Free Things to Do in San Francisco in September: Attractions, Museums, Street Fairs, & More

My 25 favorite free things to do in San Francisco in September include Shakespeare in the Park, Comedy Day, and A Taste of Greece.

Other highlights this month include other top free attractions such as visiting the Maritime Museum in Fisherman's Wharf, strolling through the Japanese Tea Garden, and exploring the Painted Ladies of Alamo Square.

In September, you will also get some great views from the top of Twin Peaks, enjoying some relaxing time at Blue Heron Lake, and catch three free innings of SF Giants baseball. Read on for more of the best free activities this month in SF.

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1. A Taste of Greece

If you love Greek food, you are in for a delicious treat. Every September, the Annunciation Cathedral in the Mission District serves up some of the best Greek food in town.

You can sample everything from spanakopita, to baklava, to Greek wines. In addition to food and drinks, you can also enjoy music and entertainment all weekend long.

This festival is free to enter, but you must pay to enjoy some of their tasty treats!

>> Full list of SF festivals this month

2. Chinatown Autumn Moon Festival

One of the most popular free things to do in San Francisco in September is the Chinatown Autumn Moon Festival. It's a celebration during a specific time of the lunar calendar when the moon is bright and full.

The event includes a colorful parade, lots of entertainment, food & drinks, and so much more. Don't miss your chance to participate in this lively celebration during your stay in September.

>> What to expect during this year's event

>> More SF events this September

3. Walking Tours

Next on my list of the most popular free things to do in San Francisco in September is the free walking tours offered by SF City Guides. Since they are free, you might think that they are low quality. But you will be surprised and very glad you are wrong!

The volunteers that give the tours are locals that know so much about SF's history and our secret past. You can learn about SF before, during, and after the days of the Gold Rush, find the top spots in our unique districts, and walk down dark alleys to learn about their interesting past.

>> My favorites and details on the daily schedule

4. Museum Free Days

San Francisco is a world class museum city. We have several internationally recognized museums that people come from all around the world to visit.

Once a month, you get your chance to step inside for free. Several museums including the de Young, the Legion of Honor, and the Conservatory of Flowers participate in monthly free days when they open their doors to the public and offer everyone a peak at their amazing exhibits.

In addition, a handful of our other museums including the California Academy of Sciences and the Exploratorium offer several free days throughout the year. Make sure to check out the schedule before your stay.

>> Dates for this month's free San Francisco museum days

5. Comedy Day

Comedy Day is a full day of free comedy in Golden Gate Park. It's a big THANK YOU from our large comedy community to the public that support them all year long.

The event runs during the afternoon and features about a dozen comedians. You just never know who might show up to entertain you for free since big time comedians sometime drop by for a set.

6. Shakespeare in the Park

The next event on my list of the best free things to do in San Francisco in September is Shakespeare in the Park. Each year, the San Francisco Shakespeare Festival offers several free performances in the park.

They select one classic play and offer performances all around town. The San Francisco shows start over Labor Day Weekend and are offered for a couple of weekends in September.

If you miss these performances, you might be in luck since the show also moves to different locations throughout the Bay Area.

>> Check out this year's schedule of shows

>> More fun things to do this Labor Day Weekend

7. Folsom Street Fair

One of the largest, adult only free things to do in San Francisco in September is the Folsom Street Fair.

Called the "World's Largest Leather Event," this BDSM festival offers free entertainment, more than 200 vendors selling fetish gear and toys, and a large dance party on Saturday night.

The event is held on Folsom Street every September between 8th and 13th Streets.

8. Opera in the Park

The next item on my list of the best things to do in San Francisco in September is a show by the SF Opera. Every September, they offer one free show in Golden Gate Park. It's part of their opening weekend and it gives the community a look at their upcoming season.

This event is very popular, so make sure to arrive early to grab your spot on the lawn.

>> More about this and other SF Opera shows

9. Wave Organ

While SF enjoys its mildest weather of the year, be sure to spend some time along its waterfront. One fun, free way you can do this is to check out the Wave Organ, which sits in the bay just beyond the St. Francis Yacht Club. 

This unique piece of art was installed in 1986, using recycled materials to amplify the sounds of the waves. Make your way over here at high tide for the best sound effects. 

>> Get some tips on visiting this free attraction

10. Yerba Buena Gardens Festival

Just a few blocks away is the chance to enjoy another one of the fun free things to do in San Francisco in September. The Yerba Buena Gardens Festival is an annual event with free shows from May to October.

These outdoor performances include local artists, kids' entertainers, and more. Their shows are offered several times a week. Check my page for details about this year's schedule.

>> Where to catch this year's shows

11. San Francisco Street Murals

San Francisco is a colorful place for many reasons. One of those is our amazing collection of street art and murals. At any given time, there are more than 1,000 murals around town and many of them are outdoors and free for the public to enjoy.

Some of the largest concentrations are in the Mission, North Beach, and Chinatown. You can spot them on your own or use my handy guide to find some of the most beautiful pieces.

>> Where to find some of my favorites

12. Lombard Street

Your September visit to San Francisco offers you the chance to walk or drive down one of the crookedest streets in the world. Lombard Street is a brick-lined street with 8 hairpins turns.

It was originally built to allow residents at the top of the hill to arrive safely at the bottom of it.

There were a few of these streets around the city in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Today, you will find only one block still in place and it's a fun site to see! It's open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I recommend arriving early to get some great photos before the crowds roll in.

>> Where to find it and how to get here

13. Maritime Museum

The interesting history of SF's Fisherman's Wharf is what you will find inside the Maritime Museum. This free museum offers several interactive displays that showcase the story line behind the wharf's past and how it became the popular district it is today.

