Best San Francisco Events in March 2025

As winter recedes and spring begins to bloom, March 2025 in San Francisco brings a rich mix of music festivals, art showcases, sporting spectacles, and local celebrations. Whether you’re a music lover seeking up-and-coming bands or a sports fan gearing up for baseball season, there’s something to ignite everyone’s excitement in the Bay Area. Below are eight top events—organized by date—to help you plan your calendar for a memorable visit or stay in the City by the Bay.

Noise Pop Festival 2025

• Dates: February 20 – March 2, 2025
• Location: Multiple venues across San Francisco
• Admission: Festival badges around $265 (all-access). Single-show tickets also sold via the Noise Pop website.

Noise Pop is San Francisco’s leading indie music and arts festival, returning for its 32nd edition. Spanning ten days, it packs in over 160 bands and 80+ happenings at 25 different venues, including clubs, theaters, and art spaces. Beyond just the concerts—where you might see both established indie icons and fresh talent on the cusp of stardom—Noise Pop often includes art openings, music film screenings, happy hours, and creative pop-up events. In 2025, rumored highlight performers include St. Vincent and Ben Gibbard, ensuring an eclectic lineup for fans of all ages. Whether you opt for an all-show badge or only attend a few curated gigs, expect an immersive atmosphere of creativity, with each night unveiling new musical discoveries and cultural surprises in true San Francisco fashion.

Superfine Art Fair San Francisco

• Dates: March 6 – 9, 2025
• Location: Fort Mason Center (Gateway Pavilion), San Francisco
• Admission: $22–$78 range (single-day general to all-weekend VIP). Tickets via Superfine Art Fair website.

Superfine is a contemporary art fair built for everyone—from veteran collectors to first-timers looking to liven up their walls. Fort Mason’s Gateway Pavilion becomes a bustling art market, featuring 150+ emerging and established artists showcasing original pieces at a wide range of price points. The fair aims to demystify art buying by fostering a playful, inclusive vibe: you can chat directly with artists, attend live painting battles, and join interactive workshops in a space that’s more “cool art party” than stuffy gallery. The opening VIP night on March 6 is a festive bash complete with music, drinks, and a first look at the works. If you’re seeking fresh inspiration and a chance to support local and international creators, Superfine offers an approachable gateway to the art world.

San Francisco Giants FanFest (Open House)

• Dates: March 8, 2025 (10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.)
• Location: Oracle Park, 24 Willie Mays Plaza
• Admission: Free entry, but requires a free ticket reservation via the Giants’ website.

Giants FanFest is the ultimate pre-season warm-up for baseball enthusiasts. With Oracle Park opening its gates to the public, fans can roam typically off-limits areas like the dugout, player clubhouse, and broadcast booths, soaking in the behind-the-scenes magic. Expect lines for photo ops with Giants alumni, autograph sessions, and the chance to view the team’s World Series trophies up close. There’s also a live scoreboard broadcast of a Giants spring training game, interactive games for kids, and a vibrant ballpark atmosphere bridging fans and the team before the first pitch of the new season. It’s a day of loyalty and excitement, perfect for families who want to celebrate the city’s beloved baseball franchise.

San Francisco St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Festival

• Dates: March 15, 2025 (Parade ~11:30 a.m.; festival through late afternoon)
• Location: Parade runs along Market Street (2nd & Market to Civic Center), festival at Civic Center Plaza
• Admission: Free, open to the public.

One of America’s longest-running and biggest St. Patrick’s Day parades returns, celebrating its 174th anniversary this year. Floats, marching bands, and cultural groups march down Market Street in a lively spectacle that culminates in a festival at Civic Center Plaza. Traditional Irish music, dancing, and plenty of green-themed vendors await you there. This family-friendly event sees locals and visitors alike donning green attire, toasting Irish heritage (and perhaps savoring a pint or two) in a convivial setting. Organized by the United Irish Societies, the festivities aim to spread camaraderie, connecting people from all backgrounds in a joyful salute to Irish culture.

Game Developers Conference (GDC)

• Dates: March 17 – 21, 2025
• Location: Moscone Convention Center, San Francisco
• Admission: Passes range from Expo-only to All-Access ($2,299 at regular rate). Purchase via GDC’s official site.

