San Francisco & the Bay Area
Edition of August 31, 2026Covering Monday, August 31 to Monday, October 5, 2026
At a Glance
This is a five-week edition, and it is front-loaded with the kind of weekend San Francisco is actually good at. Labor Day lands on Monday September 7. Before it, the Dons play twice at Negoesco and Bay FC host Kansas City under lights in San Jose. After it, the calendar barely pauses.
September is the month the city stops pretending it is summer and gets on with it. Twelve pianos go into the Botanical Garden for eleven days from September 10. The San Francisco Opera plays a free afternoon on the grass on September 13. Grant Avenue closes for the Autumn Moon Festival, Haight Street closes for its street fair, and Folsom Street closes for a fair that needs no introduction.
The sport is unusually good right now. The Valkyries have clinched a playoff spot at 28-11 and close the regular season with two home nights at Chase Center. The Giants have not, and their final homestand against the Dodgers is the last baseball at Oracle until spring. The Earthquakes take their annual trip to Levi's Stadium on September 19.
Then the window closes on the best free weekend of the year. Hardly Strictly Bluegrass runs October 2 to 4 in Golden Gate Park, and the night before it, the Masonic hosts a one-off tribute to Steve Earle with Emmylou Harris, Jackson Browne and Gillian Welch. Plan the first weekend of October now.
Pick of the Month
Friday October 2 to Sunday October 4, 2026Hellman Hollow, Golden Gate Park, San FranciscoFree. No tickets, no wristbands, no queue.
The defensible reason is the simplest one available: it is the largest free music festival in the country, it is in our park, and it is free because a San Francisco financier endowed it to stay that way in perpetuity. Warren Hellman died in 2011. The festival has not charged a cent since, and roughly 750,000 people turn up across the three days.
The 2026 bill has now had three announcement rounds. Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, My Morning Jacket, Alison Krauss, Sierra Hull, Old Crow Medicine Show, Hiss Golden Messenger, Kathleen Edwards, Yasmin Williams with William Tyler, AJ Lee and Blue Summit, El Khat and Tyler Ballgame are all confirmed, with more still to come.
What tips it from very good to unmissable this year is the night before. On Thursday October 1 the Masonic hosts An Evening Honoring Steve Earle, with Emmylou Harris, Jackson Browne, Hot Tuna, Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, Molly Tuttle, Buddy Miller, Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams and others, benefiting Sweetwater Spectrum. That lineup will not assemble again.
Practical advice: do not drive. The N Judah, the 5 Fulton and the 7 all serve the park and all of them will be full. Go in on foot from the east end, bring a layer for when the fog comes in around four, and wear boots if there has been rain, because Hellman Hollow turns to mud faster than you would think.
Where everything is
Every listing with a resolvable address, pinned and coloured by category. The category filters below the map control both this map and the calendar.
Showing 49 of 49 events
Map tiles and data from OpenStreetMap contributors. Every listing in this edition has a pin.
Five weeks at a glance
Multi-day runs hold their lane straight across. Use the filters in the map section above to hide a category here too.
Music, Arts and NightlifeFood, Drink and FestivalsOutdoors, Sports and Active
| Mon31 | Tue1 | Wed2 | Thu3 | Fri4 | Sat5 | Sun6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Lips | Roni Size at 1015 Folsom | BIGBANG: Big Ass Stadium Tour | Bizerkeley Vegan Food Festival | |||
| Bay FC vs Kansas City Current | Diablo Trail Run | |||||
| USF Dons men vs Air Force | USF Dons women vs Nevada | |||||
| Mon7 | Tue8 | Wed9 | Thu10 | Fri11 | Sat12 | Sun13 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Giants vs St. Louis Cardinals | Flower Piano | |||||
| USF Dons men vs Marist | Star Wars: Return of the Jedi in Concert | Giants vs San Diego Padres | ||||
| Acid Tongue: The Farewell Show | Mountain View Art and Wine Festival | |||||
| Orville Peck | ||||||
| Fiesta de las Americas | Opera in the Park | |||||
| Kite by the Bay | Sleeping on Gems with Kaytranada | |||||
| Oakland Roots vs Lexington SC | ||||||
| San Jose Earthquakes vs Houston Dynamo | ||||||
| Mon21 | Tue22 | Wed23 | Thu24 | Fri25 | Sat26 | Sun27 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free Shakespeare in the Park: Antony and Cleopatra | ||||||
| Giants vs Minnesota Twins | San Francisco Symphony Opening Gala with Hilary Hahn | Giants vs Los Angeles Dodgers | ||||
| Dogstar | Portola Festival | |||||
| Corgi Con | Bay FC vs Orlando Pride | |||||
| Oakland Roots vs Phoenix Rising | Folsom Street Fair | |||||
| San Jose Earthquakes vs Portland Timbers | ||||||
| Mon28 | Tue29 | Wed30 | Thu1 | Fri2 | Sat3 | Sun4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| An Evening Honoring Steve Earle | Hardly Strictly Bluegrass | |||||
| USF Dons men vs San Diego | Castro Street Fair | |||||
Black Lips have been making gloriously sloppy flower-punk for two decades and they remain a far better live band than a studio one. Bottom of the Hill holds about 350 people, which is the right size for this. Expect a sweaty, fast, short set and a crowd that knows every word.
