November in the San Francisco Bay Area is an enchanting mix of late fall cheer and early holiday anticipation. Now’s the time to enjoy delicious fall coffee drinks, ice skating, get a head start on your holiday gift shopping, plan the ultimate Thanksgiving dinner, and find opening dates for the best winter light displays. Read on for our best tips to spend a memorable November 2024 in San Francisco.
If you’re looking for more inspiration, be sure to check out our favorite free things to do in the Bay, things to do in SF at least once, and things to do in SF with kids.
1. Magical classical concerts by candlelight
The extremely popular concert series known simply as Candlelight is turning heads right now in San Francisco! You’ll enjoy works from Beethoven, Vivaldi, and more played by a talented string quartet in an intimate environment surrounded by hundreds of luminous candles.
📅 Dates: See the schedule of upcoming candlelight concerts here.
2. These are the coolest SF museum exhibitions to see this November
Many of SF’s temporary museum exhibitions are refreshed and replaced every single month. We’re keeping tabs on the best new temporary exhibitions from SFMOMA to the Asian Art Museum, so you’ll never miss an amazing new display. Check our list to see what we have our eye on for November in San Francisco.
3. Honor Día de los Muertos at these SF events and shows
Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a Mexican holiday celebrated widely both within Mexico and in other countries by people with Mexican heritage. At the beginning of November, San Francisco will celebrate with multiple events, processions, and activities to honor this special holiday.
📅 Dates:
- Nov. 1, 2024 – Día de los Muertos with Sunset Mercantile
- Nov. 2, 2024 – Festival of Altars in Potrero del Sol Park
- Nov. 2, 2024 – 43rd annual Day of the Dead ritual procession
- And more
4. Make memories at a local ice skating rink
Festive Bay Area ice skating rinks can be found in all nine local counties from San Francisco to Sonoma. We found a mix of seasonal and permanent rinks that offer the chance to strap on a pair of skates and hit the ice.
📅 Dates:
- Opening Nov. 6, 2024 – Union Square Ice Rink in San Francisco
- Opening Nov. 15, 2024 – Kristi Yamaguchi Holiday Ice Rink in San Ramon
- Opening Nov. 15, 2024 – Downtown Ice in San Jose
- See full list of Bay Area ice rinks here
5. Get started on gift shopping at these Bay Area holiday markets
Holiday spirit is already in the air and the crafters of San Francisco are working at full throttle to sell their wares! We’ve gone ahead and rounded up some of the best holiday markets, craft fairs, and more in the San Francisco Bay Area for November and December. Think Bay Area Christmas markets with homemade pastries, decorations, and innovative products. Or holiday craft fairs with all the handmade jewelry, pottery, and art you could wish for.
6. Free admission days around SF
We love San Francisco for its vibrant culture, history, and resources, but just about anyone in SF could benefit from finding new free things to do. Whether you’re a college student on a budget, or a bargain hunter wanting to see the sights, this list of free museum days in San Francisco will certainly help you get started.
7. SF Coffee Festival
Heads up, coffee lovers! The San Francisco Coffee Festival is coming up this November and tickets are now on sale. This exciting festival will feature great food, fun local products, a latte art competition, live music, learning sessions, and of course endless high-quality coffee.
📅 Dates: Nov. 9-10, 2024
8. GLOW: Discover the Art of Light at the Exploratorium
The Exploratorium’s visitor-favorite GLOW: Discover the Art of Light has announced its 2024-2025 return. GLOW is a luminous expansion of the Exploratorium’s typical exhibits featuring light art by seven innovative artists. Past years’ artworks have allowed visitors to compose music with light, play experimental LED dungeon crawlers, discover hidden crystals, and much more.
📅 Dates: Nov. 21, 2024 – Jan. 26, 2025
9. Holidays at Filoli
Holidays at Filoli is one of the Bay Area’s most beautiful and lesser-known light displays, taking place at Filoli Estate & Gardens in Woodside. Thousands of glittering lights will adorn the garden’s trees, plants, and hedges for a must-see experience.
