Furry, feathered or finned, animal friends of all types are welcome to this festival to be blessed by a priest in the shrine of St. Francis of Assisi (the namesake of San Francisco and patron saint of animals, natch). Over 63 years, this Little Italy-inspired fete has adopted many more traditions: think festive beer and wine gardens, artisans creating Italian-style street art from chalk and pastel and piles of cannoli.