With the stresses of the economy and the political debates weighing on our minds, it's definitely a great time to breathe, relax, and try to enjoy your time. What a better weekend to host fairs and festivals in San Francisco than this weekend? For those planning a special weekend getaway in San Francisco between Friday, October 2 to Sunday, October 5, be sure to plan your itinerary to include a combination of visits to any of these events. All of these are packed full of fun, which is sure to ease your tension and keep your mind off of the stresses of daily life. Remember to bring a camera too - because you can never guess what kinds of interesting things you'll be setting your eyes on around the city!

Oktoberfest By The Bay

Fort Mason

Admission: $25 - $35

October 2 & 3: 5pm-12am

October 4: 11am-5pm, 6pm-12am

October 5: 11am-7pm

Come celebrate the 198th Oktoberfest Festival in San Francisco! Oktoberfest celebrates German beers and food, and is celebrated all over the world. Live music and traditional Bavarian dancing will be your entertainment throughout the whole event and Trachten, traditional Bavarian clothing, is encouraged! So come on down to drink, have fun with friends, and dance the night away!

Tickets are expected to sell out quickly, so buy yours in advance from OktoberfestByTheBay.com or go to the event early enough to avoid the lines and grab your admission ticket. Food and drinks will be EVERYWHERE, so bring some extra cash or be prepared to use an indoor ATM. Beers and wine are typically $6.00, while food can range from $3.00 - $12.00.

San Francisco LoveFest

Downtown, Civic Center and Financial District

Admission: Free

October 4: 12 noon - 8pm

LoveFest is one of the biggest street parties in America - so make sure you don't miss this one! LoveFest is a parade and festival that brings people together to celebrate love, peace, unity, culture, and community. This event features 28 music floats that encourage visitors to dance along as the floats make their way from 2nd and Market to the Civic Center Plaza. The love party doesn't stop at 8 - there are PLENTY of after parties at local San Francisco bars and clubs, so you can continue spreading your spirit!

The cost to share and receive some love at this event is FREE! However, donations are encouraged at the gate, where you will receive a goodie bag in return. Donations will help fund future LoveFest parades, music scholarships, and support for at-risk intercity youth. So come join in on the fun in downtown San Francisco! For more info, check out SFLoveFest.org!

The Castro Street Fair

Castro District

Admission: Free

Harvey Milk established The Castro Street Fair of San Francisco in 1974 and has been a tradition in the Castro District every year. Community artists, vendors, and organizations come together on the first Sunday of October to celebrate diversity, love, and respect. Music and entertainment will be spread out over various parts of the street fair, including live performances by Notorious, Diva Bowie, and Xavier Toscano.

Although entrance to The Castro Street Fair is free, a donation of $1.00 or more is encouraged at the gate. Your donation will get you a sticker, which will give you discounts at various locations throughout the fairgrounds. The monies will go to the Rainbow Flags of San Francisco and to their Beneficiaries, such as Community United Against Violence, AIDS/Breast Cancer Emergency Fund, Project Open Hand, and much more.

For more information on the fun activities and entertainment planned for The 2008 Castro Street Fair, visit CastroStreetFair.org!

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass

Golden Gate Park, Speedway Meadow

Admission: Free

October 3: 10am-12pm, 2:30pm-6:45pm

October 4: 10:45am-7:15pm

October 5: 11am - 7pm

The Bluegrass Festival is a free event set in the scenic Golden Gate Park. There are 5 stages spread across Speedway Meadow: Star Stage, Banjo Stage, Rooster Stage, Arrow Stage, and Porch Stage. Each stage features different types of music depending on the date and time, from MC Hammer to Waco Brothers to Riders in the Sky! View the full line-up on each stage at StrictlyBluegrass.com.

FORECAST UPDATE: