Named one of the world’s top ten parades, the Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco is the largest celebration of its kind outside of Asia. It was started in the 1860s and takes place the weekend of the Chinese New Year Community Street Fair (March 7-8, 2026).

2026 Chinese New Year Parade
Saturday, March 7, 2026 | 5:15 – 8 pm – rain or shine
Chinatown, San Francisco
FREE standing room (bleacher seats start at $48 for 2026)

Parade is approximately 1.3 miles in length and lasts about 2 1/2 hours.

A crowd favorite will be the new and spectacular 288-foot Golden Dragon (“Gum Lung”). It takes a team of over 180 men and women from the martial arts group White Crane to carry this dragon throughout the streets of San Francisco.

2026 Parade Route

The parade starts off at 2nd and Market Streets, goes around Union Square, and ends at Kearny Street & Columbus Ave. The distance of the parade route is approximately 1.3 miles. The parade is a free event for all to attend and you may stand anywhere on the parade route, behind the barricades, to watch the parade.

The entire parade route is an excellent place to view the parade but it does get more crowded as you get closer to Chinatown. If you purchased bleacher tickets, we strongly encourage you to check-in to your assigned section by 4:00 PM. Please note that SFPD will begin closing streets around 3pm and we are not responsible for any delays this may cause you to arrive to your assigned bleacher section on time.

The former Bloomingdale’s on Mission Street is getting a major makeover with a massive public mural, This Burning World, by Mississippi Choctaw/Cherokee artist Jeffrey Gibson. Stretching 433 feet long and 66 feet high, the vinyl installation covers the building’s windows and brings a bold, colorful presence to SoMa. The mural will be unveiled February 2, 2026 and will remain on view for at least a year.

The work builds on Gibson’s 2022 video installation This Burning World, which featured footage from upstate New York and the Bay Area. Stills from the original piece are reimagined into a city-block-long tapestry that blends modernist abstraction with Indigenous patterns, creating a vibrant celebration of nature and humanity’s connection to the environment.

Installation is already underway with a team using lifts and scaffolds, turning the former retail facade into a dynamic public artwork. The mural is part of ICA San Francisco’s push to operate as a nomadic institution, adding another colorful stop to the city’s growing collection of large-scale public art.

For more information, please visit the following link

https://sf.funcheap.com/city-guide/sfs-brand-massive-cityblocksized-mural/

KNBR’s 31st Giants FanFest takes place at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Saturday, March 14, 2026. Like last year, this event will take place during Spring Training while the team is in Arizona, so although there will be no active players at this event, it should still be filled with Giants alumni.

The day typically includes live KNBR broadcasts on the field, free former-player autographs, places to take photos, walk on the field (weather permitting), self-guided tours, a kids zone and more.

For more information, please visit the following link

https://sf.funcheap.com/giants-fan-fest/

The Japanese Tea Garden provides visitors from around the world with an opportunity to experience the natural beauty, tranquility, and harmony of a Japanese-style garden in the heart of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park.

Originally created as a “Japanese Village” exhibit for the 1894 California Midwinter International Exposition, the Japanese Tea Garden endures as one of the most popular attractions in San Francisco, featuring classic elements such as an arched drum bridge, pagodas, stone lanterns, stepping stone paths, native Japanese plants, serene koi ponds, and a zen garden. Cherry blossom trees bloom throughout the garden in March and April.

Admission to the Japanese Tea Garden is free for San Francisco residents with valid ID. Free hours for everyone (even non-residents) are 9-10 am every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

For more information, please visit the following link

https://sf.funcheap.com/japanese-tea-gardens-free-admission-hour-golden-gate-park-351/

San Francisco launched Yerba Buena Illuminated, a massive, year-round 95-foot-tall nightly light show on the Humboldt Bank Building at Market & Yerba Buena Lane starting January 12, 2026, featuring rotating digital art from emerging artists, transforming a blank wall into a public art canvas and aiming to revitalize downtown with culture and economic energy. 

The illuminated facade faces both Market Street and Yerba Buena Lane, transforming a previously blank wall of the 1908 Beaux-Arts building into a permanent canvas for public art. The site sits within the Yerba Buena Entertainment Zone, surrounded by restaurants, bars, museums, hotels, and cultural venues.

Featured artists at launch include:

• Emmett Feldman, whose work has appeared on landmarks including the Empire State Building and the Vatican. His piece Blooming Oåasis draws inspiration from nearby Yerba Buena Gardens.
• Ben Stokes, a San Francisco artist known for large-scale projections around the world. His work Frozen in Motion highlights iconic San Francisco scenes.
• Henry Hu, whose projection Pulse of Nature explores the intersection of urban and natural environments.

