Home » *Top Pick*, Community, In Person, Live Music, Sponsored

SF’s Civic Music Free Concerts (2026)

Sunday, October 18, 2026 - 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm | Cost: FREE*
*RSVP - donations are accepted

Herbst Theatre | 401 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA

Free / RSVP

SF’s Civic Music Free Concerts (2026)

The San Francisco Civic Music Association is dedicated to offering numerous opportunities for classical music lovers and amateur musicians in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Our ensembles are open to all musicians and our concerts are free and available to the public. We’d love to see you soon!

2026 SCHEDULE & PROGRAM

Sunday, October 18, 2026 – SF Civic Symphony: Great Mysteries
Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness Ave, SF – maps
3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
PROGRAM:

  • Franz Liszt: Les Préludes
  • Camille Saint Saëns: Cello Concerto No. 1, A minor
    Angela Lee, Cello
  • Edward Elgar: Enigma Variations

Paul Schrage – Music Director & Conductor: Paul Schrage
RSVP | Free Concert – Donations Accepted – Suggested Donation $20

Sunday, October 24, 2026 – An Afternoon of Chamber Music
Noe Valley Ministry, 1021 Sanchez St,. SF – maps
3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
PROGRAM:

  • Marcel Boucard, Suite Champêtre
    Barbara Landt, Flute
    Carol Yarbrough, Horn
  • Paul Hindemith, Kleine Kammermusik
  • Malcolm Arnold, Three Shanties
    Sonore Quintet
    – Barbara Brown, Flute
    – Susan Ritter, Oboe
    – Sam Torrisi, Clarinet
    – Jeff Dickey, Horn
    – Leigh Korn, Bassoon
  • Antonín Dvořák (1841–1904), Piano Quartet No. 2 in E♭Major
    Pinky Quartet:
    – Leyan Lo, Violin
    – Alex Li, Viola
    – Eric Cheng, Cello
    – Sheila Chan, Piano

RSVP | Free Concert – Donations Accepted – Suggested Donation $20

Sunday, November 1, 2026 – Civic Strings: Enlightenment and America
First Baptist Church, 22 Waller St., SF – maps
3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
PROGRAM:

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Divertimento in B Flat Major, K. 137
  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Sinfonia Concertante, K.364 (320d) for Violin and Viola and String Ensemble
    Michelle Maruyama, violin

    • Marcel Gemperli, viola
  • Sam Marshall: Rose, for String Orchestra
  • George Gershwin: Lullaby
  • Florence Price: II. Clementine, from Five Folksongs in Counterpoint
  • Scott Joplin: The Entertainer
  • Bates/Ward: America, the Beautiful (audience singalong!)

Michelle Maruyama – Music Director & Conductor
RSVP | Free Concert – Donations Accepted – Suggested Donation $20

RSVP is advised and tickets holders will be seated ahead of general walk-in.

Community support keeps our concerts available for all, and we appreciate your generosity during registration and at the event, with a suggested amount of $20 per person. Please arrive early to ensure check-in for the 2:30pm seating time. Seating is not pre-assigned but ticket holders will get first choice. We will begin seating general walk-ins at 2:50pm.

Masks are recommended not required. This is a free community concert and open to anyone who wishes to attend. All persons attending are to offer courtesy and respect to fellow attendees, event staff, musicians, and venue host. Our concerts are to bring people together and we want everyone to have an enjoyable afternoon of music.

About San Francisco Civic Music Association

San Francisco Civic Music Association is an independent, non profit organization founded by members of the San Francisco Civic Symphony. The Association’s mission is to offer free concerts to the community and to provide a place where musicians of all levels can learn and perform. Our operations are paid for by donations from our musicians, listeners, and supporters.

SFCMA also provides free workshops during the summer for adults looking to improve their musicianship.

See their full 2026 calendar of events.

Disclaimer: Please double check event information with the event organizer as events can be canceled, details can change after they are added to our calendar, and errors do occur.


