San Francisco & the Bay Area
Edition of Monday, October 12, 2026Covering Monday, October 12 to Sunday, November 15, 2026
Catch-up edition, published October 26, 2026.
At a Glance
Something genuinely new happens five days from now. The Golden State Valkyries, an expansion team in only their second season, swept the defending-champion Las Vegas Aces and host Games 1 and 2 of the WNBA Finals at Chase Center on Saturday and Monday. No WNBA Finals game has ever been played in San Francisco. Two are now guaranteed.
Then the building barely cools. The Warriors come home to open against Memphis on October 23 and play seven home games before November 10. Down in San Jose the Earthquakes have three home games left in the regular season, and Bay FC close their season at PayPal Park on November 1.
Outside the arenas it is peak autumn. Half Moon Bay's pumpkin festival, Oakland's Autumn Lights, A Toast to Sausalito and the Potrero Hill R&B Festival all land on the same weekend, and Market Street fills with free performances for a single evening on October 17.
Day of the Dead season runs from a 21-and-over NightLife at the Academy of Sciences on October 22 to a Symphony concert and Redwood City's altars on November 7 and 8. Wine Road's Sonoma weekend and a Diwali night market in Yerba Buena Gardens close the window.
Pick of the Month
Saturday October 17, 12:30pm, and Monday October 19, 5pmChase Center, 1 Warriors Way, San FranciscoTicketed, online only
The reason is scarcity, not hype. The Valkyries made the playoffs in their first season, and in their second they are the only expansion team in WNBA history to reach the Finals in year two. They got there by sweeping the defending champions, closing it out 87-77 in overtime in Las Vegas on October 9.
Chase Center is down for Games 1, 2, 5 and 7, but only the first two are certain to be played. Games 3 and 4 are in Atlanta on October 21 and 24. If the series ends in four or five, Monday night may be the last WNBA Finals game San Francisco sees for years. Street fairs come round every autumn, and the Warriors play 41 home games. This does not repeat.
Practical advice: Saturday tips at 12:30pm on NBC and Monday at 5pm on USA, so leave time for security. Game 1 ticket holders get a violet Finals t-shirt. Take Muni's T Third to the UCSF/Chase Center stop rather than driving, and if you are in the area early on Saturday, the free Bay Area Science Festival is running on the UCSF campus next door.
Where everything is
Every listing with a confidently placed venue, pinned and coloured by category. The category filters below the map control both this map and the calendar.
Showing 37 of 37 events
Map tiles and data from OpenStreetMap contributors. Not pinned: Lila Downs at SFJAZZ, Lit Crawl San Francisco, Wine and Food Affair, Northern Sonoma County, Dia de los Muertos Festival, Redwood City.
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
| Mon26 | Tue27 | Wed28 | Thu29 | Fri30 | Sat31 | Sun1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose Earthquakes vs. Colorado Rapids | Warriors vs. Los Angeles Lakers (Emirates NBA Cup) | San Jose Earthquakes vs. Real Salt Lake | Dia de Muertos Fiesta with Cumbia DJs, Temescal Brewing | |||
| USF Dons women's soccer: Pacific, Denver, Santa Clara | Warriors November homestand: Clippers, Suns, Heat, Magic, Pelicans | |||||
| Bay FC vs. San Diego Wave FC |
| Mon9 | Tue10 | Wed11 | Thu12 | Fri13 | Sat14 | Sun15 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warriors November homestand: Clippers, Suns, Heat, Magic, Pelicans | Bhangra and Beats Diwali Night Market | San Francisco International Tea Festival | ||||
| Rhye | Vince Staples, with Glare | |||||
The 2025 North American tour stopped before it started when Steve Jones broke his wrist. He has recovered, and the Warfield date is one of the rescheduled shows, with Frank Carter of Gallows and the Rattlesnakes on vocals. Tickets bought for the original 2025 dates are honored at the new shows in most markets, but check with your point of purchase.
When Wednesday, October 14, 2026
Time Not confirmed at press time; check your ticket
Where The Warfield, Mid-Market, SF
982 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94102
Price Ticketed via AXS
Rescheduled date
Rush retired from the road after 2015 and this tour, with Anika Nilles on drums, is the reunion nobody expected. San Jose gets two of the dates at SAP Center, on Thursday and Saturday. Neither listing we could verify published a start time.
