San Francisco attracts tourists from all around the world this time of year. And why not? The sun is shining, the sky is (usually) blue, and our little town high on the hilltop has so much to see: Coit Tower, Ghirardelli Square, Pier 39, the great Golden Gate, cable cars, the bears on Harrison Street.

Yes, it is indeed that time of year when our cuddly fuzzy leather-clad men on motorcycles take to the streets to party hardy. We're talkin' four days of bears havin' a blast, and everyone is invited to join in the fun.

Thursday August 12, the party kicks off with three local faves performing raucous rock n roll: Peppaspray, Taikonaut and The Bobbleheads! Joining them in merry music making will be the Eagles own resident DJ. Meanwhile, Team Hairison will light the coals for a ginormous bear-sized BBQ. For the low low price of $10, this festive party on 12th and Harrison goes from 9pm til 2am.

Friday the 13th can be a rather ominous date, but this Friday in August promises to bring the gods down from Olympus and right onto 9th and Harrison for the Greek Gods Party. Sponsored by www.musclebear.com, all party-goers must wear nothing more than a toga or sportie sweats. The party, dubbed "Russian River meets South of Market," is a fund raiser for such SF sports teams as Golden Gate Wrestling, SF Fog Rugby and Tsunami Water Polo.

It just so happens that this beefcake bear night coincides with the Opening Ceremonies of the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, so the broadcast will be shown on large screens, wall projections and TV's throughout the party. Get ready to get sweaty, because there will also be a DJ, live music, sports demos and dancing! They will have 50 private rooms, several bars and a café on hand for your orgy, beverage and noshing needs. Be there or be square from 6pm to midnight. Tickets are $20 in advance or $30 at the door.

Saturday August 14 starts the Camp Harrison event out with a dip in the drink (aka: the Pool Party) from 12pm to 6pm in the Civic Center Motor Lodge pool. Hot men, cool drinks, tasty BBQ…lip-smackin good. The Host Committee BeerBust commences at 4pm in the beer garden, making it quite the happy hour for all.

All you can eat beer and burgers, does it get any better? Funny you should ask. It does. The Evening Party starts at 6pm and the Camp Harrison lights up the night with tiki-torches and a dance tent!

Sunday August 15 rounds out this 4-day extravaganza with the "mane event," The First Annual Hairrison Street Party! The bears will take to the streets with food, exhibitors, fours stages and dancing under scaffolding towers of sound. There will also be fun competitions, including an old-fashioned pie-eating contest (if you can call pie-eating leather daddies in buttless chaps "old-fashioned").

Priority Tickets and all-access BearTag passes can be bought online at www.hairrison.org.