February

Chinese New Year, Chinatown. In 2005, public celebrations will again spill onto every street in Chinatown. Festivities begin with the "Miss Chinatown USA" pageant parade, and climax a week later with a celebratory parade of marching bands, rolling floats, barrages of fireworks, and a block-long dragon writhing in and out of the crowds. The revelry runs for several weeks and wraps up with a memorable parade through Chinatown that starts at Market and Second streets and ends at Kearny Street. Arrive early for a good viewing spot on Grant Avenue. Make your hotel reservations early. For dates and information, call tel. 415/982-3000 or visit www.chineseparade.com.

March

St. Patrick's Day Parade, Union Square and Civic Center. Everyone's an honorary Irish person at this festive affair, which starts at 12:45pm at Market and Second streets and continues to City Hall. But the party doesn't stop there. Head down to the Civic Center for the post-party, or venture to The Embarcadero's Harrington's bar (245 Front St.) and celebrate with hundreds of the Irish-for-a-day yuppies as they gallivant around the closed-off streets and numerous pubs. No contact information. Sunday before March 17.

April

Cherry Blossom Festival, Japantown. Meander through the arts-and-crafts and food booths lining the blocked-off streets around Japan Center and watch traditional drumming, flower arranging, origami making, or a parade celebrating the cherry blossom and Japanese culture. Call tel. 415/563-2313 for information. Mid- to late April.

San Francisco International Film Festival, around San Francisco with screenings at the AMC Kabuki 8 Cinemas (Fillmore and Post sts.), and at many other locations. Begun in 1957, this is America's oldest film festival. It features more than 200 films and videos from more than 50 countries, as well as awards ceremonies in which renowned honorees join the festivities. Tickets are relatively inexpensive, and screenings are accessible to the public. Entries include new films by beginning and established directors. For a schedule or information, call tel. 415/931-FILM or visit www.sffs.org. Mid-April to early May.

May

Cinco de Mayo Celebration, Mission District. This is when the Latino community celebrates the victory of the Mexicans over the French at Puebla in 1862; mariachi bands, dancers, food, and a parade fill the streets of the Mission. The parade starts at 10am at 24th and Bryant streets and ends at the Civic Center. No contact information. The Sunday before May 5.

Bay to Breakers Foot Race, The Embarcadero through Golden Gate Park to Ocean Beach. Even if you don't participate, you can't avoid this run from downtown to Ocean Beach, which stops morning traffic throughout the city. More than 60,000 entrants gather -- many dressed in wacky, innovative, and sometimes X-rated costumes -- for the approximately 7 1/2-mile run. If you don't want to run, join the throng of spectators who line the route. Sidewalk parties, bands, and cheerleaders of all ages provide a good dose of true San Francisco fun. The San Francisco Examiner (tel. 415/359-2800; www.examiner.com) sponsors the event. Third Sunday of May.

Carnival, Mission District, Mission Street between 14th and 24th streets, and Harrison Street between 16th and 21st streets. The Mission District's largest annual event is a day of festivities that culminates in a parade on Mission Street. For one of San Franciscans' favorite events, more than half a million spectators line the route, and samba musicians and dancers continue to entertain on 14th Street, near Harrison, at the end of the march. Call the hot line at tel. 415/920-0125 for information. The Sunday of Memorial Day weekend.

June

Union Street Art Festival, Pacific Heights, along Union Street from Steiner to Gough streets. This outdoor fair celebrates San Francisco with themes, gourmet food booths, music, entertainment, and a juried art show featuring works by more than 350 artists. Call the Union Street Association (tel. 415/441-7055) for more information or see www.unionstreetfestival.com. First weekend of June.

Haight Street Fair, Haight-Ashbury. A far cry from the froufrou Union Street Fair, this grittier fair features alternative crafts, ethnic foods, rock bands, and a healthy number of hippies and street kids whooping it up and slamming beers in front of the blaring rock-'n'-roll stage. The fair usually extends along Haight between Stanyan and Ashbury streets. For details and the exact date, call tel. 415/661-8025.

