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Free Events

San Francisco… land of the free. Here’s just the free stuff in SF and the Bay Area. Keep your wallet in your pocket and enjoy!

Tuesday, September 29

SF’s Free Concerts & Food Trucks: “Civic Center Soundtrack” (Every Tue/Thu)
Tuesday, September 29 – 12:00 pm - Ends at 3:00 pm | Cost: FREE | Fulton Plaza
SF's Free Concerts & Food Trucks: "Civic Center Soundtrack" (Every Tue/Thu)

San Francisco’s free lunchtime concert series is back. The Civic Center Soundtrack returns for its third season starting Tuesday, April 14, 2026, bringing live music to Fulton Plaza twice a week through October. Concerts take place Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12 pm to 3 pm ...

SF’s Noe Valley Night Market 2026
Tuesday, September 29 – 5:00 pm - Ends at 8:00 pm | Cost: FREE | Noe Valley Town Square
SF's Noe Valley Night Market 2026

Come out for the Noe Valley Night Market from 5–8pm at the Noe Valley Town Square for a cozy evening of live music, local retail and food vendors, and family-friendly fun. Gather with neighbors, support small businesses, and enjoy a music-filled evening out with the ...Monthly

Wednesday, September 30

FREE Comedy Night (Every Wednesday) at The Function (SF)
FREE Comedy Night (Every Wednesday) at The Function (SF)

Welcome to the heart of laughter right on the edge of SF’s vibrant Hayes Valley district! Step into a world of hilarity and at the newest addition to the city’s comedy scene – a chic, upscale comedy club boasting avant-garde decor, an upstairs lounge and a roster of top-notch comedians. ...

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

“Wiener Wednesday” Free Hot Dog Night at Rye (SF)
Wednesday, September 30 – 6:00 pm - Ends at 12:00 am | Cost: FREE*
*Every Wednesday, Free Hot Dogs with every Hornitos Cocktail purchase
| Rye Bar
"Wiener Wednesday" Free Hot Dog Night at Rye (SF)

With a name like “Rye,” this bar is obviously whiskey-centric… but on Wednesday nights the bar leans towards tequila is also awesomely hot dog centric! Come to Rye Bar every Wednesday for free hot dogs with every Hornitos cocktail purchase. Mo and Kat are you ...Every Wednesday

Black Hammer’s Free “Hopped Up” Trivia Night (Every Wednesday)
Wednesday, September 30 – 7:00 pm | Cost: FREE | Black Hammer Brewing
Black Hammer's Free "Hopped Up" Trivia Night (Every Wednesday)

No pens, no paper. Join us for three rounds of fast-paced gameshow-style pub trivia in our taproom every Wednesday at 7PM. Free admission, with bonus points for fastest answer and a live scoreboard. Hopped Up Trivia at 7pm Black Hammer Brewing, 544 Bryant ...Every Wednesday

Thursday, October 1

Free First Thursdays at SF’s Museum of Craft and Design
Thursday, October 1 – 10:00 am - Ends at 5:00 pm | Cost: FREE*
*Free Admission every First Thursday
| Museum of Craft and Design
Free First Thursdays at SF's Museum of Craft and Design

There’s no better time to visit the Museum of Craft and Design than on their Free First Thursdays. Committed to making art, craft, and design accessible to everyone, the Museum of Craft and Design is free on the first Thursday of every month. Museum of ...Monthly

Free HellaFunny Thursday Comedy Night (Downtown SF)
Free HellaFunny Thursday Comedy Night (Downtown SF)

Welcome to the heart of laughter right on the edge of SF’s vibrant Hayes Valley district! Step into a world of hilarity and at the newest addition to the city’s comedy scene – a chic, upscale comedy club boasting avant-garde decor, an upstairs lounge and a roster of top-notch comedians. ...

