Aug. 28-Sept. 1

West Coast Latvian Song Festival Various locations, S.F.; (415) 334-6606, www.westcoastlatviansongfest.org. Celebrate Latvian culture and music at an event featuring literary readings, art exhibitions, lectures, crafts, folk dance performances, contemporary and traditional music, and more.

Aug. 30-31

Millbrae Art and Wine Festival Broadway between Victoria and Meadow Glen (one block from Millbrae BART station), Millbrae; (650) 697-7324, www.miramarevents.com. 10am-5pm, free. Nine bands, 250 craftspeople, a full lineup of kids' activities, and numerous food booths highlight the Mardi Gras-style fest.

Scottish Gathering and Games Alameda County Fairgrounds, 4501 Pleasanton, Pleasanton; 1-800-713-3160, www.caledonian.org. 8am-6pm, $8-15 (two-day pass $20-22). The Caledonian Club of San Francisco hosts the 138th incarnation of this event, which features folk music (including innumerable bagpipes), highland dancing, and athletic competitions.

Third Street Faire Evans between Third St and Mendell, S.F.; (510) 237-5393. Sat/30, 10am-7pm; Sun/31, 11am-6pm, free. More than 40 acts provide entertainment at this Bayview-Hunters Point festival, which also features informational booths, a range of ethnic foods, and more.

Aug. 30-Sept. 1

'A la Carte, a la Park' Golden Gate Park, Sharon Meadow (JFK at Kezar), S.F. $10-12. 11am-6pm, $10-12. The food-centric fest – which gathers cuisine from 30 San Francisco restaurants – also features excellent entertainment, with the Bangles, Susan Tedeschi, Solomon Burke, Luce, and others taking the stage in Golden Gate Park.

'Art and Soul Oakland' Frank H. Ogawa Plaza (and surrounding area), 14th St and Broadway, Oakl; www.artandsouloakland.com. 11am-6pm, free. Ziggy Marley headlines this Oakland fest, which features five stages of music, author readings and other activities as part of the concurrent Oakland Literature Expo, international food booths, and more.

Belmont Greek Festival Greek Orthodox Church of the Holy Cross, 900 Alameda, Belmont; (650) 591-4447, www.goholycross.org. Sat/30-Sun/31, noon-10pm; Mon/1, noon-8pm, $2.50-5. Greek culture, including tons of traditional Greek food, takes center stage.

Kings Mountain Art Fair Kings Mountain Community Center and House, 13889 Skyline, Woodside; www.kingsmountainartfair.com. 10am-5pm, free. The juried art show set in a redwood forest features works by 130 artists, plus a "kiddie hollow" play area.

Sausalito Art Festival Downtown Sausalito; (415) 331-3757, www.sausalitoartfestival.org. Sat/30, 10am-7pm; Sun/31, noon-6pm; Mon/1, 10:45am-5pm, $5-20. More than 260 artists from 32 states and 10 countries display museum-quality works at this fest, which also features a sculpture garden and entertainment by the likes of Tommy Castro, Ledisi, Joan Osborne, Jimmy Cliff, and Charlie Hunter.

'West Marin Wild' Red Barn, Bear Valley Rd entrance to Point Reyes National Seashore, Point Reyes; (415) 663-9312, www.eacmarin.org/art. Sat/30-Sun/31, 11am-5pm; Mon/1, 11am-2pm, free. Marin artists highlight local landscapes and wildlife in their paintings, photographs, and other works at this fair, which benefits the Environmental Action Committee of West Marin.

Sept. 1

San Francisco Labor Day Festival Yerba Buena Gardens, Mission between Third and Fourth Sts, S.F.; www.sflabordayfestival.com. 11am-5pm, free. Holly Near, Utah Phillips, Dr. Loco's Rockin' Jalapeño Band, Linda Tillery, Wavy Gravy, and more perform at this kids-and-picnics-friendly event, which is held in conjunction with "At Work: The Art of California Labor," a new exhibit documenting the state's labor movement at the California Historical Society and at San Francisco State University (go to www.californiahistoricalsociety.org for information).

Sept. 3-14

San Francisco Fringe Festival Various locations, S.F.; (415) 931-1033, www.sffringe.org. $8 or less (10-show pass $55). Anything goes at the annual theater event, now in its 12th year. Shows take place in both traditional settings and at "bring your own venue" locales.

