When I was a child my family would travel from Hawaii to San Francisco to visit my dad’s brother and his family. They lived in a beautiful home in a quaint suburb in the City by the Bay. And as I mentioned in my previous blog because of our school schedule we traditionally made our journeys to the California hot spot during the summer months. While we may have missed out on everything the city had to offer during the spring we certainly got our fill of summer festivities.
Here are some of my favorites:
During the month of June millions gather to attend the North Beach Festival. It is one of the longest-running street festivals in the country (this year marks its 55th anniversary). The mega-popular event turns the spotlight on the mostly Italian neighborhood with live music, arts and crafts, a celebrity pizza toss, the annual Blessing of the Animals, Arte di Gesso (Italian street chalk art painting), and miles and miles of the most delicious dishes in the state.
If you are in town for the 4th of July holiday you don’t want to miss the massive fireworks display over the Bay. I would also suggest heading over to Pier 39 at Fisherman’s Wharf, which also hosts a waterfront celebration that includes live bands, food booths, and street performers.
The end of summer brings with it one of the most mouth-watering festivals in the nation. The annual Ghirardelli Square Chocolate Festival takes place at the former chocolate factory and attracts chocoholics from around the world. Not only can you sample cocoa-flavored delicacies, sip chocolate concoctions, and watch live cooking demonstrations, but there is also a host of other sweet activities designed specifically for pint-sized chocolate lovers.
Finally, the Chinese New Year festivities often eclipse it but the annual Autumn Moon Festival is an event you should not miss. It takes place in mid-September and celebrates the harvest and the full moon. Tens of thousands of residents and visitors fill the streets of Chinatown to gorge on native foods, buy local crafts, and watch the lion dancers, dragon boat races and Chinese acrobats.
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