Richmond District, Sunset District, San Francisco events, things to do SF, west side, community
# Summer on the West Side
I've lived in the Richmond since 2003. The fog gets a bad reputation, but summer out here in the avenues has a rhythm all its own — night markets on Clement, flea stalls down Irving, free concerts under the trees. You just have to know where to look.
So here's my list. A local's guide to what's worth your Saturday this summer, from the Richmond to the Sunset and the west edge in between. Most of it is free. All of it is close to home.
동네에서 만나요. (Come say hi in the neighborhood.)
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## In the Richmond
### Clement Street Night Market
The Heart of the Richmond is back for another summer. Clement Street closes to cars, the makers set up, the food comes out, and the whole neighborhood spills onto the sidewalk after dark. It's the best night of the month in this part of town.
**When:** Third Saturdays, May through August — next up **Saturday, July 18**, roughly 5–9 PM
**Where:** Clement Street, between 22nd and 25th Avenue
**Cost:** Free
Bring cash, come hungry, and don't rush. This is the Richmond at its most itself.
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## In the Sunset
### Inner Sunset Flea Market
Every second Sunday, Irving Street turns into one long stretch of vintage finds, local makers, and Inner Sunset regulars. Grab a coffee, bring a tote and some cash, and give yourself an hour to wander.
**When:** Second Sundays, April through November — next up **Sunday, July 12**, 10 AM–4 PM
**Where:** Irving Street, between 9th and 11th Avenue
**Cost:** Free
A quiet, good Sunday on the west side. Exactly the kind of thing that makes people fall for the Sunset.
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## On the West Edge
### Stern Grove Festival
Free Sunday concerts under the eucalyptus, running for decades and still one of the best summer traditions we have. The natural amphitheater at Sigmund Stern Grove sits right where the Sunset meets the Parkside, so it's an easy afternoon from either farm.
**When:** Sunday afternoons, 2 PM, **through August 16**
**Where:** Sigmund Stern Grove, 19th Avenue at Sloat Boulevard
**Cost:** Free — but reservations are required, so book ahead online
Pack a blanket, pack layers (this is still SF summer), and get there early for a good spot on the lawn.
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## Beyond the Avenues
A couple of citywide moments worth the trip east this summer:
**The San Francisco Marathon** — July 25–26. The course loops over the Golden Gate Bridge and tours the "best of" the city. Even if you're not running, the west-side stretches are fun to cheer.
**Pistahan Filipino Cultural Festival** — August 8–9 at Yerba Buena Gardens. One of the region's premier celebrations of Filipino culture, with folk dance, artisan vendors, and food. A joyful one.
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## Why I keep a list like this
Because knowing a neighborhood isn't about square footage and comps. It's knowing which Saturday the street closes, where the good coffee is, and how the fog sits on your particular block.
When people ask me what it's like to live in the Richmond or the Sunset, this is the real answer — the markets, the music, the ordinary good Sundays. If you're thinking about buying, selling, or just wondering what your home is worth out here, that's the same lens I bring to the work.
I'm always happy to talk — in English or Korean.
**Ichi Halvorson · REALTOR®**
Golden Gate Realty & Finance · DRE #01973163
Richmond & Sunset District Specialist
Born in Korea. Built in SF. · 한국어 상담 가능합니다
*Event dates and details are subject to change — check each event's official page before heading out.*
