Happy September, San Francisco! Yes, we’re already at the beginning of another month, and the changing of the seasons brings a new host of activities. From SF Botanical Garden’s Flower Piano event to Chinatown’s Autumn Moon Festival, there’s never a dull moment in the city, and we’re sure that these great events and fun plans will keep you busy in your free time.
The fall season, specifically September and October, is generally considered the best time to visit San Francisco. This is SF’s “real summer” with some of the year’s sunniest and warmest days, combined with a significant decrease in fog.
Scroll on for a full list of events and things to do this September in San Francisco.
This September, watch 1,200 illuminated drones soar through the sky over San Francisco’s Oracle Park, recreating your favorite characters and most beloved moments from the Harry Potter™ films.
Flower Piano is back at the SF Botanical Garden this year! A collection of public pianos will be placed around the gardens so you can enjoy lovely music in an even lovelier setting. The event is free for SF residents, but you’ll still need to reserve ahead of time as it’s one of the garden’s most popular events of the year.
The Jazz Room taps into the legacy of San Francisco’s storied jazz scene with tributes to the blues and a journey back in time to the classics of 1920s New Orleans. The Sept. 3 show honors the legacy of Frank Sinatra and Louis Armstrong, while the Sept. 24 concert is dedicated to the music of Marvin Gaye.
Haight Ashbury Street Fair
This annual event takes place on Haight Street between Masonic and Stanyan, with stages at both ends of the street. Enjoy dozens of local vendors, including ample beer tents, and stay tuned as we await the music and performer schedule.
Chinatown’s beloved event celebrating the moon and summer harvest goes back to 1991. This spectacular festival will take Chinatown by storm, with countless food vendors, nonstop entertainment, lion dancing, mooncakes, kids’ activities, and more. The event is free to attend and will happen all along Grant Avenue between Broadway and California Street.
Club Fugazi’s Dear San Francisco is one of the city’s most unique live shows, taking guests on a journey through local history through the use of heart-pounding acrobatics and unbelievable physical feats. The venue’s intimate setting allows you to see the stunts up close, making for one of the most memorable indoor activities San Francisco has to offer.
Shakespeare in the Park: Antony and Cleopatra
Shakespeare in the Park is back for another wonderful year of free performances. This year, they’ll present Antony and Cleopatra on select dates from Sept. 5-13 at McLaren Park and Sept. 19-27 at Sue Bierman Park in SF.
Opera in the Park
Opera in the Park is back for another wonderful year in Golden Gate Park. The free opera showcase will take place in Robin Williams Meadow to celebrate the beginning of the 2026-2027 opera season, with outdoor shows running from 1:30 to 3:30 pm.
Ballet of Lights presents a mesmerizing fusion of classical ballet and modern technology. As you settle into the intimate setting of the Brava Theater Center, the stage comes alive with six talented ballerinas adorned in glow-in-the-dark costumes, creating a stunning display of lights and movement.
The Portola Music Festival returns to Pier 80 on September 26–27, 2026, featuring headliners like Robyn, Dog Blood, Swedish House Mafia, Zara Larsson, Tiësto and more. Passes are now on sale.
The extremely popular concert series known simply as Candlelight is turning heads right now in San Francisco! Enjoy music by your favorite contemporary artists played by a talented string quartet, in an intimate environment surrounded by hundreds of luminous candles. The Bay Area’s top musicians perform classical music in lovely settings, including St. Ignatius Church and the International Art Museum of America.
The Folsom Street Fair is San Francisco’s iconic SoMa street party celebrating sexual liberation, attracting up to 250,000 leather and BDSM enthusiasts who gather in leather, latex, body paint, or little to no clothing.
Night markets are popping up all over San Francisco, with numerous recurring events coming back month after month, from the Castro Night Market to Valencia LIVE! Read our full guide for a breakdown of all the events to put on your calendar in SF this year.
- Sept. 10, 2026: Valencia LIVE!
- Sept. 11, 2026: Be Chinatown Night Market
- Sept. 18, 2026: Castro Night Market
- Sept. 18, 2026: Fort Mason Night Market
- Sept. 25, 2026: Sunset Night Market
Step aboard the USS Hornet for a haunted night of themed cocktails, pirate tales, and spooky performances!
A haunted, pirate-themed cocktail experience takes over the historic USS Hornet, featuring candlelit performances, chilling local legends, and four themed cocktails included with admission. The event runs September 10–12 at the USS Hornet Sea, Air and Space Museum in Alameda.
The Dahlia Dell, located in Golden Gate Park right near the Conservatory of Flowers, is at peak bloom! Dahlias generally start to bloom there in June, reaching peak bloom in August and September. Make sure you check it out before the month is over.
San Francisco’s Victoria Theatre is welcoming back SF’s favorite Star Wars burlesque show next month, meaning now is the time to get tickets! The Empire Strips Back has sold over 500,000 tickets across the globe, selling out in cities like L.A., Chicago, and New York. Don’t miss out on its newest SF run.
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
Sundown Cinema is back in 2026 with free outdoor movie screenings across San Francisco parks. The family-friendly series runs monthly from June through October and is free to attend with optional RSVP for reserved seating.
This month, catch School of Rock at the Ferry Building on September 25th.
Some of the best local breweries and organizations host spectacular Oktoberfest events that will transport you straight to Munich. Don your lederhosen and cheers to these memorable celebrations in late September and early October, including Schroeder’s annual block party on September 18th.
