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Labor Day Weekend in San Francisco: Discover 20 Top Activities for 2026
By: Jill Loeffler • Updated: September 2, 2026
The best things to do in San Francisco over Labor Day weekend include concerts, theater, and plenty of outdoor options. The holiday runs on the Saturday and Sunday before the first Monday in September.
In 2026, that's September 5 to 7.
It's a great time to be here. The summer fog is lifting, and September brings some of the best weather of the year.
You'll find concerts all around San Francisco and the Bay Area. Big names and small clubs alike.
There's plenty on stage, too. Theater and live shows play at venues across the city.
The Giants are home at Oracle Park this time of year, and the Golden State Valkyries are still in their WNBA season.
Museums are a great option as well. Several have special exhibits worth a visit, and some offer free-admission days. You'll also find other great free events, such as festivals, live outdoor concerts, and craft shows, all around the city.
And there are free walking tours every day of the weekend. An easy way to see a neighborhood on foot.
Planning a trip to San Francisco this Labor Day weekend?
A few things I recommend booking ahead:
- San Francisco Bay Cruise: The fog lifts, and the bay views are at their best
- Alcatraz Combo Tours: A holiday weekend books out fast, so reserve now, plus these include an additional tour or activity
- Wine Country Day Trip: An easy escape to Napa or Sonoma, still warm and sunny inland
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. Hairspray at the SF Playhouse
Head over to the SF Playhouse for the feel-good, colorful, Tony Award-winning "Hairspray."
This beloved upbeat musical is a celebration of diversity. Follow plus-size teenager Tracy Turnblad on her rise to stardom as she pursues her dream to dance on the popular Corny Collins Show.
Based in the 1960s, Tracy then uses her newfound platform to challenge racial segregation and change the face of television forever.
Dates: This Labor Day weekend in San Francisco, you will find one performance on Friday, two on Saturday, and one on Sunday. The show runs through September 12.
Make sure to pick up your tickets early, as you don't want to miss your chance to see this fantastic show!
>> Find additional shows this weekend in SF
2. Labor Day Weekend Concerts
Many of the concert venues in San Francisco and around the SF Bay Area will offer shows this Labor Day weekend. Some of the top shows include:
- Kamelot at The Fillmore, 9/5
- Valerie - A Tribute to Amy Winehouse at August Hall, 9/5
- Lloyd, Keri Hilson & Soulja Boy, R&B and Ribs Block Party at the Midway, 9/6
- Unreal: Gravedgr, Johannes Schuster & NOVA at the Palace of Fine Arts, 9/6
3. SF Giants
The San Francisco Giants host the St. Louis Cardinals this Labor Day in San Francisco.
The series starts on Monday, September 7, with a 5:10 pm game at our beautiful waterfront Oracle Park.
The three-game series continues on Tuesday at 6:45 pm and Wednesday at 12:45 pm.
>> Find tickets for this Giants series at home
>> Find out about more sports events happening around the Bay Area
4. Aura at Grace Cathedral
It's tough to capture this beautiful projection light show in just one image, but this gives you a rough idea on what to expect!On Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, head over to Grace Cathedral for their projection light show called Aura. I just attended last week, and it was such an amazing show.
The lights and sounds fill this beautiful cathedral. It starts with a little history of the cathedral and San Francisco around the time of the 1906 earthquake and fire. It then continues with images and sounds of nature, life, and beauty.
The entire experience is about an hour long. The show runs for about 30 minutes, and then you'll have just a few minutes to explore the cathedral itself.
I highly recommend getting the Premium View seats and sitting as far back as you can. Your neck will thank you!
There are two shows each night.
Pick up advanced tickets through the official site, Fever.
5. San Francisco Outdoor Handmade Artisan Show
The beautiful Palace of Fine Arts is the setting for this weekend's Outdoor Handmade Artisan Show. It's a great time to find unique, one-of-a-kind items for you or your loved ones.
It will feature a curated collection of crafts with one of the most beautiful backdrops around. While you are here, grab some food and drinks and have a little picnic on the lawn.
The show runs Friday, September 4 - Sunday, September 6 from 10 am to 6 pm all three days.
My full calendar of free things to do this Labor Day Weekend in San Francisco.
6. Chinatown Car Show and Car Parade
Chinatown is the place to be on Sunday, September 6. Along Grant Avenue is the 5th Annual SF Chinatown Car Show & Parade.
The event runs from 10 am to 3:30 pm. It's free and open to the public.
It will feature a mix of classic and vintage cars. You'll also get to see performances including traditional lion dancers, live music, and martial arts demonstrations.
Visit Eventbrite to learn more.
7. California Academy of Sciences
The California Academy of Sciences is open 365 days a year, making this Labor Day weekend in San Francisco a perfect opportunity to visit this amazing museum.
It's really four museums in one, including the Steinhart Aquarium, the Four-Story Osher Rainforest, the Morrison Planetarium, and the Kimball Natural History Museum.
Pick up your tickets in advance to skip the ticket line upon arrival.
Tickets: Find advanced tickets so you can skip the line when you arrive
8. 90-Minute Sailing Tour on the SF Bay
Head out on the SF Bay this Labor Day weekend. On this 90-minute cruise, you will experience the best of the bay. Cruise past top attractions such as Alcatraz Island, the Golden Gate Bridge, and Sausalito.
Refreshments are available for purchase on board.
This cruise operates all throughout the holiday weekend, departing at 1 pm and 3:30 pm each day.
