San Francisco

San Francisco Labor Day Weekend – 10+ Fun Things to Do in September

By Katie Sagal

If you're spending Labor Day weekend in San Francisco, you won't be short of things to do. From live music to festivals and bike rides to cruises, celebrate the unofficial last few days of summer in San Francisco.

If you’re looking for San Francisco Labor Day weekend ideas, check out some of these local activities and fun things do in San Francisco in September, including...

  • Bridge 2 Bridge Cruise
  • Full Day Wine Country Tour
  • Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
  • Union Square Live
  • And more!

Union Square Live

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Tango in the Square with Claudio Ortega and the Bay Area Argentine Tango Associaton. Members of the ensemble hail from Russia, Switzerland, Canada and the US; making this a diverse but also traditional Argentine Tango. You'll be cutting a rug in no time! Admission to Union Square Live is free.

Shakespeare in the Park

Take in a free performance of a classic play by the world-famous bard in the lovely McLaren Park. Put on by the San Francisco Shakespeare Festival, these performances are a summer favorite with locals, with previous performances such as Much Ado About Nothing and As You Like It drawing throngs of crowds.

Shakespeare in the park is a lovely way to spend time in the sun while soaking up San Francisco theater.

Sausalito Art Festival

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If you’re a fan of art, food, and/or music, this is the place for you. A massive festival that takes place every summer just a short trip across the bay, the Sausalito Art Festival is a celebration of all things creative. This three-day event showcases music from more than 10 different bands, tons of children’s events, and features a plethora of visual arts on display.

Admission to the Sausalito Art Festival is separately ticketed and is not included with the Go San Francisco pass. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit the event website.

Yerba Buena Gardens Festival

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Various cultural events from music and dance to kids shows will take place over the summer months. The Yerba Buena Gardens Festival is a fun and cultural way of celebrating Labor Day weekend. Check their website for a full schedule of events.

What's more, admission to the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival is free.

Architecture and The City

Throughout September Citywide

Sponsored by AIA San Francisco, the largest architectural festival in the country hosts a number of great events on Labor Day Weekend. Enjoy professional architecture tours, film screenings, lectures, exhibitions, and much more.

Top tip: Select Architecture and The City events are free; for those events that do require tickets, please visit the event website.

Millbrae Art & Wine Festival

One of the biggest street festivals in the area, the Millbrae Art & Wine Festival is perfect for adults. This year they’re celebrating their 49th year with tons of great events, exhibits, performances, and more. This Mardi Gras-style celebration is an exciting mix of food, wine, art, and music – don’t miss out!

Admission to the Millbrae Art & Wine Festival is free, although you do need to pay for select tastings.

Go for a Bike Ride

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San Francisco’s pleasant summer weather is just perfect for a relaxing bike ride. Use your pass to acces All-Day San Francisco Bike Rentals by Blazing Saddles and pedal along the waterfront, or get a workout going up those infamous hills. If you aren’t from the area and don’t have your own bike, it couldn’t be easier to rent one right from Fisherman’s Wharf!

Relax Aboard a Cruise

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Enjoy the cool bay breezes aboard a relaxing cruise through the Golden Gate Bay and beyond. Choose from a wide variety of cruises – included some specially-themed summer ones – and take the whole family along. One of our favorites is the iconic Bridge 2 Bridge Cruise.

Indulge in a Wine Country Tour

You can’t travel to San Francisco without paying a visit to their famed wine country. Hop aboard a bus pop down to Napa Valley and Sonoma and unleash your inner sommelier. Several wine tours even include transportation from main hubs like Fisherman’s Wharf. Bonus, you can enjoy as many wine samples as you’d like! Getting In: Weekday Napa and Sonoma Wine Country Tour tickets are an option on the Go San Francisco pass - Build Your Own.

Visit a Theme Park

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There are few things as quintessential summer as amusement parks or theme parks. There’s something perfect about the roller coasters and Ferris wheels in the summer, especially on a warm afternoon. Take the kids to California’s Great America for the afternoon of their lives, or to a place like Six Flags Discovery Kingdom to enjoy both thrill rides and educational fun. Getting In: California's Great America tickets and Six Flags Discovery Kingdom tickets are included on the Go San Francisco pass.

See some Marine Life

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At the Aquarium of the Bay, you'll find seven different habitats that represent the ecosystems of the bay area. A favorite of many visitors is the crystal-clear tunnels filled with 20,000 species of sea creatures. Getting In: Aquarium of the Bay tickets are included on the Go San Francisco pass.

Save on Attraction Admission

There you go - plenty of fun ideas for things to do in San Francisco in September to help you plan your Labor Day weekend itinerary. Remember, some of these great attraction options are included on the San Francisco pass, where you can save on combined admission vs paying at the gate.

