Media Contact: 
David Perry, David Perry & Associates, Inc.  / (415) 676-7007 / news@davidperry.com

Starting This Saturday June 13 “Pier Party at the Wharf” Brings Free Live Music, Dancing, Cocktails, Seating and Sunset Energy to San Francisco’s Iconic Waterfront 
Every 2nd and 4th Saturday Through September

Fisherman’s Wharf Sets the Table for a Summer and Fall of Waterfront Events

12 June 2026 – San Francisco, CA: Before there was a postcard, there was a pier, a fishing boat, a bowl of chowder and a view of the Bay. This summer and fall, Fisherman’s Wharf is bringing all of that history — and a whole lot of live music — into the present with a season of public events anchored by Pier Party at the Wharf, kicking off this Saturday, June 13 (2pm – 6pm) and running every 2nd and 4th Saturday through the end of September. The series begins with DJ Shellheart, Drag on Deck with Bobby Friday, and The Fell Swoop. The celebration continues Saturday, June 27 (2pm – 6pm), with DJ Umami, Drag on Deck with Bobby Friday, and Analog Dog. An ongoing and updated list of events is online at www.pierpartysf.com.  

“Start your Saturday by stopping by our fish market to pick up for fresh fish for the week, then come back down to enjoy live music on the waterfront at Pier Party,” said Bri Maughan, Executive Director of the Fisherman’s Wharf Community Benefit District. “This is more than an event series. It is part of a larger effort to bring fresh energy to the Wharf, create new reasons for locals to return, and celebrate the neighborhood’s historic role as San Francisco’s front porch on the Bay.”

Following the launch of Fisherman’s Wharf’s new Entertainment Zone with Play on the Bay, the Fisherman’s Wharf Community Benefit District is rolling out a full calendar of upcoming public programming — anchored by the return of Pier Party at the Wharf, a free waterfront concert and community celebration.

Pier Party at the Wharf brings some of the Bay Area’s best performers and local musicians to the heart of Fisherman’s Wharf, with a rotating lineup of musical genres, a Pier Party bar serving ready-to-drink premium craft cocktails, bistro-style seating, dancing, and dozens of nearby retailers, restaurants and attractions — all set against the backdrop of the Bay, the fishing fleet and the lively energy of Jefferson Street.

Second Saturday events will bring afternoon music and entertainment to the Wharf, while fourth Saturday sunset sessions, beginning in July, will invite guests to stay into the golden-hour glow of San Francisco’s waterfront.

The series is part of a broader 2026 calendar of Fisherman’s Wharf programming that includes the weekly Fish Market, new public programming at Alioto’s Plaza, an Oyster & Wine Festival, Wags & Wheels, and the return of a fall Chowder Competition.

“The Port of San Francisco is proud to partner with the Fisherman’s Wharf Community Benefit District and neighborhood businesses on exciting programming that connects people to the waterfront and brings positive energy to our public spaces,” said Michael Martin, Acting Executive Director of the Port of San Francisco. “Events like Pier Party at the Wharf support economic vitality, celebrate the character of the working waterfront, and help ensure that Fisherman’s Wharf remains a welcoming, active and memorable place for everyone.”

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, family attractions, restaurants, public art and wildlife all share the same spectacular edge of the Bay.

The 2026 event season builds on Fisherman’s Wharf’s continued resurgence, including new public art, enhanced pedestrian amenities, food and beverage offerings, the Fisherman’s Wharf Entertainment Zone, and the broader Fisherman’s Wharf Forward initiative led in partnership with the Port of San Francisco.

Upcoming Fisherman’s Wharf 2026 Events Include:

Fish Market
Saturdays, 8am – 2pm
A weekly opportunity to connect with the Wharf’s working waterfront and the seafood traditions that helped define San Francisco.

Pier Party at the Wharf
June 13 – September 26, 2026
Every 2nd and 4th Saturday
Afternoon programming on 2nd Saturdays; 4th Saturday sunset sessions beginning in July. Free live music, local performers, dancing, cocktails, bistro-style seating, restaurants, retailers and waterfront views.

Alioto’s Plaza Programming & Opening Event
Coming Summer 2026
New public programming and opening celebrations at one of Fisherman’s Wharf’s most recognizable waterfront locations.

Oyster & Wine Festival
Fall 2026
A seasonal celebration of oysters, wine, seafood and the culinary culture of the Wharf.

