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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!

Thursday, August 6

Lunchtime Concert w/ Fely Tchaco (Yerba Buena Gardens Festival 2026)
Thursday, August 6 – 12:30 pm - Ends at 1:30 pm | Cost: FREE | Great Lawn, Yerba Buena Gardens
Lunchtime Concert w/ Fely Tchaco (Yerba Buena Gardens Festival 2026)
Thu, Aug 6 | 12:30pm – 1:30pm Great Lawn, Yerba Buena Gardens Mission St. between 3rd & 4th Sts. San Francisco, CA Born in Côte d’Ivoire and long based in the Bay Area, Fely Tchaco seamlessly blends traditional Ivorian sounds with Afro-pop, jazz and world music, delivering mesmerizing performances ...
Edgardo Cambón’s 40th Anniversary at Yerba Buena Gardens Festival 2026
Thursday, August 6 – 6:00 pm - Ends at 7:30 pm | Cost: FREE | Great Lawn, Yerba Buena Gardens
Edgardo Cambón's 40th Anniversary at Yerba Buena Gardens Festival 2026
Thu, Aug 6 | 6:00pm – 7:30pm Crepe Myrtle Garden, Yerba Buena Gardens 3rd St. between Mission and Howard Sts. San Francisco, CA This year’s Yerba Buena Salsa Nights series builds on the YBG Festival’s long and deep history presenting the finest Latin bands on the scene, artists like ...

“First Thursdays” Live Music at The Village at San Antonio Center (Mountain View)
Thursday, August 6 – 6:00 pm - Ends at 8:00 pm | Cost: FREE*
*Event registration encouraged.
| The Village at San Antonio Center
"First Thursdays" Live Music at The Village at San Antonio Center (Mountain View)
Enjoy the vibrant sounds of Americano Social Club, blending jazz, swing, and Latin influences. Join us from 6–8pm in the park at The Village at San Antonio Center. Bring your lawn chair or blanket. Event is free to attend. Enjoy free all-day parking in the ...
Free First Thursdays at Berkeley Art Museum
Thursday, August 6 – 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, August 6 – 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 Concerts & Food Trucks: “Civic Center Soundtrack” (Every Tue/Thu)
Thursday, August 6 – 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 Free DFT Monthly Block Party: “Downtown First Thursdays” (2026)
Thursday, August 6 – 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

Movies on the Square 2026: Free Double Features Every Thursday (Redwood City)
Thursday, August 6 – 6:00 pm - Ends at 10:00 pm | Cost: FREE*
*FREE! ALL AGES!
| Courthouse Square
Movies on the Square 2026: Free Double Features Every Thursday (Redwood City)

20 years ago, we said it was gonna be big. Turns out… we were just getting started. From Movies on the Square to Shakespeare under the stars, Redwood City Events became more than a series. It’s the soundtrack of this city. And 20 seasons later? ...Every Thursday

Every Thursday: “Inner Circle” Dance Party at White Rabbit (SF)
Thursday, August 6 – 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

16th & Mission Open Mic (w/out a mic)
Thursday, August 6 – 9:00 pm - Ends at 11:59 pm | Cost: FREE*
*Absolutely free for all!
| 16th & Mission BART (southwest streetcorner)
16th & Mission Open Mic (w/out a mic)

Time: 9pm to 12am, Celebrating 20 years in May 2023 (currently 19 years strong). Instagram: @16thmission. For 18 years, this outdoor “open mic-without-a-mic” has welcomed poets, musicians, emcees, comedy, and everything in between. In the best of San Francisco tradition, everyone is welcome, ...Every Thursday

Friday, August 7

Eddie Madril (Kids’ Show) at Yerba Buena Gardens Festival 2026
Friday, August 7 – 11:00 am - Ends at 12:30 pm | Cost: FREE | Yerba Buena Gardens, Children’s Garden
Eddie Madril (Kids’ Show) at Yerba Buena Gardens Festival 2026
Fri, Aug 7 | 11:00am – 11:30am Children’s Garden, Yerba Buena Gardens 799 Howard St. San Francisco, CA This children’s program has two shows: 11-11:30am with a repeat show 12-12:30pm. A dancer, singer, teacher, playwright and filmmaker, Eddie Madril specializes in the dance and culture of the United States Plains Indian tribes ...
“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 ...

SF’s HellaSecret “Crazy Funny Asians” Friday Night Comedy Showcase (7p + 9p)
SF’s HellaSecret “Crazy Funny Asians” Friday Night Comedy Showcase (7p + 9p)

Inspired by the blockbuster movie, see some of the Bay Area’s top comedians at San Francisco’s Crazy Funny Asians comedy showcase, presented by Funcheap and HellaFunny. Let’s celebrate the Bay’s Asian-American culture and heritage with laughs at a secret location – a two-floor comedy club near ...Every Friday

“The Stoner Comedy Jam” Friday Nights (SF)
Friday, August 7 – 8:00 pm - Ends at 9:30 pm | Cost: FREE*
*Free with RSVP (21+ with Valid ID) - One item minimum purchase per person required
| Moe Greens
"The Stoner Comedy Jam" Friday Nights (SF)

You know what makes stand-up comedy funnier? Smoking while watching it live! Come to San Francisco’s premiere cannabis club Moe Greens every Friday night for a night of laughter and, well, getting stoned. HellaFunny is taking over the cannabis lounge at Moe Greens for the ...Every Friday

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, August 7 – 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

“Pay-What-You-Can” Taco Day at SF’s Tato (Every Friday)
"Pay-What-You-Can" Taco Day at SF's Tato (Every Friday)

While many restaurants are struggling, San Francisco Mexican restaurant TATO wants to give back. They’re bringing back their “Taco Love” special which features a two taco plate with sides, and pay-what-you-can pricing. Pay-What-You-Can Taco Day Tato 4608 3rd St. (@ McKinnon) San Francisco (Bayview) Every ...Every Friday

$1 Drink Fridays: “Battle of the Decades” DJ Party (North Beach)
Friday, August 7 – 5:00 pm - Ends at 11:00 pm | Cost: FREE*
*Free admission with RSVP on Eventbrite
| Monroe
$1 Drink Fridays: "Battle of the Decades" DJ Party (North Beach)

Fridays are now a little bit more awesome. Did someone say $1 drinks? Monroe in North Beach hosts “Battle of the Decades” DJ party and happy hour every Friday with a DJ spinning progressive tunes. Every hour is a different decade – with drink prices ...Every Friday

South First Fridays Art Walk (San Jose)
Friday, August 7 – 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, August 7 – 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