10 Things to Do in San Francisco in July

July is a vibrant month in San Francisco, where music festivals and summer heat reign supreme.

Carmen Navarro

Carmen Navarro

11 min read

10 Things to Do in San Francisco in July

San Francisco | ©André-Pierre du Plessis

In the following lines I am going to recommend different activities and things to see and do in San Francisco during the month of July. Being a summer month, temperatures are warmer and you will be able to live rewarding experiences.

July in San Francisco is the month of kites, outdoor concerts and jazz festivals. This is definitely a good month to enjoy with family or friends for fun celebrations to dance, sing and enjoy.

1. Stroll through Japantown to experience the Northern California Soybean and Tofu Festival.

Japantown, San Francisco| ©Ken Lund
Japantown, San Francisco| ©Ken Lund

If food and tasting different flavors is your thing, but especially if you are a lover of healthy living, you are sure to enjoy the Tofu and Soybean Festival in San Francisco.

This festival takes place every year in July in the city's Japantown and is definitely a must-do activity to include in the best food tours in San Francisco.

During the festival you will have the opportunity to meet and taste new products based on tofu and soy. If you are more adventurous, I invite you to participate in the traditional dessert and tasting contest.

But as not everything is food, this festival offers a varied selection of special performances for you to have fun while you eat.

It is an activity to enjoy with the whole family, it is even a festival that you can include among the things to do in San Francisco with children. It is usually organized for the first days of July and usually lasts only one day, in which the different products are exhibited in the Japantown Peace Plaza.

Details of interest

  • How to get there: You can use public transportation or the streetcar to get to Japantown.
  • Cost: Free of charge.
  • Date and time: It takes place one day of the month, usually at the beginning. It opens around 11:00 and closes around 16:00.

Book a food tour in San Francisco

2. Learn about Latino culture during Fiestas Fridas

Frida| ©Keri Logan
Frida| ©Keri Logan

San Francisco is a city with a deep-rooted Latino influence that has been maintained over the years and is growing every day.

This influence extends beyond the Mission District, where cultures from South America, Central America and other Spanish-speaking countries converge. So it should come as no surprise that Frida Khalo is celebrated in style.

During the month of July, the Fiestas Fridas flood the city with different Mexican representations in devotion to one of the most important symbols of their culture. Although the birthday is celebrated on July 6, the festivities extend throughout the month, making it a must-do activity in San Francisco.

The festivities offer you a cultural but also gastronomic approach to the Latin feeling, and if the Mission District is already included among those destinations that you can not miss among the best gastronomic tours in San Francisco, I recommend you to visit the place during this celebration.

Details of interest

  • How to get there: The parties take place in various locations in the Mission District, to get there you only have to use public transportation or go by car.
  • Cost: Free of charge.
  • Date and time: There are different schedules depending on the activities of each day of the festivities. You have to check the official website for the updated schedule.

Book a bike tour in San Francisco

3. Learn about wines at the International Bulk Wine and Spirit Show

International Bulk Wine Competition| ©Emiliano García-Page
International Bulk Wine Competition| ©Emiliano García-Page

If you want to take your wine experience to another level, you can't miss this exhibition that takes place in San Francisco every year during the last week of July. The show is attended by different representatives of wineries and distilleries to present their products and learn more about wine production.

Participants of the International Bulk Wine and Spirit Show register in advance, but if you want to visit, you are welcome.

You will only need to reserve your ticket to have your place assured when the event takes place. It is a very interesting recreational and educational activity if you like this wine world.

Of course, the experience is of the highest level and you will have the opportunity to meet the most important wine producers in California, taking into consideration that this is a wine region ranked among the best in the world.

Of course, during the exhibition you will be able to see the products of each of the participating companies.

Details of interest

  • How to get there: The event is held at the South San Francisco Conference Center, which is located just minutes from the airport and about 25 minutes from downtown.
  • Cost: Tickets can cost between 40 and 200 euros. The price change depends on the spaces you will attend, either just the exhibition or the exhibition and conference. The latter includes breakfast, lunch and access to cocktails.
  • Date and time: This event takes place between July 26 and 27, the last week of the month. It is open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Book a wine tasting tour to Sonoma and Napa

4. Watch the 4th of July Fireworks from Pier 39

San Francisco Pier 39| ©Davide Amoruso
San Francisco Pier 39| ©Davide Amoruso

There is no more important celebration in the United States than Independence Day, celebrated on July 4 each year. For these celebrations, Americans in every city put on all-out shows to celebrate another year as a nation.

