Happy Friday! Below are some of our favorite things to do in the San Francisco Bay Area this weekend. We put out awesome new SF weekend plans for you every week, so you’ll always have something to do on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
If you’re looking for more inspiration, be sure to check out the best temporary museum exhibitions in SF, our favorite free things to do in the Bay, and essential events for your 2023 calendar.
1. Off The Grid: Fort Mason celebrates the Autumn Moon Fest tonight (Friday)
Off The Grid: Fort Mason Center (OTG:FMC) is California’s largest weekly food truck event, the only such market featuring a full bar and live music all season long. The free events bring dozens of gourmet food trucks to the Fort Mason Center parking lot on Friday evenings from 5pm-10pm. Tonight’s theme celebrates the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival and will feature lion dances, lantern displays, and cultural activities.
2. Catch a free screening of Legally Blonde at the Ferry Building tonight (Friday)
Sundown Cinema nearly at the end of its 2023 season and you don’t want to miss a screening! This popular series presents awesome FREE movies on a giant screen in various San Francisco parks. The second-to-last screening is Legally Blonde at the Ferry Building tonight, Sept. 29 at sunset.
3. Join the festivities at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass this weekend
San Francisco’s Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival is one of the most highly-anticipated events on the city’s cultural calendar. The free festival will happen in Golden Gate Park’s Hellman Hollow and Lindley & Marx meadows from Sept. 29 through Oct. 1, 2023. Gates open for entry into the festival grounds at 11am on Friday and 9am on Saturday and Sunday.
4. Step into this kaleidoscopic tunnel at SFMOMA
As one of the modern art world’s most respected institutions, SFMOMA (San Francisco Museum of Modern Art) is easily one of SF’s most famous museums. Enjoy a frequent rotation of large- and small-scale art exhibitions to help you think critically about contemporary art in today’s society, celebrating both local creators and world-renowned contemporary artists. One of our favorite ongoing installations at SFMOMA is One-Way Colour Tunnel by Olafur Eliasson on the fifth floor.
5. Party it up on the waterfront at Portola Festival 2023
The Portola Music Festival is San Francisco’s newest live music festival happening on Sept 30-Oct. 1 at Pier 80. They just released the 2023 lineup with headliners Skrillex and Eric Prydz, plus a host of other exciting talent including Nelly Furtado, Major Lazer, Jon Hopkins, Labrinth, Thundercat, and so many more.
6. Take an eco-friendly SF Bay boat cruise at twilight
Take a sustainable boat cruise with Red & White Fleet to watch the sun set over the SF Bay. These breathtaking boat trips take off just before sunset Thursday through Monday and get you up close and personal with Alcatraz Island, the Golden Gate Bridge, Tiburon, Sausalito, and Angel Island. Share a few drinks and toast the evening while taking in the city sights. Get tickets here.
Have a great weekend, San Francisco!