Shania 5/2/25 Shania 5/2/25

Photos: Who knew SF had so many cute cowboys and cowgirls?

Country had come to the Financial District. A spinoff of Downtown First Thursdays, the hoedown took place in the year-old alcohol-friendly Front Street Entertainment Zone, a centerpiece of the city’s efforts to breathe new life into the Financial District.

Shania 4/8/25 Shania 4/8/25

San Francisco’s Free Block Parties Have Been Extended—With New Events On The Way

Approximately 160,000 people have attended the parties of the past few months, with hundreds of performers. At April’s latest block party, organizers announced the events will continue through December 2025.

Maro Guevara 4/3/25 Maro Guevara 4/3/25

Crowds descend on SF as Downtown First Thursdays seeks to rewrite ‘doom loop’ narrative

Blocks used to commuters and office workers had the energy of a major pop concert or a even a rave April 3 as they bustled with people celebrating the first Downtown First Thursdays of the springtime.

Maro Guevara 4/3/25 Maro Guevara 4/3/25

San Francisco's biggest monthly block party is getting even bigger

Downtown San Francisco’s path to post-pandemic revitalization is long and winding, but amid the doom-and-gloom headlines, there’s been one undeniably bright spot: Downtown First Thursdays.

Shania 1/3/25 Shania 1/3/25

Photos: Thousands flock to huge free Toro Y Moi party downtown

Simply put: It was a blast.

“We’re always waiting for it to happen,” said Sanaz Deldar, who has attended almost every First Thursday event. “I hope it goes forever.”

Shania 1/3/25 Shania 1/3/25

Thousands Turn Out for Toro y Moi DJ Set at Downtown First Thursdays

In case you missed it, singer, songwriter, and producer Chaz Bear aka Toro y Moi was the headliner at Downtown First Thursdays last night, and a major crowd showed up for the day-after-New-Year's-Day event.

Shania 7/5/24 Shania 7/5/24

S.F.'s Downtown First Thursdays announces special Outside Lands warmup DJ set

Shania 5/6/24 Shania 5/6/24

San Francisco launches First Thursdays and draws large turnout

It was a giant block party to bring people to the downtown area and improve business. Organizers had hoped for 10,000 people and said the turnout far exceeded expectations.