On June 6 Fisherman’s Wharf Turns Jefferson Street Into a Waterfront Playground for “Play on the Bay”
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Fisherman’s Wharf Turns Jefferson Street Into a Waterfront Playground
for “Play on the Bay”
Free, Family-Friendly Event on Saturday, June 6 Launches First Fisherman’s Wharf Entertainment Zone Celebration with Music, Art, Kids Activities,
Giveaways and Live Performances
20 May 2026 – San Francisco, CA: “The light of San Francisco,” wrote famed poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti, “is a sea light / an island light.” On Saturday, June 6, Fisherman’s Wharf will celebrate that unmistakable waterfront spirit with Play on the Bay, a free, family-friendly afternoon of music, art, kids activities, giveaways and live performances along Jefferson Street from Al Scoma Way to Hyde Street. The inaugural event to kick-off Fisherman’s Wharf Entertainment Zone, Play on the Bay will transform one of San Francisco’s most iconic waterfront corridors into an afternoon of music, art, giveaways, kids activities, live performance and community celebration.
Play on the Bay will feature a lively mix of Bay Area creative talent, including Oogubi sensory play and family experiences, live art from acclaimed San Francisco muralist Apexer / Ricardo Richey, and high-energy performances by Oakland’s TURFinc, the dance and entertainment company rooted in the Bay Area’s internationally recognized turf dance culture.
“Fisherman’s Wharf is one of San Francisco’s most iconic destinations and Play on the Bay is an opportunity to showcase this area to residents and visitors alike,” said Mayor Lurie. “The new Fisherman’s Wharf entertainment zone is an important step in bringing new energy to our waterfront while supporting the businesses, artists, and communities that make this neighborhood so special. I’m excited for Play on the Bay and the many events this entertainment zone will bring to San Francisco.”
The event comes as Fisherman’s Wharf continues its energetic resurgence, building on new public art, enhanced pedestrian amenities, new food and beverage offerings, and the broader Fisherman’s Wharf Forward initiative led by the Port of San Francisco.
“Play on the Bay is about celebrating the Wharf at its most authentic and fun — families, music, art, performers, food and beverages from Wharf businesses, our beloved working waterfront, and the beautiful Bay, ,” said Bri Maughan, Executive Director of the Fisherman’s Wharf Community Benefit District. “The launch of our first entertainment zone event is yet another way we are bringing people together and creating new reasons for San Franciscans and visitors to come down to the waterfront.”
Activities will include a dedicated Kids Zone, music, giveaways, public art, live dance performances and pop-up moments designed for all ages. Oogubi will bring its signature imaginative family programming; Apexer will add a bold visual arts presence rooted in San Francisco’s street-art tradition; and TURFinc will showcase the movement, rhythm and athleticism of Bay Area dance culture.
“Play on the Bay promises to be a fun-filled afternoon and the perfect way to kick off summer in San Francisco,” said Danny Sauter District 3 Supervisor.” I encourage everyone to join for family-friendly activities that will allow San Franciscans of all ages to reconnect with our beloved waterfront.”
“The Port of San Francisco is proud to partner in the delivery of public events that reconnect people to the waterfront while contributing to the economic vitality of Fisherman’s Wharf,” said Michael Martin, Acting Executive Director of the Port of San Francisco. “I applaud Mayor Lurie and Supervisor Sauter for bringing an Entertainment Zone to Fisherman’s Wharf. Play on the Bay is inclusive, creative programming that makes this neighborhood such an enduring part of San Francisco’s identity – honoring its maritime heritage while inviting the next generation to experience it in new ways.”
Few neighborhoods tell San Francisco’s story as vividly as Fisherman’s Wharf. What began as a working waterfront shaped by Italian fishing families, crab stands, seafood markets and maritime commerce has evolved into one of the city’s most visited destinations — a place where historic vessels, street performers, restaurants, public art and wildlife all share the same spectacular edge of the Bay.
Play on the Bay continues that tradition with a contemporary twist: a joyful afternoon designed to welcome families, support local businesses, spotlight Bay Area artists and performers, and create a new annual-style moment of civic pride at the waterfront.
Event Details:
What: Play on the Bay
When: Saturday, June 6, 2026, 12noon – 4pm
Where: Jefferson Street from Al Scoma Way to Hyde Street, Fisherman’s Wharf, San Francisco
Admission: Free and family-friendly
Featuring: Kids Zone, music, giveaways, live performances, art, Oogubi, Apexer / Ricardo Richey, TURFinc and Fisherman’s Wharf businesses
For more information, visit www.fishermanswharf.org.
About the Fisherman’s Wharf Community Benefit District:
Established in 2005, the Fisherman’s Wharf Community Benefit District is a nonprofit public benefit corporation dedicated to promoting, advancing, and maintaining Fisherman’s Wharf as a world-class waterfront destination. The FWCBD works to enhance public spaces, support local businesses, improve the visitor experience, and celebrate the history, culture and vitality of San Francisco’s most visited neighborhood.
About Fisherman’s Wharf:
Fisherman’s Wharf is one of San Francisco’s most iconic and beloved destinations, known for its historic fishing fleet, seafood restaurants, waterfront views, Pier 39 sea lions, family attractions, maritime heritage and enduring role as a gathering place for locals and visitors from around the world.
