San Francisco Bay Area Festivals.

It's been said that San Franciscans will seize upon just about ANY excuse to have a festival. As a result there are more festivals in San Francisco than in any other ten towns put together.

Annual Festivals with Free Admission

Berkeley Poetry Festival "... Every poet is encouraged to participate. New poets, seasoned poets, jazz poets and their groups, slam poets. This is an all inclusive festival, sponsored by Mother's Hen and the City of Berkeley, and we welcome everyone...."

Capitola Art and Wine Festival "... combines art, wine, music & food all in Capitola Village by the Sea. Over 185 artists and 15 wineries will participate in this year's festival. Entertainment both days on 2 stages....Enjoy wine tasting from a variety of Santa Cruz Mountain wineries and delicious gourmet food from local restaurants and caterers. Experience fine art and intricate crafts and meet the talented artists whose works you admire. Listen to great music and all the while you're just steps from the beach. This is truly a weekend of heaven...." Second weekend in September. Free. P.S. The BEST way to really enjoy the Capitola Art and Wine Festival ... and meet lots of really great people... is to VOLUNTEER! "...Every year we gather a few hundred eager volunteers, people willing to work a four hour shift in exchange for a good time. This is the best time to take your pick of Festival jobs. We need wine pourers, t-shirt sellers, wineglass merchants and Festival Poster pushers. We need greeters and information booth sitters.If you like people and you have sun-block in your fanny-pack, you would be a perfect volunteer for the Capitola Art & Wine Festival. Call your friends - get a group together, then call the Chamber Office and we'll sign you all up for the time of your lives!..." Information about Capitola ... voted by Sunset Magazine to be one of the best beach communities in California.

Capitola Begonia Festival Held on Labor Day weekend... art, sand sculpture, fishing derby, hat design contest, horseshoes, rowing contest, music concerts in the park... and begonias! And lots of good old-fashioned family fun! They also need lots of volunteers to organize and produce this annual event.. a great way to connect with your community.

Precious Cheese North Beach Festival "...Precious Cheese North Beach Festival is the oldest urban street fair in the country, attracting more than 150,000 visitors annually. Each year the event promotes the Italian and Beat history of the San Francisco's North Beach area as well as highlighting entertainers and craftspeople from throughout the nation. Listen to music in the heart of Washington Square Park, stroll through booths of juried arts and crafts or taste fine cuisine from some of San Francisco's best restaurants - the Festival has something for every taste - from the artistic to the eclectic and everything in between...." Celebrity Pizza Toss, Live Entertainment Stages featuring Alternative, Rhythm & Blues, Latin Rock, Pop Rock, Reggae, Salsa and Swing, Cooking Stage, Celebrity Chefs, , Arte di Gesso (Italian street chalk art competition,), indoor Classical Concerts,... " Usually 3rd weekend in June.

San Francisco Blues Festival "... There will be a free waterfront blues concert on Friday..." The free Friday concert takes place 3rd weekend in September at the waterfront. The Festival then moves to the Great Meadow, Fort Mason where there is a charge for the Saturday and Sunday performances.

San Francisco Free Folk Festival "An annual festival of folk music, dance and song from home and around the
world. Participate! Over eighty workshops where you can learn or improve your skills, run by local teachers. Plus concerts and dances both days. Admission, concerts, dances and workshops are all free. The festival, now
30 years old, is 100% volunteer-run. Please sign up to help."

Annual Chinatown Events with Free Admission

Chinatown Night Market Fair "...every Saturday from July until October from 6pm to 11pm... From week to week, you will see a new aspect of Chinese culture, including lion dancing, martial arts, chinese operas, karaoke singers, and musical performances using traditional Chinese instruments... "   

Chinese New Year ".... is a two week Spring festival celebrated for over 5,000 years in China. The San Francisco Chinese New Year celebration originated in the 1860's during the Gold Rush day and is now the largest Asian event in North America as well as the largest general market event in Northern California. The celebration includes two major fairs, the Chinese New Year Flower Fair and Chinatown Community Street Fair. All the festivities culminate with Chinese New Year Parade.

See also San Francisco Chinese New Year Festival & Parade

Other San Francisco Area Street Entertainers

San Francisco Mime Troupe "...Every summer, we perform in San Francisco Bay Area parks, July 4th through Labor Day.   After the performance the actors and musicians come out into the audience to pass the hat.  We ask people to donate what they paid for their last movie.   And, if they can, we ask them to pay for others who can't afford to donate; or to just give what they can, thus making our accessible theatre  truly accessible for everyone...." Summer Schedule

How to Get Free Admission to Festivals and Conventions... by Getting Involved

It takes many people working in various capacities to put on a festival. In many cases, much of this work is done by volunteers. One of the best ways to enjoy a festival is from the inside out... by offering your services in some capacity... in exchange for free admission and other perks.

