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Art & Museums

Sunday, April 28

SF’s 2024 Dogpatch Spring Weekend (April 27-28)
SF's 2024 Dogpatch Spring Weekend (April 27-28)

Celebrate Spring in Dogpatch April 27-28 and experience one of the coolest neighborhoods in San Francisco with FREE admission to the art museums and galleries; hands-on activities for all ages; discounts on activities like rock climbing, gaming, and foiling; delicious dining deals; and special neighborhood ...

SF’s Spring 2024 “Shipyard Open Studios” w/ 100+ Artists (Apr. 27-28)
Sunday, April 28 – 11:00 am - Ends at 6:00 pm | Cost: FREE*
*Free admission and free parking with RSVP
| Hunters Point Shipyard Artists
SF’s Spring 2024 “Shipyard Open Studios” w/ 100+ Artists (Apr. 27-28)

Shipyard Open Studios Showcases 40-Year Legacy of the Hunters Point Shipyard Artists! Join us at San Francisco’s historic Hunters Point Shipyard and Islais Creek Studios to connect with artists where they work. Shipyard Open Studios (Spring 2024) April 27-28, 2022 | 11a to 6p Hunters ...

Monday, April 29

Japanese Tea Garden’s Free Admission Hour (Golden Gate Park)
Japanese Tea Garden's Free Admission Hour (Golden Gate Park)

The Japanese Tea Garden provides visitors from around the world with an opportunity to experience the natural beauty, tranquility, and harmony of a Japanese-style garden in the heart of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. Originally created as a “Japanese Village” exhibit for the 1894 California ...Every Monday

Wednesday, May 1

“Pay What You Can” Wednesday at SF’s Museum of Craft and Design
Wednesday, May 1 – 10:00 am - Ends at 5:30 pm | Cost: FREE*
*Pay What You Can. Visitors are welcome to pay what they can every Wednesday
| Museum of Craft and Design
"Pay What You Can" Wednesday at SF's Museum of Craft and Design

There’s no better time to visit the Museum of Craft and Design than on Pay What You Can Wednesday. MCD’s Pay What You Can Wednesday initiative strives to keep art accessible to all by giving visitors the opportunity to experience the latest exhibitions for whatever ...Every Wednesday

Japanese Tea Garden’s Free Admission Hour (Golden Gate Park)
Japanese Tea Garden's Free Admission Hour (Golden Gate Park)

The Japanese Tea Garden provides visitors from around the world with an opportunity to experience the natural beauty, tranquility, and harmony of a Japanese-style garden in the heart of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. Originally created as a “Japanese Village” exhibit for the 1894 California ...Every Wednesday

Bay Area Discovery Museum: Free Admission Day (Sausalito)
Wednesday, May 1 – 10:00 am - Ends at 4:00 pm | Cost: FREE*
*Admission is free to Bay Area residents. Must show proof of residency (photo ID or piece of mail) in one of the nine Bay Area counties.
| Bay Area Discovery Museum (Fort Baker)
Bay Area Discovery Museum: Free Admission Day (Sausalito)

The Bay Area Discovery Museum is a one-of-a-kind indoor and outdoor children’s museum at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge. The Museum is the only children’s museum in the U.S. to be located in a national park and is known for its emphasis on creativity through ...

Free Admission Day at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA)
Wednesday, May 1 – 11:00 am - Ends at 5:00 pm | Cost: FREE | Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
Free Admission Day at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA)

Opened to the public in 1993, YBCA was founded as the cultural anchor of San Francisco’s Yerba Buena Gardens neighborhood. Our work spans the realms of contemporary art, performance, film, civic engagement, and public life. Centering artists as essential to social and cultural movement, YBCA ...Every Wednesday

SF’s GLBT History Museum: Free First Wednesday
SF's GLBT History Museum: Free First Wednesday

Located in SF’s Castro District, the GLBT Historical Society Museum is the first full-scale, stand-alone museum of its kind in the United States. The museum celebrates 100 years of the city’s vast queer past through dynamic exhibitions and programming. Normally admission is $10, but on ...Monthly

Thursday, May 2

Free First Thursdays at Berkeley Art Museum
Thursday, May 2 – 11:00 am - Ends at 7:00 pm | Cost: FREE*
*Free admission to galleries. Film programs are excluded. No advanced tickets required, but subject to capacity limits
| Berkeley Art Museum / Pacific Film Archive
Free First Thursdays at Berkeley Art Museum

The UC Berkeley Art Museum is the visual arts center of the University of California, Berkeley. Through art and film programs, collections, and research resources, the University aspires to be locally connected and globally relevant, engaging audiences from the campus, community, and beyond. Normally $14, the ...Monthly

SFMOMA’s “Free First Thursdays” Free Museum Day for Locals (2023)
SFMOMA's "Free First Thursdays" Free Museum Day for Locals (2023)