When Tuesday, September 1, 2026. 8:00pm
Where Bottom of the Hill, Potrero Hill, SF
1233 17th St, San Francisco, CA 94107
Price Tickets via venue
Getting there The 17th Street stop on the 22 Fillmore is a two-block walk. Street parking is realistic here.
Good for a low-commitment weeknight show
21+
Roni Size won the Mercury Prize in 1997 with New Forms and has spent the years since proving that drum and bass belongs in rooms with real sound systems. 1015 Folsom is one of the few SF clubs built for exactly that. Presented by DJ Dials.
When Thursday, September 3, 2026. 9:00pm
Where 1015 Folsom, SoMa, SF
1015 Folsom St, San Francisco, CA 94103
Price Tickets via venue
Getting there Late finish. Owl bus lines run along Mission and Market after BART closes.
Good for anyone who thinks dance music peaked in 1997
21+
BIGBANG effectively wrote the template that every K-pop group since has worked from, and this stadium run is the first time the group has toured at this scale in the Bay Area in years. A second night was added for September 4 after the first sold quickly. The Coliseum is a blunt instrument of a venue, so pay for the closer sections if you can.
When Friday, September 4 to Saturday, September 5, 2026. 8:00pm
Where Oakland Coliseum, Oakland
7000 Coliseum Way, Oakland, CA 94621
Price Tickets via AXS
Getting there BART to Coliseum station drops you at the gate. Driving into that lot on a two-night run is a mistake.
Good for a proper stadium spectacle
All agesSecond night added
Peck's stage show has grown considerably since the early fringe-mask days, and the Castro Theatre, freshly reopened after its long renovation, is a spectacular room for it. Saturday September 12 has sold out. Sunday September 13 is the earlier show at 6pm and still had tickets at the time of writing.
When Saturday, September 12 to Sunday, September 13, 2026. 7:00pm Sat, 6:00pm Sun
Where The Castro Theatre, Castro, SF
429 Castro St, San Francisco, CA 94114
Price Tickets via venue
Getting there Castro Muni station is one block. Do not plan on parking.
Good for a night that looks as good as it sounds
Sept 12 sold outAll ages
Farewell shows are either maudlin or joyous and this one has every sign of being the second. The Chapel's converted mortuary room, with its high vaulted ceiling, flatters loud guitar bands. If you have seen Acid Tongue before, this is the last chance.
When Friday, September 11, 2026. 9:00pm
Where The Chapel, Mission, SF
777 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94110
Price Tickets via venue
Getting there 16th Street Mission BART is a six-block walk down Valencia.
Good for a proper goodbye
Last ever show
Dogstar are a functioning alt-rock three-piece who happen to have a famous bassist, and the band has been playing this material long enough to have earned the room. The Fillmore's balcony is the right vantage point. Free posters at the door, as ever.
When Tuesday, September 22, 2026. 8:00pm
Where The Fillmore, Fillmore, SF
1805 Geary Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94115
Price Tickets via venue
Getting there The 22 Fillmore and the 38 Geary both stop within a block.
Good for a story you will tell later
All ages
Portola takes over Pier 80, an actual cargo terminal on the southern waterfront, and stages a large part of the festival inside a warehouse. Saturday leans toward Robyn and Dog Blood, Sunday toward Swedish House Mafia, Tiesto, Zara Larsson and Four Tet. Despacio, the James Murphy and 2manydjs sound-system installation, runs both days and is the best reason to arrive early.
When Saturday, September 26 to Sunday, September 27, 2026. Gates midday, both days
Where Pier 80, Dogpatch waterfront, SF
Cesar Chavez St at Illinois St, San Francisco, CA 94124
Price Two-day GA from $399.95; single day from $269.95
Getting there There is no useful parking. Shuttles and rideshare drop-offs are the practical routes in, and the walk from the nearest Muni stop is long and industrial.
Good for a full weekend commitment
On sale now
Hardly Strictly opens its week with an all-star tribute at the Masonic: Emmylou Harris, Jackson Browne, Hot Tuna, Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, Molly Tuttle, Buddy Miller, Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams, Elizabeth Cook, Shawn Camp, Victoria Williams and Stacey Earle, with Earle himself. Buddy Miller is musical director. Proceeds go to Sweetwater Spectrum, the Sonoma community for adults with autism that Earle has long supported.