When Thursday, October 15 and Saturday, October 17, 2026
Time Not published at press time
Where SAP Center, San Jose
525 W Santa Clara St, San Jose, CA 95113
Price Ticketed
Archive note, added October 26: the October 17 show was postponed on the day because of illness and moved to December 6, 2026. The October 15 show went ahead.
Two nights
The Castro Theatre has become the city's best room for quiet, detailed music since its renovation, and Iron and Wine is exactly the kind of act it flatters. The show is listed as sold out. If you are going via resale, buy only from a reputable platform.
When Friday, October 16, 2026
Time 8:00pm
Where The Castro Theatre, Castro, SF
429 Castro St, San Francisco, CA 94114
Price Sold out; resale only
Sold out
Lila Downs mixes ranchera, cumbia, jazz and Oaxacan tradition, and her live shows are as much theatre as concert. SFJAZZ's Miner Auditorium is built for exactly this kind of close listening. It is a strong curtain-raiser for the city's Day of the Dead season.
When Friday, October 16, 2026
Time 7:30pm
Where SFJAZZ Center, Hayes Valley, SF
201 Franklin St, San Francisco, CA 94102
Price Ticketed via SFJAZZ
A neighbourhood fixture for half a century. Mitch Woods and His Rocket 88s, the JC Smith Blues Band, the Curtis Family and Josh Klipp and the Klipptones are on the bill, with a youth talent show, a beer and wine garden for over-21s, and rides and a petting zoo for children. Proceeds go to Daniel Webster and Starr King elementary schools and the Potrero Hill Neighborhood House.
When Saturday, October 17, 2026
Time 10:00am to 4:00pm
Where 20th Street, Potrero Hill, SF
20th St between Wisconsin St and Missouri St, San Francisco, CA 94107
Price Free entry
FreeAll ages
Rhye make intimate, string-laced R&B that sounds better in a beautiful old theatre than almost anywhere else. The Warfield fits that brief. A good Saturday date-night pick.
When Saturday, November 14, 2026
Time 8:00pm
Where The Warfield, Mid-Market, SF
982 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94102
Price Ticketed via AXS
Vince Staples writes dry, funny and bleak records and performs them with total control. Glare open. It is the last night of this edition's window and a strong one to finish on.
When Sunday, November 15, 2026
Time 8:00pm
Where The Warfield, Mid-Market, SF
982 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94102
Price Ticketed via AXS
Conductor José Luis Gómez leads a program of Chávez, Márquez and Moncayo, plus the world premiere of Luis Farfán Carrillo's El baile de la Catrina, a Symphony commission. Violinist Francisco Fullana and two salterio players are the soloists, and local artists fill the lobby with installations curated with Casa Círculo Cultural.
When Saturday, November 7, 2026
Time 3:00pm
Where Davies Symphony Hall, Civic Center, SF
201 Van Ness Ave, San Francisco, CA 94102
Price From $34.50; kids half price
Family friendly
Local artists install around 75 light pieces through the gardens, with live entertainment, an art market, a costume contest and a food court with beer and wine. It benefits the Friends of the Gardens at Lake Merritt. Friday and Saturday were close to selling out at press time.
When Thursday, October 15 to Saturday, October 17, 2026
Time 6:00pm to 11:00pm nightly
Where The Gardens at Lake Merritt, Oakland
666 Bellevue Ave, Oakland, CA 94610
Price $28.52 adults, $12.51 ages 6 to 17, under 6 free (fees included)
Usually sells out
The inaugural festival runs along Market Street from Fifth to Van Ness, with a free main stage at UN Plaza. Expect Bandaloop's aerial dance, drag karaoke on the Hotsy Totsy cable car, a Broadway sing-along at the Orpheum and Mark Farina with Monarch, plus ticketed shows in nearby theatres. The first 500 people to register get a voucher for local eateries.
When Saturday, October 17, 2026
Time 4:00pm to 11:00pm
Where Market Street, Mid-Market, SF
Market St between 5th St and Van Ness Ave; main stage at UN Plaza, San Francisco, CA 94102
Price Free; some shows ticketed
FreeInaugural year
The fourth annual Day of the Dead NightLife opens with a blessing from Xiuhcoatl Danza Azteca, then fills the piazza with Ballet Folklórico Mexicano and the East Garden with Chulita Vinyl Club. There is calavera face painting, a community ofrenda and an alebrije honoring Claude the albino alligator. Bring physical photo ID.