Tickets: Find tickets for all days on GetYourGuide
More Fun Cruises for Labor Day Weekend
9. Comedy Shows
This holiday weekend, you will find comedy performances at the Punch Line, Cobb's Comedy Club, and other venues around town.
Some of the top picks include:
- Cobb's Comedy All Stars at Cobb's Comedy Club, 9/4
- HellaFunny Comedy Night at The Function Comedy Club, 9/5
- Martin Amini at the Punch Line Comedy Club, 9/5 & 9/6
10. SF with Kids
Are you traveling to San Francisco with your entire family? If so, you will find plenty of fun things to do with the kids this weekend.
Options range from visiting the SF Zoo to experiencing all of the kid-friendly entertainment on Pier 39.
Other highlights include cruising around the bay, tinkering with the hands-on exhibits at the Exploratorium, and visiting the California Academy of Sciences.
>> Click here for a list of 25+ fun, family-friendly things to do in San Francisco
11. Visit Napa or Sonoma
Labor Day weekend is one of the best times to visit the Northern California wine regions. During this time, both the leaves and the grapes turn colors, and the landscape is gorgeous.
You can sip and sample some of the top reds and whites on the market today from our famed Napa and Sonoma Valley wineries.
These full-day tours depart around 8 am and return in the early evening, allowing you to still explore the city that night.
>> Read more about all of the great wine tours to Napa & Sonoma
12. Hunt for Ghosts
San Francisco is full of history, which means there are dozens of ghost stories to be told.
This Gold and Ghouls Tour takes you around downtown San Francisco with stories from the Gold Rush of 1849, famous tragedies, some of SF's most famous hotels, and more.
This one-hour tour (you can also opt for the 1.5-hour tour) takes you through Nob Hill, Union Square, and other places in downtown SF.
>> More details about this fun and interesting tour
13. Free Walking Tours
The free walking tour along the Golden Gate Bridge is one of my favorites. You'll learn about its history and get the chance to walk along it with a local guide.This holiday weekend, and every weekend, the non-profit SF City Walks offers free walking tours throughout the city.
On Saturday, you can explore Coit Tower, stroll the Ferry Building, or learn all about the Golden Gate Bridge.
On Sunday, you can visit the eclectic Haight-Ashbury District or stroll down Billionaires’ Row in Nob Hill.
Monday is also full of fun tours, including walks around downtown SF and the Japanese Tea Garden.
>> Visit the SF City Guides site for more details
>> Additional Guided Walking Tours in SF
14. Additional Free Things to Do
This is a close up look at the dome of the Palace of Fine Arts, one of many free things to do around San Francisco.One of the best things about San Francisco is the numerous free activities there are to enjoy. They include several attractions such as the Golden Gate Bridge, Lombard Street, and the Palace of Fine Arts.
In addition, you can visit some of SF's museums at no cost. The list below provides you with more details on these and other free SF activities, events, attractions, and more!
15. Alcatraz
You will find that several of our indoor attractions are closed on the Monday holiday. However, Alcatraz is open throughout Labor Day weekend in San Francisco.
This former maximum-security federal prison on a unique island in the bay known as "The Rock" is a must-see for San Francisco visitors.
Make sure to get tickets well in advance, as they sell out quickly for this busy holiday.
>> Learn more about visiting Alcatraz
16. Traveling Museum Exhibits
This is part of the de Young's permanent collection. I love checking out the Chihuly vases when I visit.This weekend, you can also spend some time exploring some of the traveling exhibits at our major museums. Those scheduled for this weekend include:
- Treasures of the Pharaohs at the de Young, this is one of the biggest traveling exhibits on display this Labor Day Weekend in San Francisco
- The Etruscans, From the Heart of Ancient Italy at the Legion of Honor
- Happiest Place on Earth, The Disneyland Story at the Walt Disney Family Museum
>> More exhibits this weekend in San Francisco
17. Aquarium of the Bay
The Aquarium of the Bay is open all weekend long at Pier 39 in Fisherman's Wharf.
I love coming here to walk through the tunnels and watch the fish and sharks of the SF Bay swim all around and above me.
They are open from 10 am to 5 pm.
>> More fun things to do on Pier 39
18. Conservatory of Flowers
The Conservatory of Flowers is also open for the Labor Day weekend and holiday.
Head over and see their amazing collection of colorful flowers and plants from 10 am to 4:30 pm.
You can also come back after dark to see their free daily light art installation, Photosynthesis. It's a projection light show on the outside of the Conservatory of Flowers.
19. SF Free Shakespeare in the Park
Head over to McLaren Park on Saturday, Sunday, or Monday for Free Shakespeare in the Park.
This year's performance is Antony and Cleopatra. The show starts at 2 pm, but I recommend arriving early for a good seat.
You can also bring along your own food and drinks to enjoy during the performance.
>> Visit the official site to learn more
20. Castro Art Mart
On Sunday, September 6, head to the Castro for its monthly art market. It's set up along Noe Street between Market and Beaver Streets.
You'll find handmade goods from colorful home decor to jewelry to clothing. It's a great way to find gifts for yourself and others.
>> More on their official site
Hi, I’m Jill!
I’ve been sharing San Francisco travel advice since 2009 and have helped millions of people explore the city like a local. Whether you’re dreaming of sea lions, cable cars, or a great sourdough bread bowl, I’m here to help you plan an unforgettable trip with real tips from someone who actually lives here.
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