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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!

Wednesday, September 2

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. ...

SF Zoo Free Admission Day
SF Zoo Free Admission Day

The San Francisco Zoo, Northern California’s largest zoological park and conservation center, periodically offers free admission for San Francisco residents. When is the next free zoo day for SF residents? Next verified free days: January 7, 2026 February 4, 2026 March 4, 2026 April 1, 2026 ...

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

Drink & Draw Art Event & Raffle | The Knockout
Wednesday, September 2 – 6:30 pm - Ends at 9:00 pm | Cost: FREE | The Knockout
Drink & Draw Art Event & Raffle | The Knockout

At Drink and Draw, artsy bar patrons draw to a theme and submit their artwork into a raffle for cocktails and other prizes at The Knockout in the Mission District. The artwork gets scanned online for all to admire. Drink and Draw happens every first Wednesday of the ...Monthly

Thursday, September 3

Free First Thursdays at SF’s Museum of Craft and Design
Thursday, September 3 – 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

“First Thursdays” Live Music at The Village at San Antonio Center (Mountain View)
Thursday, September 3 – 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)
Close out the series with the soulful sounds of Tracy Cruz Band. 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 garage on ...
Los Calderones at Yerba Buena Gardens Festival 2026
Thursday, September 3 – 6:00 pm - Ends at 7:30 pm | Cost: FREE | Great Lawn, Yerba Buena Gardens
Los Calderones at Yerba Buena Gardens Festival 2026
Thu, Sep 3 | 6:00pm – 7:30pm Crepe Myrtle Garden, Yerba Buena Gardens 3rd St. between Mission and Howard Sts. San Francisco, CA A relatively recent arrival on the Bay Area Latin music scene, Los Calderones is a Cuban Afro-Latin Funk combo that combines the energy of Cuban reggaeton (known in ...
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, September 3 – 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

SF’s Free Concerts & Food Trucks: “Civic Center Soundtrack” (Every Tue/Thu)
Thursday, September 3 – 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 ...

SFMOMA’s “Free First Thursdays” Free Museum Day for Locals
Thursday, September 3 – 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, September 3 – 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

Free Karaoke Night Every Thursday (Bottom’s Up)
Thursday, September 3 – 10:00 pm | Cost: FREE*
*FREE ENTRY ALL NIGHT
| Bottom's Up
Free Karaoke Night Every Thursday (Bottom's Up)

Thursdays Karaoke Night @ BOTTOM’S UP4704 Mission St., San Francisco, CA 94112Thursdays, 10PM – 2AM21+Every Thursday

Friday, September 4

“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, September 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

North Beach First Fridays Art Crawl (SF)
Friday, September 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

South First Fridays Art Walk (San Jose)
Friday, September 4 – 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

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

The Town’s favorite block party, Friday Nights at OMCA, is back for the 2026 season, inviting the Bay to kick off the weekend with the crew—whether family, friends, or neighbors. Join us every Friday, April–October, at 5 pm for a free evening of live music, interactive activities, ...Every Friday

Pleasant Hill Night Market: Food, Music & Performances
Friday, September 4 – 5:00 pm - Ends at 9:00 pm | Cost: FREE | Chilpancingo Park
Pleasant Hill Night Market: Food, Music & Performances

Pleasant Hill Night Market Will Return in May 2026 After a successful first season, the Night Market will be back in May 2026 with food, music, merchandise, activities and more! Visit Pleasant Hill California for more info. After getting so much love and support from ...

Union Square’s Free “Salsa in the Square” Night Party (Every 4th Friday)
Friday, September 4 – 5:00 pm - Ends at 8:00 pm | Cost: FREE | Union Square Park
Union Square's Free "Salsa in the Square" Night Party (Every 4th Friday)

SALSA IN THE SQUARE IS BACK! We Officially Start Our 2026 Season on FRIDAY, APRIL 3RD 5pm–8pm FREE EVENT with DJ JuanLove & Pablo Dinámico UNION SQUARE 350 Powell Street San Francisco 5pm – 8pm DJ JuanLove will keep you moving with the best Cuban ...Monthly