Sept. 4-6

piNoisepop Asian American Music Festival Bindlestiff Studios, 185 Sixth St, www.pinoisepop.cjb.net. Sept 4-5, 8pm; Sept 6, 6pm, $10. The annual music festival features Asian American bands, films, and videos.

Sept. 4-18

San Francisco World Music Festival Various locations, S.F. (415) 553-6272, www.sfworldmusicfestival.org. The world music fest features performances, lectures, workshops, and more, highlighted by four main stage concerts.

Sept. 4-21

San Francisco International Arts Festival Various locations, S.F.; (415) 978-2787, www.yerbabuenaarts.org, www.sfintlartsfest.org. In its inaugural year, the fest features artists from more than 15 countries, in dance, traditional music, theater works, and other performances.

Sept. 5-7

Walnut Creek Fine Arts and Crafts Festival Cypress, Locust, and North Main between Mt. Diablo Blvd and Civic, Walnut Creek; (925) 933-6778. Sept 5-6, 10am-6pm; Sept 7, 10am-5pm, free. Nearly 200 artists from California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, and Oregon exhibit original artwork.

Sept. 6

Peanut Butter Jam Festival Webster between Central and Lincoln, Alameda; 1-888-291-9222. 11am-6pm, free. Held near the location where Skippy peanut butter was originally produced, this nutty fest also features arts and crafts and live music.

911 Power to the Peaceful Festival Golden Gate Park, Speedway Meadow, near 25th Ave and Fulton, S.F.; www.spearheadvibrations.com. 11am-5pm, free. Michael Franti and Spearhead host their fifth annual free concert and social justice rally. Also appearing are Saul Williams, Zion-I, Keller Williams Acoustic, Lyrics Born, Julia Butterfly Hill, and others.

Sept. 6-7

Autumn Moon Festival Grant between Bush and Broadway, S.F.; (415) 982-6306, www.moonfestival.org. 11am-6pm (parade Sept 6, 11am), free. Head to Chinatown for this annual celebration, featuring three stages of entertainment (including a children's stage) showcasing dance, drummers, acrobats, Chinese opera, and more.

California Academy of Sciences 150th Anniversary Festival Golden Gate Park, Music Concourse, near Eighth Ave and Fulton, S.F.; (415) 750-7145, www.calacademy.org. Sept 6, 11am-8pm; Sept 7, 11am-6pm, free. San Francisco's beloved science museum goes all-out for its 150th, with a 75-foot high Ferris wheel, an inflatable "Eco-Maze," a rainforest habitat, appearances by academy animals (snakes, wild cats, etc.), continuous live music, free birthday cake, and more.

Ghirardelli Square Chocolate Festival Ghirardelli Square, 900 North Point, S.F.; (415) 775-5500. Noon-5pm, free ($6 for five samples). Anyone with a sweet tooth will appreciate this fest, which features chocolate treats from local restaurants and bakeries, plus a chocolate cook-off among California Culinary Academy students.

'Jazz on the River' Johnson's Beach (on the Russian River), Guerneville; (510) 655-9471, www.jazzontheriver.com. 11am, $47.50-95 (single day) or $90-190 (both days). Jazz greats Al Jarreau, George Benson, Stanley Clarke, and others perform.

Sept. 7

'Opera in the Park' Golden Gate Park, Sharon Meadow (John F. Kennedy at Kezar), S.F.; www.sfopera.com. 1:30pm, free. The San Francisco Opera and the Opera Orchestra perform their annual free concert.

Sept. 13-14

Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival Old Mill Park, Throckmorton at Cascade, Mill Valley; www.mvfaf.org. Sept. 13, 10am-6pm; Sept. 14, 10am-5pm, $5. This community fest features art exhibits and music stages in a grove of redwoods.

Sept. 14

Comedy Day in the Park Golden Gate Park, Sharon Meadow (John F. Kennedy at Kezar), S.F.; www.comedyday.com. 1-5pm, free. Nearly 30 stand-up comedians take the stage at this hugely popular free performance; this year's "PG-13" lineup includes Will Durst, Diane Amos, Tom Ammiano, Greg Behrendt, the Sklar Brothers, Father Guido Sarducci, and others.

'Solano Avenue Stroll' Solano Ave from the Alameda, Berk., to San Pablo, Albany); www.solanoavenueassn.org/strol.htm. 10am-6pm, free. The East Bay's oldest and largest free street festival embraces the theme "Imagine" with a parade and community fair featuring performers, and craft booths.