Please note, the Labor Day weekend events taking place at some of these attractions may be separately ticketed and not included with Go City®. We hope you consider visiting some of these attractions to help round out your summer vacation in style.

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Is San Francisco Safe?

For such a compact city – just seven miles long by seven miles wide – San Francisco packs a heck of a punch when it comes to attractions, shopping and nightlife. Think world-famous icons like the Golden Gate Bridge, the historic wooden cable cars and Alcatraz Island. The parks, museums and expansive Bay views from the city’s 50+ hills ain't too shabby either. But is San Francisco safe for tourists? Read on for our guide... How Safe is San Francisco? In spite of its relatively small size, San Francisco is one of the most densely populated cities in the United States, with knocking on for a million inhabitants. Add to this somewhere in the region of 25 million tourists passing through annually and there is, inevitably, some scope for petty crime. But, in truth, it’s probably no worse than any other city of this kind. As with most major cities there will always be an element of low-level, non-violent crime such as bag-snatching and pickpocketing, with tourists inevitably providing the easiest pickings. Car break-ins are a bit of an issue here but hey, you don’t really need a car to get around and, frankly, parking fees in San Francisco are a form of daylight robbery in their own right anyway. The city has a large homeless population, mainly centered around the Tenderloin district, which can be intimidating for newcomers. Even family friendly North Beach has a slightly seedier side after nightfall, while the crowded piers of Fisherman’s Wharf are where you’re most likely to be relieved of your wallet by an opportunistic pickpocket. But think of these areas as places to be more on your guard than somewhere to avoid entirely. San Francisco is generally safe for tourists and you’re highly unlikely to run into any trouble at all. That said, there’s no harm in taking a few common-sense precautions to avoid appearing vulnerable to would-be thieves. Though rare, natural disasters are not unknown in San Francisco so it’s also worth boning up on what to do in the event of e.g. an earthquake or wildfire, even if the chances of you encountering either on a visit to the Golden City are close to zero. Tips for Staying Safe in San Francisco Opportunists looking to relieve you of your hard-earned vacation cash can mostly be found haunting the busiest attractions, where it’s much easier to melt away into a crowd with their ill-gotten gains. Keep your wits about you in the likes of Fisherman’s Wharf, and especially the ever-popular Pier 39, where tourists gather in their thousands to say hi to the resident sea lion colony and visit the Aquarium of the Bay and other San Francisco big-hitters. The same goes for parts of Downtown and Chinatown, where pickpockets ply their trade and seasoned scammers will try all manner of sob stories to get you to hand over a few dollars. Similarly, the thriving nightlife scene and major yearly festivals that draw revelers from across the globe are great fun, but mean more crowds and easier pickings for... well, you get the general idea. So: stay alert in sketchy areas and be aware of your surroundings wherever you are. Keep valuables out of view and be skeptical of anyone who approaches you asking for money, especially those ‘friendly helpers’ who hang around ATMs, anyone offering to take a nice souvenir photo of you with your very expensive smartphone or anyone with a sob story. Trust your instincts on these – if it doesn’t feel right, walk away. While these may sound obvious, thieves rely on the element of surprise and it’s easy to become flustered when suddenly confronted. Yes, even to the extent of willingly handing over your phone only to watch helplessly as it, and its new owner, melt away into the crowd. In the unlikely event you do lose your valuables to a bag snatcher, scammer or pickpocket, by all means raise the alarm, but it’s really not worth giving chase. Instead, report the incident to police as quickly as possible (your insurers will require a police report) and, above all, try not to let one unpleasant experience spoil the rest of your trip. San Francisco Beach Safety You’ll want to spend plenty of time outdoors on your San Francisco vacation. And who can blame you? There’s that mild climate, perfect for picnics in sprawling Golden Gate Park, boat trips around the Bay, epic climbs up Nob Hill and the quad-crunching Filbert Street Steps (all 500 of ‘em). Not to forget ticking off that most essential of San Francisco activities: a stroll across the Golden Gate Bridge to the charming seaside town of Sausalito. And then there are the beaches, from the wild, rugged expanse of Ocean Beach on the west coast, to the sheltered cove at the Aquatic Park. Now, San Francisco isn’t exactly known for reliably sunny weather, what with the ubiquitous summer fogs that roll through the Bay, and surprisingly stiff sea breezes even during peak season. Indeed, the best beach weather is generally to be had in September into early October, when the fogs have abated and you can expect clear skies and temperatures in the high 60s much of the time. First things first: even though it might not feel that warm out, don’t end up looking like a boiled lobster because you didn’t think it was hot enough to burn: the San Francisco sun can be tricky that way, so slap on the sunscreen when you’re going outdoors. Better safe than sorry, and all that. The beaches here are great for lounging and catching some rays, but not for swimming. There is little or no lifeguard presence in the Bay area, and the rough Pacific waters are not safe for swimming due to bone-chilling temperatures and dangerous riptides. Don’t be tempted to go in even if the water looks calm – tourists wading in just three feet of water at Ocean Beach have been swept away suddenly. If you do fancy dipping your toes, the sheltered cove at the Aquatic Park in the National Maritime Historical Park along the north coast is your best bet. Or head over the bridge to Stinson Beach in Marin County, where white sands, relatively calm waters and a lifeguard presence in summer makes for a fun (and safe!) day out. It’s around 45 minutes’ drive from downtown San Francisco. Save on attractions in San Francisco Save on admission to San Francisco attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram and Facebook for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak
The San Francisco skyline seen from Yerba Buena Island
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San Francisco in September

