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Attendees dance during a Porchfest SF performance in the San Francisco Mission District. It\u2019s scheduled to happen this year on May 29 and 30.<\/p>\n
Taytum Wymer\/Porchfest<\/p>\n
The Bay Area\u2019s summertime calendar is filling up with great ways to have fun without busting your budget.<\/p>\n
From porch-side concerts in the Mission to Anna\u00a0Halprin\u2019s annual, peace-loving Planetary Dance in Golden Gate Park, all events noted here offer admission-free options, making a bounty of music, arts and community activities that are accessible to all.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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People enjoy the live music at the Union Street Festival in San Francisco’s Cow Hollow on June 1, 2024.<\/p>\n
Danielle Echeverria<\/p>\n
A dog competes in the annual World Dog Surfing Championship at Linda Mar Beach in\u00a0Pacifica, 2024.<\/p>\n
Yalonda M. James\/The Chronicle<\/p>\n
Attendees pack Fillmore St. during the two-day Fillmore Jazz Festival, the largest free jazz festival on the West Coast, in San Francisco, 2024. This year is is scheduled to happen on July 4-5.<\/p>\n
Yalonda M. James\/The Chronicle<\/p>\n
S.F. Porchfest<\/p>\n
A neighborly afternoon celebration featuring live, homegrown music performed on porches, parklets and stoops returns to San Francisco\u2019s Mission District for its eighth year. Bike or walk around and check out the talents of more than fifty bands including sets from local artists performing at eight venues. A kickoff party<\/a> with performances from Porchfest artists is scheduled at the Hotel Utah Saloon on Friday night.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Kickoff party: 8-10 p.m. Friday, May 29. $10. Hotel Utah Music Hall, 500 Fourth St., S.F. \u2022 Porchfest: Noon-6 p.m. Saturday, May 30. Free. www.sfporchfest.org<\/a><\/p>\n Bay Area Bookfest: YouthLit and Bookworm Block Party<\/p>\n The Bay Area Book Festival returns to downtown Berkeley offering two days of author talks, workshops, readings and family programming spread across multiple venues \u2014 and most of it is free to attend. Among the programming highlights are YouthLit,<\/a> with kid-focused readings, discussion panels and interactive events featuring children\u2019s authors and youth literacy organizations. A lively Bookworm Block Party<\/a> brings outdoor energy to the literary fair. On schedule are author appearances, live performances, booksellers, food vendors and activities for readers of all ages.<\/p>\n San Francisco Chronicle Logo<\/p>\n Make us a Preferred Source to get more of our news when you search.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Add Preferred Source<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n YouthLit: 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, May 30. Free. Berkeley Public Library, 2090 Kittredge St., Berkeley. \u2022 Block Party: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, May 31. Free. 2170 Shattuck Ave., Allston and Harold Ways and Martin Luther King Jr. Civic Center Park, 2151 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Berkeley. www.baybookfest.org<\/a><\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Visitors relax on the sand and play in the water at the Santa Cruz beach boardwalk. This summer the venue will host a series of free entertainment including live music and movies.<\/p>\n Laura Morton\/Special to The Chronicle<\/p>\n Evenings on the Colonnade and World Soccer Celebration at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk<\/p>\n Enjoy classic boardwalk amusements, then rock out to free live music and entertainment<\/a> as local bands, DJs, magicians and acrobats perform on a beachfront stage beginning on June 15.<\/p>\n Settle in with saltwater taffy and favorite boardwalk goodies for free, family-friendly movies screened shoreside every Friday night<\/a> starting on June 12. Bring a beach blanket or low-back chair for seating.<\/p>\n At the end of the month the beach boardwalk gives a big nod to FIFA World Cup action, hosting a World Soccer Celebration<\/a>, with five days of soccer-focused activities including live matchups and free beachside watch parties, live entertainment, food and drinks vendors.