Free First Thursdays at Berkeley Art Museum
Thursday, October 1 – 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 $18, the ...Monthly

SFMOMA’s “Free First Thursdays” Free Museum Day for Locals
Thursday, October 1 – 12:00 pm - Ends at 8:00 pm | Cost: FREE*
*Residents of the nine Bay Area counties are invited to spend a day at the museum on us
| SFMOMA
SFMOMA's "Free First Thursdays" Free Museum Day for Locals

2026 UPDATE: Sadly, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art has confirmed that its Free First Thursday program is temporarily paused beginning February 2026. The museum says the program will be re-envisioned and relaunched at a future date, with updates to be shared once plans are finalized. As ...Monthly

SF’s Free DFT Monthly Block Party: “Downtown First Thursdays” (2026)
Thursday, October 1 – 5:00 pm - Ends at 10:00 pm | Cost: FREE*
*Free with RSVP
| 2nd Street between Market and Howard Streets
SF’s Free DFT Monthly Block Party: “Downtown First Thursdays” (2026)

Downtown First Thursdays is back in 2026 for a full year of street parties in 2026, starting Jan 1, 2026, with a New Year’s Day Edition and returning every first Thursday with a new downtown block party. DJs – Live Performances – Dancing – Drag ...Monthly

Opening Night: Silent Art Auction Preview at Hunters Point Shipyard (Live Jazz + 100 Artworks)
Thursday, October 1 – 6:00 pm - Ends at 8:00 pm | Cost: FREE*
*Free — RSVP requested via Eventbrite. Space is limited. Refreshments; cash bar.
| Shipyard Gallery, Building 101, Hunters Point Shipyard
Opening Night: Silent Art Auction Preview at Hunters Point Shipyard (Live Jazz + 100 Artworks)
Be the first to see this fall’s Silent Art Auction at the Hunters Point Shipyard — 100+ original works donated by Shipyard Artists, with starting bids that can be a real deal. It’s also the perfect way to plan your Shipyard Open Studios visit (Oct ...
Every Thursday: “Inner Circle” Dance Party at White Rabbit (SF)
Thursday, October 1 – 9:00 pm - Ends at 1:00 am | Cost: FREE*
*Inner Circle is always Free with RSVP
| White Rabbit
Every Thursday: "Inner Circle" Dance Party at White Rabbit (SF)

Free Thursday Party featuring DJs spinning House, Disco, Remixes, Currents, Classics and more every Thursday at White Rabbit. Join us at White Rabbit on Thursdays for Inner Circle, a weekly get-together dedicated to the DJ and a love for dance music. No cover. No worries! ...Every Thursday

Friday, October 2

Free Fall 2026 Open Studios at 1890 Bryant (Preview Night)
Friday, October 2 – 6:00 pm - Ends at 9:00 pm | Cost: FREE*
*No RSVP required
| 1890 Bryant Street Studios
Free Fall 2026 Open Studios at 1890 Bryant (Preview Night)

1890 Bryant Fall 2026 Open Studios: ART MADE HERE You’re invited to 2026 Fall Open Studios at 1890 Bryant Street Studios! Our artists once again are celebrating with the ArtSpan Mission District weekend. Experience Open Studios weekend at 1890 Bryant Street Art and independent artists ...

“Rush Hour Comedy Night” w/ SFs Best Black & Asian Comedians (The Function)
Friday, October 2 – 7:00 pm - Ends at 10:00 pm | Cost: FREE*
*RSVP Required
| The Function
"Rush Hour Comedy Night" w/ SFs Best Black & Asian Comedians (The Function)

Welcome to ‘Rush Hour Comedy Night’ where laughter knows no bounds and cultural collisions are the name of the game. Join our dynamic duo of black and Asian comedians as they embark on a whirlwind adventure through the streets of humor, weaving together their diverse backgrounds and ...Every Friday

“HellaSecret” Speakeasy Comedy Show & Cocktail Night (Oakland)
"HellaSecret" Speakeasy Comedy Show & Cocktail Night (Oakland)

Get ready for our “HellaSecret” speakeasy comedy show in Oakland. A series of pop-up live comedy shows at unique spots all across the bay. We’ll take over a venue and you’ll get an email with the secret location. This HellaSecret comedy show takes place in a ...

History Museum: Free First Fridays (Redwood City)
Friday, October 2 – 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

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass 2026 in Golden Gate Park (Oct. 2-4)
Friday, October 2 – 1:00 pm - Ends at 7:00 pm | Cost: FREE | Hellman Hollow
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass 2026 in Golden Gate Park (Oct. 2-4)

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass is one of the largest, free-est and beloved music festivals in the country. Be one of over 750,000 attendees over the three-day musical extravaganza in beautiful Golden Gate Park. Save the date as Hardly Strictly Bluegrass makes its return for 2026. Full ...

North Beach First Fridays Art Crawl (SF)
Friday, October 2 – 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

South First Fridays Art Walk (San Jose)
Friday, October 2 – 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