SF's wildest part: Bay to Breakers 12K
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Activity: Bay to Breakers 12K race in San Francisco
Rating: 3.7 of 5 stars, with high variance depending on who you ask
Website: http://zapposbaytobreakers.com/
Cost: $60 to enter online via Zappos (2015 host) OR about $15 dollars if you work in a Bay Area company and pay through work
Details: One of the most famous days in SF has to be Bay to Breakers. I had heard about it for years and it was finally the time to experience it myself. There seems to be two parts:
Part 1: Runners. Over 100 years of races.
This is the group of people, including myself, that were willing to run a race starting at 9am in costume. This is not a novelty in SF if you know how many people like to celebrate, exercise, and stand out all at the same time.
Traditions include tortillas in the air to be caught and thrown back up like frisbees. Extreme costumes are a must. Nudity is rampant. The "salmon" are an intense group of well dressed fish that swim against the current of the race.
Best costumes included an entire boxing ring with two fighters, Chruch of Wheels rollerskaters, and Oompa Lompas.
Part 2: The partiers
On the course of the race there are residential areas with house parties. These parties have what looks like people who started drinking before 7am. Mostly young adults, the parties start early and are aggressive. A few people tried to sneak in the race while drinking, but the police caught on quickly this year and escorted them away. Apparently that was atypical in prior years.
The runners may finish the race, but the partiers consider it a marathon. The entire day was flooded with people in costume bar hopping, running or walking the race at all times of day.
The city did have an excitement and commitment to an even that I had only correlated to the antics during the World Series win.
Overall, it was a good run with good friends that completed the race as Shark week. I was "Saturdaze" get it :). I am glad that I participated in the race, but I would have to warn small children and sober adults to sit this one out.
Recommended for: adults, > 21 and runners