Wags & Wheels
Late Summer / Fall 2026
A family-friendly and pet-friendly event celebrating dogs, community, mobility and neighborhood fun.

Chowder Competition
Fall 2026
A delicious celebration of one of Fisherman’s Wharf’s most beloved culinary traditions.

Pier Party at the Wharf Details:
When: Every 2nd and 4th Saturday, June 13 – September 26, 2026
2nd Saturday: 2pm – 6pm
4th Saturday: 5pm – 9pm (NOTE: June 27, 2pm – 6pm)
Where: Fisherman’s Wharf, San Francisco
Admission: Free
Featuring: Live music, local performers, dancing, bistro-style seating, Pier Party bar, restaurants, retailers and waterfront views
More Info: www.pierpartysf.com
Social: Follow @pierpartysf on Instagram for lineup updates
For more information on all Fisherman’s Wharf events, 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.

About the Port of San Francisco:
The Port of San Francisco manages 7.5 miles of waterfront that is home to popular destinations and attractions, historic districts, small businesses and robust maritime opportunities. The Port works to advance environmentally and financially sustainable maritime, recreational, and economic opportunities for the City, Bay Area, and California.

media contact: David Perry | (415) 676-7007 | news@davidperry.com

San Francisco Maritime National Park Association Host
July 4th Celebration at Historic Pier 45

Public Invited to Celebrate Independence Day on the
 Waterfront Beside USS Pampanito

Tickets are General Admission Tickets: $75
Senior (62+): $60
Children Ages 6-12: $50
Children 5 and under are FREE!
Family (2 adults & 2 children): $225

11 June 2026 – San Francisco, CA: This Fourth of July, San Francisco’s waterfront will offer a star-spangled celebration with a distinctly maritime twist. On Saturday, July 4, 2026, beginning at 8pm, the San Francisco Maritime National Park Association (https://maritime.org/) will host 4th of July at Historic Pier 45, inviting the public to gather beside the historic USS Pampanito and the Triangle at Historic Pier 45 in Fisherman’s Wharf for an unforgettable evening of community, history, and Independence Day celebration.  Advance tickets may be purchased online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/4th-of-july-at-historic-pier-45-tickets-1991019764713

Presented in one of San Francisco’s most iconic waterfront settings, the event offers guests a special opportunity to experience the Fourth of July surrounded by the city’s maritime heritage, with the historic World War II submarine USS Pampanito as a dramatic backdrop and San Francisco Bay’s annual fireworks display expected to begin at 9:30pm.

“Independence Day on San Francisco Bay is always memorable, but celebrating it at Historic Pier 45, beside USS Pampanito, adds a powerful sense of place and history,” said Darlene Plumtree, CEO of the San Francisco Maritime National Park Association. “This is where San Francisco’s working waterfront, military history, and public gathering traditions all come together. We are proud to welcome the public to celebrate July 4th in a way that is festive, meaningful, and unmistakably San Francisco.”

A Balao-class submarine, USS Pampanito served in the Pacific during World War II and is now preserved at Fisherman’s Wharf as a National Historic Landmark, museum, and memorial. Operated by the San Francisco Maritime National Park Association, Pampanito connects visitors from around the world to the service, sacrifice, technology, and human stories of the United States Submarine Service.

“USS Pampanito reminds us that freedom is not abstract,” said Plumtree. “It was defended by real people, in real places, under extraordinary conditions. On July 4th, as we celebrate the nation’s birthday, we also honor the generations whose service made that celebration possible.”

Set at the heart of Fisherman’s Wharf, 4th of July at Historic Pier 45 also offers visitors a front-row connection to one of San Francisco’s most beloved civic traditions: fireworks over the Bay. The evening is expected to draw residents, families, veterans, maritime enthusiasts, and visitors from around the world to one of the city’s most historic piers.

“San Francisco’s waterfront has always been a place of arrival, departure, industry, celebration, and remembrance,” said Plumtree. “Historic Pier 45 is the perfect place to gather on July 4th — with the Bay before us, the city behind us, and history all around us.”

About the San Francisco Maritime National Park Association:
The San Francisco Maritime National Park Association supports education, public programming, historic preservation, and philanthropic initiatives benefiting the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park. Through programs, partnerships, and community engagement, the Association helps preserve and share the maritime stories, vessels, landmarks, and traditions that shaped San Francisco and continue to inspire visitors, students, and residents today.

