SF Family Events Calendar: What's Happening This Spring

Spring in San Francisco is chaos in the best way. The fog backs off (mostly), the flowers go crazy, and suddenly there's a festival every weekend. Here's what's actually worth dragging your kids to.

March

Cherry Blossom Festival — Japantown Two weekends in April (yes, they call it cherry blossom but it bleeds into spring). The Japantown Peace Plaza becomes a full-on celebration — taiko drumming, martial arts demos, Japanese street food, and origami workshops for kids. The parade on the second Sunday is the main event. Get there early for parking.

Pro tip: The cherry trees in the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park usually peak mid-March. Free entry if you go before 10 AM on Monday, Wednesday, or Friday.

St. Patrick's Day Parade — Downtown Mid-March down Market Street. Loud, green, and honestly pretty short which is perfect for small kids. The marching bands are the highlight. Grab an early lunch at one of the Ferry Building vendors after.

April

Egg Hunts — Various Parks The big ones: Sharon Meadow in Golden Gate Park, and the Presidio hosts one at the Tunnel Tops. They go FAST — like, 90 seconds and it's over. But the pre-hunt activities (face painting, bounce houses) are the real draw. Arrive 30 minutes early.

Earth Day at the California Academy of Sciences Cal Academy goes all-in on Earth Day with special programming, behind-the-scenes tours, and reduced admission. The planetarium show is worth the line.

SF International Film Festival — Various Venues Not obviously kid-friendly, but they always have a family shorts program. Check the schedule — it's usually one Saturday morning screening that's perfect for school-age kids who are into storytelling.

May

Bay to Breakers Look, this is technically a foot race. In reality it's a city-wide costume party that happens to move in one direction. The family-friendly zone near the start at Howard Street is great for little kids — costumes everywhere, music, food trucks. Just... maybe skip the back of the pack if your kids are under 10.

Carnaval — Mission District Memorial Day weekend. The Mission turns into the biggest party in the city — samba dancers, live music stages, incredible food from every Latin American country. The kids' area on Harrison Street has face painting and dancing. This is the event where your kids learn to love a city.

Stern Grove Festival Starts (June, but tickets open in May) Free concerts in a eucalyptus amphitheater in the Sunset. The season starts mid-June but you need to grab passes early. Bring blankets, thermoses, and patience for the walk in. Genuinely one of SF's best family traditions.

The Recurring Gems

Off the Grid — Fort Mason (Fridays) Year-round but spring is when it really shines. Off the Grid at Fort Mason food truck lineup, live music, and enough space for kids to run around while you eat $16 tacos. Friday evenings, 5-10 PM.

Randall Museum Free Saturdays The Randall Museum is always free, but their Saturday drop-in workshops (science experiments, animal encounters) are the move. Small, never crowded, and the views of the city from Corona Heights are unreal.

Farmers Markets The Ferry Building Saturday market is the famous one, but the Inner Sunset market (Sundays) and Noe Valley market (Saturdays) are way more kid-friendly — less crowded, more space to roam, free fruit samples from vendors who love kids.

Planning Tips

Book nothing on weekends in May. Something will pop up.

Layer up for evening events. Spring in SF means 70° at 3 PM, 52° at 7 PM.

Bring cash. Festival food vendors often don't take cards.

Check SF Rec & Park's calendar monthly. They add free events constantly and don't always promote them well.

Updated March 2026. Dates shift annually — check event websites for exact schedules.