These 14 Unique Festivals in San Francisco Are Something Everyone Should Experience Once

For a city that finds every possible reason to celebrate, it's really not hard to get caught in the middle of a fair, festival, or parade — especially in the summertime. Yes, we've got the big music festivals here, but there's also plenty of iconic celebrations and quite a few weird and wild street fairs that make this city so unique. We truly know how to party here, as these 14 unique festivals in San Francisco attest to. I mean, this was the home of the original Burning Man, after all...

1. Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival

This free (and corporate-free) event is one of the best musical showcases around, and it's not just bluegrass (hence the "hardly"), so you can catch everyone from MC Hammer to Conor Oberst to Emmylou Harris. It's held during the first weekend of October, which typically means excellent weather. BYOB (bring your own beer and blanket).

2. Bay to Breakers

While this is really just a race at heart, it's exploded into one giant citywide celebration since its inception back in 1912. (In fact, it was the world's largest footrace for sometime). Watch for plenty of skin, banana hammocks, and ridiculous costumes (or better yet, wear one yourself, or wear nothing at all).

3. San Francisco Pride

The city is flooded with rainbows over two days in June for one of the world's biggest parades and celebrations for the LGBT community. It's a time to spotlight the community's struggles, fight for equality, and, of course, celebrate being YOU.

4. Stern Grove Festival

More free music! Every summer sees an even more impressive lineup of stars performing amid the eucalyptus trees in Stern Grove. It kind of feels like a camp performance — on a totally epic level.

5. How Weird Street Faire

If you feared San Francisco has sold its soul to the techies, this tie-dye-colored street fair will give you hope that the city still has plenty of weird to go around.

6. Treasure Island Music Festival

The most unique part of this indie/electronic festival is the incredible view of San Francisco from this quaint (artificial) island smack-dab in the middle of the Bay. And this is also one of the most organized music fests ever – the schedule allows you to see pretty much every act.

7. San Francisco Street Food Festival

Support some of the city's best small food companies (over 100 are represented) and try incredibly delectable specialties from around the world. If you can't find anything you totally salivate over, you may not be human.

8. Outside Lands Music Festival

You may have to bundle up for this eco-friendly fest on par with the Lollapaloozas of the world, but you'll definitely be guaranteed some incredible live music moments. That said, some people (with money to blow, we imagine) are only interested in the food and wine (which features some of the best in the Bay Area).

9. SF Sketchfest

It's totally worth checking out the lineup for this multiple-week festival, because it's often filled with some of the biggest names in TV and comedy. You may even be able to catch some cool anniversary events and cast reunions of iconic shows and films.

10. Folsom Street Fair

Their website simply calls it as it is: "The World's Biggest Leather Event," which means throw on those chaps and keep your vegan (and prude) friends at home.

11. Fillmore Jazz Festival

Tons of jazz music to fill your soul. You'll leave feeling relaxed, and anticipating next year's event.

12. Chinese New Year Festival and Parade

Originating in the 1860s, this huge celebration has become the largest Asian event in North America. Be sure to stay for the annual parade's grand finale, featuring a 200-foot Golden Dragon.

13. Noise Pop Festival

This annual indie music and arts festival has been going strong since 1993 and spreads across the city at various venues for a few weeks in February. It's a great way to discover new bands and see some old faves.

14. Ghirardelli Chocolate Festival

Um, because chocolate?! Oh, and wine, too!

So, get out there and get wild, folks! And no complaints about the cost, because a lot of these celebrations are free! What are some of your favorite festivals in San Francisco? Let us know in the comments!