Members of the public are encouraged to reserve tickets in advance through Eventbrite at the following link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/4th-of-july-at-historic-pier-45-tickets-1991019764713

Event Details:
What: 4th of July at Historic Pier 45, San Francisco
When: Saturday, July 4, 2026, beginning at 8pm
Where: USS Pampanito and the Triangle at Historic Pier 45, Fisherman’s Wharf, San Francisco
Cost: General Admission: $75
Senior (62+): $60
Children Ages 6-12: $50

Children 5 and under are FREE!

Family (2 adults & 2 children): $225

Tickets:  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/4th-of-july-at-historic-pier-45-tickets-1991019764713

Today on the anniversary of his birth, we celebrate the life and legacy of Rainbow Honor Walk honoree Maurice Sendak (June 10, 1928 – May 8, 2012). 

A groundbreaking author and illustrator, Sendak transformed children’s literature with kworks including Where the Wild Things Are, giving vivid, honest shape to childhood’s fears, joys, imagination and emotional depth. A gay man who lived for 50 years with his partner, Eugene David Glynn, Sendak left an enduring legacy of artistry, truth and creative liberation.

#RainbowHonorWalk #MauriceSendak #WhereTheWildThingsAre #LGBTQHistory #LGBTQArts #ChildrensLiterature #QueerLegacy

www.RainbowHonorWalk.org

Media Contact:

David Perry & Associates, Inc.
news@acasusodavidperry-com
(415) 676-7007

Acclaimed Operatic Soprano Breanna Sinclairé Featured Tonight at Built This City: An SF Pride Variety Spectacular at The Castro

San Francisco Pride and Peaches Christ Productions present a celebratory Pride season kickoff at the historic Castro Theatre

10 June 2026 – San Francisco, CA: Internationally acclaimed operatic soprano Breanna Sinclairé will be featured tonight, Wednesday, June 10, at Built This City: An SF Pride Variety Spectacular, presented by San Francisco Pride and Peaches Christ Productions at historic and cherished Castro Theatre.

A dazzling Pride season kickoff celebrating San Francisco’s creativity, resilience and LGBTQ+ cultural legacy, Built This City brings together music, performance, comedy, drag, community and star power on one of the city’s most iconic stages. Sinclairé’s participation adds a soaring operatic voice — and a powerful symbol of transgender artistry and visibility — to an evening designed to honor the people and performers who continue to shape San Francisco.

“San Francisco has always been a city where voices that were once pushed to the margins rise up and transform the culture,” said Sinclairé. “To perform at The Castro for San Francisco Pride is deeply meaningful. This city helped make my voice possible, and tonight is about celebrating the beauty, courage and brilliance of our community.”

Sinclairé’s appearance at Built This City follows a landmark year that included her role as featured soloist in the world premiere of Andrew Yee’s Trans Requiem at Trinity NYC, a major new work for trans voices, choirs and orchestra. The performance marked another historic moment in Sinclairé’s career, further establishing her as one of the most visible and important transgender classical artists performing today.

Built This City: An SF Pride Variety Spectacular takes place tonight, Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at The Castro. Tickets are available at sfpride.org.

Breanna Sinclairé is an acclaimed American soprano and the first transgender woman to sing the U.S. national anthem at a professional sporting event. A graduate of CalArts and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, she has appeared with leading artists and orchestras at major venues across the U.S. and Europe, in productions including Carmen, The Magic Flute, and La Calisto. In 2025, Sinclairé was featured soloist in the world premiere of Andrew Yee’s Trans Requiem at Trinity NYC. Sinclairé was featured in the opera-film Bound (Against the Grain Theatre), starred in PBS’s True Colors: LGBTQ+ Our Stories, Our Songs, and was honored by the San Francisco Business Times as an Outstanding Voice. Media features include The New York Times, NPR, and CNN. More: breannasinclaire.com.

About San Francisco Pride

The San Francisco Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Pride Celebration Committee is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded to educate the world, commemorate LGBTQ+ heritage, celebrate LGBTQ+ culture and liberation, and advocate for the rights and dignity of all people. San Francisco Pride produces one of the world’s largest and most iconic LGBTQ+ celebrations and continues to serve as a global symbol of queer visibility, resistance and joy.