We’re looking ahead at an exciting schedule of San Francisco Bay Area concerts for 2026. Here’s what’s coming up in September:
- Sept 5, 2026: Deep Purple at Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View
- Sept 5, 2026: Brandon Flowers at Fox Theater, Oakland
- Sept 9, 2026: Weezer at Chase Center, San Francisco
- Sept 9, 2026: Liz Phair & Sleater-Kinney at The Greek Theatre, Berkeley
- Sept 10, 2026: Soda Stereo at SAP Center, San Jose
- Sept 11, 2026: Foster the People at The Greek Theatre, Berkeley
- Sept 11, 2026: Jesse McCartney at Mountain Winery, Saratoga
- Sept 12, 2026: Palomazo Norteño at SAP Center, San Jose
- Sept 13, 2026: Andrea Bocelli at SAP Center, San Jose
- Sept 17, 2026: Bleachers at The Greek Theatre, Berkeley
- Sept 18, 2026: Jack Harlow at Fox Theater, Oakland
- Sept 19, 2026: Steve Aoki at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, San Francisco
- Sept 19, 2026: Arlo Parks at The Warfield, San Francisco
- Sept 20, 2026: Rob Zombie & Marilyn Manson at Toyota Pavilion, Concord
- Sept 23, 2026: Lily Allen at Chase Center, San Francisco
- Sept 24, 2026: Jack White at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, San Francisco
- Sept 24, 2026: Mötley Crüe at Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View
- Sept 24, 2026: Paris Paloma at The Warfield, San Francisco
- Sept 26-27, 2026: Portola Festival at Pier 80, San Francisco
- Headliners: Robyn, Dog Bloos, Swedish House Mafia, Zara Larsson
- Sept 27, 2026: Erykah Badu at The Greek Theatre, Berkeley
- Sept 30-Oct 1, 2026: Jack Johnson at The Greek Theatre, Berkeley
Portola Week brings 15+ intimate shows across SF the week of the festival.
Portola Week runs Thursday, September 24 through Sunday, September 27, 2026, featuring more than a dozen shows across San Francisco venues ahead of the main Portola festival (Sept 26–27). Artists include Soulwax, Overmono (DJ set), Fatboy Slim, SG Lewis, Groove Armada and many more.
Pack a picnic and enjoy free Friday-night jazz and blues on the Sausalito waterfront.
Free waterfront concerts in Sausalito run Friday evenings through September, featuring local jazz and blues bands with food and beverages available from community sponsors.
On Sunday, September 6, Audio Night Club is hosting an event inspired by artists like Daft Punk, Justice, Cassius, and more. The French house and disco party will start at 9 pm, and the event is for those 21 and over. Tickets for the show cost $22.66.
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.
- Treasures of the Pharaohs at the de Young Museum
- Matisse’s Femme au chapeau: A Modern Scandal at SFMOMA
- The Etruscans: From the Heart of Ancient Italy at the Legion of Honor
A waterfront dance party is coming to San Francisco after selling out four shows in Los Angeles. The DJs and dance music artists include Admiral, Blond:ish, DARCO, and more. The daytime show will start at 2 pm, and tickets cost $82.71.
A 6,200-square-foot food hall with three kitchens and bay views just opened in the Presidio on August 15.
The Mess Hall at the Presidio, a restored 6,200-square-foot food hall with three kitchens, a coffee shop, bar and neighborhood market, officially opened on August 15 at 201 Halleck St., San Francisco. It’s now serving everything from breakfast through cocktails with indoor and outdoor seating overlooking Crissy Field and the bay.
Collect-A-Con hits the San Mateo County Convention Center Sept 12–13, 2026.
Collect-A-Con comes to the San Mateo County Convention Center for a two-day trading card and collectibles convention on September 12–13, 2026, featuring 900+ exhibitors, panels, celebrity guests, and live performances. Tickets start at $38.07 for single-day general admission, with VIP fast passes available.
Enjoy free weekly live music at the Golden Gate Park Bandshell this September.
The Golden Gate Park Bandshell hosts free weekly concerts, presenting local performers and themed events like Crucial Reggae Sundays. The series is produced by Illuminate and features multiple shows each week, typically on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
Have some good old-fashioned fun at these county fairs in and around the Bay Area! If you’re craving a funnel cake, hoping to blow off steam on a carnival ride, or seeking some quality animal time at a petting zoo, be sure to mark your calendar for these upcoming Bay Area fairs and festivals.
- Sept. 3-7, 2026: Monterey County Fair
- Sept 10-13, 2026: Gold County Fair
- Sept. 10-13, 2026: Madera District Fair
- Sept. 16-20, 2026: Santa Cruz County Fair
- Sept. 17-20, 2026: Lodi Grape Festival
For many of us, spooky season begins in September, and there’s no shortage of fun stuff to do… especially when we live right near Half Moon Bay, the pumpkin capital of the world. Whether you’re looking for family activities with kids or getting ahead of your Halloween decorating, these excellent Bay Area farms and pumpkin patches have got you covered.
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.
Apple season peaks in the Bay Area in September and October, so many local orchards will open their doors for “U Pick,” when people can visit and pick their own apples. Grab a basket and drive out to apple country to load up on the sweetest local pickings, plus seasonal treats like apple pie and apple cider.