The Best Parades in San Francisco

Updated: February 22, 2026

Image: Johnny Silvercloud/Shutterstock.com

Parades

Who doesn’t love a parade? From the Macy’s Day Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City to the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Chicago, parades are an important part of of culture. Parades can really come together for any occasion like holidays, cultural celebrations or, if you’ve ever been to New Orleans, for literally no reason at all. Comedian Hannibal Buress has a hilarious stand up routine about how you can throw a parade anytime in New Orleans for $300. Check out the video below if you haven’t seen it (totally worth it).

If you enjoy parades, then San Francisco is a great place to be. Throughout the year, the are a huge variety of parades from big to small. Here are some of the best parades in San Francisco.

Chinese New Year Parade

Saturday, March 7, 2026

Chinese New Year is celebrated around the world and the Chinese New Year Parades are always the most joyous and fun parts of the occasion. The actual date of the parade changes from year to year, since it is based on the lunar calendar, however it always takes place in the beginning of the year in either January or February. The event dates back to the 1860s and has evolved into one of the most popular annual San Francisco events of the year. The parade is a wonderful example of Asian culture with beautiful, colorful floats, dancers, traditional costumes, firecrackers and the biggest attraction of all, the massive Golden Dragon that stretches nearly 300 feet.

Gay Pride Parade

Saturday, June 28, 2026

Described as the biggest gathering of the LGBTQ community and it allies in the United States, the San Francisco Gay Pride Parade is a celebration like no other. The origins of the event date back to 1970, when a small group of about 30 people organized a March along Polk Street. Meant to be an isolated event, the event attracted attention from the original organizers, who put together a more structured event in 1972 that continued annually and grew into the massive event that exists today. It is estimated that over a million people from all over the World attend the Gay Pride Parade each year. The parade is a celebration of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and features numerous floats, representatives from the LGBTQ community groups, politicians and more.

St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Saturday, March 14, 2026

People really love to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in San Francisco. During the week of the holiday, there are dozens of fun events like the St. Patrick’s Day Pub Crawl, The Irish Bank Block Party, the St. Paddy’s Day Party on Front Street and, of course, the Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival. Hosted by the United Irish Societies of San Francisco, the Parade takes place on the Saturday closest to March 14. You can check out the parade anywhere along the route, which goes from Market & 2nd St to City Hall.

Mardi Gras Parade in North Beach

Saturday, February 14, 2026

Out of all the wildest holidays of the year, the one that doesn’t really get too crazy in San Francisco is Mardi Gras. It’s a shame because there are so many fun aspects to the holiday like wild costumes, big parades, delicious foods, New Orleans Music and more. There are a few random parties here and there, but probably the best celebration is the 2nd Line Parade March in North Beach. It’s an annual parade that goes from Northstar to Tupelo and they really go all out with great music and amazing food. It usually takes place on the Saturday before Fat Tuesday every year.

Carnaval

May 23-24, 2026

Like the Chinese New Year Parade, Carnaval features impressive floats, people in costumes of all types, Latin dancing and an overall beautiful experience. The Parade is part of a 2-day festival that typically takes place over Memorial Day Weekend. The biggest multi-cultural celebration that takes place on the West Coast, Carnaval features delicious food from around the world, live music, dance presentations and more.

Dyke March

Saturday, June 27, 2026

This annual parade/march takes place in June during the Pride celebration in the city. The goal is to bring together the dyke community to celebrate unity and visibility.

Italian Heritage Parade

Sunday, October 11, 2026

The longest running Italian-American parade in the Nation, the San Francisco Italian Heritage Parade is always a fun event. It takes place during Italian Heritage Month in October and features floats, marching bands and performances. The parade typically starts in Fisherman’s Wharf (Jefferson & Powell Street) and heads through North Beach to Washington Square.