Treasure Island. What image pops into your head? Swashbuckling pirates? Buried gold and precious gems? If you’ve been living in San Francisco, you probably know it as “that island” seen between the city and the East Bay as you’re driving across the Bay Bridge. Recently though, Treasure Island has become a mecca for bargain hunters and entrepreneurs. The last weekend of every month, the Treasure Island Flea Market arrives, bringing vendors that sell everything from vintage furniture to jewelry made out of old computer parts. It’s definitely worth perusing each row of tents because there are treasures to be found where you least expect them. The market also features a number of food tents and trucks, selling their freshly prepared foods with amazing views of the city as a backdrop. The best way to get to the Treasure Island Flea Market is by driving or taking the 108 bus from the Transbay Terminal. Entrance fee is $3, Kids 12 and under are free. Parking is free. |Treasure Island Flea|

Last Weekend of Every Month:
Sat & Sun: 10am – 5pm

Celebrating its tenth year in existence, the Annual Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival is a weekend long music festival held in Golden Gate Park that is free to the public thanks to the sponsorship of Warren Hellman. Attracting a crowd of more than 600,000 for the weekend, visitors came in droves, many of which parked and locked their bicycles to every tree along the path to Speedway Meadows. Visitors came to see over 60 acts on six stages over the three day event, with high profile musicians like Elvis Costello, Joan Baez, Indigo Girls, Patti Smith, Rosanne Cash, Randy Newman and Emmylou Harris performing. Along with plenty of music, the festival featured local vendors selling food, non-alcoholic drinks, and merchandise. Alcohol is allowed, but is not for sale on the premises. Plenty of people came prepared with ice chests, blankets, picnic gear, and their dogs to enjoy the festivities, if only it was a little bit warmer. |Hardly Strictly Bluegrass|

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|

For over forty years, San Francisco has celebrated the arrival of flowering cherry blossoms with a two weekend long celebration in the middle of |Japantown|. Originally a tradition in Japan called |Hanami| (flower viewing), celebrations there consist of outdoor parties and feasts amongst the blooming trees that can go on until the wee hours. Since the flowers typically only last a week or two on the tree, the cherry blossom is said to symbolize the fleeting beauty of life.

The parade on the last day of the festival begins at the Civic Center, travels down Post Street and ends at Fillmore Street. This year’s parade had its share of taiko drummers, Japanese Animation costume contest winners, and beauty pageant winners, not to mention some impressive |Matoi| twirling. At the tail of the parade, scores of people carrying large barrels of sake make offers of rice wine in anticipation of the staple crop planting season. The festival also features local merchants selling their wares and numerous food venders serving everything from BBQ to ramen noodles. |Nor Cal Cherry Blossom Festival|

Celebrated in conjunction with the Columbus Day festivities since 1981, Fleet Week draws over one million visitors to the city for its various exhibits, parades, air shows, roof deck parties, and beer gardens at the Marina Green. The beer garden is often packed, drawing crowds for their cold brews, various prepared foods, and unobstructed views of the bay. Festivities run pretty much all weekend, starting with the parade of Naval ships at 11:30 am on Saturday and concluding with a live concert series at Pier 39 that goes from 1 pm until 7 pm Sunday. Other notable activities include the air show and Blue Angels aerial performances that start at 12:30 pm and finish at 4 pm on both Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday night, pick a nice vantage point, grab a blanket, and watch the fireworks show at Pier 3 that begins at 9:30 pm. When Sunday comes around, the |Italian Heritage Parade| is another event worth seeing. The parade starts at 12:30 pm and moves right down Columbus Street, through the North Beach District. So dust off that old bomber jacket, don some aviators, and prepare yourself for Highway through the Danger Zone on repeat. |Fleet Week|