Fall Events in San Francisco 2026: 20 Top Festivals, Street Fairs, & Other Activities In SF

Fall in San Francisco is packed with events, including big festivals, cultural celebrations, comedy, football, and studio art walks. And it all happens under the best weather of the year.

While the rest of the country cools off, we warm up. September and October are the warmest, sunniest, least foggy months here. We call it our secret summer.

It's my favorite season in the city.

September kicks off the season with fun events throughout Labor Day weekend. The rest of the month includes Comedy Day in the Park, the Haight Street Fair, and, of course, the Folsom Street Fair, which is definitely not one for kids.

October opens with Hardly Strictly Bluegrass the first weekend. It fills Golden Gate Park with one of the biggest free music festivals in the country. Three days, hundreds of thousands of people, no ticket needed.

The next weekend brings Fleet Week. The Blue Angels roar over the bay, and you can tour Navy ships along the waterfront. I've got a full local's guide to it, too.

San Francisco loves Halloween. Expect dozens of 21+ parties, fun events for kids, and neighborhoods worth walking just for the decorations.

Fall is a rich season for culture, too. Artists open their doors across the city during SF Open Studios, and neighborhoods celebrate with food, music, and tradition.

There's plenty on stage as well. The fall arts season opens with the SF Opera, Symphony, and Ballet, plus Broadway and comedy around town.

Fall in San Francisco is all about sports too. The 49ers are playing down south at Levi's Stadium, and the Warriors tip off a new season in October.

By November, the rains roll in, and the city turns toward the holidays. That's really the start of our winter here.

Planning a fall trip to San Francisco?

A few things I recommend booking ahead this time of year:

• Wine Country Day Trip: Fall is harvest season in Napa and Sonoma, the prettiest time to go
• Muir Woods: Step into a rare, old-growth redwood forest to discover some of the tallest trees in the world
• San Francisco Bay Cruise: The fog lifts, and the bay views are at their best

SFTourismTips is made possible by readers like you! If you book through my links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support! Learn more.

1. Labor Day Weekend

The rest of the country is closing out summer. Here in San Francisco, the best weather is just getting started.

Labor Day weekend is a great time to visit. The summer fog is lifting, and there's plenty going on.

Over the long weekend, you can catch a Giants game, see Free Shakespeare in the Park, or hop on a holiday bay cruise. You'll also find theater productions and live music around town.

Date: 9/5 - 9/7

Learn More: Find All Activities for this Year's Labor Day Weekend

2. Hardly Strictly Bluegrass

This is one of my favorite fall events in San Francisco, and it's completely free.

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass fills Golden Gate Park for three days, usually the first weekend of October. It's grown a lot over the years. The music spreads across six stages, with acts playing all weekend long.

And even though it costs nothing, you'll see big names. The 2026 lineup so far includes Alison Krauss & Union Station, Emmylou Harris, and Steve Earle.

Bring a blanket and get there early for a good spot. Hundreds of thousands of people come out over the weekend.

Date: 10/2 - 10/4

Learn More: Uncover HSB Details for this Year

3. Fleet Week

There's nothing like Fleet Week in San Francisco. You feel the breeze off the bay. Then you hear the roar of the jets. You look up, and the Blue Angels are flying in perfect formation right overhead.

They swoop low over the Golden Gate Bridge to put on a show. It's a thrill every year.

Head to the waterfront and Fisherman's Wharf for the action.

There's more than the air show, too. You can take free tours of the Navy ships and catch live music along the water.

I've got a full local's guide to Fleet Week, with the best viewing spots and my tips for the weekend.

Dates: 10/4 - 10/12

Learn More: Visit the Fleet Week Page for More Info

4. Fall Sports Events

Fall is one of the best times to catch a game in San Francisco.

Football season is in full swing, with the 49ers playing down south at Levi's Stadium. The Giants wrap up their season at Oracle Park, right on the water. And basketball is back in October, when the Warriors tip off at the Chase Center.

Here's what to expect this fall in San Francisco.

