Skip to main contentOctober is San Francisco’s busiest month for free events. The big ones in 2026:
- Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, Friday 2 to Sunday 4 October, free, in Golden Gate Park.
- The Castro Street Fair and the free Litquake Book Fair, both Sunday 4 October.
- Fleet Week, 4 to 12 October, with the Blue Angels over the bay 9 to 11 October.
- Sunday Streets in the Excelsior, 18 October.
- Lit Crawl across the Mission, Saturday 24 October.
- Halloween, with family events from 24 October: see Halloween in San Francisco.
Below is everything on our calendar for the month, day by day. It updates as we add and check events.
Other months: September 2026, November 2026, December 2026.
← All San Francisco events by month
120Events
78Free to attend
5Weekends with events
29Neighborhoods
This month is over. See what is coming up now.
Thursday, October 1
Oct1
Arts & CultureMuseum of Craft and Design Free First Thursday
Potrero HillFree
Oct1
Arts & CultureFree Movie Night: Kung Fu Panda
ChinatownFree
Oct1
Arts & CulturePOETS! Reading and Open Mic at Bird & Beckett
Glen ParkFree, donations welcome
Friday, October 2
Oct2
MusicHardly Strictly Bluegrass
Golden Gate ParkFree
Oct2
MusicSunset Fridays at the SF Zoo
Lakeshore$14 (kids 11 & under free)
Oct2
MusicDance Fridays: Salsa, Bachata & Cumbia Night
Bayview-Hunters PointFrom $15 (21+)
Saturday, October 3
Oct3
Arts & CultureBay Area Maya Festival 2026 at CCSF Mission Campus
Mission DistrictFree
Oct3
Arts & CultureAfrican Arts Festival
SoMaFree
Oct3
Arts & CultureArt as Resistance: Emory Douglas, Dread Scott and Orlando Smith
SoMaPay what you choose: $0 (free RSVP), $10, $20 or $30
Sunday, October 4
Oct4
Arts & CultureAsian Art Museum Free First Sunday
Hayes ValleyFree
Oct4
Music52nd Annual Castro Street Fair
CastroSuggested donation $10–$20 (nobody turned away)
Oct4
Arts & CultureLitquake Out Loud + Book Fair
SoMaFree
Oct4
FamilyBlessing of the Animals at St. Francis’ Episcopal Church
West of Twin PeaksFree
Tuesday, October 6
Oct6
Arts & Culturede Young Free First Tuesday
Golden Gate ParkFree
Oct6
OutdoorsConservatory of Flowers Free First Tuesday
Golden Gate ParkFree
Oct6
Arts & CultureThe Radiance: Ayad Akhtar with Karen Russell
Hayes ValleyTicketed; see event page
Wednesday, October 7
Oct7
Arts & CultureFleet Week Ship Tours
Fisherman's WharfFree
Oct7
OutdoorsSF Zoo Resident Free Day
LakeshoreFree for SF residents
Oct7
Arts & CultureBeyond Walls: Join Saype’s Human Chain at Yerba Buena Gardens
SoMaFree (RSVP)
Thursday, October 8
Friday, October 9
Oct9
OutdoorsFleet Week Parade of Ships
MarinaFree
Oct9
OutdoorsFleet Week Air Show Featuring the Blue Angels
MarinaFree to watch (reserved seats extra)
Oct9
Food & DrinkFridays on Front Street: Fleet Week Yacht Rock Block Party
Financial DistrictFree
Oct9
MusicSunset Fridays at the SF Zoo
Lakeshore$14 (kids 11 & under free)
Oct9
Arts & CultureChinatown Night Market
ChinatownFree
Oct9
Arts & CulturePly: Hernan Diaz (Litquake)
MarinaSold out ($15 general admission; $40 with signed book)
Saturday, October 10
Oct10
Food & DrinkFleet Fest
Fisherman's WharfFree
Oct10
OutdoorsFleet Week K9 Heroes
Haight-AshburyFree
Oct10
Arts & CultureBollywood Garba at Union Square
Financial DistrictFree
Oct10
Arts & CultureMoAD Free Second Saturday
SoMaFree
Oct10
Arts & CultureSOMA Pilipinas Pride: MAKIBEKI
SoMaFree
Oct10
MusicFollow the Music: Emerging Artists Festival
SoMaFree
Oct10
Arts & CultureFort Mason Historic District Walking Tour
MarinaFree (donations welcome)
Oct10
Arts & CultureSan Francisco Fashion Week: ÉLITE – Le Mode Luxe
Financial District$20
Oct10
