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Things to Do in San Francisco in June

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Updated: May 12, 2023
 By Britt

This post lists 18 of the best things to do in San Francisco this June, including family-friendly, nighttime, and free activities, as well as festivals, events, and more, updated for 2023.

Be sure to read our master post on things to do in San Francisco for even more ideas.

Disclosure: While our recommendations are always unbiased, we may receive a small share of sales through some of the links below at no cost to you. See the full text.

TOP ATTRACTIONS AND ACTIVITIES IN JUNE

Below we list the top 15 activities to enjoy in San Francisco throughout June.

When planning your trip, take a look at our post on the Weather in June in San Francisco.

For tips on the most popular activities in San Francisco, check out our posts about the following activities:

Several of the items below are already included for free with the purchase of a tourist discount pass.

Be sure to check out our master post, Things to Do in San Francisco, for even more ideas.

1. Go to a Concert

San Francisco gets a huge number of performers all year of all kinds of genres.

This month San Francisco has shows scheduled for both megastars and lesser-known bands.

Below we list many of these concerts. Find out about all the concerts taking place in June from StubHub.

Concerts

Festivals

Re:SET | June 2nd-4th

  • LCD Soundsystem
  • Steve Lacey
  • Boygenius
  • JamieXX
  • Big Freedia
  • and more!

Many of these events are taking place just outside of the city, but all of them are within about a 30-40 minute drive.

See who is playing in San Francisco in June.

2. See a Sporting Event

Now that the summer is officially here, there will be a lot of great baseball games to attend.

If you are looking for an evening activity or a family-friendly event, seeing a game may be the solution for you.

Find other sports events this month.

Baseball

Soccer

Basketball

Motorcross

Find out what other sporting events in San Francisco are happening when you are in town.

NOTE: Tours of Oracle Park (home of the San Francisco Giants) are included with the Go San Francisco Card.

3. See a Stand-up Comedy Performance

If you're in need of a good laugh, June is an excellent time to visit San Francisco because there will be several well-known comedians in town to perform live stand-ups.

Here are a few of the best comics performing this month:

For even more opportunities to laugh, check this list of stand-up comedy performances in San Francisco during June.

4. Take a Sightseeing Tour

Summer is the best time to see all of the sites in and around San Francisco, and there are a lot of different sightseeing tours available.

Free San Francisco Walking Tours

One of the easiest and most affordable options is to take one of our pay-what-you-want walking tours. We currently offer the following outings:

We also have self-guided tours and GPS-enabled audio tours of neighborhoods that you will likely visit as a tourist in the city.

Alternatively, you may also want to consider either a hop-on-hop-off bus tour or a boat tour that will take you around San Francisco Bay.

There are also daily tours of Alcatraz, and they are incredibly popular; if you’re interested, make sure to get tickets well ahead of time!

5. Attend San Francisco Design Week

This annual June event takes place in celebration of all things design.

There are exhibitions, workshops, and panels taking place across San Francisco, all showcasing the work of both local and international designers.

Designers, creative professionals, and those who love their work will come together for events covering architecture, technology, fashion design, graphic design, and more.

Events take place June 6th-11th, 2023. More information can be found on the SF Design Week website.

6. Enjoy the Theater

The summer can sometimes be a slow season for theatrical performances, but there will actually be quite a few shows to see in June of 2023.

Whether you're interested in a musical, ballet, opera, or even a play, you'll have plenty of options to choose from this month.

Here are the best shows heading to the theatre in June:

Before you give up on this activity, check what is playing in San Francisco this month from StubHub.

7. Look Into Getting a Tourist Attraction Discount Pass

If you’re trying to save money on some of the best summer activities in San Francisco, a discount pass might be worth considering.

These services provide discounts of 50% or more on general admission prices, and they’re particularly great if you plan on visiting a lot of attractions.

In addition to the potential savings, these passes usually offer skip-the-line tickets for some of the more popular activities.