September Sports Events

• San Francisco Giants, Oracle Park in SF: 9/7, 9/8, 9/9, 9/11, 9/12, 9/13, 9/21, 9/22, 9/23, 9/25, 9/26, 9/27
• San Francisco 49ers, Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara: 9/20, 9/27
• Golden State Valkyries, Chase Center in SF:  9/18, 9/19
• San Jose Earthquakes, Paypal Park in San Jose: 9/5, 9/9
• Oakland Roots SC, Oakland Coliseum: 9/12, 9/26
• San Jose Sharks: Preseason games, 9/22 & 9/24

October Sports Events

• Golden State Warriors, Chase Center in SF: Preseason games, 10/6, 10/10, 10/16; Regular season games, 10/23, 10/30
• San Francisco 49ers, Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara: 10/4, 10/19
• San Jose Sharks, SAP Center in San Jose: 10/1, 10/3, 10/10, 10/13, 10/27, 10/29 & 10/31

• San Jose Earthquakes, Paypal Park in San Jose: 10/10, 10/14, 10/24
• Oakland Roots SC, Oakland Coliseum: 10/10

5. Castro Street Fair

The Castro is one of the city's most colorful and welcoming neighborhoods. It's famous for its LGBTQ+ history, and every fall it throws a great street fair.

The Castro Street Fair takes place on the first Sunday in October, from 11 am to 6 pm.

You'll find live music, street food, art vendors, and plenty of dancing in the streets. It's a festive day, and the whole neighborhood comes alive.

Date: Sunday, 10/4

6. Chinatown Autumn Moon Festival

You've probably heard about the huge Chinese New Year Parade here in the spring, the largest outside of Asia. But did you know Chinatown also throws an Autumn Moon Festival every fall?

It lands on the fifteenth day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar. The festival started after the 1989 earthquake as a way to bring the community back to life, and it's been going strong ever since.

Expect a parade with lion dancers, acrobats, martial artists, and dragons.

You'll also find arts and crafts, live performances, and plenty of food.

It's a great excuse to explore this vibrant district and its rich Chinese traditions. And it's one of the most popular fall events in San Francisco.

Date: 9/19 & 9/20

>> Visit the Chinatown Moon Festival Page for More Info

7. Halloween

San Francisco is one of the best places to celebrate Halloween. I think we do it up right here.

You'll find 21+ parties, kids' activities, theater, and symphony shows. There are spooky ghost tours, too, if you want to dig into the city's most haunted sites.

It's not just the events, though. The real magic is in the neighborhoods. Locals go all out decorating their homes, and some attractions get in on the fun with elaborate displays. It's worth a wander just to see it.

This year, October 31 falls on a Saturday, so expect a big weekend.

Date: 10/31

Learn More: Discover this Year's Halloween Events

8. Theater Performances

If you love live shows, you'll love the SF theater scene.

There's a lot of range here. You can catch a big Broadway production one night and a new play by a local writer the next.

The venues are part of the fun. Some are grand, like the Orpheum, with balcony seating and an orchestra pit. Others are smaller and more intimate, like the Strand, with multiple levels and rooms.

Fall is a busy season on stage. Here are some of the shows playing this September and October.

September Shows

• Dear San Francisco - Club Fugazi, ongoing
• Hairspray, SF Playhouse, July 10 - September 12
• Peter Pan Goes Wrong, SF Playhouse, September 26 - November 28
• Alfred Hitchcock's North by Northwest, Toni Rembe Theater, September 22 - October 18
• Little Shop of Horrors, New Conservatory Theater, September 12 - October 18
• Simon Boccanegra, SF Opera at the War Memorial Opera House, September 12, 16, 19, 22, 25 & 27
• Mary, Queen of Scots, SF Opera at the War Memorial Opera House, September 20, 24, 26 & 29

Find all theater shows and tickets for September 2026.

