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Ultimate Guide to Fall Festivals in 2025 for San Francisco Families

Fall into pumpkin season at Rancho Siempre Verde Christmas Tree and Pumpkin Farm. Photo courtesy of the venue
Fall into pumpkin season at Rancho Siempre Verde Christmas Tree and Pumpkin Farm. Photo courtesy of the venue
8/31/25 - By Sandra Lee

Attention Bay Area residents: Pumpkin festivals in San Francisco are almost here.

The Bay Area is chock full of family-friendly festivals to celebrate the autumn harvest and the favorite fall activities that come with the season. Pumpkin patch and leaf pile photo-ops are essential, and these fall pumpkin festivals help you check those items off your fall bucket list. 

From art and wine festivals to pumpkin-picking fun and the annual Chinatown Autumn Moon Festival, the Bay Area has it all (including a real fall season!). So mark your calendars, don your flannel, and celebrate the arrival of fall with the top harvest and pumpkin festivals in San Francisco and the Bay Area. 

For more fall activities in the Bay Area, see our recommendations for where to go apple picking near San Francisco, where to find the best pumpkin patches in San Francisco; or discover more autumn adventures in our Fall Fun Guide for San Francisco Bay Area Families. 

 

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Enjoy full days of fall fun. Photo courtesy of the Half Moon Bay Annual Pumpkin and Art Festival
Enjoy full days of fall fun. Photo courtesy of the Half Moon Bay Annual Pumpkin and Art Festival

Best Harvest & Pumpkin Festivals in San Francisco for Fall Family Fun

Haight Ashbury Street Fair

San Francisco - FREE
Sunday, September 7, 2025
Celebrating peace, love and happiness,"the Haight Ashbury Street Fair is taking it to the streets to bring the community together. Highlights include arts and crafts, food, live music, and more.   READ MORE

Flower Piano

San Francisco
Daily, September 12 - 21, 2025
The San Francisco Botanical Garden is bringing back one of the most unique events where families of all ages can enjoy a concert surrounded by nature. With performances for young kids, a 12-piano extravaganza, and much more, everyone is invited to play and listen.  READ MORE

Santa Clara Art & Wine Festival

Santa Clara - FREE
Saturday & Sunday, September 13 & 14, 2025
This two-day festival in the heart of Silicon Valley is Santa Clara's biggest party and everyone is invited.  At Central Park, meet local artists and shop from over 150 arts and crafts booths, sip and savor wine, craft beer, and international food, enjoy live music all day on two different stages, and so much more.  The Kids Kingdom has a separate lineup of activities, including cheer and dance performances, a robotics and fashion show, and carnival games and activities. There are also junior artists ages 8-17 selling original handmade arts and crafts.  READ MORE

Renaissance Faire

Hollister
Saturday & Sundays, September 13 - October 19, 2025
Hear ye! Hear ye! The Renaissance Faire is back with all the fun, flare, traditions, and celebrations to be had. Shows, jousting, and guilds are ready to entertain families of all ages, as well as food (turkey leg anyone?), games, activities, and so much more.  Themed weekends are always fun, and this year's include pirates, heroes and villains, Oktoberfest, masquerade, and Halloween!  READ MORE

Oktoberfest at Six Flags

Vallejo
Select dates from September 13 - November 2, 2025
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom is celebrating Oktoberfest with craft and seasonal brews, German-inspired cuisine, and live entertainment. Hop on and off your favorite ride to see the beerkeg tapping ceremony, take some cool photos, or even join in a game or two like the pretzel-eating contest.  READ MORE

Oktoberfest

Redwood City
Daily, September 19 - 28, 2025
Oktoberfest is back in Redwood City featuring music, dancing, contests, food, and so much fun. Courthouse Square is transformed into a traditional German setting complete with German pretzels, beer, and brats as well as contests (yodel, anyone?) and games. READ MORE

Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival

Mill Valley
Saturday & Sunday, September 20 & 21, 2025
Immerse yourself in the beautiful redwood trees, listening to the sounds of nature while shopping locally, seeing award-winning art, and enjoying live music with family and friends.  Kids can hang out in the Children's Cove and see performances from the Blue Fairy, puppeteers, music, magic, and art with Marin MOCA.  READ MORE

San Rafael Porch Fest 2025

San Rafael - FREE
Sunday, September 21, 2025
Stroll through beautiful Gerstle Park in San Rafael while checking out new bands playing music on their porch. With thousands of people and more than 64 scheduled this year, families can hang with friends, grab a bite to eat at one of the many food trucks, or pack a picnic lunch to enjoy while the kids play at the park. With diverse music including folk, gospel, gypsy jazz, rock, Latin, and family and teen bands.  READ MORE

Austrian Culture Festival: Kinderfest

Mill Valley
Sunday, September 21, 2025
This year's Kinderfest, celebrates Austrian culture (not Kindergarteners, even though they are welcome at the event) with plenty of fun for the whole family. Dancing, delicious food, imported and domestic beer. Wear traditional attire if you have it and join the party! READ MORE

Valley of the Moon Vintage Festival

Sonoma
Thursday - Saturday, September 25 - 27, 2025
Crush season is here and Sonoma is ready to celebrate with an event that has something for everyone. Early festivities include a Legends Dinner and Grand Tasting, as well as Grape Stomp.  Kids and adults can participate in a 5K Fun Run through the vineyards of Sonoma, with tree-lined roads and picturesque views. Run, or take it easy with a stroll through the Sonoma Valley.  The festival continues afterward with live music, delicious food (and wine, of course), an artisan fair, kids zone with fun games like salami toss and tractor pull, a reenactment of the Double Wedding, and... READ MORE

