San Francisco is a city clouded in myth.

Dynastic ambitions of frontier oligarchies, the environmental and social effects of the mining industry, the creation of two universities, the choice of imperial architecture to symbolize the aspirations in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries are all part of San Francisco's color.

San Francisco held its first municipal election in 1846. Since that historic moment, San Francisco, has been shaped by many forces including, greed and ambition on an epic scale, the rise and decline of mining interests in the area, immigrants' endeavor to adjust to a new life, new brilliant enterprises, racist arrogance, environmental degradation, ruthless competition, and the dot com meltdown. Today, San Francisco is filled with a spirit of imagination, creativity and dynamic thinking. San Francisco is a leading door to Asia and a dynamic business center. San Francisco retains distinct neighborhoods and remains quaint in a lovely setting.

San Francisco offers wonderful tourist attractions, hidden treasures, museums, hotels, bed and breakfast inns, historic pubs and more. San Francisco is a great dining city, with restaurants ranging from outstanding seafood parlors to the top cafes of Chinatown. Visitors on a budget can find inexpensive meals and lodging; for those seeking a workout, there are many walks and bike routes; San Francisco also has romantic hideaways. The photographer will find many unusual photo opportunities. Discover San Francisco's history, architecture, legends and lore. We invite you to sign up for the following tour suggestions to get a good feel for San Francisco.

San Francisco's Culture Event for the Calendar year 2007-2008 ( Jan - June )

When:9 - 11 Feb 2007 (annual)
Where:Fort Mason Center

San Francisco's Fort Mason Center hosts over 80 folk and ethnic art dealers at the annual Tribal, Folk and Textiles Show.

The show features a huge array - including African and Oceanic sculpture and masks; Central and South American pottery and folk art; Mexican paintings and ceramics; Spanish colonial art; carved figurines from New Guinea; Chinese bronzes, pottery, costumes and ritual pieces; Japanese masks, dolls, chests, bronze work, basketry and incense burners; Native American pottery, blankets, beadwork and basketry... to name just a few.

When:14 - 19 Feb 2007 (annual)
Where:Pier 39
Cost:Free
Opening Hours:Guided tours at 10am

San Francisco's Pier 39 bursts with colour during the annual Tulipmania Festival. The event promises 39,000 tulips in full bloom throughout both levels of the pier and has become a firm local favourite.

When:24 Feb 2007 (annual)
Where:Palace of Fine Arts
Cost:US$25-US$50
Opening Hours:7.30pm

A highlight of San Francisco's Chinese New Year festivities, the lavish annual Miss Chinatown USA Pageant at the Palace of Fine Arts welcomes contestants from all over the US, and the winner is flown to Hong Kong to challenge for the Miss Asia title.

Girls from Chicago, Houston, New York, Seattle and Hawaii join local girls in a typical beauty competition format. There is an opening self-introductory spot, followed by the crowd-pleasing swimsuit round, talent round, questions and answers and lastly the "final glimpse".

The girls must be unmarried and need to have Chinese ancestry (a Chinese father) to enter and are judged by a panel of seven judges from the local community. The winner in 2006 was Miss Louise Wu.

When:3 Mar 2007 (annual)
Where:Chinatown

The largest scavenging game in the US, the Chinese New Year Treasure Hunt takes place in San Francisco's Chinatown every year, attracting teams of all abilities who are keen on problem solving. Spend four hours scurrying around the lesser-known parts of this colourful area of the city and you could be the lucky winner of some bubbly and, of course, a crisp certificate telling you how well you did.

The adventure takes participants through San Francisco's hidden cultural and architectural treasures. The starting place is finalised at the last moment, so contact the organisers if you're up for it - pre-registration is advisable.

When:3 Mar 2007 (annual)
Where:Chinatown
Cost:Free
Opening Hours:5.30pm-8pm
Chinatown rooftops

The Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco is the largest celebration of its kind outside Asia. It ushers in the Year of the Boar in 2007, with spectacular floats and world-class decorations.

These annual celebrations are built around a spectacular parade from Market and 2nd Streets to Columbus Ave, including elaborate decorated floats, school marching bands, martial arts groups, stilt walkers, lion dancers, Chinese acrobatics, the newly-crowned Miss Chinatown USA and the Golden Dragon.