MusicJacob Collier: The Light For Days Tour at The Castro Theatre
CastroSold out
Sunday, October 11
Oct11
Markets & Pop-upsChildren’s Business Fair San Francisco
Golden Gate ParkFree for visitors
Oct11
Food & DrinkOuter Sunset Farmers Market & Mercantile
Sunset DistrictFree
Oct11
Arts & CultureYBG Dance Day
SoMaFree
Oct11
Markets & Pop-upsInner Sunset Flea Market
Sunset DistrictFree
Oct11
Food & Drink7th Annual Butchertown Jazz Festival
Bayview-Hunters PointFree
Oct11
Arts & CultureItalian Heritage Parade
North BeachFree
Monday, October 12
Oct12
Arts & CultureAlcatraz Sunrise Gathering for Indigenous Peoples’ Day
San FranciscoFree gathering; ferry $12 (children under 5 free)
Oct12
MusicFleet Week High School Band Challenge
Golden Gate ParkFree
Oct12
Arts & CultureIndigenous Peoples Day Celebration
SoMaFree
Oct12
MusicBistro Moustache at Scopo Divino
Pacific Heights
Wednesday, October 14
Oct14
FreeCYC Fall Youth Job Fair at Stonestown Galleria
LakeshoreFree
Oct14
Arts & CultureBooks & Big Ideas SF
Financial DistrictFree
Thursday, October 15
Friday, October 16
Oct16
Food & DrinkFort Mason Night Market
MarinaFree
Oct16
FamilySundown Cinema: Beetlejuice (1988) at Crane Cove Park
Potrero HillFree
Oct16
Arts & CultureSF Fiction Society
Financial DistrictFree
Saturday, October 17
Oct17
OutdoorsSan Francisco Old Car Picnic in Golden Gate Park
Golden Gate ParkFree for spectators
Oct17
Food & DrinkPotrero Hill Festival
Potrero HillFree
Oct17
Arts & CultureFilipino American International Book Festival
Hayes ValleyFree
Oct17
Markets & Pop-upsSecondhand Saturday at the Sunset Community Mercantile
Sunset DistrictFree
Oct17
Arts & CultureBay Area Science Festival 2026
Mission BayFree
Oct17
Arts & CultureZYZZYVA Movie Matinee: Ingrid Rojas Contreras and Andrew Sean Greer
Mission District$16 (free or discounted for Roxie members)
Oct17
MusicJoe Bataan at Yerba Buena Gardens
SoMaFree
Sunday, October 18
Oct18
Food & DrinkOuter Sunset Farmers Market & Mercantile
Sunset DistrictFree
Oct18
Arts & CultureFamily Studio: Spiders at SFMOMA
SoMaFree (no museum admission required)
Oct18
Arts & CultureSunday Streets Excelsior
ExcelsiorFree
Oct18
Arts & CultureTruong Tran: How to Exi(s)t Launch Party
North BeachFree
Oct18
Food & DrinkFoodwise Sunday Supper: A Farm to City Feast
Financial District$421.95 reception and dinner; $185.24 reception only (incl. fees) · 21+ only
Thursday, October 22
Oct22
MusicThacher Thursday Chamber Ensembles at USF
Lone Mountain & USFFree
Oct22
MusicHisaishi Conducts Hisaishi
Hayes Valley$89–$415
Friday, October 23
Oct23
Food & DrinkFrom the E: Excelsior Night Market
San FranciscoFree
Oct23
Arts & CultureIn Their Name: Día de Los Muertos Opening at SOMArts
SoMa$15; free for youth 16 and under (no one turned away for lack of funds)
Oct23
SportsWarriors Home Opener vs. Memphis Grizzlies
Mission BayVaries
Oct23
MusicHisaishi Conducts Hisaishi
Hayes Valley$89–$415
Saturday, October 24
Oct24
Arts & CultureRandall Museum Family Halloween Day
CastroFree admission (small fee for some crafts)
Oct24
OutdoorsDuboce Park Pumpkin Carving Party
Haight-AshburyFree (bring your own pumpkin)
Oct24
Arts & CultureSandcastle Classic
Richmond DistrictFree
Oct24
OutdoorsAlemany Farm Harvest Festival
Bernal HeightsFree (donations welcome)
Oct24
OutdoorsThrill-O-Ween at Thrive City
Mission BayFree
Oct24
Food & DrinkFisherman’s Wharf Chowder Fest
Fisherman's WharfFree entry; tasting passes $50 (all ages) or $70 (21+); VIP $125
Oct24
MusicAfro-Filipino Jazz Project at Yerba Buena Gardens
SoMaFree
Oct24
MusicSF Symphony: Music for Families
Hayes ValleyVaries
Oct24
Arts & CultureFort Mason Historic District Walking Tour
