“On Tap” gives you a heads up about the big events in town and what Muni routes and lines will get you to the party. Look for this feature to be posted usually on Wednesdays for a look ahead to the weekend.
We are posting a day early to help you get a jump start on the Columbus Day Holiday which has a dizzying array of weekend events that will take you from the Urban Air Market in the Lower Haight to Burning Man Decompression in Potrero Hill, then head downtown for Yerba Buena Night.
The biggies, of course, are Fleet Week and the Italian Heritage Parade—those details are below.
Fleet Week
Thursday through Sunday, various times
Aquatic Park, Marina Green, and The Embarcadero
A fully stacked Fleet Week sails into the bay on Friday with the Parade of Ships, then comes ashore with fireworks, ship tours, art exhibits and musical performances including a set by the U.S. Marine Corps Band. The highlight of the weekend will be two heart pounding and adrenaline fueled aerial shows capped off by the world famous Blue Angels.
Large crowds are expected throughout the weekend, parking will be limited. Help ease congestion by utilizing any number of Muni service routes to get you to all the festivities courtesy of the F Market, 8X Bayshore Express, 19 Polk, 22 Fillmore, 28 19th Avenue, 30 Stockton, 47 Van Ness, 49 Mission/Van Ness, Powell Hyde and Powell Mason cable car lines.
Muni service note: During Fleet Week military service personnel either in uniform or with a military identification card will be allowed to ride all Muni vehicles free of charge.
Italian Heritage Parade
Sunday, 12:30 p.m.
Fisherman’s Wharf and North Beach
Pomp and pageantry will be on full display as the Italian Heritage Parade celebrates its 146th year. A tradition dating back to 1868, the parade is not only the city’s oldest civic event but also the country’s oldest Italian-American parade.
The parade route will start at Fisherman’s Wharf then move through North Beach along Columbus Avenue ending at Washington Square. In addition to the parade, there will be a display of Ferrari Sports cars and other family friendly activities all of which are free.
Due to street closures and limited parking, parade watchers are encouraged to take public transportation. Muni service on the F Market, 8X Bayshore Express, 19 Polk, 30 Stockton, 47 Van Ness and Powell Hyde and Powell Mason Cable Car Lines will get you there.
Muni service note: Due to street closures the 8X Bayshore, 30 Stockton, 39 Coit, 45 Union/Stockton, and 47 Van Ness will have re-routes. Bus shuttles will substitute Powell Mason Cable Car Line service. The northbound F Market and Wharves Line will switch back at Pier 39 and will have bus shuttles supplementing service.
