Music Festivals in San Francisco in 2022
San Francisco is a delightful city to visit for so many reasons. There are lots of sights to see here, shopping to enjoy, and amazing food to eat. If you have come to San Francisco for experiences, there are also many tours to join such as making the trip across the bay to see Alcatraz Island or taking a walking tour around some of the more notable parts of the city like China Town. San Francisco is also a great place to visit if you want to enjoy music festivals. There are many of these events that take place in San Francisco, CA each year and you can plan your trip around these events if you love to go to concerts.
The first thing that you must always do when you visit San Francisco, is make sure that your luggage is in safe storage. You will want to be sure to store your luggage safely with us in San Francisco before starting your adventures in this amazing city. No matter what kind of festival you have come to town to enjoy or what kind of other plans you have for your time in the bay area, putting your luggage into secure storage will make the entire trip more enjoyable and worry-free.
Once your bags are in storage, it is time to make your way to the live music event that you have come to town to see!
Music Festivals in San Francisco That You Have to Enjoy in 2022
Union Street Festival
This event kicks off the festival season every year in San Francisco, CA. Union Street is one of the most well-known areas in the city and it makes the perfect home for the event that starts the year of musical fun. This is a two-day event that takes place in the marina area and it has been going on for decades.
Head here for access to 30 different bands on two stages, to try out local wine and beer, and to enjoy the atmosphere. This is a special event that has been hosted in the city for ages to start the season out right. There are also hundreds of art displays that are available for viewing during the festival and there is a health and wellness gathering that takes place at the same time. There is even a fashion show that takes place during this music event!
This is one of the more eclectic and unique events that includes music and it can be really memorable for those who have not yet experienced all of the things that make San Francisco culture so special. You will also be in a great location here to head away from the music and enjoy some vegetarian or vegan cuisine or drop by a wine tasting location and discover new California wines.
Carnaval
If you have ever wanted to go to Carnaval in a major city, head to San Francisco in May to take part in this multi-cultural event. The event takes place May 28-29 and you will want to enjoy the music and live performances on both days of the event. The grand parade is on the 29th, which is the culmination of the excitement that has been built up since the day before.
You will be exposed to various artists at this exciting event and dance and performances of various kinds are offered for your enjoyment throughout the city streets. Carnaval is a great way to get a taste of this kind of festival atmosphere which is common in other parts of the world but less typical in the United States. Carnaval is an entire experience, not just a music festival, and one that you will not want to miss.
Fifty local performing artists will play on the two days of Carnaval and you do not have to pay extra to see these unique shows. You will only have to pay for entrance and then you can wander and sample food, sights and sounds, and music from all over the world. This is a really excellent venue for food and drink, as well as wine and beer tasting. If you want to head to a festival that is more like a cultural event, this is the right music festival to add to your calendar.
Noise Pop
This producer offers up small music events in the bay area all year long. This company started out with five bands playing around California in 1993 and now hosts all kinds of San Francisco events. These are usually 1-2 day artist visits to the area and the tickets sell out well in advance of the actual shows. You can easily catch something exciting to see in spring and summer, but this company also produces festival options in October and the middle of winter.
June is all about rappers this year with DJ Jazzy Jeff playing in San Francisco, and indie-pop artists are playing throughout May. You will have your choice of artists to enjoy throughout the year when you check into the Noise Pop offerings that are on the calendar. Make sure that you don't forget to get your event tickets well before your visit. Most of these concerts are played at small venues and are only one or two days, so you might miss out if you don't free up your schedule for the specific performance you want to see.
Filmore Jazz Festival
If you love jazz, July is the time to visit San Francsicso. You will be able to enjoy free access to this lovely event and there are jazz musicians playing here from all over the world. This is one of the many world-class events that happen in the summer in the bay area and if you love jazz music there is nothing better than spending an afternoon or a day at this festival.