October Shows

• Oh Mary, Curran Theatre, 10/13 - 11/1
• Peter Pan Goes Wrong, SF Playhouse, September 26 - November 28
• Little Shop of Horrors, New Conservatory Theater, September 12 - October 18
• Dear San Francisco - Club Fugazi, ongoing
• A Case for the Existence of God, New Conservatory Theater, October 17 - November 15
• Alfred Hitchcock's North by Northwest, Toni Rembe Theater, September 22 - October 18
• Mary, Queen of Scots, SF Opera at the War Memorial Opera House, October 2 & 4
• Manon, SF Opera at the War Memorial Opera House, October 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, & 30
• The Marriage of Figaro, SF Opera at the War Memorial Opera House, October 31

Find all theater shows and tickets for October 2026.

9. Open Studios

Want to see where the city's art actually gets made? This is your chance.

During SF Open Studios, local artists open their studio doors to the public. It runs over four weekends in September and October, with a different district featured each weekend.

You can talk with the artists about their work, watch them create, and buy pieces directly from the source.

It's one of my favorite fall events here. There's no better way to see the range of the local art scene up close.

Dates: Weekends from September 26 - October 25

>> For more information, visit their official website

10. Opera

If you're in SF's Civic Center, you can't miss the War Memorial Opera House. Its grand columns sit right next to City Hall.

Each fall, from September to December, the SF Opera fills the stage. It's one of the top opera companies in the country.

They kick off their season with a free performance, Opera in the Park, in Golden Gate Park. This event is on September 13.

They then run four to five different shows over the season, with several performances of each.

Here are the 2026 performances.

• Simon Boccanegra: 9/12, 9/16, 9/19, 9/22, 9/25, 9/27
• Free Opera in the Park: 9/13
• Mary, Queen of Scots: 9/20, 9/24, 9/26, 9/29, 10/2, 10/4
• Manon: 10/15, 10/18, 10/21, 10/24, 10/27, 10/30, 11/1
• The Marriage of Figaro: 10/31, 11/3, 11/7, 11/10, 11/13, 11/15, 11/18, 11/21, 11/27, 11/29

11. SF Fall Antiques Show

This is more than an antiques show. The San Francisco Fall Show brings together art, antiques, and design from top dealers around the world.

The atmosphere is lively. Interior designers, architects, artisans, and craftspeople all turn out for it.

You'll find furniture, silver, jewelry, ceramics, paintings, and more. Even if you're just browsing, it's a fun one to wander through.

Date: 10/15 - 10/18

Learn More: Visit the October Calendar for More Details

12. A Journey of Greek Culture

Smell that? Spanakopita, moussaka, gyros. Those are the flavors of Greece drifting out of the Annunciation Church in the Mission, where this three-day festival is held every year.

Come listen to Greek music while you sample traditional treats and sip Greek wines. There are award-winning dance groups to watch, and activities to keep the kids busy.

It's a celebration of the city's rich cultural diversity. And it might be the most delicious fall event in San Francisco.

Date: September 18 - 20

13. Comedy Day

Picture a warm fall afternoon in Golden Gate Park. Picnic blankets cover the grass of Robin Williams Meadow. Food stands fill the air with something good, and everywhere you look, families are laughing.

That's Comedy Day. It's a free one-day event where local comedians take the stage to give back to the community that supports them all year. You'll catch around 40 comics in one afternoon.

Get there early to grab a good spot on the lawn.

Date: September 20

14. Folsom Street Fair

For more than 40 years, San Francisco's (in)famous Folsom Street Fair has been the world's largest leather and BDSM event. It's also one of the city's most popular events all year.

It's a celebration of kink, where an underground community comes out into the streets for all to see.

The fair runs along Folsom between 8th and 13th Streets in SoMa, a neighborhood where gay, leather-friendly bars started opening as early as the 1950s.

You'll find blocks of sights that can be shocking for some. It also captures a side of San Francisco the city is known for: inclusion, open sexuality, and free love.

One heads-up: this is a very adult event, so it's not one for kids.

Date: 9/27

15. Fall Concerts

Fall is a great season for live music in San Francisco. There's something on almost every night.

You'll find shows at venues all over the city, from the huge Chase Center to smaller, more intimate stages.

Here are some of the top performances this fall.

