Summer has finally arrived — so grab a jacket (sorry, it is SF, after all) and head out to enjoy a powerhouse comedy festival, an IPA party, pygmy goats, miniature donkeys and much more.
Here are our top picks for getting out and about over the next few days in San Francisco.
SF Design Week Opening Night
Mixing together design, business and entrepreneurship, the nine-day SF Design Week festival features exhibitions, workshops, studio tours and conversations on topics ranging from augmented reality to urban planning to civic engagement, and everything in between. (Here's the full calendar.)
Tonight's opening party is focused on community, with an exhibition and auction, an interactive installation and a special exhibition exploring the intersection of art and technology. There's also a VIP option that gives you early admission to enjoy the exhibits and access to thought leaders from throughout the Bay Area design community.
When: Thursday, June 20, 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Where: Pier 27, The Embarcadero
Price: $45
Clusterfest
What do you get when you mix dozens of award-winning comedians, a slew of popular podcasts, live music and even the chance to re-enact your favorite sitcom scenes? You get Comedy Central's Clusterfest, a three-day comedy festival with so much to see that Civic Center Plaza will be completely shut down for a variety of indoor and outdoor stages.
Featured comedians will include John Mulaney, Amy Poehler, Patton Oswalt, Leslie Jones, Sinbad and Craig Robinson & The Nasty Delicious. (Here's the full schedule.) The music lineup features The Roots, Big Freedia, Soul Clap and DJ Dials. Expect comedy-themed food and drinks and a variety of interactive features, including interactive television set reproductions for Seinfeld, The Office, Drunk History, and Crank Yankers.
When: Friday, June 21 - Sunday, June 23, various times
Where: Civic Center Plaza and the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
Price: $119
Green Solstice Happy Hour
Would you like to spend the longest day of the year enjoying live music and petting some goats? Head to the Hotel Kabuki's special happy hour on Friday, featuring live music and DJs, cocktails and outdoor firepits.
The main attraction is the chance to pet and get your photo taken with pygmy goats, courtesy of City Grazing, a SF-based goat landscaping nonprofit. All donations go towards supporting City Grazing's efforts to replace weed-killers and gas-guzzling mowers with hungry, environmentally friendly goats.
When: Friday, June 21, 6 p.m. - 12 a.m.
Where: Hotel Kabuki, 1625 Post St.
Price: Free; donations encouraged
Hazy IPA Festival
It's officially summer, which means getting outside to enjoy a beer or two. For your tasting pleasure, 20 local breweries are rolling out their best hazy IPAs for sampling at this Sunday-afternoon festival.
All ticket holders will get a commemorative glass and the chance to vote for their favorite IPA. Grab a bite from one of 10 on-site food trucks, sit back and enjoy live music on the festival lawn, or try your hand at a variety of drinking games.
When: Sunday, June 23, 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Where: SPARK Social SF, 601 Mission Bay Blvd. North
Price: $36+
Noe Valley Summerfest
Now in its tenth year, the Noe Valley Summerfest allows neighbors of all ages to come together and celebrate. The event's highlights include a hayride down 24th Street; a petting zoo complete with sheep, alpacas, and even a miniature donkey; and a bounce house. Attendees can also expect live music, a chalk drawing contest, face painting, free ice cream and other goodies from local Noe Valley vendors.
When: Sunday, June 23, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Where: 24th Street between Church and Diamond streets
Price: Free