When Thursday, October 1, 2026. 7:00pm, doors 6:00pm
Where The Masonic, Nob Hill, SF
1111 California St, San Francisco, CA 94108
Price Tickets via venue
Getting there California Street cable car stops outside. The walk up from Union Square is steep.
Good for a lineup that will not assemble twice
Benefit showOne night only
Warren Hellman's endowment keeps this free in perpetuity and roughly 750,000 people take him up on it across the weekend. The 2026 bill so far includes Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, My Morning Jacket, Old Crow Medicine Show, Alison Krauss, Sierra Hull, Hiss Golden Messenger, Kathleen Edwards, Yasmin Williams with William Tyler, AJ Lee and Blue Summit, El Khat and Tyler Ballgame, with more still to be announced.
When Friday, October 2 to Sunday, October 4, 2026. Gates late morning, all three days
Where Hellman Hollow, Golden Gate Park, Golden Gate Park, SF
John F Kennedy Dr at Transverse Dr, San Francisco, CA 94121
Price Free
Getting there Do not drive. The N Judah, the 5 Fulton and the 7 all serve the park, and every one of them will be full. Rain plan: the festival runs in light rain and the meadows turn to mud fast, so wear boots.
Good for everyone, which is rather the point
FreeAll agesNo tickets
Kaytranada remains one of the most reliable live electronic acts working, and a daytime outdoor set in San Jose is a considerably easier proposition than a 2am club booking. Discovery Meadow is flat, open and next to the Guadalupe River park.
When Sunday, September 13, 2026. 2:00pm
Where Discovery Meadow, San Jose
180 Woz Way, San Jose, CA 95110
Price Tickets via organiser
Getting there San Jose Diridon is a fifteen-minute walk. Rain plan: an open meadow with no cover.
Good for a festival feeling without a festival commitment
All ages
The film screens in full with the score performed live by the San Francisco Symphony. Davies Symphony Hall does this series well, and Return of the Jedi has the most sweeping Williams writing of the original trilogy. It is a genuinely good way to bring someone to their first symphony concert.
When Thursday, September 10, 2026. 7:30pm
Where Davies Symphony Hall, Civic Center, SF
201 Van Ness Ave, San Francisco, CA 94102
Price Tickets via SF Symphony
Getting there Van Ness and Civic Center BART are both a short walk. The Van Ness Muni station exits almost at the door.
Good for taking a skeptic to their first orchestra night
All ages
Sunset Piano places a dozen pianos among the redwoods, ponds and magnolias of the San Francisco Botanical Garden, and for eleven days anybody can walk up and play one. Scheduled performances happen throughout, but the real pleasure is the accidental concert you stumble into on a garden path. This is the eleventh year. SF residents get in free with proof of residency.
When Thursday, September 10 to Sunday, September 20, 2026. 10am to 6pm daily
Where San Francisco Botanical Garden, Golden Gate Park, SF
1199 9th Ave, San Francisco, CA 94122
Price Free for SF residents with ID; garden admission otherwise
Getting there The N Judah and the 44 both stop within a few blocks. Rain plan: pianos are covered or pulled in wet weather, so check the garden's feed before a damp morning.
Good for a slow weekday afternoon
All agesTicketed Zoox Lounge upgrade available
Music Director Eun Sun Kim leads the San Francisco Opera Orchestra through duets and arias with singers from the company's 2026-27 season. It is free, it is outdoors, and it has been an SF ritual for decades. Arrive by noon if you want lawn within sight of the stage.
When Sunday, September 13, 2026. 1:30pm
Where Robin Williams Meadow, Golden Gate Park, Golden Gate Park, SF
Bowling Green Dr at Nancy Pelosi Dr, San Francisco, CA 94117
Price Free
Getting there The 5 Fulton and 7 Haight put you closest. Rain plan: the concert goes ahead in light weather, so pack a layer and something waterproof to sit on.
Good for a picnic with people who would never buy an opera ticket
FreeAll agesNo tickets required
The San Francisco Shakespeare Festival closes its 2026 tour with a nine-day downtown run of Antony and Cleopatra. No tickets, no reservations, first-come seating on the grass. The 90-minute running time and lack of an interval make it an easy sell to anyone nervous about a full Shakespeare evening.
When Saturday, September 19 to Sunday, September 27, 2026. 2:00pm
Where Sue Bierman Park, Embarcadero, SF
Washington St at Drumm St, San Francisco, CA 94111
Price Free
Getting there Embarcadero BART is two blocks. Rain plan: performances can be cancelled in wet weather, so check the company's site the morning of.
Good for a free afternoon downtown
FreeAll agesNo reservations
Poolside's brand of unhurried, sunlit dance music is close to purpose-built for an afternoon in a plaza. It is free and it is in the middle of Union Square, so the crowd will be a genuine cross-section of the city rather than a ticketed subset of it.