When Thursday, October 22, 2026
Time 6:00pm to 10:00pm
Where California Academy of Sciences, Golden Gate Park, SF
55 Music Concourse Dr, San Francisco, CA 94118
Price Ticketed; planetarium passes $7 extra
21+
Litquake's closing-night crawl puts readings in places like 826 Valencia, Dog Eared Books, Good Vibrations and Martuni's. Sessions run 5 to 6pm, 6:30 to 7:30pm and 8 to 9pm, first come first seated, with no RSVP needed. Pick three and walk between them.
When Saturday, October 24, 2026
Time Sessions at 5:00pm, 6:30pm and 8:00pm
Where Venues across the Mission District, SF
Multiple venues, including 826 Valencia, 826 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94110
Price Free; no RSVP needed
Free
The City of Sausalito's autumn street festival is free to walk, with stages of live music and dance, live art and local vendors. Unlimited-sampling wristbands are capped at 1,000, so buy ahead. Take the ferry from the Ferry Building and skip the parking.
When Saturday, October 17, 2026
Time 1:00pm to 5:00pm
Where Caledonia Street, Sausalito
Caledonia St between Pine St and Bee St, Sausalito, CA 94965
Price Free admission; 21+ tasting wristbands extra (early bird was $40; capped at 1,000)
Family friendly
Main Street fills with more than 250 artists and makers, nonprofit food booths and the champion pumpkins from the weigh-off. The Great Pumpkin Parade steps off at noon on Saturday, and the pie-eating contests are at 2pm both days. Highway 92 jams badly, so go early.
When Saturday, October 17 to Sunday, October 18, 2026
Time From 9:00am
Where Downtown Half Moon Bay
Main St between Miramontes St and Spruce St, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
Price Free admission
FreeFamily friendly
The festival's big free day takes over Koret Quad with demonstrations, experiments and games run by Bay Area scientists. It is aimed squarely at kids, but adults will not be bored. It is a short walk from Chase Center, so it pairs well with WNBA Finals Game 1 the same day.
When Saturday, October 17, 2026
Time 11:00am to 4:00pm
Where Koret Quad, UCSF Mission Bay, SF
UCSF Mission Bay Campus, 1675 Owens St, San Francisco, CA 94158
Price Free
FreeFamily friendly
Second Line Pleasure Club takes over the lot shared by Donkey and Goat and Tessier wineries. Grammy-nominated accordionist Andre Thierry headlines, with Top Chefs and a DJ. Entry is free and all ages, but the crawfish is presale only, by the pound or by the table pour.
When Sunday, October 18, 2026
Time 3:00pm to 8:00pm
Where Gilman Wine Block, West Berkeley
1340 5th St, Berkeley, CA 94710
Price Free entry; crawfish by presale
Free entryAll ages
Casa Círculo Cultural and the San Mateo County History Museum host this year's festival, themed on Tlaxcala, Mexico. Expect ofrendas, sugar skull workshops, chalk art for kids and a food court under papel picado, plus a free ofrenda exhibition inside the museum.
When Sunday, November 8, 2026
Time 3:00pm to 8:30pm
Where Courthouse Square, Redwood City
2200 Broadway, Redwood City, CA 94063
Price Free
FreeFamily friendly
The Friday night market goes all in for Diwali, with live bhangra, community dance lessons, Indian street food, open-air bars, mehndi and sari wrapping. It spreads across the gardens, Jessie Square and Yerba Buena Lane. Free and all ages, with RSVP encouraged.
When Friday, November 13, 2026
Time 4:00pm to 9:00pm
Where Yerba Buena Gardens, SoMa, SF
Mission St at 3rd St (Yerba Buena Gardens, 750 Howard St), San Francisco, CA 94103
Price Free; RSVP encouraged
FreeAll ages
Now in its third year, the festival from the nonprofit Asians Are Strong brings 45-plus local restaurants and businesses to the Ferry Building, with cooking demos and live performances. Last year drew more than 16,000 people. Entry is free; you pay the vendors for what you eat.
When Sunday, October 25, 2026
Time 11:00am to 5:00pm
Where Ferry Building and Ferry Plaza, Embarcadero, SF
1 Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA 94111
Price Free admission; food sold by vendors
FreeAll ages
Temescal Brewing marks Day of the Dead with cumbia DJs, ofrendas from La Familia Quíroz and three food vendors, and releases its Mictlán Lager the same day. It runs from noon to nine, so drop in whenever suits.
