Easter, Earth Day, Cherry Blossoms and 420: How to Get Around SF This Weekend

It's a big weekend in San Francisco, and while festivities and holidays abound, parking does not. The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency is bringing in extra buses and traffic enforcement to keep everyone moving.

"We expect an increased ridership, but we're ready for it," agency spokesman Paul Rose said. "We encourage people to take public transportation."

If you still want to drive, keep in mind that Sunday parking metering is still in effect throughout the city. You can check SFPark for up-to-date information on parking rates and availability.

Construction on a sewer line on Haight Street at the Octavia, Gough and Market intersection is also continuing. The intersection will remain open during construction, but the center lane will be closed at times.

Earth Day

On Saturday morning, events will kick off downtown with an Earth Day parade. Organizers are expecting up to 10,000 people to converge at Civic Center. At 11:30 a.m. participants will march from Justin Herman Plaza and travel west on Market Street toward Civic Center. The westbound traffic lanes will be closed, but there should be no impact on Muni.

Cherry Blossom Festival

There are several street closures and Muni reroutes throughout Japantown starting at 4 a.m. on Saturday and continuing until Sunday at 11 p.m. for the 47th Cherry Blossom Festival. About 200,000 people attended the festival last year, according to organizers.

On Sunday, parade units will gather at Civic Center at 11 a.m. and begin marching at 1 p.m. along Polk Street and then west on Post Street, disbanding between Fillmore and Steiner streets.

The following Muni routes will be affected:

• 2 Clement
• 3 Jackson
• 5 Fulton
• 19 Polk
• 21 Hayes
• 22 Fillmore
• 31 Balboa
• 38 Geary
• 47 Van Ness
• 49 Van Ness-Mission
• 76X Marin Headlands

Union Street Spring Celebration and Easter Parade

On Sunday, Union Street between Fillmore and Franklin will be closed from 2 a.m. to midnight on Sunday for the Union Street Spring Celebration and Easter Parade.

The following Muni routes will be affected:

• 22 Fillmore
• 30 Stockton
• 45 Union-Stockton

420

While not an official celebration, city officials are expecting thousands of people to head to the Haight, Hippie Hill and Sharon Meadows to celebrate marijuana use for "420." About 15,000 revelers came out to Golden Gate Park last year, and left behind five tons of trash and traffic snarls.

This year the city is closing off Kezar Drive between Lincoln Way and John F. Kennedy Drive, Stanyan between Frederick and Oak streets and Haight Street between Masonic and Stanyan streets to try to get ahead of the crowds. Police and SFMTA personnel will reroute Muni buses as crowds grow.

Police Chief Greg Suhr says everyone is welcome, but if you're going to cause trouble, "there's a good chance you're going to talk to a police officer in uniform or plain clothes. So, Happy Easter."

Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence Celebration in Golden Gate Park

The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence are moving their annual Easter celebration from Dolores Park to Hellman Hollow (formerly the Speedway Meadow) in Golden Gate Park due to construction. Perhaps best known for the Hunky Jesus contest, the Sisters will provide activities and live entertainment from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.