A Guide To Memorial Day In The Bay Area

Come Memorial Day weekend, there is only one place to be in the Bay Area: Napa Valley. For the sixth year in a row, BottleRock is taking place at the Napa Valley Expo. Headliners include Bruno Mars, The Killers, Muse, Giada De Laurentiis, Trisha Yearwood, and Masaharu Morimoto. With plenty of winery-related events and hotel pool parties, the Valley will be happening. If festivals aren’t your scene, here is what else is going down for the official start of summer.

Photo Credit: Yerba Buena Gardens Festival

The Yerba Buena Gardens Festival is underway, and on Saturday, May 26 violinist and composer Tom Rigney will perform. The free concert is in the park from 1 to 2:30 p.m., so it’s prime time for a picnic. Rigney’s show features Flambeau, a fiery and funky Cajun New Orleans-style band.

Photo Credit: Olivier Klink

The 40th annual Carnaval San Francisco is May 26 and 27 in the Mission District. The two-day extravaganza is a celebration of the diverse Latin American and Caribbean roots that have a large community in the neighborhood. The festival includes musical acts India “La Princesa de la Salsa,” Ras Indio, Malo, El Chicano, and many more. The culmination of the Carnaval is a spectacular parade that starts at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, May 27 on Mission Street between 21st and 22nd.

Wente Vineyards is hosting a White Party on Sunday, May 27 in honor of National Chardonnay Day. The event is from 4 to 8 p.m. and includes a three wine pairing and food offerings. Think mini wood-fired pizzas with roasted garlic cream and smoked salmon frittatas with Tobiko caviar. Of course, the Chardonnay will be flowing!

Photo Credit: Shutterstock

The official San Francisco Memorial Day commemoration happens on Monday, May 28 in the Presidio Cemetery. For the past 150 years, the city has hosted its annual ceremony at this location in the Presidio. The event begins at 10:30 a.m. with Veterans marching from the Presidio Officers’ Club to the San Francisco National Cemetery. The program starts at 11 a.m. and at noon there will be a 21-gun salute by members of the U.S. Army.

The Winery SF is throwing a barbecue and bacchus on Treasure Island on Monday, May 28 from 12 to 5 p.m. There will be food, music, barbecue, and gorgeous views of the Bay. Purchase a wine tasting, and you’ll get a free hot dog. From Viognier to Tempranillo, The Winery SF makes tons of varietals, so prepare to taste your way through lots of wines that are locally produced.

Another event on Monday? Park Chalet’s all-day Memorial Day party.  Park Chalet is the downstairs sister eatery to Beach Chalet—one of the city’s best ocean-front restaurants—and it hosts one heck of a beer garden. From 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., the team is serving clam chowder, buttermilk-fried calamari, fish tacos, and lobster rolls, and more. The Beach Cowboys are providing the live music at this kid-and-dog-friendly barbecue. There will also be gelato sundaes!