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What to Do in San Francisco in February

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This post lists the top things to do in San Francisco in February, including free, family-friendly, as well as nighttime events and activities, updated for 2023. 

 

If you're looking for accomodations, check out:  SAN FRANCISCO HOTEL DEALS ON TRIPADVISOR

TOP 10 THINGS TO DO IN FEBRUARY

Below is our top 10 list, but here are a few additional posts that you might want to read:

If you are planning on visiting many of the top attractions in the city, then consider a tourist discount pass, which could save you lots of money.  

1. Go to a Concert

The Bay Area is home to a fantastic music scene that tends to attract some of the most popular musical acts in the world. 

You can expect several notable artists to perform live in and around San Francisco throughout February.

Here are a few of the best concerts to see this month:

Find all the concerts in the area here.

2. Attend a Sporting Event

The Bay Area is home to several great professional sports teams, and two of the biggest names in the NHL and NBA will be performing at home this February.

Basketball

Hockey

Find all the sporting events in February here.

3. See a Broadway Musical

San Francisco is home to several theaters which host touring Broadway productions.

There will be a few great musicals and plays to see in the Bay Area during the month of February, including the following:

Find all the theatrical productions in February here.

4. Take a Walking Tour

If you manage to visit on a warm day, you might want to consider taking a pay-what-you-wish walking tour of San Francisco.

We currently offer several different tours in the Bay Area which cover a variety of subjects and neighborhoods.

Here are a few outings you might enjoy in San Francisco this February:

We also offer GPS enabled audio tours of San Francisco which you can take just about anytime!

5. Take the Family to Disney on Ice

If you love Disney movies, there’ll be an opportunity to see their memorable characters in action when Disney on Ice makes its way to the Bay Area.

Three cities in the San Francisco area will be hosting Disney on Ice - Road Trip Adventures: Stockton, San Jose, and Oakland.

  • Tickets: start at $46
  • Dates:
    • February 2nd - 5th | Stockton
    • February 9th - 12th | San Jose
    • February 23rd - 26th | Oakland
  • Purchase Tickets Here.

NOTE: If you’re looking for another show that would entertain children, Bluey's Big Play will be in San Jose February 3rd - 5th.

For more activities you can enjoy with the kids, check our family-friendly section.

6. See Live Stand-up Comedy

There will be some notable comedians performing in and around the Bay Area this month.

If you're in need of a good laugh, you might enjoy one of the following stand-up or improv shows:

If you're looking for even more options, consider SF Sketchfest which takes place at either Cobbs Comedy Club and Punch Line Comedy Club.

You might also check out the SF Comedy Showcase taking place on February 5th and 19th.

For more opportunities, check this list of stand-up comedy shows in San Francisco.

7. Consider Getting a Tourist Discount Pass

There are three different pass options to consider: all-inclusive, flex pass and build your own pass.

The easiest option is to build a pass, as you’re only required to purchase 2 tickets to get 20% off each activity.

If you’re planning to visit several affordable locations, this is a great way to save a few more bucks.

All-inclusive passes include dozens of attractions for a specific amount of time (1, 2, 3, or 5 days). 

Alternatively, a flex pass allows you to pay one flat price for a set amount of activities (3, 4, or 5). 

These services offer an excellent opportunity to save a lot of money on several fun activities. Here are a few of the best places you can visit:

  • Hop-on-Hop-off Bus Tour
  • Madame Tussauds
  • Ripley’s Believe it or Not!
  • Walt Disney Family Museum
  • K1 Speed Indoor Karting
  • Aquarium of the Bay
  • SF Dungeon
  • Exploratorium

These are just a few of the attractions included with discount cards in this city, but you’ll probably find even more that you want to visit. 

Depending on which service you choose, you should be able to save at least 20% - 50% off general admission prices.

Make sure to check our full post covering all of the different tourist passes in San Francisco for additional information.