📅 Dates: Nov. 16, 2024 – Jan. 12, 2025
10. The Great Dickens Christmas Fair
This beloved annual event drops you into Victorian London, brought to life by hundreds of costumed players and a plethora of shops, stages, pubs, parties, and memorable performances. This annual event started in the 1970s and celebrates the world of writer Charles Dickens, author of A Christmas Carol, Oliver Twist, Great Expectations, and other literary classics.
📅 Dates: Nov. 23 – Dec. 22, 2024
11. Attend the final Bhangra and Beats Night Market of 2024
The Bhangra and Beats Night Market showed up on the city’s cultural calendar only recently, but it’s made quite a splash with its high-energy Bhangra dance parties and amazing street food. The market will touch down for its final appearance of 2024 at Clay and Battery Streets in Downtown SF from 5-10pm.
📅 Dates: Nov. 15, 2024
12. Watch the Leonid Meteor Shower
Astronomy fans around the world will soon be treated to a glittering spectacle in the form of the Leonid Meteor Shower. Meteors will rain down this month with peak activity on the 18th, but due to the full moon, visibility will be limited.
📅 Dates: The meteor shower lasts from Nov. 3 – Dec. 2, 2024, with the peak expected on Nov. 18.
13. Make the most of your Thanksgiving weekend
Looking for some fun activities to do post-turkey? Thanksgiving weekend in San Francisco brings plenty of events, activities, and fun spots to hit up from Nov. 28 – Dec. 1, 2024. Look out for the Turkey Trot, the Grace Cathedral tree lighting, Black Friday deals, and more as explained in our Thanksgiving guide. And if you’re planning your Thanksgiving dinner, now’s the time to book a reservation or take-home meal kit.
14. Check out the Fairmont Hotel’s massive gingerbread house display
San Franciscans await the return of the Fairmont’s enormous gingerbread house every single year. The 22-foot-tall installation is made of real gingerbread cookie bricks and decorated with real candy and royal icing. You can see the creation in the hotel’s lobby starting this month and even book it for a holiday tea or dinner.
🗓️ Dates: Opening Nov. 23, 2024
15. Garden of D’Lights at Ruth Bancroft Garden
The Ruth Bancroft Garden is bringing back its whimsical Garden of D’Lights holiday event. Each year, they deck out the plants with multicolored lights, lasers, and more, transforming the already spectacular 3.5 acre space into an otherworldly outdoor adventure. Guests can stroll through the beautiful glowing gardens for 1-1.5 hours to discover countless photo ops and exciting displays.
📅 Dates: Opening Nov. 22, 2024
16. NightLife at the Academy of Sciences
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, ambience lighting, and more alongside the Academy’s nearly 40,000 animal residents.
📅 Dates: Thursday evenings
17. After Dark at the Exploratorium
The Exploratorium at Pier 15 in San Francisco is an exciting place for discovery any time of the day, but these 18+ After Dark events are a must for some epic kid-free fun at their exhibits. After Dark happens each Thursday from 6-10pm with a different theme every week, featuring guest speakers, films, great music, and more.
📅 Dates: Thursday evenings
18. November events at Fort Mason Center
When’s the last time you paid a visit to San Francisco’s amazing Fort Mason Center? The popular art center hosts numerous exhibitions and events throughout the year, and there are some special ones coming up including the Guardsmen Holiday Tree Lot and some popular craft fairs.
🎟️ Secret SF Promo: Add the promo code SECRETSF-24 at checkout to get 10% off admission to the holiday party on Dec. 14, 2024!
19. November events at the Ferry Building
San Francisco’s Ferry Building is one of the city’s most iconic landmarks, serving as a hotspot for tourists and locals alike. It’s a center for events, pop-ups, a farmers market, and countless excellent merchants who sell their wares daily in the building’s many stalls.