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Magicians and acrobats: 8:30-9:30 p.m. Monday-Wednesday. \u2022 Live music: 8:30-9:30 p.m Thursday. \u2022 Movies: 9 p.m. Friday; DJ dance parties: 8:30-9:30 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. June 15 through Aug. 7. \u2022 Soccer Celebration: Wednesday-Sunday, June 24-28. Free. Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, 400 Beach St., Santa Cruz. 831-423-5590. www.beachboardwalk.com<\/a><\/p>\n Thousands of people attend the Union Street Festival in San Francisco’s Cow Hollow on June 1, 2024.<\/p>\n Danielle Echeverria\/The Chronicle<\/p>\n Union Street Festival<\/p>\n Now in its 48th year, the longtime street fair is set to include live entertainment on multiple stages, local craft vendors, food and drinks, family-friendly activities and its classic uphill waiters race, where hospitality workers sprint through the neighborhood while impressively balancing trays.<\/p>\n 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, June 6-7. Free. Union St., between Fillmore and Gough Streets, S.F. www.sunsetmercantilesf.com<\/a><\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Late modern dance pioneer Anna Halprin is seen at her home in\u00a0Kentfield, 2013. Her annual \u201cPlanetary Dance\u201d event will take place in Golden Gate Park on June 13.<\/p>\n Liz Hafalia\/The Chronicle<\/p>\n 46th Annual Community \u2018Planetary Dance\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n It\u2019s been 46 years since ground breaking Bay Area choreographer Anna Halprin<\/a> hosted her first Planetary Dance \u2014 a movement ritual involving people walking, skipping and dancing in circular formation, on a wild, slopeside meadow, high upon Marin County\u2019s Mount Tamalpais. With community togetherness and ideals of moving together in harmony with nature at its core, the endearing event has spread far beyond the local scene.<\/a> This year the Bay Area\u2019s annual Planetary Dance<\/a> is scheduled to take place in Golden Gate Park<\/a>, with a theme of \u201cCalling for Peace.\u201d Participants are asked to meet at 11:30 a.m. ahead of a noon-time start.<\/p>\n 11:30 a.m. Saturday, June 13. Free. Elk Glen Picnic Area, 1017 Martin Luther King Jr Dr., Golden Gate Park, S.F. www.planetarydance.org<\/a><\/p>\n A mural at Ferry and Green Streets depicting a beaver, one of the city’s well-known symbols In downtown Martinez, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025.<\/p>\n Carlos Avila Gonzalez\/S.F. Chronicle<\/p>\n Martinez Beaver Festival XVII<\/p>\n Famous as the birthplace of Joe DiMaggio, a certain shaken-not-stirred cocktail and home to John Muir\u2019s historical vineyard homestead, the quirky town of Martinez<\/a> most recent claim to fame comes from its protected beaver population and habitat conservation efforts. Celebrate the town\u2019s unofficial mascot at the annual admission-free beaver festival, with family-friendly activities focused on beavers, live big band jazz, citizen science, urban wildlife education, family-friendly activities and more.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, June 13. Susana Park, Martinez Estudillo and Susana Streets, Martinez, www.martinezbeavers.org<\/a><\/p>\n The Alphabet Rockers will perform in Alameda on June 13 as part of\u00a0Rhythmix in the Parks: Unity Fest.<\/p>\n Sam Popp<\/p>\n Rhythmix in the Parks: Unity Fest<\/p>\n Join emcee Tae Poetically Divine<\/a> and celebrate African and African diaspora culture at a free, family-friendly festival<\/a>. The afternoon is set to feature interactive activities, food vendors and more. Performances include live music, dance and drumming from the Alphabet Rockers,<\/a> Duniya Dance and Drum,<\/a> Mbira dzaSoko<\/a>, Fua Dia Kongo,<\/a> Nkan and the Faraya Band,<\/a> Mufaro weDzimbahwe<\/a> and Michele\u2019s Soul Line Dance.<\/a><\/p>\n Noon-5 p.m. Saturday, June 13. Chochenyo Park, 2430 Encinal Ave., Alameda. 