Here are a few of the more notable locations included with various tourist passes in the Bay area:

  • San Francisco Bay Cruise
  • Aquarium of the Bay
  • Hop-on-Hop-off Bus Tour
  • San Francisco Zoo
  • Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
  • Angel Island Round-trip Ferry
  • UC Berkeley Botanical Garden
  • California’s Great America
  • Oracle Park (SF Giants) Tour
  • San Francisco Bike Tour

Most of these services allow you to pay one low price for access to dozens of different attractions, but there are some that give you the opportunity to select only the activities you want.

For more details and to figure out which option works best for you, please read our post covering San Francisco tourist passes.

8. Celebrate San Francisco Pride

On June 24th and 25th, 2023, come to watch one of the oldest and most celebrated LGBT parades in the country.

Attracting nearly 100,000 spectators, the San Francisco Pride parade will march down Market Street through the heart of the city.

Additionally, a celebration and rally among other activities will take place both days in the Civic Center Plaza. Check the website for more information.

The theme for 2023 is Looking Back Moving Forward. This will be the 53rd Anniversary of the event, so come prepared to celebrate!

9. Take the Family to the San Francisco Zoo

With over 100 acres of land and more than 2,000 animals, the San Francisco Zoo is one of the largest zoos on the West Coast.

One of the highlights of the zoo is a three-acre African Savannah exhibit that houses multiple animals you’d see on the plains of Africa, including kudu, giraffes, cranes, and other peaceful species.

Aside from the wildlife, there is also a historic steam train, a carousel, and a play area for the kids.

The San Francisco Zoo also has a garden that they actually use to feed some of the animals.

If you’re looking to save money on this activity, don’t forget that admission is included with at least one San Francisco tourist pass.

10. Attend a Music Festival

If you enjoy music, there will be plenty of opportunities to find some great concerts in June.

Just a few of the music festivals in and around the San Francisco area in June:

San Francisco Jazz Festival | June 7th-August 20th

One of the premier Jazz Festivals in the US, this annual music festival features a diverse line-up of Jazz Musicians from near and far.

You can find music, masterclasses, workshops, discussions with artists, and more.

Events take place in venues throughout the city.

Stern Grove Festival | June 12-August 14th

This summer music festival has been taking place since 1938!

This family-friendly outdoor festival takes place amongst giant eucalyptus, redwood, and fir trees, as all exciting artists perform for the crowds.

In addition to the performances, there is a KidStage.

Fountain Blues & Brews Festival | June 17th

This San Jose festival has been taking place for 40 years!

It pulls blues musicians from around the world, with concerts taking place in James Park in downtown San Jose.

There are also craft beers from local and regional breweries, food vendors, and artisan booths.

Other Music Festivals include:

11. Attend a Film Festival

If you are a cinephile, there are plenty of movies to be seen in San Francisco in June, and many voices to be heard in those films.

San Francisco Documentary Festival | June 1st-11th

This annual festival, taking place at the Roxie Cinema, screens some of the best documentaries from around the world.

"Docfest offers a zippy blend of politics, music, social issues, and youth-oriented subcultures," says one attendee.

In addition to the screenings, which include some categories related to the Bay Area specifically, there are audience awards and jury prizes.

Queer Women of Color Film Festival | June 9th-11th

This annual film festival celebrates the richness and diversity of the culture of queer women of color.

It's dedicated to providing a place for new voices and perspectives to shatter stereotypes and biases.

Filmmakers from around the world attend, and there is a particular focus on many communities that aren't often given a platform to express their creativity.

Frameline San Francisco International LGBTQ Film Festival | June 14th-24th

This annual film festival is the largest and longest-running LGBTQ film festival in the world.

It features the best in LGBTQ film, with works created by members of the community, or works that explore themes that reflect the experience of the community.

In addition to the films, there are discussions, panels, and events around the many days of the festival.

San Francisco Black Film Festival | June 15th-18th

This annual film festival features and celebrates the creations of African American filmmakers.

You'll find documentaries, movie shorts, and feature-length films here, with much that is entertaining, inspiring, and thought-provoking.

12. Attend a Street Fair or Festival

There are loads of street fairs and festivals taking place in San Franciso each year. A few taking place in June are:

Festa Coloniale Italiana | June 3rd

This family-friendly Italian Street festival takes place in North Beach which is also known as Little Italy.