Top September Concerts

• 9/2: Zayn at the Chase Center
• 9/5: Kamelot at The Fillmore
• 9/9: Weezer, The Shins & Silversun Pickups at the Chase Center
• 9/19: Steve Aoki at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
• 9/21: Peter Hook & The Light at The Warfield
• 9/23: Lily Allen at the Chase Center
• 9/28: Social Distortion at The Masonic

>> More concerts in September in San Francisco

Top October Concerts

• 10/2: Gillian Welch & David Rawlings at the Fillmore
• 10/3 - 10/11: My Morning Jacket at the Fillmore
• 10/7: The Neighbourhood at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
• 10/10 - 10/11: Bruno Mars, Raye & DJ Pee.Wee at Levi's Stadium
• 10/14: Sex Pistols (Steve Jones, Paul Cook & Glen Matlock) at the Warfield
• 10/16: Iron & Wine at the Castro Theatre
• 10/18: Dinosaur Jr. & Stef Chura at the Castro Theatre
• 10/19: Doja Cat at the Chase Center
• 10/24: Marc Rebillet, Franc Moody & Chromeo: Block Party and After Party at the Midway
• 10/24: Jodeci at The Masonic
• 10/27 & 10/28: Phoebe Bridgers at the Chase Center
• 10/29 & 10/30: The Chicks at The Masonic
• 10/31: Eric Prydz at Pier 48

>> More concerts around San Francisco in October

16. Free Shakespeare in the Park

Few things say San Francisco fall like watching Shakespeare outdoors, for free, on a warm afternoon.

The San Francisco Shakespeare Festival puts on Free Shakespeare in the Park every year. In 2026, it's Antony and Cleopatra.

Bring a blanket and a picnic. Grab a spot on the grass early, because the good ones fill up.

You'll find it at two city parks this year. McLaren Park's Jerry Garcia Amphitheater in early September, then Sue Bierman Park downtown later in the month.

Date: McLaren Park, 9/5 to 9/13; Sue Bierman Park, 9/19 to 9/27

17. Free Museum Days

You don't have to spend a lot to see great art here. Several of the city's top museums offer free-admission days.

It's one of my favorite ways to enjoy San Francisco on a budget. Pick a museum, check their free day, and plan around it.

Fall is a good time for this. If the fog rolls in for an afternoon, it's the perfect excuse to duck inside.

One heads-up: free days draw crowds. Arrive early or near closing to skip the longest lines.

>> Find my full schedule by month

18. Litquake

If you love books, San Francisco hosts one of the best literary festivals in the country.

Litquake runs for about two weeks each October. You'll find author talks, readings, and events all over the city.

The highlight is Lit Crawl, a lively night when readings pop up in bars, cafes, and storefronts across the Mission. Most of it is free.

It's an only-in-SF way to spend an evening, even if you're just visiting.

Date: 10/8 to 10/24

>> Visit their site for a full schedule

19. Portola Music Festival

For a very different kind of festival, there's the Portola Music Festival.

Held over a weekend in late September at Pier 80, it's a big electronic-music festival right on the waterfront.

The 2026 lineup includes Robyn, Tiësto, and Swedish House Mafia. Expect two days of DJs, dancing, and bay views.

One thing to know: this one is 21 and over, so leave the kids at home.

Date: 9/26 and 9/27

>> Find a full lineup on their official site

20. Other Free Outdoor Events

Some of the best fall events here are the small, local ones that never make the big lists.

All season long, neighborhoods host free night markets, art fairs, and street parties. Many are part of the city's new entertainment zones, where live music, food, and vendors fill the streets.

A few to know: Valencia Live in the Mission, Downtown First Thursdays, the Chinatown Night Market along Grant Avenue, the Castro Art Market, and the Thrive City zone outside Chase Center on game nights. Most run monthly or every other month.

You don't even need a plan. Just about every weekend this fall, there's a free event happening somewhere in the city.

I keep a full, up-to-date list on my free events page. Head there to see what's on while you're in town.

>> Find my full calendar of free events by month

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