Cost: FREE*
*RSVP - donations are accepted
Categories: *Top Pick*, Community, In Person, Live Music, Sponsored
Address: 401 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA

Sunday, October 18, 2026

9:00 am   54th Annual Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival (Oct. 17-18)  FREE*
*Free Admission for All
9:00 am   54th Annual Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival (Oct. 17-18)  FREE
9:30 am   SF Opera’s Huge 2026 Costume Treasure Hunt & Sale for Halloween (Oct. 17-18)  $5*
*Admission: $25 Saturday morning / $15 Saturday afternoon; $10 Sunday morning / $5 Sunday afternoon. Advance tickets required; includes two hours of shopping.
9:45 am   Lower Nob Hill Weekly Cleanup w/ Free Lunch for Volunteers (SF)  FREE
10:00 am   Free Brain Brew Community Day: Brain Games, Lunch & Coffee (SF)  FREE*
*Free admission, with lunch included. Recommended donations of $25 support the Alzheimer’s Association and Michael J. Fox Foundation. Walk-ins welcome + RSVP through the event link.
10:00 am   SF’s Free “Sundays at the Beach” Tai Chi Day (Great Highway)  FREE
10:00 am   Because I Have To: Bay Area Creatives in Conversation (Oakland)  FREE*
*Sliding scale $0-$20
10:00 am   “Manny’s Neighborhood Trash Cleanup” w/ $1 Beer & Free Yoga Classes, Free Fries (SF)  FREE*
*Sign up on this TogetherSF Mobilize page: https://www.mobilize.us/togethersf/event/444979/
10:30 am   Filipino American International Book Festival 2026 (SF Main Library)  FREE
11:00 am   “Sunday Streets” SF’s Free Street Festival & Block Party (Excelsior)  FREE
11:00 am   Hana Baba: Folktales from Sudan  FREE
11:00 am   San Francisco Photobook Fair w/ 40+ Publishers (Oct. 17-18)  FREE
11:00 am   “Salvi Soul Sunday” Free Block Party for SF’s Free Salvadoran Culture Festival (The Mission)  FREE
11:00 am   “Lindy in the Park” Swing Dance Party (Golden Gate Park)  FREE*
*Weather permitting (rain cancels)
12:00 pm   “Free Oakland Up” Market: Shop for Free Treasures (Every Friday-Sunday)  FREE*
*All outdoor items are free; one free indoor item per person per day, additional items for donation. Some plants and select treasures for sale.
12:00 pm   MXTX Wei Ying Birthday Cupsleeve Event (SF)  FREE*
*Free admission
12:00 pm   The 5th Annual Berkeley Bird Festival  FREE*
*Advanced Registration Required for Birding Field Trips
12:00 pm   Golden Gate Park “The Whale’s Tail” Beer/Wine Garden + Live Music (Summer 2026)  FREE*
*Free admission and entertainment for all ages. Dogs and bikes welcome. Food and beverages available for purchase.
12:30 pm   SF’s “Make a Friend” Picnic: Bring-Your-Own-Blanket (Potrero del Sol Park)  FREE
1:00 pm   SF’s “Balboa Block Party” 2026 (Greenwich/Fillmore)  FREE
1:00 pm   Earthquake Preparedness Fair (SF)  FREE*
*RSVP For headcount!
1:00 pm   Golden Gate Park Sunday Roller Disco Party (SF)  FREE
2:00 pm   Reduce Plastic Waste Through Creative Reuse (SF Main Library)  FREE*
*Space limited
2:00 pm   $5 Off Tix: San Francisco Playhouse’s “Peter Pan Goes Wrong” (Sept. 26-Nov. 28)  $55*
*Tickets start at $55; $5 off with code FUNCHEAP
2:00 pm   “Sun Dial” Punk Art Market w/ Live Music + Tattoos (Oakland)  FREE
3:00 pm   Crawfish Boil Block Party w/ Live Zydeco (Berkeley)  FREE*
*All Ages, Free Entry, Crawfish and Fixings Presale Required "By the Pound" or "By the Table Pour"
6:00 pm   $10 Off Tix: SF’s “Terror Vault” 1874 Halloween Haunt (2026)  $10 Off*
*Use code FUNCHEAP for $10 off tickets, but only 50 discount tickets available per date
6:00 pm   “HellaSecret” Speakeasy Comedy Show & Cocktail Night (Oakland)  FREE*
*Free with RSVP
7:00 pm   Secret Guest List: Cobb’s Free Comedy Nights (Drag-Up Comedy)  FREE*
*Free with RSVP. Must arrive 30 minutes early for guaranteed entry. All shows are 18 & over with valid photo ID. Like most comedy clubs, there is a two drink minimum.
7:00 pm   Free Sunday Comedy Night in Downtown SF  FREE*
*Exclusive free tickets with Eventbrite RSVP. Otherwise $20-25 at door. Please note like most comedy clubs, there is a two drink minimum per person
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