San Francisco is no exception and one of the best places to see the 4th of July fireworks show is definitely Pier 39 at Fisherman's Wharf.

This is a nighttime activity, and is also notable for the wide range of culinary offerings the pier has to offer on the Fourth of July.

Some of the special activities that you can enjoy that night there are the barbecues and live jazz performances that take place during the fireworks show. This usually starts between 20:00 and 21:00 and Pier 39 is one of the busiest areas to appreciate it.

Details of interest

  • How to get there: To get to Pier 39 you will have to take public transportation to the pier and then walk to the pier. You will know which pier is the pier by the noticeably higher influx of people there.
  • Cost: Entering Pier 39 is free, after that you will have to pay for everything you consume inside.
  • Date and time: July 4 from the afternoon hours to get a better spot to see the pyrotechnics.

5. Enjoy jazz at the Fillmore Festival

Fillmore Festival| ©Stephen
Fillmore Festival| ©Stephen

One of the most important jazz festivals in San Francisco takes place in July, and it is none other than the Fillmore Festival.

It's a great idea to include among the things to see and do in the city in summer because, regardless of the language, enjoying jazz is always a good activity for any audience.

It is a free festival that you can enjoy with family or friends who are passionate about jazz. It is usually held during the first weekend of July, as part of the celebrations for the American Independence Day.

Not only will you have the opportunity to listen to good music, but you will also find a wide exhibition of food and crafts from different cultures that will help you to know a little better the cultural contribution of immigration in the United States.

Details of interest

  • How to get there: The festival takes place in the Mission District, between Jackson and Eddy Streets.
  • Cost: Free.
  • Date and time: Sunrise to sunset during Independence Weekend each year.

6. Get inspired by the music of the Mozart Summer Festival.

Mozart Festival| ©Antonio Castagna
Mozart Festival| ©Antonio Castagna

The San Francisco Bay Area annually hosts the summer extravaganza dedicated to paying tribute to the compositions of Mozart. A large number of artists perform year after year at the festival with their interpretations and adaptations of the celebrated musician's works.

The dates of the Mozart festival can vary from year to year, as do the venues where the concerts take place. Generally the event takes place during the second week of each July. This is one of the oldest festivals in the Bay Area that is still going strong.

But the festival not only takes place in the Bay Area, it also moves to some wineries, to offer the show to other audiences throughout San Francisco. It is one of the activities I recommend you for this time of the year, especially if you want a quiet place to enjoy good music.

Details of interest

  • How to get there: It takes place in different locations, but generally in the San Francisco Bay Area.
  • Cost: From 50 euros per adult. Children may pay a little less.
  • Date and time: Venues may vary and shows may be from 18:30.

7. Go shopping at the indie market at the Renegade Craft Fair.

Renegade Craft Fair| ©Evan p. cordes
Renegade Craft Fair| ©Evan p. cordes

This is a craft fair that takes place twice a year, once in July and once in November. If you're visiting San Francisco during the month of July, it's a great idea for you to check out what the Bay Area's craft artists are making. You might be surprised at how many useful products you'll get.

Renegade Craft Fair is also known as the July market and most of the things you'll find inside are sure to have a good use inside your home. Crafting in the Bay Area has evolved a lot and the elaborate pieces are far from being clunky, solely decorative objects.

Access to the craft market in July is free, but you will have to pay for each object you want to take. This is one of the most interesting fairs of the month because it gives the opportunity to the artisans of the Bay Area to show their work and the effort behind it.

On the other hand, this fair offers locals and tourists the chance to get to know new things created by the artisans, and even take functional souvenirs of the city of San Francisco.

Details of interest

  • How to get there: This fair is held at the Festival Pavilion in Fort Mason and to get there you can take the bus and stay at the station closest to the venue, which is Chestnut St. and Gough St., in San Francisco.
  • Cost: Free admission.
  • Date and time: Both days of the second week of July from 11:00 to 17:00.

