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Art & Museums

Thursday, October 3

SFMOMA’s “Free First Thursdays” Free Museum Day for Locals (2024)
SFMOMA's "Free First Thursdays" Free Museum Day for Locals (2024)

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

Friday, October 4

History Museum: Free First Fridays (Redwood City)
Friday, October 4 – 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, October 4 – 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, October 4 – 5:00 pm - Ends at 9:00 pm | Cost: FREE*
*Most outdoor activities and entertainment is free and open to the public from 5-9pm. Regular Museum applies to enter the galleries
| OMCA (Oakland Museum of California)
"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

“Oakland First Fridays” Street Festival
Friday, October 4 – 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

North Beach First Fridays Art Crawl (SF)
Friday, October 4 – 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

Saturday, October 5

Oakland Vintage Market (First Saturday of the Month)
Saturday, October 5 – 10:00 am - Ends at 3:00 pm | Cost: FREE | Narrative
Oakland Vintage Market (First Saturday of the Month)

Oakland Vintage Market hosted by Narrative is a curated selection of vendors selling clothing, records, furniture, home decor and more. First Saturday of the month 10:00-3:00 222 Jefferson St, Oakland, CAMonthly

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

“MAPP” SF’s Free Art, Poetry & Concert Crawl in The Mission
Saturday, October 5 – 6:00 pm - Ends at 11:59 pm | Cost: FREE | The Mission District
"MAPP" SF's Free Art, Poetry & Concert Crawl in The Mission

The Mission Arts Performance Project (MAPP) sprawls across more than a dozen venues as well as public spaces, secret gardens, street corners, BART stations, cafes, bars, taquerias, and homes all over La Mission typically starting in the afternoon and going until late. The event features ...

Sunday, October 6

Asian Art Museum: Free Admission Day (Every First Sunday)
Sunday, October 6 – 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, October 6 – 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

Tuesday, October 8

“Poetic Tuesdays with MoAD” at Yerba Buena Gardens Festival (SF)
Tuesday, October 8 – 12:30 pm - Ends at 1:30 pm | Cost: FREE | Jessie Square
“Poetic Tuesdays with MoAD” at Yerba Buena Gardens Festival (SF)

Sharing works that delight, provoke, inspire and rouse, the monthly Poetic Tuesdays series runs from May through October, turning lunchtime into an oasis of creative expression. Lighting up Jessie Square with a fabulously curated line-up of poets and musicians, Poetic Tuesdays offer a vivifying midday ...Monthly

San Francisco Botanical Garden’s Free Day (2nd Tuesdays)
San Francisco Botanical Garden's Free Day (2nd Tuesdays)

The San Francisco Botanical Garden is one of the most diverse gardens in the world. A unique urban oasis, the garden is a living museum within Golden Gate Park, offering 55 acres of both landscaped gardens and open spaces, and showcasing over 9,000 different kinds ...Monthly

Friday, October 11

“Friday Nights at OMCA with Off the Grid” Block Party + DJs (Oakland)
Friday, October 11 – 5:00 pm - Ends at 9:00 pm | Cost: FREE*
*Most outdoor activities and entertainment is free and open to the public from 5-9pm. Regular Museum applies to enter the galleries
| OMCA (Oakland Museum of California)
"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

Saturday, October 12

MoAD: Museum of the African Diaspora Free Museum Day (SF)
Saturday, October 12 – 11:00 am - Ends at 6:00 pm | Cost: FREE | Museum of the African Diaspora
MoAD: Museum of the African Diaspora Free Museum Day (SF)

Join us every Second Saturday for Thrive @ MoAD Community Day with free admission to all our exhibitions. Across the globe, museums are increasingly being recognized as having an important role to play in promoting personal and social well-being in partnership with the healthcare industry. ...Monthly

Sunday, October 13

Free Admission Day at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA)
Sunday, October 13 – 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 ...Monthly

Saturday, October 19

SFMOMA’s Largest Exhibition “Get in the Game” Opening Day (Oct. 19)
Saturday, October 19 – 10:00 am - Ends at 5:00 pm | Cost: FREE | SFMOMA
SFMOMA's Largest Exhibition "Get in the Game" Opening Day (Oct. 19)
SFMOMA’s Get in the Game features art + design influenced by the role of sports in our culture. 150 Objects Inspired by Athletes and Key Moments in Sports History On View in the Museum’s Largest Exhibition to Date – October 19, 2024−February 18, 2025 Sports have a huge ...