When Sunday, September 20, 2026. 1:00pm
Where Union Square, Union Square, SF
333 Post St, San Francisco, CA 94108
Price Free
Getting there Powell Street BART and every Market Street line put you a block away. Rain plan: an outdoor plaza show with no cover, so a wet forecast is a real risk.
Good for a Sunday that does not require planning
FreeAll ages
Comedy Day has run in Golden Gate Park since 1981 and remains one of the more genuinely San Franciscan things in the calendar: dozens of comics, five minutes each, no cover, an audience sprawled on the grass. The lineup skews local and the quality swings wildly, which is most of the charm.
When Sunday, September 20, 2026. Afternoon
Where Golden Gate Park, Golden Gate Park, SF
Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA 94117
Price Free
Getting there The 5 Fulton and the 7 are the easiest approach. The exact stage meadow is announced closer to the day, so check the organiser before you set off. Rain plan: no shelter at all.
Good for a free Sunday in the park
FreeAll ages
Opening night is the Symphony's biggest evening of the year and Hilary Hahn is a genuine draw rather than a decorative one. Gala tickets carry gala prices, but standard concert seats are sold alongside them. Dress is smarter than a normal Davies night without being formal.
When Thursday, September 24, 2026. 7:00pm
Where Davies Symphony Hall, Civic Center, SF
201 Van Ness Ave, San Francisco, CA 94102
Price Tickets via SF Symphony
Getting there Van Ness Muni station exits at the hall.
Good for an evening worth dressing for
Season opener
Dozens of plant-based vendors take over the Civic Center park lawn for an afternoon, with a strong showing from Bay Area vegan pop-ups that do not otherwise have storefronts. It is a genuinely good way to eat through a scene in one sitting. Under-18s get in free.
When Sunday, September 6, 2026. From noon
Where Martin Luther King Jr. Civic Center Park, Berkeley
2151 Martin Luther King Jr Way, Berkeley, CA 94704
Price $8.24 and up for adults; 18 and under free
Getting there Downtown Berkeley BART is two blocks away.
Good for eating through a whole scene in one afternoon
All ages
24th Street shuts to traffic and the Calle 24 Latino Cultural District puts on food stalls, live music, dance and craft vendors along its length. It is one of the least touristed big street festivals in the city and the food is the reason to go, particularly the Salvadoran and Mexican stalls.
When Saturday, September 12, 2026. Daytime
Where 24th Street, Mission District, Mission, SF
24th St at Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110
Price Free
Getting there 24th Street Mission BART opens onto the festival. Rain plan: an outdoor street fair with no cover.
Good for eating your way down one street
FreeAll ages
Castro Street closes for two days and fills with several hundred artist booths, food stalls, wine and beer gardens and multiple music stages. It is large, well organised and unpretentious, and it is the single easiest non-SF day out in this edition if you have Caltrain access.
When Saturday, September 12 to Sunday, September 13, 2026. Sat 11am to 7pm, Sun 10am to 6pm
Where Downtown Mountain View, Castro Street, Mountain View
Castro St at Villa St, Mountain View, CA 94041
Price Free entry; food and drink extra
Getting there Mountain View Caltrain and the VTA light rail both terminate at the top of Castro Street. Driving means circling.
Good for a full day out without a car
FreeAll ages
Front Street shuts down and fills with long communal tables, steins and a brass band, aimed squarely at the FiDi after-work crowd. Entry is free and you pay per beer. Go early if you want a table rather than a standing spot.
When Friday, September 18, 2026. Afternoon into evening
Where Front Street, Financial District, Financial District, SF
Front St at Sacramento St, San Francisco, CA 94111
Price Free entry; drinks extra
Getting there Embarcadero BART is two blocks. Rain plan: outdoor tables with limited cover.
Good for a Friday that starts at six
Free entry21+ for drinks
The Annunciation Cathedral has run this for decades and it is exactly what it should be: a church hall, women who have been making the pastries for forty years, live bouzouki, and folk dancing in the courtyard. Entry is free. Come hungry and bring cash for the pastry table.
When Friday, September 18 to Sunday, September 20, 2026. Fri to Sun
Where Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Mission, SF
245 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94103
Price Free entry; food and drink extra
Getting there 16th Street Mission BART is a ten-minute walk.
Good for a meal that comes with dancing
Free entryAll ages
One of the largest mid-autumn celebrations outside Asia takes over Grant Avenue and Pacific Avenue for a weekend. Lion dance troupes, a martial arts stage, and a great deal of mooncake. Go for the food stalls on the side streets rather than the main drag.