The other really nice thing about this festival is that it takes place over several weeks, so you don't have to rush to get out and take part in this event. Since the event is free, you can make it part of your enjoyment of the city without feeling pressured to take an entire day and spend it here. Locals enjoy the festival as they wish and combine trips to enjoy it with evenings out on the town, dinners out, and family events.
The SF Jazz Festival is not free, but it's organized in a similar way and offers most of the same added benefits as the free Filmore Festival. You could easily spend a large part of the summer in San Francisco discovering new jazz music and jazz artists that you have never come across before. Jazz and San Francisco are indelibly linked, and for those who adore this kind of music, there are few festival seasons that are so perfect.
Mosswood Meltdown
This event also takes place in Oakland, but it is hosted in July. This event takes place in historic Mosswood Park and it offers the kind of atmosphere of rebellion and summer good times that you might expect from Coachella. This is not a huge event, but it has been on the circuit for over ten years now and attracts well-known bands.
It will be warm during this time of year in Oakland, so you might get sunburned if you don't plan ahead and bring a hat and some sunscreen with you. This is a great place to head for rebellious rock, punk, and even dance music. You will be able to enjoy food and drinks here at the venue as well, but there aren't extensive options for this need. You might want to have plans for your food and drink outside the event if you plan to spend the whole day at the festival.
This is an eclectic festival that you will be glad that you chose to visit if you want to enjoy music that will stick with you even after you leave the festival. The artists get set early and tickets sell out fast. Make sure that you go to the event website early to make your plans.
Outside Lands
This music festival takes place August 5-7 when the weather in San Francisco, CA is perfect. You will enjoy cool evenings and mornings with pleasantly warm temperatures during the day. This is a city that always requires that you bring along a light jacket, but you will be spared most of the foggy mornings and drizzly days that can happen during the colder parts of the year here.
The Outside Lands festival is a great choice if you love a wide array of music styles. This festival takes place in Golden Gate Park and offers you access to a long list of indie bands and local San Francisco favorites. The park itself is a really nice casual venue for this kind of festival and this is one of the locations that most people make time to see when they are in the city in summer or fall.
Green Day and Weezer join the local indie bands playing in 2022, making this a well-rounded festival option for those who want to enjoy bay area favorites as well as artists that they are already familiar with. If you have a taste for unique music and you love the outdoors, this is the right festival for your needs.
Second Sky Festival
This event takes place in nearby Oakland, but San Francisco is a great place to stay when you are planning to head to this music festival. This event takes place in October, so you will need to pack a jacket and some warm clothes with you. You might not need your warmer weather clothing once you head farther inland to Oakland, but the bay area is starting to cool of by this time in the fall.
This festival hosts electronica and dance music groups and it is always full of new faces and indie artists. You will be able to enjoy music from all over the world at this event and the affordable and simple venue is a really nice touch. Porter Robinson curates and hosts this event which means it is a good qualtiy festival that will not feel like it was thrown together at the last moment. If you love dance music and you want to visit an event that is not as big as Outside Lands, this is the right choice for your needs.
Planning to stay some more days in San Francisco?
San Francisco is full of cultural and social history that you can enjoy when you are in town and if you have come when the weather is warmer, you will be treated to all kinds of excellent street food. There are always lots of museums to enjoy as well and you can plan to see the Golden Gate Bridge or Alcatraz. If you have arrived in the winter, make sure to enjoy some amazing Christmas shopping near Union Square or ice skate here. Check out our guide on 3 days in San Francisco to maximize your plans.
San Francisco also offers fantastic nightlife and you can get food at any time of the day from lovely places with unique cuisine. San Francisco is a gem nestled on the west coast, and you will be missing out if you never make time to visit the bay area. A music festival can be a great reason to head to this delightful city on the bay and you should be sure to partake of everything that the city has to offer you while you visit.
From Golden Gate Park to dance clubs to Chinatown, there is something for everyone in this delightful city. You will want to make sure that your luggage is safely secured before you head out on your San Francisco adventures. Once your bags are placed in the right storage location, you will be ready to make the most of your visit to San Francisco.