MarinaFree (donations welcome)
Oct24
Arts & CultureLit Crawl SF 2026
Mission DistrictFree · mixed venues, some 21+
Oct24
Arts & CultureSuperNatural Halloween at Cal Academy
Golden Gate Park$45–$60
Oct24
MusicHisaishi Conducts Hisaishi
Hayes Valley$89–$415
Sunday, October 25
Oct25
Food & DrinkOuter Sunset Farmers Market & Mercantile
Sunset DistrictFree
Oct25
Arts & CultureSFMOMA Free Family Day
SoMaFree
Oct25
Arts & CultureWorld of Dumplings
Financial DistrictFree entry
Oct25
OutdoorsPresidio Guided Walk: 250 Years on the Presidio
PresidioFree
Oct25
Arts & CultureSF Music Day 2026 at the War Memorial
Hayes ValleyFree (suggested donation $30)
Oct25
Food & DrinkK&L Champagne Tent Event
SoMa$175 · adults only · sold out for 2026
Monday, October 26
Tuesday, October 27
Oct27
MusicPhoebe Bridgers: The Lost Tour
Mission Bay
Oct27
Arts & CultureSan Francisco Opera: Manon
Hayes ValleyFrom $30
Wednesday, October 28
Oct28
MusicCommunity Music Center Halloween Party & Costume Parade
Mission DistrictFree
Oct28
FreeGenTeam Build Night: AI Agents for Real Estate
Financial DistrictFree
Oct28
MusicPhoebe Bridgers: The Lost Tour
Mission Bay
Oct28
MusicThe Wildwoods at 4 Star Theater
Richmond District$22 advance / $27 door
Thursday, October 29
Oct29
Food & DrinkDía de los Muertos & Halloween at Mission Community Market
Mission District
Oct29
FamilyTrick-or-Treat at the Ferry Building
Financial DistrictFree
Friday, October 30
Oct30
MusicLittle Bears Music Class at Thrive City
Mission Bay
Oct30
OutdoorsScaregrove: Free Halloween at Stern Grove
Sunset DistrictFree
Oct30
OutdoorsHalloween on Hayes: Trick-or-Treat Trail and Free Outdoor Movie
Hayes ValleyFree
Oct30
Arts & CultureMission Rock Friday Night Movies: Coco at China Basin Park
Mission BayFree
Oct30
Arts & CultureSan Francisco Opera: Manon
Hayes ValleyFrom $30
Oct30
MusicDance Fridays Halloween: Live Salsa, Bachata & Cumbia
Bayview-Hunters PointFrom $20 plus fees (21+; prices rise by ticket tier)
Saturday, October 31
Oct31
OutdoorsBoo at the Zoo
LakeshoreFree with paid daytime zoo admission or membership
Oct31
Arts & CultureNorth Beach Library Halloween Open House
North Beach
Oct31
OutdoorsSpooky Storytime in the Park at Francisco Park
Russian HillSuggested donation $10+ (no one turned away)
Oct31
Arts & CultureChinatown Halloween Festival
ChinatownFree
Oct31
Arts & CultureHalloween Hoopla
SoMaFree (RSVP)
Oct31
Food & DrinkFillmore After Dark Halloween Night Market + Kids Scream Zone
Western Addition & FillmoreFree
Oct31
FamilyCalle 24 Halloween Safe Trick-or-Treat Zone (Mission District)
Mission District
Oct31
OutdoorsSpooky Garden Reverie in the Portola
PortolaFree (donations encouraged)
Oct31
Arts & CultureSan Francisco Opera: The Marriage of Figaro
Hayes ValleyFrom $30
Running for Weeks
Exhibitions, runs and seasons that are on for more than a week this month.
OnNow
Arts & CultureTreasures of the Pharaohs
Golden Gate Park$40 adults
OnNow
Food & DrinkFerry Plaza Farmers Market
Financial DistrictFree
Nov4
Food & DrinkHeart of the City Farmers Market
Hayes ValleyFree
Sep25
Arts & CultureDillon Forte Residency at Analog Tattoo Arts Kolectiv
Nob Hill
Oct1
MusicCivic Center Soundtrack: Free Lunchtime Concerts (Tue & Thu, Through October)
Civic Center & TenderloinFree
Nov4
FamilySF State Observatory Public Nights (Wed–Fri, Through Dec 4)
San FranciscoOpen to the public; no admission price listed
Oct2
Markets & Pop-upsClancy’s Pumpkin Patch
Sunset DistrictVaries
Nov4
Arts & CultureSyd Mead: Future Pastime
Chinatown
Nov5
Arts & CultureAwaking Beauty: The Art of Eyvind Earle
Presidio$15 adults, $5 youth (exhibition only)