All residents of the nine Bay Area counties are invited to spend a day at the museum on us! From noon–8 p.m. on the first Thursday of every month, Bay Area residents can enjoy SFMOMA’s galleries filled with lively and inspiring art and related events ...Monthly

Asian Art Museum’s $10 Thursday Nights (SF)
Thursday, May 2 – 5:00 pm - Ends at 8:00 pm | Cost: $10*
*General admission tickets are $10 for adults, $8.50 for seniors, students and youths (age 13-17).   
| Asian Art Museum
Asian Art Museum's $10 Thursday Nights (SF)

Looking for a great date night on the cheap? The Asian Art Museum is open until 8 pm on Thursdays and general admission is just $10 (that’s half-off). Plus Special exhibitions are now included with general admission tickets! You can spend an evening in their ...Every Thursday

Friday, May 3

Japanese Tea Garden’s Free Admission Hour (Golden Gate Park)
Japanese Tea Garden's Free Admission Hour (Golden Gate Park)

The Japanese Tea Garden provides visitors from around the world with an opportunity to experience the natural beauty, tranquility, and harmony of a Japanese-style garden in the heart of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. Originally created as a “Japanese Village” exhibit for the 1894 California ...Every Friday

History Museum: Free First Fridays (Redwood City)
Friday, May 3 – All Day | Cost: FREE | San Mateo County History Museum
History Museum: Free First Fridays (Redwood City)

Enjoy free admission from 10 am to 4 pm, every first Friday of the month, at the San Mateo History Museum. Explore the museum housed in the 1910 County Courthouse; listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it features a stained glass dome and mosaic tile floor. The History Museum is ...Monthly

Contemporary Jewish Museum Free Admission Day (First Fridays)
Friday, May 3 – 11:00 am - Ends at 5:00 pm | Cost: FREE | Contemporary Jewish Museum
Contemporary Jewish Museum Free Admission Day (First Fridays)

The Contemporary Jewish Museum engages audiences of all  backgrounds through dynamic exhibitions and programs that explore contemporary perspectives on Jewish culture, history, art, and ideas. And the architecture of the Museum itself is a work of art. Embracing a range of artistic disciplines and media, ...Monthly

“Friday Nights at OMCA with Off the Grid” Block Party + DJs (Oakland)
"Friday Nights at OMCA with Off the Grid" Block Party + DJs (Oakland)

Reconnect with family, friends, and community during Friday Nights at OMCA. These free events provide a gathering place each week, including live music, hands-on activities, Off the Grid (OTG) food trucks, and late-night access to our galleries and special exhibitions with a Museum ticket. Limited ...Every Friday

SF’s Castro Art Walk 2024 (Every First Friday)
Friday, May 3 – 5:00 pm - Ends at 9:00 pm | Cost: FREE*
*Free self-guided tour
| Castro Merchants
SF's Castro Art Walk 2024 (Every First Friday)

The Castro Art Walk is back for 2024 as a regular monthly event, every first Friday of the month! Please come and (re)discover the coolest arts district in San Francisco – The Castro Arts District. Participating small businesses extend their business hours to host special ...Monthly

South First Fridays Art Walk (San Jose)
Friday, May 3 – 5:00 pm - Ends at 9:00 pm | Cost: FREE | SoFA District (San Jose)
South First Fridays Art Walk (San Jose)

Join an eclectic evening of arts and culture in downtown San Jose’s SoFA district (and beyond) every first Friday of the month. Please note that South First Fridays is typically canceled in July and January due to the holidays. South First Fridays hours depend on ...Monthly

North Beach First Fridays Art Crawl (SF)
Friday, May 3 – 5:00 pm - Ends at 9:00 pm | Cost: FREE | North Beach
North Beach First Fridays Art Crawl (SF)

On the first Friday of every month, over a dozen North Beach galleries, museums, bars, and restaurants stay open late for a self-guided First Fridays Art Crawl with special events to showcase the ever-growing collections of art and entertainment that diversify North Beach. First Fridays Art Crawl ...Monthly

“Oakland First Fridays” Street Festival
Friday, May 3 – 5:00 pm - Ends at 9:00 pm | Cost: FREE | Telegraph & 27th
"Oakland First Fridays" Street Festival

Oakland First Fridays is an immersive art and community experience on the first Friday of each month from 5-9 pm for five huge blocks on Telegraph Avenue from West Grand to 27th Street. Photography from @skyhighoakland via Oakland First Fridays Oakland’s KONO district (Koreatown/Northgate) springs ...Monthly

“Oakland Art Murmur” 2024 (First Fridays Art Walk)
Friday, May 3 – 6:00 pm - Ends at 9:00 pm | Cost: FREE | Broadway/Telegraph
"Oakland Art Murmur" 2024 (First Fridays Art Walk)

Over 30 Oakland Art Murmur affiliate venues have coordinated openings on the first Friday of every month. Oakland Art Murmur presents a free monthly evening art walk, known as the ‘Art Murmur.” 2024 Update: Art Murmur is still on! Despite Oakland First Fridays being on ...Monthly

