There is an explosion of fun artsy events happening in San Francisco this time of year.  Four days of art fairs, street parties, an artist takeover of a hotel, and even a renegade parking lot fair, this is the week to get out there and mix it up with thousands of artists, makers, movers and shakers.  Here are the art centered events starting this Thursday and running through Sunday May 1st 2016 in the Bay.  See you out there!

Independent Art Fair at Hotel Del Sol – a Joie de Vivre Hotel. Photo Mido Lee Productions

stARTup Art Fair
Independent artist take over a colorful hotel and exhibit all kinds of art from paintings, to sculpture, to live performance art.  This is a cool take on the art fair scene, a fun and intricate environment decorated to the rafters with creativity.  There are workshops & tours given by art experts as well.  Here’s last years write-up of the event & weekend.
Tickets

Opening Night Celebration (recommended)
Friday, April 29 7:00 – 10:00 PM
Hotel Del Sol
3100 Webster Street, San Francisco

General schedule
Friday April 28: Noon – 6:00 PM.
Saturday, April 30: Noon – 9:00 PM
Sunday, May 1: Noon – 7:00 PM
Hotel Del Sol
3100 Webster Street, San Francisco

Artist Krisztina Lazar in the pool at stARTup party last year. Photo credit: Mido Lee Productions

Parking Lot Art Fair

Artist Nick Makanna at Parking Lot Art Fair. Photo ybca

The Parking Lot Art Fair
This lovely renegade event is just the type of independent & free thinking we like.  Since it can be real expensive to show in traditional art fairs, a bunch of independent artists and gallerists simply decided to throw their own free fair in the parking lot out front of Fort Mason.  This is the 2nd year and this time over a hundred artists are involved.  This is a cool and chill way to see art and meet artists in the sun.

Fort Mason Parking Lot
FREE
the artist-driven fair
Saturday APRIL 30th 8AM- 3PM
VIP Artist Brunch @ 8AM
Limited Edition Pancakes by The Thing Quarterly
BYO Cereal Buffett *milk + milk alternatives provided

Art Market San Francisco

Art Market San Francisco
The big and traditional art fair held in a large event space (Fort Mason) filled with art curated by gallerists and art dealers.  It’s professional and expects attendance in the tens of thousands.  Lots of art to behold, along with a bar & and a space dedicated to art centric lectures and presentations.

Art Party Night
Thursday, April 28 | 6:00pm – 10:00pm
Fort Mason Festival Pavilion

General schedule
Friday, April 29, 2016 — 11:00am to 7:00pm
Saturday, April 30, 2016 — 11:00am to 7:00pm
Sunday, May 1, 2016 — 12:00pm to 6:00pm
$30-$400
Fort Mason Festival Pavilion
tickets

Arts & Crafts Fairs

Urban Air Market Hayes Valley
An open air market showcasing 130+ sustainable makers! Shop unique apparel, accessories, home goods, art, and body products, by independent artists and designers who are committed to sustainability.

Patricia’s Green, Octavia St. San Francisco
Sunday, May 1, 2016 from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM
FREE

A la cart art fair
If you are over the age of 60 and/or enjoy crafts & wine this is the fair for you, nestled in suburbia and full of crafts, food, beverages, and music.
April 30–May 1, 2016 10am to 6pm
Castro Street, Mountain View, CA

FREE Museum Days this Weekend

Oakland Museum of California
1000 Oak St, Oakland, CA 94607
Sunday, May 1st 10 am–6 pm
FREE

Asian Art Museum
200 Larkin St San Francisco, CA 94102
Sunday, May 1st 10 am–6 pm
FREE

How Weird Street Faire

17th Annual street party in the SOMA
Dance in the streets to several sound stages, see art, shop exotic stores, make new friends and greet old ones, lots of people dressed up in weird and fun ways.  This is a fun, loud and crazy street party in the SOMA, people definitely come to let loose.

Howard & 1st street
May 1, 2016 from Noon to 8pm
Donation asked at entrance