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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!

Sunday, May 24

Performance: Terry Riley at 90: A Piano Celebration (SF Main Library)
Sunday, May 24 – 2:00 pm - Ends at 3:30 pm | Cost: FREE | San Francisco Public Library, Main Library, Latino Room (lower level)
Performance: Terry Riley at 90: A Piano Celebration (SF Main Library)
To celebrate the 90th birthday year of composer Terry Riley, pianist Sarah Cahill performs several of his remarkable compositions along with music composed in his honor by Sam Adams and Danny Clay. Sarah Cahill is a pianist and radio host (on KALW) who has premiered new ...
Free Reggae in the Park 2026 “Crucial Sundays” (Golden Gate Park)
Sunday, May 24 – 4:30 pm - Ends at 7:30 pm | Cost: FREE | Spreckels Temple of Music (Golden Gate Park Bandshell)
Free Reggae in the Park 2026 "Crucial Sundays" (Golden Gate Park)

Free live music is back in the park. Illuminate LIVE returns to the Golden Gate Bandshell in Golden Gate Park on Sunday, March 1, 2026, launching its sixth season of free outdoor concerts with more than 125 performances scheduled through mid-November. The long-running series has ...

Golden Gate Park Band’s Free Symphony in the Park: Armenian Culture Day
Sunday, May 24 – 1:00 am - Ends at 2:30 pm | Cost: FREE*
*Free, but donations are welcome.
| Spreckels Temple of Music (Golden Gate Park Bandshell)
Golden Gate Park Band's Free Symphony in the Park: Armenian Culture Day

The Golden Gate Park Band presents its 144th season in Golden Gate Park’s music concourse. That’s right, this 30-piece symphony has been playing free concerts in Golden Gate Park since 1882. For 2026, the Golden Gate Park Band performs free weekly concerts most Sundays at 1 pm. ...Every Sunday

Monday, May 25

Free National Parks Day: Muir Woods + Yosemite for Memorial Day 2026
Free National Parks Day: Muir Woods + Yosemite for Memorial Day 2026

Sometimes you’ve just got to get away from it all and clear your head with the peace and serenity of a national park. On certain “fee-free” days throughout the year, enjoy free entry to all national parks and monuments, including Muir Woods and Yosemite National Park, and ...

Memorial Day Bonfire Night at SF’s Ocean Beach (2026)
Monday, May 25 – 5:00 pm - Ends at 9:30 pm | Cost: FREE*
*Fire rings are first come, first serve
| Ocean Beach Fire Pits
Memorial Day Bonfire Night at SF's Ocean Beach (2026)

For the first time in four months, it’s finally legal again to have a bonfire at Ocean Beach. During the “No Burn” Season (which runs from November 1 to the end of February), bonfires are not allowed, but starting March 1, 2026, bonfires are back ...

Wednesday, May 27

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

‘Midweek Melodies’ Free Happy Hour Concert (Golden Gate Park)
Wednesday, May 27 – 4:00 pm - Ends at 7:00 pm | Cost: FREE | Spreckels Temple of Music (Golden Gate Park Bandshell)
'Midweek Melodies' Free Happy Hour Concert (Golden Gate Park)

Free live music is back in the park. Illuminate LIVE returns to the Golden Gate Bandshell in Golden Gate Park on Sunday, March 1, 2026, launching its sixth season of free outdoor concerts with more than 125 performances scheduled through mid-November. The long-running series has ...

Thursday, May 28

“SOMA Nights” Neighborhood Block Party + Night Market (SF)
Thursday, May 28 – 5:00 pm - Ends at 9:00 pm | Cost: FREE | Folsom St. (between 6th-12th)
"SOMA Nights" Neighborhood Block Party + Night Market (SF)

Join us for regular monthly art, food and cultural events on Folsom St (Between 6th-12th). Over 20 business participating, pop-up vendors, performances & street activations. SOMA Nights aims to foster a sense of community by connecting residents and local businesses during the Folsom Streetscape Project ...Monthly

Brian Copeland’s The Waiting Period
Thursday, May 28 – 7:30 pm | Cost: FREE*
*RSVP at themarsh.org or just show up at the door!
| The Marsh (Berkeley)
Brian Copeland’s The Waiting Period
Winner 2015 Theater Bay Area Award Outstanding Production of a Solo Play This show is an unrelenting look at a ten-day period in Copeland’s life—the mandatory ten-day waiting period before he could lay his hands on the newly purchased gun with which he planned to take ...