If you already know which discount pass will best suit your purposes, you can purchase on here:

All Inclusive - SF Go City | Explorer -SF Go City | Day Pass - SF Sightseeing | Flex Pass - SF Sightseeing | SF CityPASS

8. Go to the Chinese New Year Festival & Parade

The Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco has been named one of the Top 10 Parades in the World.

Visitors can expect a variety of musical performances and dancing, including the dragon dance!

This event is free to attend. For more activities that won’t cost a dime, check our free things to do section.

In addition to the Chinese New Year Parade, there are about four weeks of festivals during Chinese New Year. The following events will be taking place in February:

If you want to learn more about the area and discover some of the most historic locations, let us show you the neighborhood on our self-guided tour of Chinatown.

9. See the San Francisco Symphony

If you’re not interested in the concerts that will be available this month and you’d rather enjoy some live classical music, there will be several excellent performances to see in February.

The San Francisco Symphony will be performing the work of famous composers like Beethoven, Brahms, Blomstedt and more.

Tickets range from $84 - $293 and there will be over a dozen shows to see this month.

Purchase tickets or learn more.

10. Attend the Pacific Orchid Exposition

With spring right around the corner, now is the perfect time to see some of the most beautiful flowers in the world. This event is one of the largest orchids shows in the United States.

In addition to seeing a lot of great orchids, you’ll also have an opportunity to take tours and learn tips about how to grow your own flowers.

There will also be live music performed for the audience at this event.

  • Tickets: $12 advance | $15 at the door
  • Children 13 and under free with a paid adult chaperone
  • Dates: February 24th - 26th, 2023
  • Location: San Francisco County Fair Building
  • Purchase tickets or learn more.

For even more things the kids can enjoy, please read our family-friendly section.

FREE THINGS TO DO IN FEBRUARY

The following section provides several activity ideas that won’t cost a dime. 

While you’re at it, don’t forget to check our other sections for additional freebies such as the Chinese New Year Parade and self-guided San Francisco tours.

If you’d like to learn more about free and cheap things to do all year, be sure to check out our San Francisco budget itinerary and our list of free things to do in San Francisco for more free and almost-free ideas.

Free Museum Days

Every month, various museums throughout San Francisco offer free admission on a certain day. Our city hosts some world-class museums that you should certainly try to visit during your time here. 

For a more detailed description of the museums, check out our page on Free Museums in San Francisco.

Free Museums in February:

  • Asian Art Museum | February 5th, 2023
  • Conservatory of Flowers | February 7th, 2023
  • Janaoese Tea Garden | M, W, F between 9:00-10:00 am
  • de Young Museum | February 7th, 2023
  • Legion of Honor Museum | February 7th, 2023

Free National Parks Day

Every year on the Presidents’ Day Holiday in the United States (that’s February 21st this year), the US National Park Service throws open their doors to all the national parks in the area so everybody can visit for free!

Here are a few places you might want to consider:

Each of these locations usually charges a small fee to enter the park, so this is a great opportunity to visit without worrying about your budget.

See the Lights on the Bay Bridge

The Bay Bridge is one of the most iconic sites in San Francisco and there’s no better time to visit than at night! There is a spectacular light show every night from dusk until dawn. 

Leo Villareal, one of the most well respected light artists designed and orchestrated The Bay Lights.

Originally the show only ran from 2013-2015, but as of 2016, it was made a permanent feature — to both locals and tourists’ delight!

THINGS TO DO AT NIGHT IN FEBRUARY

During winter, the sun sets pretty early in our city. Many things mentioned in other sections of this post are also great night activities, such as Bay Bridge Lights, Broadway shows, and popular concerts. 

Below, we have listed some of our favorite evening and nighttime activities for you to visit. 

For more ideas, make sure to read our master post on things to do at night in San Francisco.

Valentine's Day in SF

If you are on vacation in San Francisco with your loved one, you can enjoy this incredibly romantic city on Valentine’s Day. 

