Almost everything seems to be an excuse to hold events in San Francisco. The city’s long-standing reputation of being open to just about everything helps bring the masses out in droves for festivals, shows, performances, rallies, parades just for the hell of it, or to party because it’s a Tuesday.

Gigantic public gatherings like the clothing-optional Bay to Breakers race, the LGBT Parade, and the bondage-heavy Folsom Street Fair draw thousands of participants every year, while major holidays like Halloween and Chinese New Year give San Franciscans another excuse to take to the streets and tie one on.

Giants baseball and 49ers football are much-beloved sports in the city, while the shopping is probably some of the best in the country.

Concerts and events are held in parks throughout the year, small-but-powerful music venues thrive in some of the most industrial parts of town, and even the city’s black box theater scene offers almost limitless entertainment if a major Broadway show – also readily available – just isn’t cutting it.

So whether it’s shopping and sales or shows and sports, SF has things to do covered...read less