510-865-5060. www.rhythmix.org<\/a><\/p>\n Dirtybird: \u2018Back to Baysics\u2019<\/p>\n Another Planet Entertainment and Dirtybird Records will present an open-air, free, all-ages music daytime rave at the S.F. bayfront plaza \u2014 now minus its somewhat controversial Vaillancourt Fountain<\/a>. The program features live DJ dance sets from Dirtybird artists<\/a> Justin Jay,<\/a> J.Phlip,<\/a> Kevin Knapp,<\/a> Mat.Joe<\/a>\u00a0and guests to be announced. There will be food, drinks and merchandise vendors and the\u00a0Embarcadero Plaza Padel Ball<\/a> courts will be open for use, with reservations.\u00a0<\/p>\n 1-5 p.m. Saturday, June 13. Reservations required. Embarcadero Plaza, S.F. www.apeconcerts.com<\/a><\/p>\n A large crowd attends Dirtybird: Back to Baysics daytime rave at Embarcadero Plaza In San Franciscoon Sunday, July 21, 2024.<\/p>\n Scott Strazzante\/The Chronicle<\/p>\n Novato Art, Wine & Music Festival<\/p>\n Kick off summer with a weekend of live music, local art, wine and relaxed summery vibes in downtown Novato. The annual admission-free street fair turns busy Grant Avenue into a lively celebration, with a vending marketplace, wine and craft beer tastings, family-friendly activities and two full days of live performances on multiple stages. Catch sets from Bay Area bands including Pop Fiction,<\/a> Crying Uncle,<\/a> Pardon the Interruption<\/a> and Danny Click & the Hell Yeahs.<\/a><\/p>\n 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, June 13; 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday, June 14. Grant Avenue, between Redwood Blvd. and Seventh St., Novato. www.novatochamber.com<\/a><\/p>\n San Anselmo Live on the Avenue\u00a0<\/p>\n This small North Bay town goes big on summertime weekends with a free downtown event highlighting live music on two main stages, children\u2019s activities, late shopping and dining.\u00a0<\/p>\n 6-8:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday. June 20-Sept. 12. Creek Park and Town Hall, 525 San Anselmo Ave., San Anselmo. 415-258-4640. www.liveontheavenue.org<\/a><\/p>\n Attendees watch a performance from\u00a0California Jazz Conservatory artists during a past Fillmore Jazz Festival\u00a0in San Francisco. This year it is scheduled to happen on July 4-5.<\/p>\n Jessica Christian\/The Chronicle<\/p>\n Fillmore Jazz Festival<\/p>\n San Francisco\u2019s historic Fillmore district will once again host its legacy jazz festival, bringing two days of live music,<\/a> food vendors and street-fair energy to one of the city\u2019s most storied cultural corridors. Long billed as the West Coast\u2019s largest admission-free jazz festival, the annual event will transform Fillmore Street into an open-air concert venue with performances on multiple stages featuring Bay Area and touring jazz artists including June Cavlan,<\/a> Kim Nalley,<\/a> Freddie Bryant,<\/a> Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers,<\/a> Mission Delirium,<\/a> Tammy Hall<\/a> and others.<\/p>\n 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, July 4-5. Fillmore St., between Jackson and Eddy Streets, S.F. www.fillmorejazzfest.com<\/a><\/p>\n 18th Annual Sugartown Festival<\/p>\n Celebrate summer in the heart of historic Crockett with a free, family-friendly street festival. Enjoy live music, local artisan vendors, food trucks, a beer garden and activities for all ages. Local performers scheduled include the Billy Martini Show, Terry Hanck Band and ZZ Top tribute band Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers. Dog-friendly and full of community spirit, the beloved East Bay tradition offers a full day of summer fun.<\/p>\n 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday, July 19. Rolph and Pomona Streets, Crockett. www.sugartownfestival.com<\/a><\/p>\n Derby sports a blue mohawk while competing in the World Dog Surfing Championships in Pacifica, 2023.<\/p>\n Noah Berger\/Special to The Chronicle<\/p>\n World Dog Surfing Championships<\/p>\n Watch pups hang ten and compete in catching waves with their human friends at Pacifica State Beach<\/a>. Scheduled activities<\/a> include a dog surfing competition, a pet wellness fair, mobile pet adoptions, a beach dog fashion show and a surf dog village area.<\/p>\n 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1. Linda Mar, Pacifica State Beach, 5000 Pacific Coast Hwy., Pacifica. www.surfdogchampionships.com<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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