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Arts & Entertainment

A festival for Giants fans—and 4 other things going on in SF this weekend

"Alex The Great" arrives in style to the Giants vs. Dodgers game on Oct. 14, 2021. | Camille Cohen/The Standard

1. MJ’s Brass Boppers New Orleans-Style Brass Band Parade

🗓️ Friday, Feb. 3
🕔 1:15 p.m.-2:15 p.m.
📍 Larkin Street Steps, Main Library
🔗 sfpl.org


Join the San Francisco Public Library in this upbeat, lively musical performance and second line procession, courtesy of MJ’s Brass Boppers. The band will start the main line of the walking parade with infectious tunes, but the “second line” refers to participants joining in to follow the group—so bring your best dancing (or walking) shoes. The group is San Francisco’s only New Orleans-style brass band whose founding members were born and raised in New Orleans, and in the past they’ve opened for notable artists like George Clinton & Funkadelic and The O’Jays. 

Free

2. Giants FanFest

🗓️ Saturday, Feb. 4
🕔 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
📍 Oracle Park
🔗 mlb.com

If you’re a Giants fan living in San Francisco, you’re obviously in good and abundant company, and this weekend is a chance to fully indulge in the fandom at Giants FanFest. There will be Q&A sessions, field access, VIP guests and plenty more. Plus, it’s an opportunity to stock up on game tickets because they’ll be on sale fee-free. 

Free

3. SF IndieFest Starts

🗓️ Thursday, Feb. 2-Sunday, Feb. 12
🕔 Various scheduled times
📍 Roxie Theater
🔗 sfindiefest2023.eventive.org

If you’re sick of clicking through the same routine movie options on streaming services, SF IndieFest may have something to scratch your movie-watching itch. There are 95 movies being screened over the span of the festival at the historic Roxie Theater in the Mission. Opening night kicks off with a film about an infamous circus sideshow that started out performing in dive bars, plus a performance by the starring cast members following the screening. 

$15-$200 admission

4. Community Street Fair + Chinese New Year Parade

🗓️ Saturday, Feb. 4 (day of parade)-Sunday, Feb. 5
🕔 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (Feb. 4), 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (Feb. 5)
📍 Chinatown
🔗 chineseparade.com

Over 120 booths will populate the vibrant Chinatown neighborhood this weekend to keep the momentum of Lunar New Year celebrations going, just in time for the iconic annual parade. There are 20 total floats in the parade, and the festivities are supposed to match pre-pandemic size. Though the parade, taking place at 5:15 p.m. on Saturday, requires paid admission, the rest of the street fair throughout the weekend is free to attend. 

Free admission to street fair | $41-$70 admission to parade

5. 2023 Rare Books San Francisco Festival

🗓️ Friday, Feb. 3-Sunday, Feb. 5
🕔 4 p.m.-7 p.m. (Feb. 3), 10 a.m.-6 p.m. (Feb.4), 11 a.m.-4 p.m. (Feb. 5) 
📍 The Hibernia
🔗 rarebooksla.com


Rare Books San Francisco, hosted by Rare Books LA, is bringing together vendors of antiquarian media from all over the world to San Francisco for the first time in over a decade. Bask in the intricately adorned historic bank-turned event space, the Hibernia, as you peruse for the perfect addition to your rare book collection.

$10-$25 admission

Morgan Ellis can be reached at morgan@sfstandard.com