Friday, May 29

“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 ...

GG Park’s Free Happy Hour Concert in the Park
Friday, May 29 – 4:30 pm - Ends at 7:30 pm | Cost: FREE | Spreckels Temple of Music (Golden Gate Park Bandshell)
GG Park's Free Happy Hour Concert in the Park

Free live music is back in the park. Illuminate LIVE returns to the Golden Gate Bandshell in Golden Gate Park on Sunday, March 1, 2026, launching its sixth season of free outdoor concerts with more than 125 performances scheduled through mid-November. The long-running series has ...

Saturday, May 30

SF’s Free Kids Music Festival in Golden Gate Park
Saturday, May 30 – 10:30 am - Ends at 1:30 pm | Cost: FREE | Spreckels Temple of Music (Golden Gate Park Bandshell)
SF's Free Kids Music Festival in Golden Gate Park

Free live music is back in the park. Illuminate LIVE returns to the Golden Gate Bandshell in Golden Gate Park on Sunday, March 1, 2026, launching its sixth season of free outdoor concerts with more than 125 performances scheduled through mid-November. The long-running series has ...

Sunday, May 31

“Patchwork” Redwood City Craft Fair (Courthouse Square)
Sunday, May 31 – 11:00 am - Ends at 5:00 pm | Cost: FREE*
*Free for all ages
| Courthouse Square
"Patchwork" Redwood City Craft Fair (Courthouse Square)
Join us in the heart of downtown Redwood City for Patchwork Show! Held twice a year at Courthouse Square, this one-day festival features local makers selling handcrafted goods in a lively, walkable plaza surrounded by restaurants, shops, and a museum. Come for the creativity, stay ...
Free Reggae in the Park: Dub Mission 30th Anniversary (Golden Gate Park)
Sunday, May 31 – 4:30 pm - Ends at 7:30 pm | Cost: FREE | Spreckels Temple of Music (Golden Gate Park Bandshell)
Free Reggae in the Park: Dub Mission 30th Anniversary (Golden Gate Park)

Free live music is back in the park. Illuminate LIVE returns to the Golden Gate Bandshell in Golden Gate Park on Sunday, March 1, 2026, launching its sixth season of free outdoor concerts with more than 125 performances scheduled through mid-November. The long-running series has ...

Golden Gate Park Band’s Free Symphony in the Park: Songs and Dances
Sunday, May 31 – 1:00 am - Ends at 2:30 pm | Cost: FREE*
*Free, but donations are welcome.
| Spreckels Temple of Music (Golden Gate Park Bandshell)
Golden Gate Park Band's Free Symphony in the Park: Songs and Dances

The Golden Gate Park Band presents its 144th season in Golden Gate Park’s music concourse. That’s right, this 30-piece symphony has been playing free concerts in Golden Gate Park since 1882. For 2026, the Golden Gate Park Band performs free weekly concerts most Sundays at 1 pm. ...Every Sunday

Tuesday, June 2

SF’s Conservatory of Flowers Free First Tuesdays (Golden Gate Park)
Tuesday, June 2 – 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 Free Arcade Game Night at The Detour (First Tuesdays)
Tuesday, June 2 – 4:00 pm - Ends at 11:59 pm | Cost: FREE*
*Free unlimited play wristband with any purchase from bar
| The Detour SF
SF's Free Arcade Game Night at The Detour (First Tuesdays)

Paid rent in SF? Hella Broke? Then first Tuesdays are the night for you.  The Detour hosts “Free Play Tuesday” with all arcade games on free play with purchase from the bar. Come enjoy all the video game glory from today and yesteryear while enjoying ...Monthly

Wednesday, June 3

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, June 4

Free First Thursdays at SF’s Museum of Craft and Design
Thursday, June 4 – 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

SFMOMA’s “Free First Thursdays” Free Museum Day for Locals
Thursday, June 4 – 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