When Saturday, September 19 to Sunday, September 20, 2026. Both days
Where Chinatown, Grant Avenue, Chinatown, SF
Grant Ave at Pacific Ave, San Francisco, CA 94108
Price Free
Getting there The 30 Stockton and the 1 California drop you at the edge. Rain plan: outdoor stalls, no cover.
Good for a weekend wander with something to eat in hand
FreeAll ages
The Haight Ashbury Street Fair has run since 1978 and has never quite decided whether it is a music festival, a craft market or a period re-enactment. It is free, it is packed, and the upper Haight food stalls are better than they need to be.
When Sunday, September 20, 2026. Daytime
Where Haight Street, Haight Ashbury, SF
Haight St at Ashbury St, San Francisco, CA 94117
Price Free
Getting there The 7 and the 43 both run to the fair. Rain plan: an open street with no cover.
Good for people-watching of a very specific kind
FreeAll ages
Folsom is a genuine San Francisco institution and by some distance the largest event of its kind anywhere. Several blocks of Folsom Street close, there are multiple dance stages, and the suggested donation at the gates funds a long list of local charities. It is emphatically not a family outing, and the fair is clear about that.
When Sunday, September 27, 2026. 11:00am to 6:00pm
Where Folsom Street, SoMa, SoMa, SF
Folsom St at 9th St, San Francisco, CA 94103
Price Free entry; $10 to $20 donation suggested
Getting there Powell and Civic Center BART are both walkable. Rain plan: an open street with no cover.
Good for seeing the city at its least self-conscious
18+Donation at gate
Harvey Milk started this in 1974 and it has run every year since, funding neighbourhood non-profits through vendor fees and donations. Several stages, hundreds of local artists and craftspeople, and a considerably gentler tone than the fair the week before.
When Sunday, October 4, 2026. Daytime
Where Castro District, Castro, SF
Castro St at Market St, San Francisco, CA 94114
Price Free
Getting there Castro Muni station sits in the middle of it. Rain plan: outdoor, no cover.
Good for a neighbourhood at its best
FreeAll ages
201 Halleck St, the Presidio, San Francisco
A food hall inside the Presidio's old army buildings, with a cafe, a bar and several all-day concepts under one roof. Opened in August. The Presidio has needed a proper casual eating anchor for years and this is the most serious attempt yet.
411 Columbus Ave, North Beach, San Francisco
Counter-service halal Mediterranean on Columbus: falafel, shawarma and kebabs. Opened in August. North Beach has very little in this lane, which is most of the appeal.
2340 Geary Blvd, Lower Pacific Heights, San Francisco
The local mini-chain's first San Francisco address, doing fish, pork and cheese-stuffed katsu. Opened in August.
290 Channel St, Mission Bay, San Francisco
A large, light coffee bar in Mission Bay, which remains chronically underserved for anywhere to sit. Opened in August.
800 Redwood Highway Frontage Rd, Mill Valley
Tartine's first Marin outpost, with the country loaves and pastries alongside omelettes and smashburgers. Opened in August. Worth the drive only if you were going north anyway.
Announced but not yet dated. Restaurant opening dates slip constantly, so treat every one of these as provisional until the doors actually open.
Kissaten Hifi, Nagomi, Shoji and Q Specialty Coffee, across San Francisco
Twenty-five-minute waits for a matcha latte are now normal at several San Francisco cafes, driven almost entirely by social video. Being honest about it: The Infatuation, which named the trend, also said plainly that the waits exceed what is in the cup. The queue is real. The verdict on the drink is mixed.
Turquaz, Cafe Velora and Kapari's, across San Francisco
Turkish and Middle Eastern bakeries have moved baklava out of the special-occasion box and into everyday sales, with walnut, pistachio and chocolate cherry versions all over the city. This one has caught on because the product genuinely improved, not because a video did well.
Delah Coffee, Haraz Coffee House and Heyma, across San Francisco
Yemeni coffee houses are open past 10pm and in some cases until 1am at weekends, which has quietly solved a problem San Francisco has had for a decade: nowhere sober to go after dinner. That, rather than the coffee itself, is why the format is spreading.
Kissaten Hifi, San Francisco; Kissakeko, Nob Hill
A small cluster of rooms built around a record player and a real sound system rather than a playlist, following the Japanese kissaten and listening-bar model. Kissakeko in Nob Hill is the sake-focused version. Early, but the format has legs.
La Cigale, Glen Park; Khao Tiew, San Francisco
La Cigale in Glen Park opened with no tips and no reservations, and Khao Tiew has since switched to walk-in only. It trades planning for queueing, which is a real cost, but it is also how a neighbourhood restaurant stays a neighbourhood restaurant.
The story of the window. Golden State sit second in the Western Conference at 28-11, have already clinched a playoff berth and are well positioned for home court in the first round. Two home games close the regular season, on September 18 and 19, and a first-round playoff game at Chase Center should follow.
