Broke? Travel to a Bay Area street fair

June 9, 4:37 PMSF Affordable Travel ExaminerKristin Carey

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Ah summer is here and so is the “street fair”, introducing a viable option to affordable travel with no admission costs and a nominal bridge toll if you live outside the city. In case you missed it, last weekend was the annual Union Street Festival, a six block smorgasbord of vendors, food and entertainment. Combining a suburban hometown feel with an eco-urban twist, San Francisco’s street fairs offer a little something for everyone.
 

So this past weekend, my girlfriend and I decided to trot on down to Union St. to see what the entire hubbub was about. The Marina is a young neighborhood, and locals know that a good festival doesn’t mean just good shopping! Sure, there was a plethora of quality vendors peddling the normal street wear, and it wouldn’t be San Francisco without including booths dedicated to showcasing products created with recycled and sustainable materials promoting the up and coming Green movement. But my friend and I were more interested in stimulating the economy via beer garden and sidewalk café, and with six blocks cornered off, there were plenty to be had. Combine that with a handful of house parties and you’ve got yourself a festival!
 

The only complaint I personally had with the whole scene was the number of strollers barreling through a crowd that more aptly resembled a herd of cattle. But I say this in order to point out that the weekend event is not solely intended as an excuse for day drinking, but is also a family friendly affair, and incorporated a number of activities for the kiddies.
 

If you happened to have missed the boat on this past weekend, fear not. The 54th annual North Beach Festival is this coming Saturday, June 13 and Sunday, June 14 from 10am – 6pm and is free as well and is slated to feature arts and crafts, entertainment (including a celebrity pizza toss), a cooking stage and much more! Check out local accommodations and have yourself a weekend get-a-way in the world famous City by the Bay for a culturally affordable mini holiday! Nothing rings in the feeling of summer like being in the sunshine, surrounded by the aroma of diverse foods and cacophony of live music!
 

For more info: on all Bay Area festivals