten in Mexico it’s BIG in places with large Mexican immigrant communities in the U.S. It’s viewed as a celebration of Mexican and Chicano culture – as well as being the perfect excuse to drink copious amounts of Tequila! So it’s popular with everyone,
There are lots of events, all over the Bay Area, but the best option is probably to head over to the Mission District and join the party there (lowrider strictly optional).
Definitely one of the best things to do in SF in May. More information here.
3. TAIWANESE AMERICAN CULTURAL FESTIVAL (MAY 9)
Continuing the immigrant festival theme, this one’s another important event in San Francisco, since there’s a large population of people of Taiwanese background here, and links with the island are so strong. The festival began in 1993 and it takes place in Union Square, in the heart of downtown.
More information here.
4. BAY TO BREAKERS RACE (MAY 17)
This is one of the most famous city races in the world and dates back to the early part of the twentieth century, when it was created as a way to raise the city’s spirits after the 1906 Great Fire. It gets its name, logically enough, because it starts on the Bay, at the Embarcadero and runs (pun intended) 7.6 miles, or 12 kilometers, to the Pacific, at the Great Highway.
For a while it held the record for the biggest footrace in the world (in 1986 110,000 people participated), and it’s estimated that up to 100,000 people will take part in some way this year. A lot of participants dress in costume, and a few just wear their birthday suit (which is brave considering the weather), but either way it’s a lot of fun.
More information here.
5. CARNAVAL (MAY 23-24)
Another week another festival! This one’s Carnaval San Francisco and cultivates and celebrates the diverse Latin American, Caribbean and African Diasporic roots of the Mission District and the San Francisco Bay Area.
The Grand Parade covers twenty blocks of the Mission and boasts a 60–contingent lineup, with over 3,000 artists representing the countries of those regions. This is always a special event and definitely one of the best things to do in SF in May.
More information here.
6. VISIT AN AMAZING MUSEUM FOR FREE (DATES THROUGH MAY)
For several days of the month, and for certain people on every day of the month, many SF museums are free. We have a lot of great museums, so you could make the most of these opportunities this month.
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 Saturdays for Bay Area residents and free Tuesday’s for all.
Cable Car Museum: free every day, and one of the most interesting museums in all of San Francisco.
Other museums well worth visiting:
California Academy of Sciences
Museum of the African Diaspora
7. JAZZ AT A HIDDEN TEAHOUSE (DATES THROUGH MAY)
Jazz is a true American art form, developed by African Americans in the Old South at the end of the nineteenth century, but you can enjoy it here in San Francisco at this incredible venue.
Our intimate concert series, nestled within the iconic Golden Gate Park, offers the perfect setting to unwind and escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life. As Karl the Fog sets in and illuminates the lake, join us inside for an evening of influenced jazz music from the Bay Area’s finest musicians, paired with a glass of wine or beer.
A little more about the hidden location:
Located in the heart of SF’s famous Golden Gate Park, there’s a lovely boathouse known only by a few locals. Every Friday we transform this space into a non-conventional intimate music venue. Nearby you can start off your evening by visiting the best Gold Gate Park has to offer.
Lakehouse Jazz
More information here.
8. A NIGHT AT THE ORPHEUM THEATRE (DATES THROUGH MAY)
For most of the month the musical Hell’s Kitchen is at the Orpheum Theatre, in downtown San Francisco.
Welcome to Hell’s Kitchen, the hit musical from 17-time Grammy® Award winning Alicia Keys—inspired by her life, her music, and her community.
Orpheum Theatre
For the last few days of May and into June a retooled production of Phantom of the Opera from Cameron Mackintosh takes over.
More information here.
9. EXPLORE ANGEL ISLAND (ALL MONTH)
Everyone knows Alcatraz Island sits just off the shore of San Francisco, and it’s one of the most popular places to visit in the Bay Area.
However there is another, much larger, island just a couple of miles to the west, Angel Island. It’s now a State Park and well-worth visiting. There are ancient sites of the Coast Miwok people, dating back hundreds of years, as well as the historic Immigration Station, which was used between 1910 and 1940 as a kind of West Coast Ellis Island. Take a day to explore one of the most interesting and picturesque spots in the entire Bay Area, May is the perfect month for it.
Read our guide to Angel Island here.
10. SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (DATES THROUGH MAY)
The Giants’ home ground, right on San Francisco Bay at Oracle Park, has to be one of the most photogenic in the American baseball. Consider that as recently as 2014 we won the World Series, so we play some good ball too. Why not enjoy a game this May as the new season gets into full-swing?
More information here.
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