The other side of the coin. The Giants opened this window 56-81 and fourth in the National League West, which puts them out of it. Four home series remain, and the last of them against the Dodgers from September 25 to 27 is the final baseball at Oracle Park this year.
Three home fixtures, including the annual move to Levi's Stadium for LAFC on September 19, which doubles as Mexican Heritage Night. The club has lost only once in seven matches at Levi's.
Three home matches at PayPal Park across the window, closing with the Latino Heritage Match against Orlando Pride on September 27 on ESPN. It has been a difficult NWSL season, and the crowd has carried the club more than the results have.
Two home dates at the Coliseum, against Lexington SC on September 12 and Phoenix Rising on September 26, with the USL Championship playoff race tightening. Still the loudest crowd per dollar in the Bay Area.
The busiest of the eight. The men have four home fixtures at Negoesco Stadium, including California on September 16, which is the best atmosphere of their season. The women have two, against Nevada on September 6 and Idaho on September 17.
Out of season, and nothing inside this window. The preseason home opener is against the Lakers at Chase Center on Tuesday October 6 at 7pm, which falls one day past the coverage window. It is in On the Horizon below.
Out of season. The 2026 NPSL regular season ran from May 2 to July 4 and the national finals were played on August 1. Nothing until the league returns in spring.
Kansas City have been among the strongest sides in the NWSL and this is the first of three Bay FC home matches inside this window. Bay FC's season has been a struggle, so the atmosphere is carried by the supporters' end rather than the league table. PayPal Park is a proper soccer-specific ground and there is not a bad seat.
When Friday, September 4, 2026. 7:00pm
Where PayPal Park, San Jose
1123 Coleman Ave, San Jose, CA 95110
Price Tickets via Bay FC
Getting there VTA light rail to Race Street is a ten-minute walk. Stadium parking sells out on Friday nights.
Good for a Friday night that is not in a bar
All ages
Negoesco Stadium is one of the most storied college soccer grounds in the country and it sits in the middle of a residential block in the Inner Richmond. Air Force is a non-conference test before the WCC season proper. The atmosphere is small, loud and completely unpretentious.
When Friday, September 4, 2026. 7:00pm
Where Negoesco Stadium, Inner Richmond, SF
2130 Fulton St, San Francisco, CA 94117
Price Tickets via USF Athletics
Getting there The 5 Fulton and the 31 Balboa run within two blocks. Bring a jacket: it is cold up there after dark.
Good for good football at a fraction of the price
All ages
The Dons women open a home stretch against Nevada on Labor Day Sunday. Noon kickoffs at Negoesco are the pick of the fixture list because the fog usually clears by then and the ground faces the sun.
When Sunday, September 6, 2026. 12:00pm
Where Negoesco Stadium, Inner Richmond, SF
2130 Fulton St, San Francisco, CA 94117
Price Tickets via USF Athletics
Getting there The 5 Fulton drops you two blocks away.
Good for a cheap Sunday out with actual sunshine
All ages
The Giants come home from a long road trip sitting fourth in the NL West and well out of the race, which changes what these games are for. September at Oracle is when you see the young players who will matter next year, and the ballpark itself is at its best in early autumn light. The Labor Day opener is a rare Monday afternoon crowd.
When Monday, September 7 to Wednesday, September 9, 2026
Where Oracle Park, Mission Bay, SF
24 Willie Mays Plaza, San Francisco, CA 94107
Price Tickets via MLB
Getting there Muni Metro to UN Plaza or the T Third to the ballpark. Rain plan: September rainouts in San Francisco are close to unheard of.
Good for a cheap late-season ballgame
All ages
Marist travel across the country for a 1pm Labor Day fixture. Afternoon games at Negoesco are the friendliest of the season, and the ground is a five-minute walk from the Panhandle if you want to make an afternoon of it.
When Monday, September 7, 2026. 1:00pm
Where Negoesco Stadium, Inner Richmond, SF
2130 Fulton St, San Francisco, CA 94117
Price Tickets via USF Athletics
Getting there The 5 Fulton and the 31 Balboa both stop nearby.
Good for filling the middle of a holiday Monday
All agesLabor Day
Weekend Padres series at Oracle draw well and bring a decent travelling contingent, so this is the livelier of the two September home stands. Sunday is a day game, which at this time of year means the good light on McCovey Cove.
When Friday, September 11 to Sunday, September 13, 2026
Where Oracle Park, Mission Bay, SF
24 Willie Mays Plaza, San Francisco, CA 94107
Price Tickets via MLB
Getting there The T Third stops at the ballpark and the ferry runs on game days.
Good for a weekend series with an away crowd in it
All ages
Oakland Roots have taken over the Coliseum and turned an oversized stadium into something that works, largely through the sheer volume of their supporters' sections. The club's identity is the point as much as the football is. It remains one of the best-value live sports tickets in the Bay.
