San Francisco Celebrates Valentine's Day with Pillow Fights, Free Portraits, and More

From the Embarcadero to BART, the city was bustling with locals and visitors enjoying the holiday festivities.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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San Francisco was abuzz with Valentine's Day celebrations on Saturday, with events ranging from the annual pillow fight at Embarcadero Plaza to free photo opportunities at Pier 7. Locals and out-of-town visitors alike took part in the holiday activities, which also included dining at restaurants and speed dating on BART.

Why it matters

San Francisco is known for its unique and lively celebrations, and Valentine's Day was no exception. The variety of free, community-oriented events showcased the city's vibrant spirit and appeal as a destination for both residents and tourists.

The details

Hundreds of people gathered at Embarcadero Plaza to participate in the annual pillow fight tradition, with organizers Allie McAndrews and Lilly Datnow leading the group in stretches and activities. Many attendees wore costumes and some veteran participants opted for eye protection. Elsewhere in the city, couples could be seen dining at restaurants and singles attended BART's Valentraine speed-dating event. At Pier 7, the Port of San Francisco and Big Art Loop offered free photo opportunities in a giant photo frame art installation on the waterfront.

  • The pillow fight has been an annual tradition in San Francisco for more than 20 years.
  • The pillow fight event saw a lull during the pandemic but was revived this year with more organization and publicity.
  • The Valentraine speed-dating event on BART took place on Valentine's Day.

The players

Allie McAndrews

A San Francisco resident who helped organize and lead the pillow fight event this year.

Lilly Datnow

A San Francisco resident who helped organize and lead the pillow fight event this year.

Annabelle Lee

A representative of the Big Art Loop group, which worked with the Port of San Francisco to offer free photo opportunities at Pier 7.

Walter Paulson

A San Francisco resident who has attended four of the city's pillow fight events.

Pinne Chao

An out-of-town visitor from Stockton who enjoyed the Valentine's Day energy in San Francisco.

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What they’re saying

“It's exciting, fun for a Valentine's Day, and different.”

— Walter Paulson, San Francisco resident (nbcbayarea.com)

“Cause we're in love with San Francisco, and it's Valentine's Day, and we just wanted to give back.”

— Annabelle Lee, Big Art Loop representative (nbcbayarea.com)

“Yeah, it's nice to be in the city. I love coming out to the city, it's a beautiful city.”

— Pinne Chao (nbcbayarea.com)

The takeaway

San Francisco's diverse array of free, community-focused Valentine's Day events, from the iconic pillow fight to the waterfront photo opportunities, showcased the city's vibrant spirit and appeal as a destination for both locals and visitors to celebrate the holiday.