Saturday, May 4

Free de Young Museum Day for Bay Area Residents (Every Saturday)
Free de Young Museum Day for Bay Area Residents (Every Saturday)

, the de Young offers free general admission to the permanent galleries to Bay Area residents. Please note that admission to any special exhibits is not included nor discounted and will require the full admission price. Saturdays feature engaging art experiences for the entire family, ...Every Saturday

Free “Legion of Honor” Museum Day for Bay Area Residents (Every Saturday)
Free "Legion of Honor" Museum Day for Bay Area Residents (Every Saturday)

 the Legion of Honor offers free general admission to the permanent galleries to Bay Area residents. Advanced tickets are required, and capacity is limited due to COVID-19 precautions. Please note that admission to any special exhibits is not included nor discounted and will require ...Every Saturday

Bank of America’s “Museums On Us” Free Museum Weekend (2024)
Bank of America's "Museums On Us" Free Museum Weekend (2024)

Holders of Bank of America, Merrill Lynch, or U. S. Trust cardholders (credit cards and debit cards) get free admission to eight Bay Area museums, two Sacramento museums and to more than 225 cultural institutions nationwide, for the first full weekend each month including the de ...Monthly

2024 de Young Museum’s “de Youngsters Day Out” Free Festival (SF)
Saturday, May 4 – 10:00 am - Ends at 5:15 pm | Cost: FREE | de Young Museum
2024 de Young Museum's "de Youngsters Day Out" Free Festival (SF)
We invite you, and all Bay Area families, to attend the third annual de Youngsters Day Out on Saturday, May 4, 2024. This event is open to every Bay Area family and free of charge. The in-person, all-day event will include hands-on art-making activities, in-gallery conversations ...
SFMOMA Free Community Day (Spring 2024)
Saturday, May 4 – 10:00 am - Ends at 5:00 pm | Cost: FREE*
*Reserve free tickets in advance at tickets.sfmoma.org
| SFMOMA
SFMOMA Free Community Day (Spring 2024)
Free Community Days offer free museum-wide admission to all visitors. Combined with a wide range of immersive activities and performances inspired by the latest SFMOMA exhibition, these Free Community Days highlight the extraordinary creativity of local artists and community organizations. Mark your calendar for the ...
2024 Marin Open Studios w/ 260+ Artists (May 4-12)
Saturday, May 4 – 11:00 am - Ends at 6:00 pm | Cost: FREE*
*This event is free and open to the public
| Marin Open Studios
2024 Marin Open Studios w/ 260+ Artists (May 4-12)

Returning for its 31st year is the annual Marin Open Studios (MOS). For two weekends, art lovers from across the Bay Area are invited to visit art studios all over Marin County for a self-guided tour to meet the artists, enjoy their portfolio of artwork ...

SF’s Historic 1886 Victorian “Haas-Lilienthal House” Open House & Big Book Sale
SF's Historic 1886 Victorian "Haas-Lilienthal House" Open House & Big Book Sale
After being closed to the general public since November 2023, San Francisco Heritage’s Haas-Lilienthal House will reopen with a free open house and accompanying big book sale on Saturday, May 4, 2024, 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Thousands of volumes from the collection of the late Gee ...
San Francisco’s World Goth Day Festival 2024 on USS Hornet (Alameda)
Saturday, May 4 – 12:00 pm - Ends at 10:00 pm | Cost: $25*
*$25 Market Ticket and $55 Festival Ticket - Online promo expires 1/15/24 $10 off
| USS Hornet Sea, Air & Space Museum
San Francisco's World Goth Day Festival 2024 on USS Hornet (Alameda)
The Menagerie Oddities Market proudly presents Covenant in an exclusive West Coast performance. The Swedish band will headline a multitalented lineup during this year’s celebration of dark subculture: music, fashion, art & community with Goths, by Goths, for Goths™.

Sunday, May 5

Asian Art Museum: Free Admission Day (Every First Sunday)
Sunday, May 5 – 10:00 am - Ends at 5:00 pm | Cost: FREE*
*Special exhibitions may require separate admission surcharge
| Asian Art Museum
Asian Art Museum: Free Admission Day (Every First Sunday)

Through the power of art, the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco brings the diverse cultures of Asia to life. Located in the heart of San Francisco, the museum is home to one of the world’s finest collections of Asian art, boasting more than 18,000 ...Monthly

Oakland Museum of California’s Free First Sundays (OMCA)
Sunday, May 5 – 11:00 am - Ends at 5:00 pm | Cost: FREE*
*Additional $6 fee for access to special exhibitions
| OMCA (Oakland Museum of California)
Oakland Museum of California's Free First Sundays (OMCA)

The Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) brings together collections of art, history, and natural science under one roof to tell the extraordinary stories of California and its people. Sunday Hours – 11am to 5pm – Please check website as hours may change seasonally Free – ...Monthly