Sept. 15

AgriCultural Roots Fair Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak, Oakl; (510) 433-9443, www.sagecenter.org. 10am-5pm, free. Sustainable Agriculture Education presents a community fair celebrating agricultural and culinary traditions from different cultures.

Sept. 20 and Oct. 23-Nov. 9

San Francisco Jazz Festival Preview concert Sept. 20, 8pm, Masonic Auditorium, California and Taylor, S.F.; festival Oct. 23-Nov. 9, various locations, S.F. and Oakl; (415) 776-1999, www.sfjazz.org. Free-$75 (preview concert $22-52). The Herbie Hancock Quartet featuring Bill Hutcherson performs at the preview concert; the fest lineup includes Mavis Staples, Etta James, Keith Jarrett, the Kronos Quartet, and many others.

Sept. 21

Upper Grant Avenue Fall Art Fair Grant from Vallejo to Filbert, S.F.; (415) 986-6210, www.uppergrantartfair.com. 11am-6pm, free. Artists rule at the North Beach street fair, which also includes an independent book marketplace and live entertainment.

Sept. 26-28

Harvest Festival Alameda County Fairgrounds, 4501 Pleasanton, Pleasanton; 1-800-321-1213, www.harvestfestival.com. Sept 26, 11am-7pm; Sept 27, 10am-7pm; Sept 28, 10am-5pm, $4.50-8.50. (Also, Nov 14-15, 10am-7pm; Nov 16, 10am-5pm, Concourse Exhibition Center, 635 Eighth St, S.F.; same phone and price). The self-proclaimed "Grand Daddy of Craft Shows" features more than 300 costumed vendors selling handmade goods, such as clothing, household items, toys, and holiday decorations.

Sept. 27-28

San Francisco Blues Festival Fort Mason Center, Great Meadow, Marina at Laguna, S.F.; (415) 421-8497, www.sfblues.com. 11am-6pm, $25-65. Back for its 31st year, the fest celebrates "the year of the blues" with the Stax Soul Revue, Taj Mahal, a tribute to the late Mike Bloomfield, and more, plus the Jimi Hendrix Red House Tour, a mobile museum dedicated to the music legend.

Sept. 28

Folsom Street Fair Folsom between Seventh and 12th Sts, S.F.; (415) 861-FAIR, www.folsomstreetfair.com. 11am-6pm, donations accepted. This year the biggest leather event in the world celebrates two decades of leather-, latex-, and rubber-clad good times on Folsom Street.

'How Berkeley Can You Be?' Parade 11am-1pm, starts at California and University, ends in Civic Center Park, MLK and Milvia, Berk; festival 12:30-5pm, Civic Center Park, Berk; www.howberkeleycanyoube.com. Free. Follow NorCal's nuttiest parade to downtown Berkeley, where the fest will feature performances by the Extra Action Marching Band, Charanson, Funkaddiction, and others, plus kids' activities, and a display of more than 80 art cars.

Party on Polk Street Polk between Union and Green, S.F.; (415) 267-0575. Noon-4pm, free. Russian Hill Neighbors hosts its 21st annual block party, with live music, dancing, kids' activities, and more.

Oct. 4-5

Reggae in the Park Golden Gate Park, Sharon Meadow (John F. Kennedy at Kezar), S.F.; (415) 478-2277, www.inhousetickets.com. 11am-6pm, $10-25 (single day) or $17.50-35 (two-day pass). Global Exchange benefits from this annual celebration of Caribbean culture, with performances by Barrington Levy, Steel Pulse, Lucky Dube, and more.

Oct. 4-26

ArtSpan San Francisco Open Studios Various locations, (415) 861-9838, www.sfopenstudios.com. More than 850 local artists open their studios to the public each weekend in October; check the Web site for a map and guide.

Oct. 5

Castro Street Fair Castro and Market, S.F.; www.castrostreetfair.org. 11am-6pm, free. Harvey Milk started this block party in 1974; this year's installment promises to go strong, with nonstop music and dancing, artist booths, and more.

Oct. 12

Italian Heritage Parade Starts at Jefferson and Stockton, ends in Washington Square Park, Filbert between Powell and Stockton, S.F.; (415) 434-1492, www.sfcolumbusday.org. 12:30pm, free. For the 135th year, North Beach celebrates its Italian heritage with a parade and community celebration; this year's highlights include a Ferrari display and an appearance by "Christopher Columbus."