Event Details:

Built This City: An SF Pride Variety Spectacular

Presented by San Francisco Pride and Peaches Christ Productions

Wednesday, June 10, 2026

The Castro, San Francisco

Tickets: sfpride.org

¿Por qué el español abre las preguntas antes de cerrarlas?
— por David Eugene Perry

Mientras Alfredo y yo volamos rumbo a España para pasar seis semanas de “trabajo y escritura” en nuestra querida Grazalema, me vino a la cabeza una de esas preguntas aparentemente pequeñas que, en realidad, dicen mucho sobre una lengua:

¿Por qué en español usamos dos signos para preguntar y exclamar: ¿ ? y ¡ !?

¡Sigue leyendo y te lo cuento!

Para quienes aprendieron primero el inglés, una de las rarezas más visibles del español es que las preguntas y las exclamaciones no esperan hasta el final para revelarse. Se anuncian desde el principio.

En inglés basta con escribir:

Are you coming to dinner?

En español, en cambio, escribimos:

¿Vienes a cenar?

Y si queremos expresar alegría, sorpresa o entusiasmo:

¡Qué alegría verte!

A simple vista, esos signos de apertura pueden parecer un adorno, una extravagancia tipográfica o incluso una simpática rareza del idioma. Pero no lo son. Son útiles, elegantes y profundamente inteligentes.

La respuesta breve: claridad

El español tiene una flexibilidad que permite que una frase empiece sin que sepamos de inmediato si será una afirmación, una pregunta o una exclamación.

Por ejemplo:

Vienes a cenar.

y

¿Vienes a cenar?

son casi idénticas en palabras, pero completamente distintas en intención.

La primera afirma.
La segunda pregunta.

El signo de apertura ¿ le avisa al lector desde el primer momento: cuidado, esto es una pregunta. Léelo con ese tono.

Lo mismo ocurre con el signo ¡, que prepara la voz para la emoción, el asombro, la urgencia, la alegría o el énfasis.

Una cortesía para quien lee

Los signos de apertura son especialmente útiles en frases largas. Sin ellos, podríamos llegar al final de una oración y descubrir demasiado tarde que aquello debía leerse como una pregunta o una exclamación.

El español evita ese tropiezo.

Nos dice desde el principio cómo debemos entrar en la frase. Nos da la música antes de que empiece la melodía.

En ese sentido, la puntuación doble es una forma de cortesía. No solo organiza la escritura: acompaña al lector.

¿De dónde vienen estos signos?

El uso de los signos de apertura fue promovido por la Real Academia Española en el siglo XVIII. En 1754, la Academia recomendó incorporar el signo inicial de interrogación y el de exclamación a la ortografía del español.

Antes de eso, como ocurría en otras lenguas europeas, lo habitual era colocar solo el signo de cierre al final.

Pero los gramáticos españoles detectaron un problema práctico: si la puntuación sirve para orientar la lectura, no basta con avisar al final. A veces hay que avisar desde el principio.

Así nació una de las señas más reconocibles de nuestra lengua escrita: el sistema que marca el comienzo y el final de una pregunta o de una exclamación.

¿Y por qué no lo hace el inglés?

El inglés suele anunciar las preguntas mediante el orden de las palabras:

Are you coming?
Do you want coffee?
Can we go now?

El español, en cambio, no siempre necesita alterar tanto el orden. Muchas veces una afirmación y una pregunta pueden tener exactamente la misma estructura. Lo que cambia es la intención, el tono, el contexto… y, por supuesto, la puntuación.

Por eso los signos de apertura resultan tan útiles en español.

Además, el inglés nunca tuvo una institución normativa con el peso histórico de la Real Academia Española. Aunque a alguien se le hubiera ocurrido proponer signos invertidos para el inglés, la idea habría tenido que imponerse por uso popular. Y eso nunca ocurrió.

Un pequeño signo con mucha personalidad

Lo maravilloso de ¿ y ¡ es que son prácticos, pero también poéticos.

Son señales para la vista.
Indicaciones para la voz.
Pequeños gestos de atención hacia quien lee.

Nos recuerdan que una lengua no es solo gramática. También es historia, cultura, ritmo y forma de mirar el mundo.

Y así, en algún punto entre California y Cádiz, camino de las calles blancas y la luz serrana de Grazalema, vuelvo a sentirme fascinado por una de las invenciones más hermosas del español.

Porque, admitámoslo:

¿No es maravilloso que una lengua te diga desde el principio cómo quiere ser leída?