The city of San Francisco in California does not hide indoors just because the fog is thicker, the days are cooler and the nights are longer in the month of November. Instead, this city known for its hills, parks, tourist attractions and diversity celebrates the start of the fall season and prepares for the holidays.
Cultural Events
Día de los Muertos, Day of the Dead, is a Meso-American celebration to honor the stages of life and past ancestors. This day is celebrated in San Francisco with a processional in San Francisco's Mission District. The Marigold Project encourages participants to bring a candle in a glass container and other mementos to memorialize loved ones lost. This family event also features art, cultural performances and music.
In the middle of the month, the San Mateo Harvest Festival has an indoor arts and crafts show. This event features thousands of works, live entertainment, dancers, and marionette and puppet shows.
Various locations in the Mission District during the middle of the month offer special discounts to encourage people to shop and dine at their locations. The proceeds support "Mission Graduates" and help increase the number of area residents who are preparing for or graduating from college.
Film Festivals
Watch over 80 featured films at the American Indian Film Festival, which is part of Native American Heritage Month. Various locations throughout San Francisco play films, music videos, documentaries, shorts and public service announcements from the U.S. American Indian and Canadian First Nation Communities. The American Indian Film Festival starts at the beginning of November and runs through the middle of the month.
The Tranny Fest provides two nights of short films and videos, and a one-night-only performance event. This event is the first transgender/genderqueer film festival in the U.S. and usually takes place at the beginning of November.
The San Francisco Film Society also holds its annual San Francisco International Animation Film Festival in the middle of the month. This festival shows various animated movies and shorts over the span of four days.
Performance Events
See dance companies from all around the world compete at the annual San Francisco Hip Hop DanceFest, which runs at the end of November. This festival is the first of its kind to honor hip-hop as a form of art.
The Jazz Festival features different jazz artists performing in cafes and restaurants throughout the city during the first week in November.
The Home Entertainment Expo also features live music performances in genres ranging from blues to classical music.
Holiday Events
At the end of November, the heart of San Francisco welcomes the holidays with tree lighting ceremonies and multicultural celebrations. Locations of these ceremonies include Pier 39, Ghirardelli Square, Union Square and California Street. The ceremonies take place around the Thanksgiving holiday and feature local bands performing live music, thousands of tree lights and decorative bows, Santa Claus and international spectators.
Running Events
November is a busy running month in San Francisco with various races scheduled. The U.S. Half Marathon and the Embarcadero 10K run take place at the beginning of the month. Also at the beginning of the month is the Hunter S. Thompson Fear and Loathing 50K/50M running tour of the city. The Golden Gate 10K and Rival 10 runs are in the middle of the month, and the Lake Merced Run 4.5M/9M run takes place shortly after that. In the Skirt Chaser 5K race, women get a three-minute head start. Towards the end of the month are the Turkey Trot and the RhodyCo Run Wild for a Child 5K and 10K.
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