When Sunday, November 1, 2026
Time 12:00pm to 9:00pm
Where Temescal Brewing, Temescal, Oakland
4115 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, CA 94609
Price Free
FreeAll ages
The night market celebrates AANHPI heritage with food vendors, merchandise, live music and performances for all ages. It runs on the first and third Fridays of the month through November 20, so this is one of the season's last nights.
When Friday, November 6, 2026
Time 5:00pm to 9:00pm
Where Chilpancingo Park, Pleasant Hill
200 Golf Club Rd, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523
Price Free
Free
Wine Road's 28th Wine and Food Affair spans Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley, the Russian River Valley and Healdsburg itself. You choose a starting winery when you buy, check in there for your glass and wristband, then roam. Tickets are advance only and online sales close on November 2.
When Saturday, November 7 to Sunday, November 8, 2026
Time 11:00am to 4:00pm both days
Where 45 wineries across northern Sonoma County
Check in at your chosen starting winery; full list at wineroad.com
Price $135 weekend ticket, plus tax; no door sales
21+Advance only
The tea festival returns to the Ferry Building with tastings from established names such as Imperial Tea Court, The Republic of Tea and Sugimoto alongside small local artisans. Tickets include the tastings and the tasting cup. A good, calm antidote to a month of street fairs.
When Saturday, November 14 to Sunday, November 15, 2026
Time From 10:00am
Where Ferry Building, Embarcadero, SF
1 Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA 94111
Price From $19 to $24
Home fixtures, team by team
Valkyries: Finals Games 1 and 2 (Games 5 and 7 only if needed). Warriors: seven home games from October 23. Earthquakes: three, on October 17, 28 and 31. Bay FC: two, on October 18 and November 1. USF Dons: three each for the women and the men at Negoesco.
Nothing at home in this window
Giants: the season is over, with no postseason, and Oracle Park has no baseball until spring. Oakland Roots: the regular season's last home game, and the club's farewell to the Coliseum, was October 10 against San Antonio, so there is no home date in this window. SF City FC: the USL League Two season ended in the summer, so no matches until next year.
Golden State swept the defending-champion Las Vegas Aces 3-0 to get here, finishing with an 87-77 overtime win on October 9. Game 1 is a 12:30pm Saturday tip on NBC and Peacock, and everyone in the building gets a violet Finals t-shirt. Single-game tickets are sold only online at valkyries.wnba.com.
When Saturday, October 17, 2026
Time 12:30pm
Where Chase Center, Mission Bay, SF
1 Warriors Way, San Francisco, CA 94158
Price Ticketed; online only
Pick of the Month
After Game 2 the series moves to Atlanta for Games 3 and 4. Chase Center would host Game 5 on October 26 and Game 7 on October 31, but only if the series runs that long. Watch parties for the away games are planned inside Chase Center.
When Monday, October 19, 2026
Time 5:00pm
Where Chase Center, Mission Bay, SF
1 Warriors Way, San Francisco, CA 94158
Price Ticketed; online only
The Warriors open on the road against the Lakers on October 21, then come home to face Memphis. After this they go straight out on a three-game trip to Phoenix, Denver and Minnesota. Times move for television, so check the ticket.
When Friday, October 23, 2026
Time 7:00pm
Where Chase Center, Mission Bay, SF
1 Warriors Way, San Francisco, CA 94158
Price Ticketed via Chase Center
Home opener
The first home game after the road trip, and the rematch of opening night. NBA Cup games count in the standings, so expect a playoff-style edge. This is the hardest home ticket of the window.
When Friday, October 30, 2026
Time 7:00pm
Where Chase Center, Mission Bay, SF
1 Warriors Way, San Francisco, CA 94158
Price Ticketed via Chase Center
NBA Cup
Clippers on Sunday November 1 (5:30pm), Suns on Monday November 2 (7pm), Heat on Thursday November 5 (7pm), Magic on Saturday November 7 (5:30pm) and Pelicans on Monday November 9 (7pm). The team then leaves for Houston and San Antonio. Midweek games against non-marquee opponents are usually the cheapest way in.
When Sunday, November 1 to Monday, November 9, 2026 (five dates)
Time 5:30pm or 7:00pm, by game
Where Chase Center, Mission Bay, SF
1 Warriors Way, San Francisco, CA 94158
Price Ticketed via Chase Center
Five games
The first of three Quakes home games in the last two weeks of the regular season. PayPal Park is compact and loud, and the Caltrain stop at Santa Clara is close by. Kickoff is 7:30pm.