When Saturday, September 12, 2026. 7:00pm
Where Oakland Coliseum, Oakland
7000 Coliseum Way, Oakland, CA 94621
Price Tickets via Oakland Roots
Getting there BART to Coliseum station puts you at the gate over the pedestrian bridge.
Good for the loudest crowd per dollar in the Bay
All ages
PayPal Park was built with the supporters' end at one throat-level corner and it shows. Houston are a physical, direct side, which tends to make for an ugly and entertaining match. Lowest listed tickets were around $45.
When Saturday, September 12, 2026. 7:30pm
Where PayPal Park, San Jose
1123 Coleman Ave, San Jose, CA 95110
Price From about $45
Getting there VTA light rail to Race Street, then a ten-minute walk.
Good for a real away-day feel without leaving the Bay
All ages
Cal at Negoesco is the best atmosphere of the Dons' home season by a distance. It is a short-drive derby, the away support travels, and the ground gets genuinely full. If you go to one USF match this autumn, make it this one.
When Wednesday, September 16, 2026. 7:00pm
Where Negoesco Stadium, Inner Richmond, SF
2130 Fulton St, San Francisco, CA 94117
Price Tickets via USF Athletics
Getting there The 5 Fulton runs late enough to get you home. It is cold after dark: bring more than you think.
Good for the best small-ground atmosphere in the city
All agesRivalry match
Idaho visit for a 6pm start, the final non-conference home fixture before WCC play. Negoesco under lights is a small, sharp atmosphere and tickets are cheap.
When Thursday, September 17, 2026. 6:00pm
Where Negoesco Stadium, Inner Richmond, SF
2130 Fulton St, San Francisco, CA 94117
Price Tickets via USF Athletics
Getting there The 5 Fulton and the 31 Balboa stop within two blocks.
Good for a cheap midweek fixture
All ages
Golden State sit second in the Western Conference at 28-11 and have already clinched a playoff berth, which is a remarkable second season. This is the first of two straight home nights to close the regular season. A Valkyries snapback is going to fans on the night, presented by Iren.
When Friday, September 18, 2026
Where Chase Center, Mission Bay, SF
1 Warriors Way, San Francisco, CA 94158
Price Tickets via Valkyries
Getting there The T Third stops at the door and Caltrain is a ten-minute walk.
Good for watching a good team finish strong
All agesGiveaway night
The regular-season finale at Chase Center, against a Seattle side the Valkyries have measured themselves against since day one. A Valkyries shoulder bag goes to the first 10,000 fans through the doors, presented by Waymo, so arriving early is worth something concrete. The club is well positioned to host a first-round playoff game here afterwards.
When Saturday, September 19, 2026
Where Chase Center, Mission Bay, SF
1 Warriors Way, San Francisco, CA 94158
Price Tickets via Valkyries
Getting there The T Third stops outside. Get there early for the giveaway.
Good for the best atmosphere Chase Center gets
All agesFirst 10,000 fansSeason finale
The annual Levi's Stadium fixture is the Earthquakes' showpiece, and this year it doubles as Mexican Heritage Night. The club has lost only once in seven matches at Levi's, which makes the move less of a gimmick than it sounds. Lowest listed tickets were around $60.
When Saturday, September 19, 2026. 4:30pm
Where Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara
4900 Marie P DeBartolo Way, Santa Clara, CA 95054
Price From about $60
Getting there VTA light rail runs to the stadium and is far easier than the Great America parking lots.
Good for a big crowd and a real rivalry
All agesMexican Heritage Night
A late-afternoon Sunday fixture is the most family-workable slot Bay FC play, and Racing Louisville are a beatable opponent. The club needs points and the crowd knows it.
When Sunday, September 20, 2026. 4:00pm
Where PayPal Park, San Jose
1123 Coleman Ave, San Jose, CA 95110
Price Tickets via Bay FC
Getting there VTA light rail to Race Street. Sunday parking is easier than Friday.
Good for a Sunday out with children in tow
All ages
A quiet midweek series is the cheapest way into Oracle Park all year, and the upper deck on a clear September night is one of the better seats in American sport. Expect plenty of roster experimentation from both sides.
When Monday, September 21 to Wednesday, September 23, 2026
Where Oracle Park, Mission Bay, SF
24 Willie Mays Plaza, San Francisco, CA 94107
Price Tickets via MLB
Getting there The T Third stops at the park.
Good for a cheap midweek night at the ballpark
All ages
The final homestand of the Giants' season, against the Dodgers, and the last chance to be in that ballpark until March. The season has not gone the Giants' way, but a Dodgers weekend at Oracle carries its own charge regardless of the standings. Sunday September 27 is the final home game of 2026.