It celebrates Italian and Italian-American culture and heritage and brings together musicians, dancers, circus acts, vendors, and arts and crafts for one great event.

Union Street Spring Festival | June 3rd-4th

This family-friendly annual street fair takes place in the Cow Hollow neighborhood and is one of the most popular ones in San Fransico. They expect 150,000 attendees!

You'll find food, drink, art, music, wellness displays, swag giveaways, and games.

Spring India Day | June 11th

This annual festival taking place in Union Square celebrates the richness of Indian traditions and culture.

There is dance, food, fashion shows, musical performances, entertainment, and shopping.

North Beach Festival | June 18th-19th

This annual festival is considered one of the country’s original outdoor street festivals. It's been taking place since 1954!

There is live music, food, carnival rides, street performers, and loads of vendors selling everything from crafts to clothes.

Other Events

13. Run a Triathlon

The annual Escape from Alcatraz Triathalon has events taking place across three days, June 9th-11th, 2023.

This triathlon, one of the most challenging in the world, has a 1.5-mile swim from Alcatraz island, followed by a 19-mile mike ride, and a 9-mile run through.

As you can imagine, tackling those San Francisco hills after swimming through very cold water with strong currents is quite a challenge.

Other events include a fitness expo and a post-race party.

For more information visit the race website.

14. Get Your Redeo On at Livermore

Livermore, which is less than an hour outside of San Francisco, has an annual Livermore Rodeo.

This rodeo has been taking place each year since 1918 and is known for being festive and lively. It draws huge crowds who want to celebrate the city's Western culture and heritage.

At this rodeo festival, you'll find steer wrestling, barrel racing, bull riding, calf roping, a parade, food vendors, live music, and more.

Events take place on June 10th. For more information visit the rodeo website.

15. Go to the Aquarium of the Bay

Located in the heart of Pier 39, the Aquarium of the Bay houses over 20,000 marine life animals including sharks, jellyfish, octopus, and river otters among many other creatures!

Read our post about the Aquarium of the Bay including where to get discounted tickets, how to plan your visit, exhibits on display, and more.

TIP: If you’re going to be in the area, you may want to think about taking our pay-what-you-want Fisherman’s Wharf walking tour.

16. See Alcatraz After Dark

In addition to all of the tours that are offered during the day, Alcatraz Cruises also provides two different outings after dark.

This is an excellent and limited opportunity that you might want to consider if you’re interested in creepy or eerie experiences.

The Alcatraz night tour starts at either 5:55 pm or 6:30 pm and visitors are allowed to stay until the last boat back at 9:30 pm.

On your way back to the mainland, you’ll enjoy excellent views of the Golden Gate Bridge as it lights up the night sky.

Tickets can be difficult to obtain, so you might want to plan this activity out well ahead of time.

Please read our post about Alcatraz night tours for more details. 

17. Celebrate Father's Day

Father's Day is on June 18th, 2023, and it's a great reason to spend some time with your dad!

There are a lot of fun activities that fathers might enjoy in San Francisco, including boat tours, a trip to Alcatraz Island, or perhaps even a visit to the Musee Mecanique to see classic arcade games.

If Dad is really into baseball, consider taking the Oracle Park tour, which is included with the Go San Francisco Card.

The Giants won't be in town on Father's Day, so this is a good time to take a tour of the ballpark!

If you're planning to take your father out to dinner, make sure to plan well in advance and reserve a table at the restaurant where you want to take him.

18. Take a Movie Walking Tour

There have been a lot of famous and popular movies shot in the San Francisco area.

From classic films like Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo to modern favorites like Ant-man and the Wasp, there are quite a few filming locations to see.

If you need help finding all of the best movie sights, consider taking a San Francisco movie tour.

TIP: Two of the most popular filming locations are the Painted Ladies and the Golden Gate Bridge.

We offer tips, tricks -- and in the case of the Golden Gate Bridge -- even tours that cover these locations.

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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: May 12th, 2023
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