When Saturday, October 17, 2026
Time 7:30pm
Where PayPal Park, San Jose
1123 Coleman Ave, San Jose, CA 95110
Price Ticketed
USF host Pacific on Saturday October 17 at 6pm, Denver on Saturday October 24 at 1pm and Santa Clara on Saturday October 31 at 1pm. Negoesco is a small, close-to-the-field stadium on the edge of the Inner Richmond, and college soccer is one of the cheapest live sports tickets in the city.
When Saturdays October 17, 24 and 31, 2026
Time 6:00pm (Oct 17); 1:00pm (Oct 24 and 31)
Where Negoesco Stadium, USF, SF
2130 Fulton St, San Francisco, CA 94117
Price See usfdons.com
Three matches
Bay FC's penultimate home match of 2026 is a 2pm Sunday kickoff, shown on ESPN. The club's last home match of the season follows on November 1.
When Sunday, October 18, 2026
Time 2:00pm
Where PayPal Park, San Jose
1123 Coleman Ave, San Jose, CA 95110
Price Ticketed
The men host Pacific on Wednesday October 21, Seattle U on Saturday October 24 and Portland on Friday November 6, all at 7pm. October 24 makes a full Negoesco day with the women's match at 1pm.
When Wednesday October 21, Saturday October 24 and Friday November 6, 2026
Time 7:00pm
Where Negoesco Stadium, USF, SF
2130 Fulton St, San Francisco, CA 94117
Price See usfdons.com
Three matches
The Quakes play Colorado for the second time in three weeks, this time at home. Midweek crowds are smaller, so it is a good night to try PayPal Park for the first time.
When Wednesday, October 28, 2026
Time 7:30pm
Where PayPal Park, San Jose
1123 Coleman Ave, San Jose, CA 95110
Price Ticketed
The regular-season home finale lands on Halloween. The kickoff time had not been published when this edition closed, so check before you go. San Jose finish the season away at Minnesota on November 7.
When Saturday, October 31, 2026
Time To be announced
Where PayPal Park, San Jose
1123 Coleman Ave, San Jose, CA 95110
Price Ticketed
Home finale
Bay FC close their 2026 season at home against San Diego with a 2pm Sunday kickoff on ESPN. It is billed as the club's Fan Appreciation Match.
When Sunday, November 1, 2026
Time 2:00pm
Where PayPal Park, San Jose
1123 Coleman Ave, San Jose, CA 95110
Price Ticketed
Season finale
Sunday Streets closes neighbourhood streets to cars and hands them to walkers, cyclists, skaters and children. The Excelsior edition brings free active games, live music, cultural performances and health resources. Bring a bike.
When Sunday, October 18, 2026
Time 11:00am to 4:00pm
Where Excelsior, SF
Mission St corridor between Silver Ave and Geneva Ave, San Francisco, CA 94112
Price Free
FreeAll ages
The 44th Sandcastle Classic pairs up to 30 teams of designers and engineers with local schools, and celebrity judges award the prizes in the afternoon. More than 5,000 people usually turn up, and proceeds fund Bay Area arts education. Wrap up: Ocean Beach is rarely warm in late October.
When Saturday, October 24, 2026
Time 11:00am to 3:30pm
Where Ocean Beach at Balboa Street, SF
1000 Great Highway, San Francisco, CA 94121
Price Free to watch
FreeFamily friendly
Beyond the window
Past November 15, and worth putting in the diary now.
Tuesday November 17 to Saturday November 21
The Warfield, 982 Market St, San Francisco
A busy week at the Warfield: BOYNEXTDOOR on November 17 and Brutalismus 3000 on November 21, the latter with Eurohead, ali rq, deBasement and techno pagan.
Friday November 20, 5:00pm
Chilpancingo Park, 200 Golf Club Rd, Pleasant Hill
The last Pleasant Hill Night Market of the 2026 season.
Thursday November 26, boats from 4:15am
Boats from Pier 33 Alcatraz Landing, The Embarcadero, San Francisco
The International Indian Treaty Council's Thanksgiving sunrise gathering on Alcatraz, marking the 1969 to 1971 occupation. The event is free; boat tickets are $12 for adults.
Thursday December 31, 8:30pm
The Warfield, 982 Market St, San Francisco
Deltron 3030 see in the new year, with DJ Prince Paul and Souls of Mischief.