Every weekend, we search for the best activities and fun things to do in San Francisco and the Bay Area. Whether you’re looking for unique events, the best new restaurants, or free activities, there are always plenty of memorable ways to make the most of your weekend around SF. Plus, this weekend is Labor Day, which is the perfect chance to take a day trip or enjoy an extra day exploring the city.
For more ideas, check out our October guide and free activities guide.
Watch teams build giant sand sculptures at Ocean Beach on Oct. 24 — a free family event raising funds for arts education.
The 44th annual Leap Sandcastle Classic returns to Ocean Beach on Oct. 24, 2026, featuring massive sand sculptures, live music, performances, and food trucks. The free fundraising event supports Leap Arts in Education with a $300,000 goal to fund arts education for 10,000 Bay Area children.
Brick Exhibition is a limited-run, walk-through showcase of large-scale LEGO® masterpieces across five themed zones — from global landmarks and Disney fairy tales to Star Wars builds and an interactive Play Zone — at Stonestown Galleria in San Francisco. Tickets are officially on sale now, so get yours soon!
Join the Lit Crawl on Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 5 PM to 9 PM for a night of readings, talks, and literary fun across the Mission. Lit Crawl 2026 is a one-night literary bar crawl in San Francisco’s Mission District with talks, readings, immersive storytelling, and an after-party at The Drawing Room Annex. The crawl runs along Valencia and Mission streets with stops at local bookshops, bars, and cafes.
A family-friendly Halloween party with candy, a silent disco, rides, and hands-on science fun. If you’re looking for a kid-friendly way to celebrate Halloween around San Francisco, the California Academy of Sciences is hosting SuperNatural on Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 6:30–9:00 pm. Expect trick-or-treat stations, a silent disco in the Steinhart Aquarium, rides, animal demonstrations, face painting, photo booths and a teen lounge. General admission tickets are $45 for kids and $60 for adults, with early admission and VIP options available.
See 142 works from RM’s personal art collection curated into eight gallery areas at SFMOMA.
SFMOMA’s collaboration with BTS’ RM opened on October 3, 2026, featuring 142 works from RM’s personal collection alongside over 30 pieces from SFMOMA across eight distinct gallery areas spanning 1,500 years. The exhibition runs through February 7, 2027; an audio guide is available in English and Korean and tickets include access to the museum’s permanent galleries.
Grace Cathedral has been transformed with a dazzling light show called Aura. The show uses large-scale light projections incorporated with the architecture of the cathedral, and is accompanied by original music. Tickets sell fast, so we recommend getting yours soon.
Don’t miss Lower Polk’s free block party — music, art, and dancing on Polk Street!
Lower Polk Live! is a free street festival on Polk Street between Bush and Sutter featuring live music, dancing, art, and community activities. The block party runs Friday, October 23, 2026 from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM and is hosted by the Lower Polk Community Benefit District.
Come to Excelsior on Oct 23 for a lively night market and community town square.
Excelsior is hosting a night market on Ocean Avenue with a pop-up town square at the Persia Triangle featuring local vendors, plants, and seating. The market runs Friday, October 23 from 4:30–8:30 p.m.
Explore over 1,000 glowing jack-o’-lanterns and a whimsical haunted railway at Nightfall. If you’re looking to kick off Halloween vibes with a classic fall night out, Nightfall returns to Filoli this fall, transforming the estate with over 1,000 glowing jack-o’-lanterns, a haystack maze, a miniature haunted railway, Witches’ Village, and evening mansion activities. The seasonal event runs nightly from late September through early November, with each evening open 5:30–10:00 pm.
See 130 rare artifacts from Cairo and Luxor at the de Young this August through January.
The U.S. premiere of Treasures of the Pharaohs, an international exhibition of 130 artifacts loaned from the Egyptian Museum in Cairo and the Luxor Museum, will be on view at San Francisco’s de Young Museum from August 1, 2026 to January 31, 2027, exploring pharaonic government, society, daily life, and funerary practices.
Experience over 400 works and a scale replica of the Grateful Dead’s Wall of Sound — admission is free.
Forever Grateful is a comprehensive exhibition chronicling the Grateful Dead’s history in two parts. Here’s when and where to check it out:
- July 3 – Sept 20, 2026: Haight Street Art Center
- Sept 5 – Oct. 25, 2026: SF County Fair Building in Golden Gate Park
Join free dance lessons and open dancing every Friday at Union Square from 5–8 PM.
Union Square offers free dance lessons and open dancing every Friday from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM, with rotating styles such as salsa, country western, swing, and Bollywood. Sessions are open to all ages and experience levels.
Experience San Francisco’s history through dazzling acrobatics and live performance. Dear San Francisco is an ode to San Francisco featuring music, acrobats, dancers, and historical storytelling. The show at Club Fugazi highlights impressive acrobatics and talented performers — tickets often sell out, so book soon.
Hear a century-old organ for free every Saturday at 4 p.m. in the Rodin Gallery.
The Legion of Honor in Lincoln Park hosts weekly organ recitals in the Rodin Gallery every Saturday at 4:00 p.m.; the museum is free for San Francisco residents on Saturdays, so you can enjoy the century-old organ and galleries at no cost.
San Francisco has plenty of neighborhoods with great shops, from small, local boutiques to larger brands. There are so many places to explore if you need to do some shopping, including Haight Street with numerous vintage stores, or the Fillmore, packed with boutiques and restaurants.
There’s never a bad weekend for live music in the Bay Area. Visit our full running concert guide for a breakdown of the biggest concert tours in town.
Experience live jazz in a Prohibition-era speakeasy turned iconic Downtown club. For a classic night out in San Francisco this weekend, head to Dawn Club, a historic jazz bar in Downtown San Francisco. Originally a 1920s speakeasy, it now hosts live jazz nightly alongside cocktails, with reservations available on its website. Music runs weeknights and weekends with set evening schedules.