Happy August, San Francisco! End your summer on a high note with free concerts, county fairs, new museum exhibitions, festivals, and plenty more to make the most of your month.
From Jerry Day to Outside Lands, here are some must-do events to help you plan a totally memorable August 2026 in the Bay Area.
Jerry Day at McLaren Park
Jerry Day is back this year at the Jerry Garcia Amphitheater in McLaren Park! The beloved free musical event will kick off at 11:30am (doors open at 11am) in celebration of what would be Jerry Garcia’s 84th birthday. Performers include Melvin Seals and JGB, Stu Allen and Mars Hotel, and more.
Dear San Francisco presents a thrilling history of the city rendered with a blend of circus acts, theater, music, poetry, and art. From the Gold Rush and the 1906 earthquake to the Beat generation, the creative theatrical performance invites guests to connect with the legacy of San Francisco in a memorable way, punctuated with epic stunts and acrobatics.
Golden Gate Park’s historic bandshell is back and hosting over 100 free shows in 2026. They feature weekly performances like Reggae Sundays, Singer/Songwriter Wednesdays, Friday Happy Hours, and special cultural performances.
This July, watch 1,200 illuminated drones illuminate the sky over Sacramento’s Cal Expo Race Track, recreating your favorite characters and most beloved moments from the Harry Potter™ films.
World Dog Surfing Championships
Start the month off with the cutest surfing competition in Pacifica. Each summer, the World Dog Surfing Championships welcomes talented pups to take on the waves at Linda Mar Beach. The competition includes a dog fashion show, wellness check-ups, and adoption opportunities.
AURA at Grace Cathedral is a 45-minute immersive show that blends music, visual projections, and the cathedral’s breathtaking architecture. Celebrated around the world, the experience turns the historic space into a dynamic art installation, illuminating its arches and intricate details through light and sound.
San Francisco celebrates its vibrant jazz history with ‘The Jazz Room,’ a new show at The Palace Theater. This hour-long performance features timeless classics and improvised solos, immersing audiences in the rich musical tradition of New Orleans. Experience a captivating evening filled with beloved songs and talented local musicians, all while enjoying drinks in a setting reminiscent of iconic jazz bars.
Nestled in a secluded eucalyptus grove, this annual free concert series is celebrating its 89th year through August. Admission is free, but tickets are required, so make sure you look into their lottery system to ensure your attendance.
- August 2: Violent Femmes + Tune-Yards
- August 9: Patti LaBelle + Destani Wolf
- August 15 (Saturday): Public Enemy + DJ Davey D (The Big Picnic Weekend)
- August 16 (Sunday): Al Green + Goapele + The GLIDE Ensemble (Season Finale)
Nihonmachi Street Fair
Celebrate the best of AAPI culture at this historic SF festival dating back to 1974. The popular Nihonmachi Street Fair will take over Japantown with over 150 small businesses and lively performances from local dance groups.
Valencia LIVE! is an exciting night market located on Valencia Street in the Mission District. The market closes the street to vehicle traffic, bringing in vendors and exciting community events. The night market debuted in May and is scheduled for every second Thursday of the month until October.
The extremely popular concert series known simply as Candlelight is turning heads right now in San Francisco! Concerts offer various genres of music played by a talented string quartet, in an intimate environment surrounded by hundreds of luminous candles. The venues include St. Ignatius Church and the International Art Museum of America, both providing a stunning setting for the unique concerts.
We love San Francisco for its vibrant culture, history, and resources, but it’s no secret that living here costs a pretty penny. Whether you’re a college student on a budget, or a bargain hunter wanting to see the sights, this list will certainly help you get started. Check out the full list of free-admission days here.
Step into the heart of a tense courtroom drama where your verdict makes all the difference. The Jury Experience is an immersive live show that casts you as a juror, pushing your ethics and decision-making to the limit. Blending live acting with multimedia storytelling, it pulls you into a high-stakes trial that puts your judgment to the test.
Outside Lands is the city’s largest music festival and is back for 3 days of music in Golden Gate Park. 2026 headliners include CharlieXCX, Rüfüs du Sol, The Strokes, The xx, Empire of the Sun, and many more. This annual festival draws music lovers from across the country and is famous for its misty forested setting.
San Francisco offers a unique virtual reality journey aboard the legendary Titanic. This immersive experience allows you to dive to the wreckage as it rests today, then travel back to 1912 to walk its iconic Grand Staircase and explore the ship as a passenger. Developed with Musealia experts, this breathtaking adventure brings history to life through stunning detail and character-based stories, offering an unparalleled opportunity to learn about one of history’s most infamous tragedies. Don’t miss this last chance to step into the heart of the Titanic’s tale before it closes!
As we enter a new season in San Francisco, many local museums are refreshing and replacing their temporary exhibitions. Now’s a great time to take stock and plan ahead to see some of these wonderful displays before they’re gone.
The Dahlia Dell, located in Golden Gate Park right near the Conservatory of Flowers, is about to reach peak bloom, and these colorful, unique flowers are not to be missed. According to Golden Gate Park, Dahlias generally start to bloom there in June, reaching peak bloom in August and September.
The Exploratorium isn’t your average museum experience – in fact, they’ve been making their own interactive exhibits since 1969. It’s a popular place for kids and families, but adults have a great time as well, especially at their monthly 21+ After Dark events.
NightLife at the California Academy of Sciences is one of our favorite ongoing events, and we’re thrilled to see more of these awesome themed soirees on the calendar! The popular Thursday night festivities feature live DJs, outdoor bars, ambiance lighting, and more alongside the Academy’s nearly 40,000 animal residents.
Downtown First Thursdays are a free, monthly block party that is open to the public. The event features live music, DJs, drag, performances, a giant disco ball, and more, and it’s only a few streets away from Hoedown on Front Street.
Hungry Ghost Festival
The Chinese Culture Center hosts a memorable day of performances and interactive art at an awesome family-friendly event. The Hungry Ghost Festival is a Taoist and Buddhist festival held in East Asian countries to honor ghosts and spirits coming out of the lower realm.
Riot Party in the Trans District
In 2021, San Francisco declared August Trans History Month, becoming the first U.S. city to do so. August marks the anniversary of the Compton’s Cafeteria riots, in which a large group of transgender women and drag queens resisted arrest in the Tenderloin. They fought back with handbags and high heels to protest the violent abuse and harassment they suffered at the hands of the police. The Transgender District hosts the popular Riot Party to remember this essential day in trans history.
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 starting this summer. It’s a rare opportunity to explore pharaonic government, society, daily life, and funerary practices through stunning displays.