Sunday, October 20

SFMOMA Free Community Day (Fall 2024)
Sunday, October 20 – 10:00 am - Ends at 5:00 pm | Cost: FREE*
*Reserve free tickets in advance at tickets.sfmoma.org
| SFMOMA
SFMOMA Free Community Day (Fall 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 ...

Friday, November 1

Contemporary Jewish Museum Free Admission Day (First Fridays)
Friday, November 1 – 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

Sunday, November 3

Asian Art Museum: Free Admission Day (Every First Sunday)
Sunday, November 3 – 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, November 3 – 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

Tuesday, November 5

“Legion of Honor” Museum Free Day (First Tuesdays)
Tuesday, November 5 – 9:30 am - Ends at 5:15 pm | Cost: FREE*
*Free admission to general galleries; special exhibition fees still apply. Advanced timed tickets required.
| Legion of Honor
"Legion of Honor" Museum Free Day (First Tuesdays)

The Legion of Honor displays a collection of 4,000 years of ancient and European art in an exquisite Beaux-Arts building in an unforgettable setting overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge. Normally general admission is $20 for adults, but on the first Tuesday of each month admission ...Monthly

de Young Museum Free Day (First Tuesdays)
Tuesday, November 5 – 9:30 am - Ends at 5:15 pm | Cost: FREE*
*Free admission to general galleries; special exhibition fees still apply. Timed tickets required
| de Young Museum
de Young Museum Free Day (First Tuesdays)

Located in beautiful Golden Gate Park, the de Young Museum is a landmark art museum founded in 1895. Your visit includes a whirlwind trip around the world as the museum’s collections feature priceless treasures and works of arts from the 17th through the 20th centuries ...Monthly

SF’s “Conservatory of Flowers” Free First Tuesdays (Golden Gate Park)
Tuesday, November 5 – 10:00 am - Ends at 4:30 pm | Cost: FREE | Conservatory of Flowers
SF's "Conservatory of Flowers" Free First Tuesdays (Golden Gate Park)

Whether you’re a native San Franciscan, a visitor from the other side of the world, or a budding botanist, the Conservatory of Flowers, located in Golden Gate Park, offers an intimate, up-close experience with nearly 2,000 species of rare, exotic, and endangered plants from more ...Monthly

SF’s Cartoon Art Museum’s “Pay What You Wish” Day (First Tuesdays)
Tuesday, November 5 – 11:00 am - Ends at 5:00 pm | Cost: FREE*
*Pay What You Wish Day
| Cartoon Art Museum
SF's Cartoon Art Museum's "Pay What You Wish" Day (First Tuesdays)

Founded in 1984, the Cartoon Art Museum has something for everyone—from comic strips, comic books and anime to political cartoons, graphic novels and underground comix. People of all ages can view original cartoon art at exhibitions and screenings, produce their own comics and animation at ...Monthly

Wednesday, November 6

Bay Area Discovery Museum: Free Admission Day (Sausalito)
Wednesday, November 6 – 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 ...

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, November 7

Free First Thursdays at Berkeley Art Museum
Thursday, November 7 – 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 (2024)
SFMOMA's "Free First Thursdays" Free Museum Day for Locals (2024)

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

Saturday, November 9

MoAD: Museum of the African Diaspora Free Museum Day (SF)
Saturday, November 9 – 11:00 am - Ends at 6:00 pm | Cost: FREE | Museum of the African Diaspora
MoAD: Museum of the African Diaspora Free Museum Day (SF)

Join us every Second Saturday for Thrive @ MoAD Community Day with free admission to all our exhibitions. Across the globe, museums are increasingly being recognized as having an important role to play in promoting personal and social well-being in partnership with the healthcare industry. ...Monthly