Fall is one of San Francisco’s most alluring seasons. As the summer fogs abate, September promises clear skies and balmy temperatures ahead of the trees commencing their spectacular annual display of gold, copper and rust-red colors in October and November. Read on to find out why you should visit San Francisco in September. Visiting San Francisco in September Average Temperature: 55–69°F • Average Rainfall: 2 days/mth • Average Sunshine: 9 hours/day If San Francisco summers are known for their fogs, then September is a breath of fresh air. It’s now that San Franciscans put ‘Fogust’ firmly behind them and hit the beach, taking advantage of the warm, sunny conditions and azure skies to top up those California tans. Unusually, San Francisco's fall months are often warmer than summer, with temperatures tending to peak in the high 60s and low 70s in September. It’s a fine time to visit, but not just on account of the pleasant weather. With tourist season done and dusted the crowds, like the fog, have withdrawn and hotel prices have begun to ease. There are some fine festivals and events too, especially around Labor Day Weekend at the beginning of the month. Top tip: don’t be fooled by the balmy days – you’ll still want to layer up for evenings out. Think jeans and light sweaters for al fresco cocktails, and a jacket if it’s breezy. Things to do in September If you’re going to hit the beach in San Francisco, do it in September. Sure, those waters are no good for swimming due to the dangerous riptides and bone-chilling temperatures. But, if the sound of crashing surf sets your heart soaring, and you’re into Insta-perfect coastal vistas, the city’s beaches are great places to while away a few hours. Head to Ocean Beach for the city’s longest stretch of wild, rugged beach, where fine golden sands, rolling waves and rocky outcrops are the order of the day. Nearby Baker Beach is a fine spot for sunny strolls accompanied by what are arguably the best beach views in town. Flanked by cypress trees, native wildflowers and Mediterranean shrubs, it’s located on the edge of the Presidio with close-up views of the Golden Gate Bridge and Marin Headlands beyond. If you do fancy a dip on a hot day, make for the Aquatic Park cove in the Maritime National Historical Park – its calm clear waters are well protected and safe for swimming, and you’ll enjoy front-row seats for views of the historic ships docked over at Hyde Street Pier. Sticking with the seaside theme (it is ice cream weather, after all!), Fisherman’s Wharf stretches along much of San Francisco’s northern waterfront and offers a cornucopia of activities, including a host of old-fashioned seaside entertainments. Here’s where you’ll find major attractions like the USS Pampanito WWII submarine, the Madame Tussauds Wax Museum and the aforementioned restored sailing ships at Hyde Street Pier. It’s also home to Pier 39, one of San Francisco’s must-visit attractions. Say hey to the resident sea lion colony then head to the Aquarium of the Bay, where another 20,000 sea critters (give or take) await you. The pier also boasts dozens of cafes and restaurants alongside thrill rides, VR experiences, old-school gaming arcades and even a carousel! Don’t miss the Musée Mécanique, an absolute labor of love that’s chock-full of arcade games, automata and other weird and wonderful devices of yore. Play classic pinball machines, find out where you rank on the kiss-o-meter (from amateurish to hot stuff), and try not to have nightmares after coming face to face with Laffing Sal, a cackling six-foot automaton with a missing tooth. After all that excitement, hop on a Bay cruise or head over to Alcatraz Island for a tour of its infamous penitentiary. What’s on in September? Sausalito Art Festival Labor Day can mean only one thing: the Sausalito Art Festival. If you needed an excuse to make the epic 30-minute walk across the Golden Gate Bridge, this is a good one. Once in charming Sausalito, you can browse some of the country’s finest contemporary art as well as enjoying fine wine, craft beer, gourmet food galore and lashings of live music and street entertainment. It’s one of the oldest and most prestigious open-air art festivals in the States and well worth the trip. Top tip: take the ferry back across the Bay to save your legs on the return journey! Ghirardelli Square Chocolate Festival San Francisco's most legendary purveyors of the sweet stuff, Ghirardelli, hosts an annual chocolate festival in September. The two-day event features enough chocolate-based entertainment to turn Willy Wonka green with envy, from chef demonstrations to those all-important chocolate-tasting sessions. There’s even an ice cream eating contest, in which participants compete to see who can guzzle down one of Ghirardelli’s ‘Earthquake’ sundaes in the fastest time. With one small catch: they’re not allowed to use their hands. In short: it's gooey, messy, chocolatey heaven. San Francisco Fringe Festival Organized by San Francisco’s EXIT Theatre group, the SF Fringe showcases (mostly) local talent across a few intimate downtown venues through September. Acts are selected by lottery, with those voted as best of the bunch going on to do encore performances at the end of the festival. Live Outdoor Entertainment San Francisco’s balmy September temperatures lend themselves well to lots of time spent outdoors. Handily, this is also the time of year to catch live shows in the city’s great parks, many of them absolutely free. Comedy Day is exactly what it sounds like: an afternoon of gratis chuckles in Golden Gate Park, courtesy of the city’s finest funnymen and women. Also in Golden Gate Park, the SF Opera traditionally kicks off its fall season with a free performance while, over in McLaren Park, the SF Shakespeare Festival performs one of the bard’s best-loved works, with a different play showcased each year. Save on attractions in San Francisco Save on admission to San Francisco attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram and Facebook for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak
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San Francisco Spring Break 2019 - Things to Do in February & March During Your Vacation