You will see exhibits that take you back to the time before the Gold Rush and how this monumental event shaped this district and the SF we all know today. My favorite stop is at the lighthouse display. Here you can see a working lighthouse light and get a close-up view of it in action.

14. Golden Gate Bridge

A visit here is not complete without a stop at #14 on my list of the best free things to do in San Francisco in September. The Golden Gate Bridge is one of the most recognized bridges in the world and your visit here is one you will never forget.

This 1.7-mile bridge welcomes visitors to stroll across its eastern walk way. Make sure to also spend time in its outdoor museum or to pick up some souvenirs at its dedicated gift shop.

>> Tips to visit the Golden Gate Bridge

15. Hamon Observatory Tower at the de Young

I love heading to the top of the Hamon Observatory Tower at the de Young to soak in the views. While it does cost to visit the de Young, you can check out the views for free!

The tower is only open when the museum is open. It offers fantastic views around Golden Gate Park and you can even see the tops of the towers of the Golden Gate Bridge.

The view also allows you to see some of the great neighborhoods around the park and all the way out to the Pacific Ocean! 

>> More about visiting the de Young and the Hamon Tower

16. Hike the Coastal Trail

One of the best active free things to do in San Francisco in September is to hike the Coastal Trail. This trail runs from Ocean Beach to the Presidio and you can start on either end.

The most popular part of the trail is at Lands End. This is where the trail takes you along the seaside cliffs with amazing views of the Marin Headlands, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the Pacific Ocean.

>> More things to do in the Presidio

17. Hearts in SF

One citywide art exhibition that's always free is the Hearts in SF project, which began in 2004. You'll find dazzling and unique 5-foot-tall, 400-pound heart sculptures sitting in plazas and parks, posted on street corners, and tucked in downtown lobbies.

While the hearts are always auctioned to raise money for the SF General Hospital Foundation and make room for new pieces, there is one that is permanently on display at Powell and Post Streets in Union Square: the heart left in San Francisco and painted by Tony Bennett himself.

18. Twin Peaks

Another one of the great free things to do in San Francisco in September is Twin Peaks. These two hills sit high above the city and the SF Bay. From their summits, you get some of the best views you can find of the whole Bay Area.

From the top, you can see the Golden Gate Bridge, City Hall, Alcatraz Island, and downtown SF. You can also see all the way from the SF Bay to the Pacific Ocean.

This is a must-see on your stay in SF.

>> Read my insider's guide for more visiting tips

19. Fort Point National Historic Site

This little-known brick building at the shore of the Presidio district predates the Golden Gate Bridge, which was built around it in order to preserve what is now a national historic site. 

Not only is this a great free attraction for the museum that teaches about the fort's military history; it's also a fantastic place to get unique closeup views of SF's iconic bridge from below, as well as the surfers that flock to this spot.

>> What else you can expect to find at Fort Point

20. 3 Innings of SF Giants Baseball

If you love baseball, but are on a tight budget, then make sure to head to Oracle Park for your chance to see three innings for free. When they built Oracle Park, they created a small viewing area just beyond the outfield. This is where they allow visitors to watch three innings for free.

You do need to arrive early as the line starts to form an hour or two before the game. If you don't make it inside for the first three innings, you will have two more chances during the game. Visit my SF Giants page for more details and to find out where to line up for some free SF Giants baseball!

>> This year's home schedule and tips to get to Oracle Park

21. Baker Beach

The next item on my list of the best free things to do in San Francisco in September is a visit to Baker Beach. I recommend this in September as its one of the warmest months here. It's also the best time to head to the beach in SF because it can be pretty chilly at other times.

Baker Beach is a large beach on the northern side of SF in the Presidio. From its sandy shore, you get great views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the Pacific Ocean. There aren't really any services here, so make sure to pack a picnic lunch or bring along anything else you might need.

>> Pictures from the beach and tips to get here

22. Blue Heron Lake

A visit to Blue Heron Lake is the next on my list of 25 top free things to do in San Francisco in September. You will find this serene attraction on the eastern end of Golden Gate Park.

The lake welcomes visitors daily to walk along the water's edge, climb to the top of Strawberry Hill or even rent a paddle boat to cruise around the water. It's a lovely oasis in the heart of the park.

>> What there is to see and do at Blue Heron Lake

23. Japanese Tea Garden

Step inside another top attraction in Golden Gate Park, the Japanese Tea Garden. Not too far away from the park's top museums, you will find this colorful gem.

Most people don't realize that you can visit this garden for free if you enter during the first hour of the day on Monday, Wednesday, or Friday. You are then welcome to stay for as long as you like as you check out all the different spaces within the garden.

If you visit at any other times, you will have to pay to enter, so get there early and save some bucks.

>> Pictures and what you will see, and how to get here

24. Alamo Square Painted Ladies

Even though it's toward the bottom, another top option on my list of the best free things to do in San Francisco in September is a stop at the Painted Ladies of Alamo Square. The 1800s Victorians are colorfully painted in some of their most stunning original colors of the time.

You can walk past them and spend some time admiring them from the outside. They are not open to look at the interiors, but their beautiful glow is sure to delight.

>> Tips to find the most colorful Painted Ladies

25. Palace of Fine Arts

The last, but certainly not least, of the free things to do in San Francisco in September is a visit to the Palace of Fine Arts. This lovely building was created for the 1915 Panama Pacific Exposition.

After an almost complete rebuild and several renovations over the years, today you can still visit it for free. You can walk through the walkways that go underneath the building and you can also admire it from across the lagoon.

It's also a fun place to stop for lunch or spend some time relaxing.

>> History of the building and visiting tips

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