For more information, please visit the following link

https://sf.funcheap.com/city-guide/sfs-massive-95foottall-light-show/

The Napa Lighted Art Festival is a celebration of creative arts, technology and lights, and supports innovative techniques using light and light technologies as a growing art medium.

This walkable outdoor experience is free in Downtown Napa, featuring 15 lighted art installations for 5 weeks from January 17 – February 15, 2026. Projection artwork will be displayed on three iconic downtown buildings for the first 9 nights of the festival: January 17-25, 2026. 

Napa Lighted Art Festival 2026
January 17 – February 15, 2026
Friday-Saturday: 6-10pm | Sunday-Thursday: 6-9pm
Downtown Napa
FREE

Projection artwork will be displayed on three iconic downtown buildings for the first 9 nights of the festival: January 17-25, 2026.

Additional 2026 Lighted Art Festival Events

Artist Meet and Greet
Saturday, January 17th, 4:30-6pm

Meet the minds behind the magic! Join us on Saturday, January 17th for an exclusive Artist Meet and Greet at the Aerena Gallery (600 Main Street) in downtown Napa. From 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM, meet the Napa Lighted Art Festival artists and learn about the inspiration behind the work.

Bookmine Story Hour
Saturday, February 7, 5-6pm

If you are looking for a gnome hunt kick-off activity, BookMine will be hosting a story hour for ages 8 and under located by Bop, the gnome in the gardens at CIA at Copia (500 First Street) from 5-6pm.

Oxbow Gnome Hunt
Saturday, February 7, 6-8pm

Find all 12 of the giant Roaming Gnomes at the Oxbow District gnome hunt from 6-8pm! Families can pick up a passport at the Napa Yard (585 First Street) to set out on a fun adventure to collect stamps from each gnome. During the hunt, you can learn about where these gnomes have traveled and where they are heading next. This walkable exploration around the Oxbow District will have music, drinks, and giveaways and will be fun night for the whole family.

For more information, please visit the following link

https://www.visitnapavalley.com/events/annual-events/napa-lighted-art-festival/

https://sf.funcheap.com/2026-napa-lighted-art-festival-opening-day-jan-17-feb-15/

The Box SF presents EAT ME!, a monthly artisanal food fair, kicking off on January 10-11, 2026!

Enjoy a flavorful weekend at The Box SF each month while exploring a wide selection of artisanal food products from local culinary vendors.

“Eat Me!” Artisan Food Fair
January-December, 2026
Saturday | 11a-5p
Sunday | 11a-4p
The Box SF, 1069 Howard Street, SF
FREE Public Entry – Tickets not required

For more information, please visit the links below

https://sf.funcheap.com/the-box-sf-eat-me-artisan-food-fair-2026-2/

https://dothebay.com/events/2026/1/10/eat-me-artisan-food-fair-january-10-11-tickets

Judith Schaechter: Super/Natural invites visitors into the artist’s largest work to date, Super/Natural, an immersive 8-foot-tall stained-glass environment inspired by neuroaesthetics, biophilic design, and the universality of natural elements, pattern, and ornament. CMusereated during Schaechter’s residency at the Penn Center for Neuroaesthetics, this central work, along with seven additional stained-glass lightboxes, reflects her luminous exploration of beauty, light, and imagination.⁠

Wunderkammer: The Collection of Susan Beech offers a rare glimpse into one of the most remarkable private collections of contemporary art jewelry. Drawing inspiration from 18th-century cabinets of curiosity, this exhibition features over 80 bold, playful, and innovative works that celebrate adornment, storytelling, symbolism, and sculpture.⁠

Free First Thursdays (But on the Second Thursday!)
Thursday, January 8, 2026 | 12p – 5p
Museum of Craft and Design, 2569 Third St., SF
FREE | All ages

For more information, please visit the following link

https://sf.funcheap.com/free-thursdays-thursday-museum-craft-design-sf/

San Francisco City Hall has debuted a brand new holiday installation: City Hall Winter Lights, a free projection mapping show that turns both the Polk Street and Van Ness Avenue sides of the building into a giant animated storybook.

The month-long display runs nightly through December 30, with shows every 30 minutes from 5:30 PM to midnight. Each sequence lasts about ten minutes and features a synchronized musical soundtrack that you can stream directly on your phone.

The projections cover both façades of City Hall, transforming the dome and columns into moving digital scenes. For the best viewing angles, head to Civic Center Plaza between Polk and Larkin, or stand along the Van Ness Avenue side to see the full scale of the animations.

For more information, please visit the following link

https://sf.funcheap.com/sf-city-halls-brand-new-animated-light-show-thru-dec-30-5/