The best car-free events to check out this summer in San Francisco
More than ever, summer in San Francisco offers an incredible number of events to get you walking in different parts of the city and enjoying streets without traffic.
From Sunday Streets to Sunset Dunes, from line dancing to live music, you can build out the whole season with car-free activities – and they’re all free, too.
Here’s our list of the best free street events in San Francisco this summer.
Downtown First Thursdays (plus some Fridays!)
Dance the night away at one of these car-free events happening in San Francisco’s Financial District:
- Downtown First Thursday turns 2nd Street between Market and Howard in the Financial District into a pedestrian-friendly party featuring DJs, street performances, and more. The event happens every first Thursday of the month, with the next one on Thursday, June 5 from 5:00 – 10:00PM. Note that you need to RSVP for entry.
- On Thursday, June 12 from 4:00 – 9:00PM is a special edition of Downtown First Thursdays: Downtown Hoedown, complete with line dancing and a mechanical bull. RSVP is also required for entry.
- There’s also Fridays on Front Street, a brand-new block party that turns Front Street between Sacramento and California into a car-free music festival/baseball watch party/DJ night. The next Fridays on Front Street is on Friday, July 18 from 4:00 – 9:00PM.
Valencia Live! on the second Thursday of the month
Valencia Live! is a brand-new, monthly live music event happening on Valencia Street between 16th and 19th Streets in the Mission. The event happens every second Thursday of the month through this October, and closes the street to cars and opens it to three stages of live music, plus family-friendly activities. The next Valencia Live! is Thursday, June 12 from 5:00 – 10:00PM.
Neighborhood street festivals
Explore beyond your neighborhood with one of these street festivals:
- Coming up soon is the two-day long Union Street Festival, happening at the heart of the Marina District. This street festival falls on Saturday, May 31 and Sunday June 1, and is the perfect way to kick off your summer. Plus, the event will feature the Waiter Relay Race, where servers from local eateries race while balancing trays full of drinks.
- Cole Valley Nights is a kid-friendly night market that opens Cole Street between Carl and Parnassus to people. The next one is on Thursday, June 12 from 4:00 – 9:00PM.
- The 71st annual North Beach Festival is the ultimate celebration of San Francisco’s “Little Italy.” The event will close 11 blocks of Columbus and Green Streets to cars, making way for food trucks, interactive art activities, and artisan vendors. This two-day event falls on Saturday, June 14 and Sunday, June 15, making it the perfect Father’s Day activity.
- Happening the same weekend is the San Francisco Juneteenth Freedom Celebration & Block Party along Fillmore Street on Saturday, June 14 from 11:00AM – 6:00PM. The event commemorates the emancipation of enslaved Black Americans in 1865 and celebrates Black culture and joy. There will be 8 car-free blocks to enjoy, with a range of events including a kids zone, classic car show, and hair and fashion show.
Sunday Streets
Every year, the Sunday Streets program transforms streets into open spaces for people to enjoy. This year’s season of events includes six events spread out across the city with a wide range of free activities, health resources, and live music. The first Sunday Streets this year is on Sunday, June 15 from 12:00 – 4:00PM in the Tenderloin neighborhood.
Car-free classics: JFK Promenade and Sunset Dunes
You can’t go wrong at San Francisco’s two pedestrian paradises: JFK Promenade and what’s now known as Sunset Dunes.
Friends of Ocean Beach Park will host a plethora of events along Sunset Dunes, San Francisco’s new coastal promenade, all summer long.
Plus, JFK Promenade’s pop-up beer and wine garden is making a comeback this summer, with regular live music shows (plus there’s also the music series at the Bandshell including a Beatles Day on June 7).
Be sure to follow Walk SF on social media for fun, pedestrian-friendly events and walks all summer. Find us on Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, and Twitter.