If you’re looking for a spring break destination that combines the best of culture, nature, food, drink, and all around fun, then San Francisco should be your top choice. The amazing selection of available attractions and activities will more than make up for a little sweater weather. Plus, it's an incredibly family-friendly city, with many attractions that are designed with kids in mind. Check out our suggestions for Spring Break 2019 activities. Our listed ideas include top attractions like: The California Academy of Sciences Exploratorium Golden Gate Park Fisherman’s Wharf Six Flags Discovery Kingdom And more! Many of the attractions listed here are included on the Go San Francisco pass. Choose as you go from dozens of top San Francisco attractions and save up to 60% off combined admission vs paying at the gate. See all available passes, attractions & prices – Learn more. Enjoy Theme Parks Families on spring break trips will, of course, want to explore the Northern California theme park scene. Kids of all ages love the excitement and delight of an amusement park, and it's a great way for adults to keep them busy while still having fun themselves! California's Great America is a smart choice, with plenty of options for the little travelers like the beloved Planet Snoopy. For the animal lovers, Six Flags Discovery Kingdom has much to offer. This theme park incorporates all your favorite thrill rides with exciting animal encounters and interactive exhibits. See critters from land and sea, and learn more about the natural world. Then, hop aboard exhilarating rides in this 135-acre adventure park. Getting In: Admission to California's Great America and admission to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom are both included with the Go San Francisco pass. Indulge Your Whole Family's Love of Disney We're sure you've got at least one Disney song consistently stuck in your head after the kids' latest binge-watch, so why not visit the Walt Disney Family Museum so you can all learn more about the origins of this media empire. Here you'll find expansive gallery space featuring all kinds of footage, photographs, sketches, and more. You can also learn about Walt's personal life, his grand ambitions, and his creation of some of the most endearing characters of all time. Getting In: Admission to the Walt Disney Family Museum is included with the Go San Francisco pass. Scope out SoMa Another neighborhood that should be on your must-visit list is South of Market, or "SoMa" in local lingo. It’s filled with top quality attractions like museums and galleries, plus some delicious food for lunch and dinner. Start out with a visit to the Yerba Buena Center for Arts, part museum, part community center, and all inspiration. Then, pop into the California Historical Society for another perspective on the area’s heritage. If you prefer sports to high art, then fortunately for you, Oracle Park (formerly AT&T Park) is right in the neighborhood. Take a tour of the park, or, if your spring break falls in or after mid-April, take in a game! Getting In: Admission to the California Historical Society and Oracle Park Tour tickets are included with the Go San Francisco pass. Save on Admission We hope you’ve been inspired by this sample itinerary to get out and start planning your perfect San Francisco spring break, whether you want to visit some or many of these popular attractions. While we can’t cover all of your travel expenses, a Go San Francisco pass sure can take a load off when it comes to admission to top attractions. Pick up a three- or five-day pass today and get ready to have the best spring break yet!
Katie Sagal

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