North Beach Festival, Grant Avenue, North Beach. In 2004, this party celebrated its 50th anniversary; organizers claim it's the oldest urban street fair in the country. Close to 100,000 city folk meander along Grant Avenue, between Vallejo and Union streets, to eat, drink, and browse the arts-and-crafts booths, poetry readings, swing-dancing venue, and arte di gesso (sidewalk chalk art). But the most enjoyable part of the event is listening to music and people-watching. Call tel. 415/989-2220 for details. Usually Father's Day weekend, but call to confirm.

Stern Grove Midsummer Music Festival, Sunset District. Pack a picnic and head out early to join the thousands who come here to lie in the grass and enjoy classical, jazz, and ethnic music and dance in the grove, at 19th Avenue and Sloat Boulevard. The free concerts take place every Sunday at 2pm between mid-June and August. Show up with a lawn chair or blanket. There are food booths if you forget snacks, but you'll be dying to leave if you don't bring warm clothes -- the Sunset District can be one of the coldest parts of the city. Call tel. 415/252-6252 for listings. Sundays, mid-June through August.

San Francisco Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Pride Parade & Celebration, downtown's Market Street. This prideful event draws up to half a million participants who celebrate all of the above -- and then some. The parade proceeds west on Market Street until it gets to Market and Eighth Street, where hundreds of food, art, and information booths are set up around several soundstages. Call tel. 415/864-3733 or visit www.sfpride.org for information. Usually the third or last weekend of June.

July

Fillmore Street Jazz Festival, Pacific Heights. July starts with a bang, when the upscale portion of Fillmore closes to traffic and several blocks of arts and crafts, gourmet food, and live jazz fill the street. (The blocked-off section is changing, so call for details.) Call tel. 510/970-3217 for more information. First weekend in July.

Fourth of July Celebration & Fireworks, Fisherman's Wharf. This event can be something of a joke -- more often than not, fog, like everyone else, comes into the city to join in the festivities. Sometimes it's almost impossible to view the million-dollar pyrotechnics from PIER 39 on the northern waterfront. Still, it's a party, and if the skies are clear, it's a darn good show. No contact information.

San Francisco Marathon, San Francisco and beyond. This is one of the largest marathons in the world. For entry information, contact West End Management, the event organizer (tel. 800/698-8699; www.chroniclemarathon.com). Usually the second or third weekend in July.

September

A La Carte, A La Park, Sharon Meadow, Golden Gate Park. You probably won't get to go to all the restaurants you'd like while you're visiting the city, but you can get a good sampling at this annual event. More than 40 of the town's favorite restaurants, accompanied by 20 microbreweries and 20 wineries, offer tastings in San Francisco's favorite park. There's entertainment as well, and proceeds benefit the Friends of Recreation & Parks. Admission is around $10 adults in advance and $12 on-site, $8 seniors in advance and $10 on-site, free for children under 12. Call tel. 415/458-1988 for 2005 prices. Labor Day weekend.

Renaissance Pleasure Faire, Gilroy (south of San Francisco). This is an expensive, but enjoyable, festival held south of San Francisco that takes you back to Renaissance times -- with games, plays, and arts-and-crafts and food booths. Previously held north of the city, it's now in a location to the south at Casa del Fruita in Hollister, near Gilroy. For more information, call tel. 800/52-FAIRE. Six to eight weekends in September and October.

Sausalito Art Festival, Sausalito. A juried exhibit of more than 180 artists, this festival includes music -- provided by Bay Area jazz, rock, and blues performers -- and international cuisine, enhanced by wines from some 50 Napa and Sonoma producers. Parking is impossible; take the Blue & Gold Fleet ferry (tel. 415/705-5555) from Fisherman's Wharf to the festival site. For more information, call tel. 415/332-3555 or log on to www.sausalitoartfestival.org. Labor Day weekend.