- Nov. 2-3 – SF International Tea Festival
- Nov. 3 – Head West
20. Free activities at Salesforce Park
San Francisco’s Salesforce Park is an amazing modern marvel in the Financial District. The verdant oasis rests 70 feet above the street atop the Salesforce Transit Center, and it’s completely free and open for the public to visit at any time.
It also hosts a collection of free events every week, including yoga classes, bootcamps, live music, bird walks, garden tours, drum circles, tours from SF City Guides, and much more.
21. Scout some local fall foliage
Fall foliage is truly a sight to behold and you can still catch it this November in San Francisco. Familiar shades of green give way to red, orange, yellow, and brown during an incredible seasonal display. We might not have the vast color-changing forests that the East Coast loves to brag about, but see our list for a few excellent local spots to enjoy this seasonal show.
22. Sip on these fall-themed coffee drinks all season long
Cafes and cocktail bars across SF are drawing inspiration from the season to craft some truly delicious drinks. These caffeinated creations are perfect for this season of cool weather and cozy vibes. Try the Candied Yam Latte at Red Bay, the Espresso Mule from The Coffee Movement, and the famous pumpkin spice latte in an actual pumpkin from Avotoasty.
23. Find the best gourmet hot chocolate in SF
You don’t have to be a kid to know that hot chocolate is one of the most underrated drinks on any cafe’s menu. As we head into what’s sure to be a chilly November in San Francisco, it’s a great time to compile some spots to visit next time you’re craving this delicious drink.
24. Stock up at SF’s best bakeries
San Franciscans with a sweet tooth have it easy in this glorious city, because SF bakeries absolutely do not mess around. We wanted to get to the bottom of where San Franciscans get their baked goods, so we posted an Instagram poll asking for recommendations. Read on for a running list of spots recommended by locals, in no particular order.
25. Go on a cozy fall date in the Bay Area
San Francisco is full of lovely romantic places to have a date, from fine dining to intimate outdoor adventures. Are you looking for cozy, fun date ideas in the Bay Area with a partner this fall?
- Warm up by a cozy fireplace
- Browse a local bookstore
- Go shopping at a vintage store
26. Check out November’s edition of Downtown First Thursdays
Each month Downtown San Francisco throws a massive party in the streets featuring disco, DJs, performances and more. The block party is a great way to start the month, and you can look forward to November’s event on Thursday the 7th from 5 to 10 pm. The event is free and regularly draws large crowds enjoying the performances, food, and art.
27. Watch a special screening of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
On Friday, November 1 Oracle Park is hosting an exciting movie night featuring the hit film Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. The screening will feature the movie on the jumbo screen while you can watch from the iconic field. Plus, a costume contest with prizes will take place for guests in the Halloween spirit. Doors open at 6:30 and the film starts at 7:15 pm.
28. Check out one of the last free bandshell concerts of 2024
Every year the free bandshell concerts delight San Franciscans for many months. Due to the colder weather, the concerts will soon be taking a break until early 2025, and November is your last month of the year to catch the free shows. You can listen to singer songwriter musicians, reggae, and more at these free outdoor shows in Golden Gate Park.
29. Browse artists’ creations at the Renegade Craft Fair
Fort Mason is known for hosting many creative events and a massive craft fair featuring handmade goods will fill the center at the beginning of November. The Renegade Craft fair includes over 250 creators who make everything from pottery to jewelry. It’s the perfect event to get the jump on your holiday shopping, or just buy yourself a treat. The craft fair is scheduled for November 2 and 3 at 11 am to 5 pm in the Fort Mason Center Pavilion.
30. Take a candlelight tour of Fort Point
Starting in November you can take a scenic tour by candlelight through the historic Fort Point site. The tours only happen for a few months between November and February, and you can learn all about the unique history of the incredible site. Tours happen every weekend and tickets are typically released two weeks before the tour.