One of our favorite parts of San Francisco is the amazing food that we have here. San Francisco has frequently been called one of the best restaurant cities in the world, and we certainly agree!

On Valentine’s Day, many restaurants will have a Valentine’s special for couples, with a prix fixe menu complete with appetizer, entree, and dessert to share. Check out OpenTable to find a reservation.

You may also want to consider taking a cruise, as Hornblower will be providing a series of Valentine’s Cruises. 

Some of these outings will include live music and dancing, while others offer DJ entertainment and complimentary wine. Ticket prices range from $85 – $179.

Alcatraz Night Tour

Most people take a trip out to Alcatraz during the day. But we think that a night tour is a fantastic time to visit the old prison island. 

On your boat ride, you’ll hear about the island, and some of the history involved in it (which you won’t get if you take the morning tour or day tour).

You’ll also get to see the sparkling lights of the San Francisco skyline. Once you’re on the island, you’ll get a special guided tour of the prison that other visitors don’t receive. 

Overall, it’s an incredible experience!  Read our post on visiting Alcatraz at night.

Exploratorium After Dark

Long considered one of the best science museums in the country, The Exploratorium is a fantastic place to electrify your senses (sometimes literally)! 

With exhibits and experiments from engineering to science to biology, every science geek can find something to enjoy. However, during the daytime, there are often kids and school groups walking around and using the experiments. 

Don’t you sometimes wish you could check out the museum without all of them? Exploratorium After Dark is a great way to experience it! 

Starting at 6:00 every Thursday, you can enter the museum at a discounted rate and listen to music, have a drink or two, and check out the exhibits with only adults around.

FAMILY-FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES IN FEBRUARY

Many of our San Francisco visitors are coming here with families and children and we have put together a list of the great things to do with families and kids in San Francisco during the month of February.

If you're looking for even more fun stuff to do, make sure to check our list of 10 fun places for kids in San Francisco.

It's also worth noting that many of the best family-friendly attractions in this city are included at a discount with San Francisco tourist passes.

Take the Kids to the Zoo

There are a lot of beautiful animals to see at San Francisco Zoo, including both endangered and rescued species.

Since there won't be as many people visiting during this time of year, you can expect smaller crowds, which means it should be easier to get around and see all your favorite animals.

Best of all, tickets to the San Francisco Zoo are included with some tourist passes, so you can save money on admission!

Purchase tickets or learn more.

If you're interested in one of the tourist discount passes, you can find them here: All Inclusive - SF Go City | Explorer -SF Go City | Day Pass - SF Sightseeing | Flex Pass - SF Sightseeing | San Francisco CityPASS

Visit the Walt Disney Family Museum

If you've ever wanted to teach your kids about the history of Walt Disney, this museum is a wonderful place to visit.

There are several wonderful exhibits to see here featuring historic items from throughout Walt's life and the work he did for his now famous studio.

Located in the Presidio within viewing distance of the Golden Gate Bridge, this is an excellent idea for an activity to enjoy while you're in the area.

Furthermore, admission to the Walt Disney Family Museum is included with some San Francisco tourist passes, allowing you to save money on tickets.

Purchase tickets or learn more.

Go to Pier 39

Even on a rainy day, Pier 39 can be a great place to visit. There are several fun indoors activities in the area, including the following:

We recommend the Boudin Bakery because they serve a delicious clam chowder which is a perfect way to warm up on a cold day.

When you're done in this area, walk up the Embarcadero to Musee Mecanique for some fun and historic games!

Check our post on things to do at Pier 39 for even more ideas.

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About The Author

Britt

Britt is a San Francisco Bay Area native, and has spent 25 years in this magical city. He has traveled to over 30 countries, and has never found a place he loves as much as this one! If you come to San Francisco, you might join one of Britt's tours of the city. A graduate of the University of Maryland and University of Southern California, he has been leading tours for Free Tours by Foot since 2015.
Updated: November 20th, 2022
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