Here are some festivals who active seek volunteers:

California World Fest (Grass Valley) "...Drawing inspiration from the Vancouver Folk Festival, the MerleFest in North Carolina, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Telluride Bluegrass Festival, and the Newport Folk Festival, the California WorldFest includes seven performance stages, a complete children's program, a community outreach history and a pledge to present the finest artists and performers from throughout our world. From Afro/Cuban to Bulgarian Harmonies, Latin to Bluegrass, Scottish fiddle tunes to Rock & Roll, Jumpin' Jazz to Gypsy, Folk to New Acoustic, Mexican to Russian Folk, Swing Jazz to Gospel, India's Rhythms to the newest Celtic incarnations, the California WorldFest is the home of incredible music....Most volunteer positions require a 4-hour shift for 3 days of the festival (12 hours total), or a full day doing setup or teardown, in exchange for a full festival pass and a Staff T-shirt."

Harmony Festival (Sonoma County) "...With five stages of continuous music, the Harmony Festival is well-known for its live music and entertainment for the whole family. Renowned musical artists and tremendous Bay Area groups perform rock, Jam Band, Americana, reggae, jazz, funk, folk, world music and more.... on beautifully decorated, alternative energy powered stages. Foods of the Earth Expo includes over 50 organic and natural food exhibits showcasing the latest advancements in natural health and self-improvement products and services. Well-being Pavillion... Showcases the latest advancements in holistic health and self-improvement products and services including nutrition, fitness, healing, body therapies, preventative health care, and body, mind, and spirit development. Crafters Village/Global Bazaar... Includes over 150 exhibits of quality arts & crafts. Lotus Stage... hosts instructors that lead interactive participation while attendees create harmony in their body through a variety of healing movements and yoga styles."

San Francisco Fringe Festival "... is the largest grassroots theater festival in the Bay Area and is open to all who apply in a non-juried, lottery selected process. 100% percent of the ticket revenue goes directly back to the performing companies..."

San Francisco Jazz Festival Persons who help out in a variety of capacities including ushers, front of house assistance, security, special events, office assistance, etc., are "... honored and rewarded in a number of ways, including free SFJAZZ merchandise and the annual volunteer party...." Those contribute 15 hours or more of service receive a gift of an SFJAZZ Individual level membership. There are also paid jobs available from time to time.

San Francisco Theatre Festival "... depends on the volunteers who donate their time to making sure everything runs smoothly on the BIG DAY! If you donate a few hours on Sunday, July 23, you will receive a T-SHIRT and will enjoy a fun-filled day at Yerba Buena Gardens..."

Sausalito Art Festival "... enjoy top name entertainers, magnificent art, great food, and a wonderful weekend on the beautiful Sausalito waterfront.  The Festival is held at Marinship Park and The Army Corps of Engineers - Bay Model Visitor Center...." You get Free Festival Admission on the day(s) you help out, a T-shirt, and an Appreciation Party.

They Call San Francisco Home

Chinese Clown Cabaret "...is a collection of eclectic musical acts starring Jane Chen and her real-life mother, Tair Chen. Together, the duo creates a world of goofiness, spontaneity, and emotional depth, as they explore what a relationship between mother and daughter could really be about. In this year's show — What's a Chinese clown to do!? Her mom just wants her to practice the ukulele, but she's growing up, falling in love, and trying to have fun! Combining opera, Chinese folk songs, catchy pop tunes, and Jane's signature quirky ditties, the Chinese Clown Cabaret sings, dances, and clowns its way through the roller-coaster ride of adolescent clown life and growing up caught between two cultures. The Chinese Clown Cabaret is, according to Audience Reviews, 'one of those rare shows that helps you feel how neat it is just to be alive.'..."

Galumpha "... Combining stunning acrobatics, striking visual effects, physical comedy and inventive choreography, Galumpha brings to life a world of imagination, beauty, muscle and merriment. The three performer... have created a sensory feast of images ranging from the ridiculous to the sublime, drawn together into a seamless whole, consistently bringing audiences to their feet. Galumpha is a triumphant mix of art and entertainment... " .

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See San Francisco Theatre for Free

See and Experience Dance for Free in San Francisco

Bay Area Film Festivals and How to Get Free Admission to Some.

San Francisco Internships

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San Francisco Area Free Wine Tastings

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Budget Dining in San Francisco

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