With the emergence of gourmet food carts reaching critical mass in the city, it’s no surprise there is now a festival dedicated to the phenomenon. Snaking around a handful of city blocks along Folsom Street, close to Garfield Square in the Mission District, the SF Street Food Festival this year was packed to the brim with hungry visitors, all there to experience something unexpectedly delicious that was prepared from a mobile kitchen. The wait times just to sample dishes from various vendors like |Roli Roti| and |Kung Fu Tacos| were overwhelming to say the least, which made coordinated efforts with friends to wait in multiple lines the right move.

Many of the vendors with more notoriety such as |Hapa Ramen| or |Creme Brulee Cart| ran out of food fairly quickly, but there were still numerous choices that made the trip worthwhile like the homemade smores from |Kika’s Treats|. The choices this year were mixed between established restaurants trying to market themselves with quick bites and fancy non-alcoholic drinks, and actual street food vendors whose locations they operate from change on the regular. There was even a silent auction that raised money for charity by auctioning off cool prizes such as being a chef for a day at |Chez Panisse| and an all day butchery class at |4505 Meats|. |SF Street Food Fest|

Celebrating 40 years in the city, this annual weekend long event draws an estimated crowd of over one million people, all there to show support for tolerance and pride. The festivities include a parade down Market Street, culminating with a massive festival in Civic Center Plaza. The event features live music, food and beverage concessions, a diverse crowd, and plenty of colorful costumes. Admission is free and is open to all ages. |SF Pride|

Right in the heart of North Beach, participants at this Summertime festival in Washington Square will find live bands and vendors selling food and beverages, all in a nice park setting. Unlike the street fairs in other districts, it’s great to be able to sit down on the grass and bask in the sun while watching the performances. On the streets around the park, open only to pedestrian traffic, you’ll find various arts & crafts booths and beer gardens. Admission is free and the festival runs both Saturday and Sunday. Parking is impossible, using public transit is highly recommended. |Event Site|

Named after the |Spanish Mission| down the street, Dolores Park is one of the city’s best places to relax in the sun and take in the beautiful views of downtown. Nestled between the Mission and Castro districts, the park always attracts a very diverse mix of people. Public facilities include tennis courts, a basketball court, two soccer fields, and a playground. Unfortunately, the park will be closing some time in the Summer of 2010 to undergo a $3.5 million re-development of the playground and surrounding landscaping.  The work is not scheduled to be completed until 2011, renderings look more like a theme park than the charming neighborhood park of today. More information on the project can be found here: |Friends of Dolores Park.org|

For the past 33 years, the Union Street Festival has the been the unofficial beginning of Summer for local residents, ushering in longer days of sun and marking an end to the cold temperatures. Open only to pedestrian traffic, the street is filled with booths selling various types of food, local vendors selling their wares and artwork, a few live music stages, a beer garden on nearly every block, and plenty of Marina scenery. This year’s event was particularly warm, and crowded; the beer was ice cold and the food was extra greasy, fried and delicious. Admission is free and the festival runs both Saturday and Sunday. Parking is impossible, using public transit is highly recommended. |Union Street Festival Site|