This year, the fireworks come before the Fourth of July. This is especially true, given Friday’s U.S. Supreme Court decision granting same-sex couples the right to marry anywhere in the nation
Celebrating this landmark decision and “equality without exception” are the themes for the 45th Annual San Francisco Pride Celebration and Parade this weekend. Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to attend the festivities in downtown San Francisco this weekend.
On the outskirts of downtown San Francisco, the Giants host two games against the Colorado Rockies on Saturday and Sunday at 1:05pm. Their single-A minor league team, the San Jose Giants, host the Modesto Nuts on Saturday at 6pm (with fireworks after the game) and Sunday at 1pm.
Meanwhile, in the South Bay, two other events are taking place this weekend. Saturday night at Stanford Stadium features the “California Clasico” soccer match between the San Jose Earthquakes and visiting L.A. Galaxy. In Santa Clara at Levi’s Stadium on Saturday evening and Sunday evening, two of the last five shows ever for the Grateful Dead will take place.
Standing room only (SRO) conditions are expected on Caltrain this weekend due to these events.
This transit guide lists all of the bus and rail options in Santa Clara County help you beat traffic gridlock expected at these big events.
Know Before You Go
Telephone numbers, website links and fare information to help you plan your tip:
- VTA (Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority) – phone (408)321-2300 – here’s their local and express bus fare information.
- Caltrain – phone 1(800)660-4287 – here’s their train fare information. Make sure to buy your Caltrain ticket(s) at a vending machine at your stop before you board, to avoid being cited by fare inspectors.
- San Francisco MUNI – (415)701-2311 – here’s their fare information.
- BART – phone # is (510)465-2278 – use the BART fare calculator to calculate the round-trip fare from where you boarded BART and where you got off BART.
- Need additional trip planning information? Use the Google Trip Planner for bus, rail and/or bicycle travel to and from the victory parade.
Have and use a Clipper regional fare card? Make sure you have enough money and/or proper passes stored on the card before you go.
San Francisco Pride Festival and Parade
Hundreds of thousands of people are expected in downtown San Francisco for the Pride Festival (Saturday and Sunday) and Parade (Sunday at 10:30am along Market St.).
From the Peninsula or San Jose, take Caltrain to the last stop, 4th and King in San Francisco. From there, transfer to San Francisco MUNI N-Judah or T-Third streetcar train, or the 30, 45 or 47 bus lines, to Market Street.
Alternately, take Caltrain to Millbrae, then transfer to any northbound (Pittsburg/Bay Point) BART train on the other side of the station to either the Civic Center, Powell, Montgomery or Embarcadero stations.
Live in Milpitas? Take VTA’s 181 express bus to Fremont BART station. From there, transfer to a Daly City-bound BART train to either Civic Center, Powell, Montgomery or Embarcadero stations.
San Francisco Giants
On Saturday and Sunday at 1:05pm, the San Francisco Giants host the Colorado Rockies. Caltrain’s northern terminus stop at 4th and King in San Francisco is one block south of AT&T Park.
San Jose Giants
VTA’s 73 bus line connects downtown San Jose on 2nd and Santa Clara with San Jose Municipal Stadium at Alma and Senter. In fact, the bus stop for the stadium is on the 3rd base side of the stadium.
Our transit guide to San Jose Giants baseball has more info on the 73 bus line, and other transit alternatives to get you home should the game (and fireworks) run late.
California Clasico at Stanford
On Saturday at 7:30pm, the San Jose Earthquakes host the L.A. Galaxy in soccer action at Stanford Stadium. After the game (around 10pm) there will be a fireworks show.
Caltrain will have special service at the Stanford Stadium stop near Palo Alto station. There is no Clipper Card nor ticket vending machine at this stop. It is strongly advised to buy a Caltrain “day pass” between where you board Caltrain and Stanford Stadium stop.
Stanford Stadium is four blocks south of the Palo Alto Transit Center, and about 1/3 mile west of Caltrain’s “special event” Stanford Stadium stop. Several Caltrain runs will stop at the Stanford Stadium stop before and after the game.
You can also get to Stanford Stadium by bus. VTA’s 22 bus line has two (2) stops near Stanford Stadium, at El Camino/Sam McDonald (south side of the stadium) and El Camino/Galvez (north side of the stadium). You can also take VTA’s 522 Rapid bus or SamTrans buses like the KX express and ECR bus line to the Palo Alto Transit Center/Caltrain Station, then walk about 1/2-mile south to Stanford Stadium.
Grateful Dead “Fare Thee Well” at Levi’s Stadium
On Saturday at 7pm and Sunday at 6pm, the Grateful Dead will play two of the final five concerts in their history before they disband forever.
To that end, VTA has urged concert goers on both nights to plan ahead. Here is more information from VTA on bus and light rail service to and from both concerts.
Also, Caltrain will have its special connecting train service in Mountain View to and from both concert nights.
It will be best for you to get to the stadium early as up to 80,000 concert goes are expected for both concert nights.
If you are going to the concert via VTA express buses from Fremont and the East Bay, be advised: BART does NOT run past midnight. Fortunately, AC Transit features all-night bus service between Fremont BART station and downtown Oakland.
Need Updated Transit Information?
Follow @svtransitupdts on Twitter this weekend – and any time – for transit updates to and from these awesome events. Transit reports from BART, VTA, other transit agencies and transit riders like YOU are reported daily.
Let’s stay safe and sane this weekend!
Eugene Bradley
Founder, Silicon Valley Transit Users
WHEN will your group make CalTrain and BART coordinate their schedules so one doesn’t arrive 1 MINUTE before the other departs? WHEN will you force CalTrain to make the Millbrae “Transfer Station” a TRUE transfer station….so bullet trains MUST stop there! How incredibly upsetting when you have to wait 45 minutes for the next train only to see a bullet train flying thru? ANd WHEN will you make BART open up the doors at Millbrae Station when one has 30+ minutes to wait for a train, it’s freezing cold, there’s a ton of people and bikes and luggage all shivering. WHO ARE THE PEOPLE WHO RUN THESE SYSTEMS? RIdiculous! I had to spend $60 on a taxi because BART was 1 minute late and CalTrain would not wait and soared off. TRUE STORY.
Lynda:
Thanks for commenting on Caltrian BART connections (or lack of) at Millbrae. We will be discussing this issue amongst other topics at our group’s next meeting tomorrow in San Jose. Meeting location, agenda, and dial-in (or online) details are
http://www.svtransitusers.org/group/short-meeting-tonight
Our group has been focused mainly on having VTA run on time and connect better with local and regional buses and trains. Have you at least written to Caltrain about these poor connections in Millbrae? Information on how to do so, and how to reach decision-makers is at
http://www.svtransitusers.org/lobbying/caltrain
Meanwhile, you can also work with BayRail Alliance, a group that specializes in advocacy for Caltrian in particular. More information on that group is at
http://www.bayrailalliance.org/
Let’s keep the fight going!
Eugene Bradley
Founder, Silicon Valley Transit Users
Yes, I’ve written, called, filled out “Complaint cards”, written again, called again etc. I get zero response. But I will follow up with your suggestions. Good luck to you.