Our top 5 things to do in SF this February

Just because it's chilly outside, doesn't mean February has to be boring! There are still plenty of activities going on in the Bay Area, from the cultural to the food-focused. Here are our top 5 things to do this February in San Francisco.

<h3style="text-align: left;">Southwest Airlines Chinese New Year Parade 2020

Photo: Do the Bay

Sponsored by Southwest Airlines and held in the center of historic Chinatown, the SF Chinese New Year Parade is one of the best in the country, if not the world. It’s one of the few remaining night illuminated parades in North America and the biggest parade for the occasion outside of Asia, dating all the way back to the 1860s. Over 100 floats, dancers and other units are taking part in this giant celebration of Chinese culture and the crowds are expected to be in the hundreds of thousands.

You’ll even get to see the newly crowned Miss Chinatown U.S.A take her pride of place and the spectacular 288’ Golden Dragon (carried by a team of 180 people). The parade, celebrating the incoming year of the rat, starts around 5pm on Saturday, February 8, stepping off at Second and Market Streets and finishing at 9pm. And the best part is, it’s totally free to watch; although you can upgrade to bleacher seats, you can secure yourself a view by arriving early (and holding your camera above your head). 

San Francisco Independent Film Festival

Photo: SF Indie Fest

Still going strong after 18 years, the San Francisco Independent Film Festival (SF IndieFest) is an annual festival showcasing the best in independent and alternative cinema from around the world. With a full line up of films on show, including full length, documentaries and much more, alongside parties and awards, it’s the perfect introduction to the world of independent film. The festival is on from now until February 13, with comedies like "39½”, about a Mission District female filmmaker, and shorts like "Alexa", about a guy who enlists Amazon’s Alexa in his dating life, topping our favorites list.

SF Beer Week 

Taking place over 10 beer-packed days this February, SF Beer Week is the Bay Area’s annual celebration of our brewing heritage and craft beer culture. Find hundreds of events hosted by breweries, venues and more and learn all about (and taste) the best craft beer that SF has.

There will be beer tastings, community talks and educational beer classes as well as food pairings. Expect rare, cask, barrel-aged, experimental, new releases, seasonals and more. Many events are “pay as you go,” meaning free to attend and you only pay for any beer and/or food you order. Events like “Wellness Saturday” on February 8, which combines a bike ride with pop-up food, beer and bicycle repair services, are the perfect way to learn more about not just beer but SF as a whole. 

Ezra Klein: Why We're Polarized by The Commonwealth Club

Offering a new perspective on modern American politics, “Why We’re Polarised” is set to be an insightful talk by Editor-at-Large and Co-Founder of Vox, Ezra Klein. Klein will discuss his new book, which sets to analyse why American politics polarized around identity in the 20th century and what that polarization did to the way we see the world and each other. In Conversation with Anna Sale, host of WNYC's "Death, Sex & Money", Klein will examine the gridlock of modern politics, adding a new perspective for a modern age. Doors open at 5:30pm with the talk beginning at 6:30pm on February 6.

Dumpling Down – Lunar New Year Food Festival

Photo: SoMa StrEat Food Park

Last but not least, why not celebrate Chinese New Year with some good old-fashioned street food? We love SoMa StrEat Food Park, which is why we’re more than excited about their February event, Dumpling Down, which will be serving up the best dumplings in town to the accompaniment of music, drinks and good vibes. Local vendors from all over the Bay Area will be serving dim sum, bottomless kumquat mimosas, and Chinese-themed beers at the biggest Lunar New Year food festival in San Francisco. And of course, there will be live entertainment on both Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 to really get your weekend going.