When Friday, September 25 to Sunday, September 27, 2026
Where Oracle Park, Mission Bay, SF
24 Willie Mays Plaza, San Francisco, CA 94107
Price Tickets via MLB
Getting there The T Third and the ferry both run on game days. This weekend will be the busiest of the month there.
Good for the last baseball of the year
All agesFinal home series
Portland bring the best away support in Major League Soccer and PayPal Park is small enough that you hear all of it. Late September is also when the playoff picture starts to bite. Lowest listed tickets were around $44.
When Saturday, September 26, 2026. 7:30pm
Where PayPal Park, San Jose
1123 Coleman Ave, San Jose, CA 95110
Price From about $44
Getting there VTA light rail to Race Street, ten-minute walk.
Good for a proper atmosphere
All ages
Phoenix Rising have been one of the USL Championship's stronger sides for years and this is a meaningful late-season fixture. The Coliseum's Roots setup keeps the crowd in the lower bowl behind one goal, which concentrates the noise considerably.
When Saturday, September 26, 2026. 7:00pm
Where Oakland Coliseum, Oakland
7000 Coliseum Way, Oakland, CA 94621
Price Tickets via Oakland Roots
Getting there BART to Coliseum station and over the bridge.
Good for a late-season match with something riding on it
All ages
The last Bay FC home match inside this window, against an Orlando side that has been among the NWSL's best. It is the club's Latino Heritage Match, with programming around the ground before kickoff, and the early kickoff and national broadcast make it the season's most visible home date.
When Sunday, September 27, 2026. 2:00pm
Where PayPal Park, San Jose
1123 Coleman Ave, San Jose, CA 95110
Price Tickets via Bay FC
Getting there VTA light rail to Race Street. A 2pm kickoff means easier parking than the night games.
Good for the best-supported Bay FC date of the run
All agesLatino Heritage Match
The Dons open their WCC home slate against San Diego, always one of the conference's better sides. Saturday night at Negoesco is the fullest the ground gets outside the Cal fixture.
When Saturday, October 3, 2026. 7:00pm
Where Negoesco Stadium, Inner Richmond, SF
2130 Fulton St, San Francisco, CA 94117
Price Tickets via USF Athletics
Getting there The 5 Fulton and the 31 Balboa run nearby. Bring a warm layer.
Good for conference football on your doorstep
All agesConference opener
Mount Diablo's summit gives one of the longest sightlines in North America on a clear day, and this race climbs a good chunk of it. Courses run from a four-mile option up to a 50K, so it is not only for ultra people. September on Diablo is hot: start early and carry more water than you think you need.
When Sunday, September 6, 2026
Where Mount Diablo State Park, Clayton
1462 Regency Dr, Clayton, CA 94517
Price Entry via race organiser
Getting there No transit. Drive and expect a long, winding park road. Rain plan: trail races here are far more likely to be affected by heat than rain.
Good for a hard morning and a very good view
Registration required
Candlestick Point is exposed, flat and reliably blowing, which makes it useless for almost everything except this. Bring your own kite or watch the large display kites, which are enormous. It is free and there is nowhere else in the city that works as well.
When Saturday, September 12, 2026. Daytime
Where Candlestick Point State Recreation Area, Bayview, SF
Hunters Point Expressway, San Francisco, CA 94124
Price Free
Getting there The T Third plus a walk, or drive and use the state park lot. Rain plan: wind is the point, rain is not, so check the forecast.
Good for taking children somewhere genuinely windy
FreeAll ages
Corgi Con has outgrown Ocean Beach and now runs at the Alameda County Fairgrounds, which means more space, more shade and considerably more corgis. Costume contests, a corgi race, and a large number of very short dogs. Thirteen dollars.
When Saturday, September 26, 2026. From 10:00am
Where Alameda County Fairgrounds, Pleasanton
4501 Pleasanton Ave, Pleasanton, CA 94566
Price $13
Getting there Pleasanton BART plus a short rideshare. Rain plan: mostly outdoors on grass.
Good for an afternoon that requires no explanation
All ages
Beyond the window
Past October 5, and worth putting in the diary now.
Sunday October 4 to Sunday October 12
Northern Waterfront, San Francisco
Ship tours, the K9 showcase and the parade of ships, free along the waterfront. The air show with the Blue Angels runs October 9 to 11.
Tuesday October 6, 7:00pm
Chase Center, 1 Warriors Way, San Francisco
The Warriors' home preseason opener, and the first basketball at Chase Center since spring. One day past this edition's window.
Saturday October 10, 7:00pm
Oakland Coliseum, 7000 Coliseum Way, Oakland
A late-season USL Championship home date with playoff implications.
Saturday October 17, 7:30pm
PayPal Park, 1123 Coleman Ave, San Jose
The Quakes return to PayPal Park after the Levi's Stadium fixture.