This roundup covers the weekend of Friday, July 3 through Sunday, July 5, 2026. Saturday is the Fourth of July, and this year it marks the United States’ 250th anniversary. The fireworks launch from the Golden Gate Bridge itself for the first time since 2012, in addition to the usual barges on the bay. The events below are grouped by day. Most are free. Two of them close major roads, so check the note at the end before you drive or take transit.
Friday, July 3
SF Mime Troupe Opens Its 2026 Season
The San Francisco Mime Troupe opens its 67th season of free musical theater in the parks with WRECKAGE: A Musical Tragicomedy, written by Michael Gene Sullivan with music and lyrics by Daniel Savio. This is not silent mime; the company performs political musicals with a live band. Live music starts 30 minutes before each show. The show repeats Saturday at Dolores Park and plays Yerba Buena Gardens on Sunday.
When: Friday and Saturday, 2pm, Dolores Park; Sunday, 2pm, Yerba Buena Gardens. Where: Dolores Park, Dolores and 19th Streets, the Mission. Cost: Free.
Fee-Free National Parks Weekend
The National Park Service waives entrance fees from July 3 through July 5 at parks that normally charge them, part of the 250th anniversary programming. New in 2026, the waiver applies to US citizens and permanent residents, and visitors 16 and older may be asked for ID. Muir Woods drops its entrance fee, but parking and shuttle spots still require paid reservations. Most national park land in San Francisco, including the Presidio, Ocean Beach, and Lands End, is free every day.
When: Friday through Sunday. Where: National park sites that charge entrance fees. Cost: Free entry; parking and shuttle reservations still apply where required.
Saturday, July 4
Fourth of July Fireworks From the Golden Gate Bridge and the Bay
San Francisco adds a second launch site this year for the country’s 250th anniversary. Pyrotechnics fire from the east side of the Golden Gate Bridge between its two towers, the first launch from the bridge since 2012, alongside the annual show from barges near Pier 39 and Aquatic Park. Both start around 9:30pm, and the waterfront show runs about 20 minutes. Viewing spots include Aquatic Park, Pier 39, the northern Embarcadero, Crissy Field, and Marina Green. Our Fourth of July guide has the full day’s schedule and viewing details.
When: Saturday, about 9:30pm. Where: Over the bay near Pier 39 and Aquatic Park, and from the Golden Gate Bridge. Cost: Free. The bridge and its Highway 101 approach close to vehicles from 8pm to 11pm.
Fillmore Jazz Festival
The Fillmore Jazz Festival fills Fillmore Street between Jackson and Eddy with live jazz on multiple stages, food vendors, and arts and crafts booths. It runs both Saturday and Sunday.
When: Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 6pm. Where: Fillmore Street between Jackson and Eddy. Cost: Free.
Free Entertainment at Fisherman’s Wharf
Fisherman’s Wharf hosts free live entertainment at Crab Wheel Plaza, at Jefferson and Taylor Streets, through the afternoon and evening leading up to the fireworks.
When: Saturday, 2pm to 9:15pm. Where: Crab Wheel Plaza, Jefferson and Taylor Streets, Fisherman’s Wharf. Cost: Free.
Red, White & Blues at Biscuits and Blues
The Jeffrey James Trio plays a Fourth of July tribute to Jimi Hendrix, B.B. King, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Muddy Waters at Biscuits and Blues near Union Square. Set times and tickets are on our event page.
When: Saturday, July 4. Where: Biscuits and Blues, near Union Square. Cost: Ticketed.
Sunday, July 5
Stern Grove Festival: Major Lazer
The Stern Grove Festival continues its 89th season of free Sunday concerts with Major Lazer, with opening sets from Fijiana and DJ Bad Juuju. Music starts at 2pm at Sigmund Stern Grove. Admission is free, with general admission passes distributed through an online lottery at sterngrove.org and additional tickets handed out in person through the festival’s Community Box Office.
When: Sunday, music at 2pm. Where: Sigmund Stern Grove, 19th Avenue and Sloat Boulevard. Cost: Free with ticket.
HEAD WEST Marketplace at the Ferry Building
HEAD WEST sets up on the Ferry Building‘s Back Plaza on the first Sunday of each month, with Bay Area artists, vintage sellers, designers, and small-batch makers. The Ferry Building’s food vendors are open during the market.
When: Sunday, 11am to 5pm. Where: Ferry Building Back Plaza, the Embarcadero. Cost: Free entry.
Golden Gate Park Band: Musical Landscapes
The Golden Gate Park Band, in its 144th season, plays a program called Musical Landscapes at the Spreckels Temple of Music on the Music Concourse in Golden Gate Park. The program includes Frank Ticheli’s Shenandoah, Morton Gould’s Tropical, and Sammy Nestico’s Pacific Island Fantasy. Concerts run without intermission and usually end around 2:45pm.
When: Sunday, 1pm. Where: Music Concourse, Golden Gate Park. Cost: Free.
Getting Around
Two events close major roads this weekend. The Golden Gate Bridge and its Highway 101 approach close to all vehicle traffic from 8pm to 11pm on Saturday for the fireworks launch, and Fillmore Street closes between Jackson and Eddy both days for the jazz festival. Muni along the northern waterfront runs crowded after the fireworks end. SFMTA lists closures and reroutes on its website. Check it before you go. For events running earlier in the week, see Things to Do in San Francisco This Week.