Walnut Creek Oktoberfest

Walnut Creek - FREE
Friday & Saturday, September 26 & 27, 2025
Toast the fall season as Walnut Creek celebrates Oktoberfest in beautiful Civic Park. The Biergarten is ready for the two-day, all-day, family-friendly festival with something for everyone.  Show off your dirndl dress or lederhosen on the dance floor, and then grub on some delicious German food favorites while shopping locally at the arts and crafts vendor booths.  Kids can hang out at the Kinder Platz Kids Zone with tons of activities for the little ones.  READ MORE

68th Monterey Jazz Festival

Monterey
Friday - Sunday, September 26 - 28, 2025
Monterey Bay fills its streets with the sweet sound of jazz for this three-day festival. Artists such as Cory Wong, Christian Sands, and others grace the stages on the 20-acre, oak-studded Monterey County Fairgrounds.  Enjoy five stages of entertainment, as well as food, drinks, and even a marketplace to shop that must-have artist merch.  READ MORE

7th Annual Chuseok (Korean Harvest) Festival 

San Francisco - FREE
Saturday, September 27, 2025
Celebrate Korean culture, cuisine, arts, music, and community at the annual Chuseok Festival in the Presidio. Activities include delicious food, activities for the whole family, raffles, and live performances.  READ MORE

2025 SF Chinatown Autumn Moon Festival

San Francisco - FREE
Saturday & Sunday, September 27 & 28,2025
Get ready for the Moon Festival in San Francisco's Chinatown. The weekend event features lion dancing, delicious food (including mooncakes), and kids' activities. READ MORE

Pacific Coast Fog Fest

Pacifica - FREE
Saturday & Sunday, September 27 & 28, 2025
Celebrate the beauty of the Pacific Coast at Pacifica's Fog Fest with a parade, marching band, arts and crafts, food, live music, and a ton of activities for the whole family.  READ MORE

Fall Farm Fest - Pumpkin Picking Festival

Pescadero
Saturdays & Sundays, September 27 - October 26, 2025
It's fall, and what better way to celebrate than with a pumpkin-picking festival? Rancho Siempre Verde in Pescadero is hosting a monthlong weekend-only event where families can pick some pumpkins and apples, cut flowers, make a fall wreath, have a picnic, and so much more overlooking the Pacific Ocean.  Kids can take a tractor ride, play on the swings, go on the slides, and run around the open fields.  READ MORE

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass

San Francisco - FREE
Friday - Sunday, October 3 - 5, 2025
Golden Gate Park welcomes back the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival, with dozens of music acts on six stages over three days. The family-friendly event draws thousands of people to hear live performances, and this year includes Lucinda Williams, The String Cheese Incident, and many others.  READ MORE

Summer's End Music Festival 2025

Half Moon Bay - FREE
Saturday, October 4, 2025
Experience fantastic Bay Area music at the City of Half Moon Bay’s annual Summer’s End Music Festival. This free event promises a full day of outstanding musicians and bands. Enjoy activities from local non-profit organizations, free caricatures, henna tattoos, face painting, climbing walls, an inflatable obstacle course, and much more. READ MORE

Rhythm by the River/Fall Festival in Antioch

Antioch - FREE
Saturday, October 4, 2025
Join the party in downtown Antioch for live music, a beer garden, a kids zone, artisan vendors, and an amazing BBQ. READ MORE

Fleet Week SF

San Francisco - FREE
Daily, October 5 - 13, 2025
Families with little ones who love planes, jets, and anything that flies won't want to miss Fleet Week in San Francisco The annual event is back, with the U.S. Navy Blue Angels performing a fully choreographed act for fans to enjoy. READ MORE

Autumn Lights Festival

Oakland
Thursday - Saturday, October 16 - 18, 2025
Lake Merritt turns into a lighted display of local art with more than 60 locally produced illuminated art displays on view throughout the eight-acre municipal gardens.  READ MORE

Half Moon Bay 53rd Annual Pumpkin and Art Festival

Half Moon Bay - FREE
Saturday & Sunday, October 18 & 19, 2025
The Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Festival is one of the most popular local fall events, with activities for the whole family, including pumpkin carving and costume contests. Spanning more than two fun-filled days, guests can enjoy live music, shop from local vendors, eat and drink from local restaurants, play games, participate in a family fun run, and even meet mascot "Gourdy." The main attraction is the enormous pumpkins on display hoping to win the grand prize in a weigh-off championship. READ MORE

Oktoberfest in Campbell

Campbell—FREE
Saturday & Sunday, October 18 & 19, 2025
Voted Best Local Festival, this two-day Bavarian-themed event draws more than 1 million people every year for family fun and culture. It's not just about the delicious German food, pretzels, and beers, but much more.  Get some early holiday shopping done at one of the 100 vendor booths in attendance, then head over to the dance floor and enjoy some live music. Kids can hang out in the KidZone, complete with rock climbing, face painting, slides, and other activities.  READ MORE

Taste of Fall at Filoli

Woodside
Saturday & Sunday, October 18 & 19, 2025
Celebrate the season with a tasting event filled with fall flavors, local vendors, and festive ambiance. Stroll through a vibrant marketplace of artisans in the Woodland Court, where you can sample seasonal delights from ciders and signature cocktails, to caramel apples, and handcrafted pies. Enjoy tastings from food vendors, and chat with Filoli’s horticultural team to learn about Filoli’s own orchards and food products. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Nature Friends Tourist Club San Francisco

About the Author

Sandra Lee
Sandra Lee is the community publisher and social media manager for Mommy Poppins Bay Area. With nearly a decade of writing in the parenting space, she’s passionate about helping parents create unforgettable memories with their kids. Her work has appeared in Tiny Beans, Zulily, and more. When she's not exploring or creating content, you’ll find her baking or practicing her hip-hop moves.
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