GDC is the world’s largest professional video game industry event, drawing tens of thousands of game developers, publishers, artists, and tech leaders. For five days, the Moscone Center brims with talks and panels covering programming breakthroughs, game art, audio design, and business insights. Attendees can explore a massive expo hall of new software tools and upcoming indie titles, attend the Game Developers Choice Awards, and network at nightly parties. Whether you’re a budding developer chasing your big break or a seasoned pro wanting to stay on top of gaming’s evolving trends, GDC is the place to learn, showcase, and collaborate. It’s a highlight for tech-savvy folks in the Bay Area and a magnet for global industry experts.

Oracle San Francisco SailGP (Sail Grand Prix)

• Dates: March 22 – 23, 2025
• Location: San Francisco Bay, with official viewing area at Marina Green/Marina Yacht Club Peninsula
• Admission: Free from many shoreline spots; ticketed vantage points around $80–$200. VIP on-water packages start near $500.

SailGP, a top-tier sailing championship, returns to the windy waters of the Bay, delivering high-speed “stadium” racing close to shore. National teams pilot identical hydrofoiling catamarans that can reach speeds of 60 mph purely by wind power—an adrenaline rush set against the panoramic Golden Gate. The weekend comprises multiple short-format races: day one sees all teams battling for points, and day two concludes with a final match race among top crews. The vantage from Marina Green offers prime views, with big screens, live commentary, and concessions. Featuring over a dozen national squads, it’s an event combining daring maneuvers, technology, and scenic beauty. Sports fans and casual observers alike flock to watch these futuristic craft slice across the bay in one of the year’s most visually striking competitions.

Flower Bulb Day (Tulip Festival at Union Square)

• Dates: March 22, 2025 (approximately 1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.)
• Location: Union Square, San Francisco
• Admission: Free. Visitors can pick a small bouquet of tulips at no charge.

Also called American Tulip Day, this one-afternoon spectacle turns Union Square into a burst of spring color. Organizers lay out around 80,000 tulips, forming a pop-up “tulip garden” in the heart of the city. Guests are encouraged to stroll among the blooms, snap vibrant photos, and gather a handful of tulips (usually about five per person) to take home—first-come, first-served until supplies run out. The event fosters a cheerful community atmosphere, celebrating spring’s arrival. In past years, lines formed early, so arriving on time is key if you want to secure your own free bunch. It’s a wholesome, quick-yet-magical tradition in downtown San Francisco each March.

NCAA Men’s West Regional (March Madness)

• Dates: March 27 & 29, 2025
• Location: Chase Center, San Francisco
• Admission: Ticket packages vary; single-day passes typically start at $150+ via NCAA/Ticketmaster.

San Francisco hosts part of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, a marquee highlight for sports fans craving the buzz of March Madness. Over two days, college squads that survived earlier rounds face off in Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight matchups, all on the road to the Final Four. Expect intense, last-second finishes and emotional highs as the region’s best teams square off. The atmosphere inside Chase Center is electric—bands playing pep tunes, frenzied student sections, and the possibility of a Cinderella story emerging on the national stage. Tickets can be competitive, but snagging a seat means witnessing the drama of do-or-die college basketball at its peak, with the West champion crowned in front of thousands of cheering fans.

A Month of Excitement in the Bay

March 2025 in San Francisco vibrates with cultural variety—festivals bridging indie music and contemporary art, majestic sailing races, grand sporting events, and citywide celebrations like St. Patrick’s Day. Whether you’re a local discovering new corners of your hometown or a visitor eager to soak in the San Francisco Bay Area Events March 2025, these eight gatherings showcase the city’s dynamic spirit. You can hop from intimate clubs at Noise Pop to free tulips in Union Square, experience the roar of Oracle Park’s baseball fandom or the hush of an art purchase at Fort Mason. Embrace the windy, mild spring weather, and let San Francisco March Events 2025 immerse you in diverse sights, sounds, and memorable encounters. Each event has a unique flavor—and collectively, they reflect why the city remains a cultural epicenter year-round. Enjoy the month, plan ahead for tickets, and savor everything the Bay has to offer.

‍