8. Enjoy a couple of films at the Frozen Film Festival

Mission District| ©gérard
Mission District| ©gérard

The Frozen Film Festival is more than just a conventional film show. During the festival you will be able to enjoy artistic and musical performances, as well as see the screening of works made by independent filmmakers who are looking for a place in the world of cinematic arts.

It is an event that is held for the benefit of these professionals who have not yet had the opportunity to show their work to large crowds. It's not an activity you can't enjoy if you don't understand English, if you are a lover of music and the arts in general, you are sure to love the musical presentations included in the calendar.

The events of the festival can change and that is why I recommend you to visit the official website before attending the event, so you know what the schedule is for the day of your visit. The event takes place during the second week of July and is usually located in the Mission District and Union Square.

Details of interest

  • How to get there: The event takes place in the Mission District and Union Square, so to get here you will have to use any bus route and stay near one of these stops.
  • Cost: The entrance to the festival is priced from 20 euros and up.
  • Date and time: It takes place during the second week of July. You can go in the afternoon and into the evening.

9. San Francisco Marathon

San Francisco Marathon| ©Jun Seita
San Francisco Marathon| ©Jun Seita

In the third week of July is the San Francisco Marathon, an event that attracts the attention of locals and visitors, who are looking for the opportunity to actively participate in the race.

To participate you can choose between the full marathon, the half marathon, the second half marathon, or the 10K or 5K races. In case you want to participate with your whole family or a group of friends, you also have the option to enter the 1K marathon.

Details of interest

  • How to get there: The race starts at the Fort Mason Pavilion. To get there you can use public transportation and get off at the Chestnut St. and Gough St. station.
  • Cost: Tickets for adults can cost from 25 euros, while children under the age of two can run for free if they are registered with an adult.
  • Date and Time: Races generally start at 8:30 and the event usually occurs in the third week of July.

Traveller Tip

There is no impediment to being athletically fit to participate, but I recommend staying healthy and training before you run.

10. Go back to childhood and fly a fun kite at the Berkeley Kite Festival

Berkeley Festival| ©Perfect Zero
Berkeley Festival| ©Perfect Zero

The most anticipated kite event of July is the Berkeley Festival. It's a family-friendly event that you can attend with the kids, to admire the most colorful kites in all of San Francisco. You can participate by buying a kite or making one to fly during the event.

Children have a space set aside for their entertainment in the kite making area. It is an ideal activity among the things to see and do in San Francisco in summer because thanks to the strong wind the kites can soar to great heights.

At the festival you can also find food stalls to try some snacks and sweets for the kids.

Details of interest

  • How to get there: The event takes place at Cesar Chavez Park, and to get there you will have to use a bus route and get off at the station located at C. Chavez St. and Florida St.
  • Cost: Free.
  • Date and time: Usually held in the last week of July and lasts from morning to afternoon.

Temperature and weather in San Francisco in July

San Francisco| ©Pedro Cambra
San Francisco| ©Pedro Cambra

As a summer month, it is common for it to be slightly war mer during these dates in San Francisco. However, drafts can be just as cold and strong as in cooler months such as October or November.

As for the amount of rain, San Francisco is a city where it rains little and when it comes to summer the rain is usually absent, so this is one of the best months to visit the city in terms of weather conditions.

This is the tourist influx in San Francisco July

San Francisco at night| ©edward stojakovi
San Francisco at night| ©edward stojakovi

This is the vacation month, so it corresponds to the high season. You are likely to find large numbers of people in most places of interest in San Francisco.

The large influx of tourists force you to prepare your trip in advance in terms of booking accommodation, tickets to attractions, restaurant reservations, among other places.

What to pack for a trip to San Francisco in July?

San Francisco| ©Ron Reiring
San Francisco| ©Ron Reiring

Although July is a summer month, it is a good idea to bring sweaters to protect you from the strong wind, especially if you expect to take a boat ride in San Francisco. Sunglasses and sunscreen are a must.

On the other hand, you can wear closed or open shoes, taking into account that in July it does not usually rain in San Francisco. I recommend that you wear a bathing suit to visit the bay area.