Opera in the Park, usually in Sharon Meadow, Golden Gate Park. Each year the San Francisco Opera launches its season with a free concert featuring a selection of arias. Call tel. 415/861-4008 to confirm the location and date. Usually the Sunday after Labor Day.

San Francisco Blues Festival, on the grounds of Fort Mason, The Marina. The largest outdoor blues music event on the West Coast was 30 years old in 2002 and continues to feature local and national musicians performing back-to-back during the 3-day extravaganza. You can charge tickets by phone at tel. 415/421-8497 or online at www.ticketmaster.com. For schedule information, call tel. 415/826-6837; for recorded information, call tel. 415/979-5588 or visit www.sfblues.com. Usually in late September.

Folsom Street Fair, along Folsom Street between 7th and 12th streets, SoMa. This is a local favorite for its kinky, outrageous, leather-and-skin gay-centric blowout celebration. It's hard-core, so only open-minded and adventurous types need head this way. Call tel. 415/861-3247 or visit www.folsomstreetfair.com for the date, which is usually at the end of September.

October

Fleet Week, Marina and Fisherman's Wharf. Residents gather along the Marina Green, The Embarcadero, Fisherman's Wharf, and other great vantage points to watch incredible aerial performances by the Blue Angels, flown in tribute to our nation's marines. Call tel. 415/705-5500 or visit www.fleetweek.com for details and dates.

Artspan Open Studios, various San Francisco locations. Find an original piece of art to commemorate your trip, or just see what local artists are up to by grabbing a map to over 700 artists' studios that are open to the public during weekends in October. Call tel. 415/861-9838 for more information.

Castro Street Fair, The Castro. Celebrate life in the city's most famous gay neighborhood. Call tel. 415/841-1824 or visit www.castrostreetfair.org for information. First Sunday in October.

Reggae in the Park, Sharon Meadow, Golden Gate Park. This event draws thousands to the park to dance and celebrate the soulful sounds of reggae. Big-name reggae and world-beat bands play all weekend, and ethnic arts-and-crafts and food booths line the stage's periphery. Tickets are about $20 in advance, $25 on-site. Two-day discounted passes are available for $35. Free for children under 12. Call tel. 415/458-1988 for more details. First weekend in October.

Italian Heritage Parade, North Beach and Fisherman's Wharf. The city's Italian community leads the festivities around Fisherman's Wharf, celebrating Columbus's landing in America. The festival includes a parade along Columbus Avenue and sporting events, but for the most part, it's a great excuse to hang out in North Beach and people-watch. For information and the exact date, call tel. 415/434-1492 or visit www.sfcolumbusday.org. Sunday near October 12.

Exotic Erotic Halloween Ball, The Cow Palace, on the southern outskirts of San Francisco. Thousands come here dressed in costume, lingerie, and sometimes even less than that. It's a wild fantasy affair with bands, dancing, and costume contests. Beware: It can be somewhat cheesy. Tickets cost approximately $35 per person. For information, call tel. 415/567-BALL or visit www.exoticeroticball.com. Friday or Saturday night before Halloween.

Halloween, The Castro. This is a huge night in San Francisco. A fantastical parade is organized at Market and Castro streets, and a mixed gay/straight crowd revels in costumes of extraordinary imagination. No contact information. October 31.

San Francisco Jazz Festival, various San Francisco locations. This festival presents eclectic programming in an array of fabulous jazz venues throughout the city. With close to 2 weeks of nightly entertainment and dozens of performers, the jazz festival is a hot ticket. Past events have featured Herbie Hancock, Dave Brubeck, the Modern Jazz Quartet, Wayne Shorter, and Bill Frisell. For information, call tel. 800/850-SFJF or 415/788-7353; or visit www.sfjazz.org. Also check the website for other events throughout the year. Late October and early November.

December

The Nutcracker, War Memorial Opera House, Civic Center. The San Francisco Ballet (tel. 415/865-2000) performs this holiday classic annually. Order tickets to this Tchaikovsky tradition well in advance.