The dragon, over 200 feet long, is always featured as the grand finale. It takes a team of over 100 men and women from the White Crane martial arts group to carry it through the streets, accompanied by over 600,000 firecrackers.

Related Information

Website:San Francisco Chinese Cultural Center Website
http://www.c-c-c.org/chineseculture

Website: Chinese Parade Website
http://www.chineseparade.com/

When:1 Apr 2007 (annual)
Where:San Francisco
Cost:Free
Opening Hours:Parade 12pm
St Stupid's Day Parade

St Stupid is the patron saint of the First Church of the Last Laugh, presided over by the Supreme Pontiff, Bishop Joey. As the name suggests, this annual parade takes itself anything but seriously. It follows no set formula (bar offering a free lunch), but more of a series of rough guidelines. To join in, show up at Embarcadero Plaza in San Francisco in costume, carrying "noise makers", flags, confetti and an agendaless attitude. The Parade begins at Embarcadero Plaza and winds its way through the financial district, finishing up in Washington Square, where a short service is followed by a free lunch. It's not recommended for the deeply religious or faint-hearted.

When:Apr 2007 (annual)
Where:Fort Mason - Festival Pavilion
Cost:US$50 in advance; US$60 on the door
Opening Hours:7pm-10pm

Beer lovers prepare, your day of reckoning draws near at the Fort Mason Festival Pavilion. San Francisco's biggest beer festival has over 200 distinctive beers on offer and the ticket price is all-inclusive, meaning you can taste until you can taste no more...

When:May 2007 (annual)
Where:Civic Center Plaza
Cost:Free
Opening Hours:
Parade begins at 10am

The Cinco de Mayo (Fifth of May) is a very important date for Hispanics all over the USA, commemmorating one of Mexico's four major invasions of the Carnaval City of Vera Cruz. This is the day when French attackers were defeated inland at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.

For the whole of May, Latinos all over America and especially in San Francisco, celebrate with parades and music, partying and celebrations which continue until Carnaval at the end of May. On the nearest weekend to the 5 May, the Mission District comes alive with fireworks, parades and music, all with a Mexican flavour. The climax is marked by the crowning of Carnaval's Queen at the Civic Center. The Parade starts at Harrison and 24th and goes to Mission and 16th street.

When:May 2007 (annual)
Where:Mission District
Cost:Free
Opening Hours:10am-6pm; parade Sun 10am

San Francisco Carnaval
Each year on Memorial Day Weekend, San Francisco's Mission district is transformed by Carnaval, a Latin celebration of life.

The Grand Carnaval Parade on Sunday features amazingly-costumed dancers standing on fantastic floats, surrounded by drummers, roller-skaters, stilt-walkers and thousands of people out to enjoy themeselves.

When:Jun 2007 (annual)
Where:North Beach
Cost:Free
Opening Hours:10am-6pm

The North Beach Festival in San Francisco has been running every year since 1944 and is one of the most popular street fairs in the country. Home of the beat generation and site of the national St Francis shrine, North Beach is San Francisco's Little Italy, so expect plenty of froth on your cappuccino.

Despite its status as a tourist attraction, the North Beach area still retains a sense of authenticity and over 100,000 people religiously attend the festival, which spreads over 1200-1500 blocks of Grant Ave, 1500 block of Stockton, 500 blocks of Green St and Washington Square Park.

When:Jun 2007; Weekends only (annual)
Where:Palace of Fine Arts
Cost:US$22-US$36
Opening Hours:Saturdays 2pm & 8pm; Sun 2pm

The San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival features dance styles from all over the world. For over 20 years local amateurs have entertained visitors with remarkably high-class and unusual dance in the glorious setting of the Palace of Fine Arts.

The Bay Area has been acclaimed as one of the hottest dance spots in the country, and the festival brings the world under one roof. Dazzling artistry from as many as 28 of the Bay Area's most exciting dance companies is presented over three consecutive themed weekends in June. The first looks at "Time", the second at "Place" and the third at "Spirit".

Featuring dance from as far afield as Portugal, Mexico, China, India and Tahiti, the festival is genuinely diverse and entertaining. For full details of all performances, please visit the festival website.

Related Information
Website: San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival Website ttp://www.worldartswest.org

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