Nightfall at Filoli animates festive activations across the historic Woodside estate through November 1.
Filoli
Nightful at Filoli is underway! Get into the spooky spirit by exploring the estate-wide festivities, including a nightly harvest party in the Meadow, jack-o-lantern-lit redwood trails, a haunted miniature railway, Witches Village and mysteries galore in the Historic House. 5:30–10 p.m. (with last entry at 8:30 p.m.) Through November 1. Tickets: from $35. filoli.org
Brad Kahlhamer’s “Pima Air + Space,” 2025, on view at Haines Gallery, is made of acrylic, ink and pencil on bedsheet and measures 69.25 inches by 53.5 inches, framed.
Courtesy of the artist and Haines Gallery, San Francisco. Photo by Shaun Roberts.
Engage in a culmination of contemporary culture, tradition and personal histories with 250 Years, Indigenous Futures, presented by Haines Gallery. With a focus on Native American sovereignty, the exhibit displays works by Victoria Grace Canby, Brad Kahlhamer and more that range from paintings to film. Through November 7. hainesgallery.com
4: Get your airshow tickets for Fleet Week, one of SF’s most iconic occasions — with ship tours at Pier 27, K9 heroes at Duboce Park, the waterfront Parade of Ships and of course the air shows that highlight the U.S. Navy Blue Angels. Through October 12. VIP tickets: from $192. fleetweeksf.org
7: As part of the Fleet Week Neighborhood Concert Series, the 1st Marine Division Brass Band performs in Nob Hill’s Huntington Park. 5 p.m. Check the full calendar for the band’s additional scheduled performances. fleetweeksf.org/events/free-concert-series
9: Fridays on Front Street, the City’s free action-filled annual block party hosted by Downtown SF, returns for a final date. With a nod to the concurrent and iconic Fleet Week, the party, featuring live music, bars and games, will be dubbed the “Yacht Rock Block Party.” downtownsf.org
Fleet Week’s air shows soar over the San Francisco Belle on October 10 and 11.
10: Take in a Fleet Week air show from the deck of the San Francisco Belle. A two-hour cruise includes a buffet lunch, complimentary sparkling wine and live DJ tracks. Meet at Pier 3 Hornblower Landing. Boarding: 1:30 p.m. Through October 11. Tickets: from $152. cityexperiences.com
1: Produced by Design Bay Area, the nonprofit behind SF Design Week, Design Healdsburg unites designers, architects, makers, businesses and the public. Unfolding throughout the entire region, the program allows participants to construct their own design itineraries from an extensive array of demonstrations, gatherings and exhibitions. Through October 4. designhealdsburg.com
2: Hardly Strictly Bluegrass returns to Golden Gate Park, with My Morning Jacket and Old Crow Medicine Show among the confirmed artists. Through October 4. hardlystrictlybluegrass.com
3: Witness nearly 200 works created by Korean and international artists at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art with the only U.S. presentation of RM X SFMOMA: Between You and Me. Closely aligned with the museum’s mission of expanding global dialogue around art, the exhibition showcases a range of thoughtfully assembled pieces that reflect an array of voices. Through February 7, 2027. Tickets: $42. sfmoma.org
3: Flyaway Productions announces its dance-based public art project, Freedom Comes When One Walks Through It. With six performances held at three public libraries throughout the City over three consecutive Saturdays, the free show juxtaposes libraries and prisons. Through October 17. flyawayproductions.com
3: Head to the di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art to catch a glimpse of food-based art projects by artists such as Julio César Morales, with sound installations by Guillermo Galindo and Jacqueline Kiyomi Gordon. The exhibition, Salt Between Us, explores historical as well as social representations of food, with accompanying conversations, meals and gatherings. Through February 20. dirosaart.org
7: Andrew Lloyd Webber‘s legendary musical, Phantom of the Opera, hits the stage at the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts for a revitalized production starring Isaiah Bailey. Through October 18. Tickets: from $63. broadwaysanjose.com
8: Join Mission Bit family for its 10th annual gala fundraiser, Access Granted, at Standard Deviant Brewing located at Pier 70. With a silent auction, student demonstrations and storytelling, the event helps further the nonprofit’s mission of providing free technology education and mentorship to youth across the Bay Area. 6 p.m. Tickets: from $150. missionbit.org
8: October means pumpkin spice lattes and a whole lot of Litquake! This year’s two-week literary festival kicks off with a Kidquake lineup and culminates in its famous Lit Crawl through the Mission. Check the website for a comprehensive calendar of participating author events, times and venues. Through October 24. litquake.org
10: Get the ultimate Halloween thrill with Steven Dietz‘s adaptation of Bram Stoker‘s legendary Dracula. Directed by Giovanna Sardelli, immerse yourself into the chilling, wickedly smart story staged at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts. Previews October 7–9. Through November 1. Tickets: from $54. theatreworks.org
11: For one day only, actor and producer Michael Douglas celebrates the release of his new memoir, One Helluva Ride. Held at the Golden Gate Theatre, this installment of ATG’s Unscripted series makes for an unforgettable evening of conversation. 4 p.m. Tickets: from $79. us.atgtickets.com
11: To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the historic 1976 Judgment of Paris, when Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars’ 1973 S.L.V. Cabernet Sauvignon proved triumphant, the Napa winery is hosting a walkaround Judgment of Paris Immersive Tasting Experience with eight wineries connected to the original event, including Freemark Abbey and Grgich Hills Estate. The Thomas Keller Restaurant Group will provide light bites. 10 a.m.–12:30 p.m. or 2–4:30 p.m. Tickets: $325. stagsleapwinecellars.com/events/immersive-tasting
11: Save the date for the 158th annual San Francisco Italian Heritage Festival and Parade in North Beach. With special merch, floats, performances and the sweet zeppole that are always a favorite, savor Italian culture as it travels from Fisherman’s Wharf through North Beach to Washington Square. 12:30 p.m. sfitalianheritage.org
13: San Francisco Wine Society’s Danielle Kuzinich celebrates the leading women winemakers who have helped shape the industry. Held in the Financial District, this guided tasting explores six different wines and the stories behind them. Tickets: from $174. 6:15 p.m. sanfranciscowinesociety.com
14: From gold leaf and silver filigree to copper patina and ageless bronze, Métallique Chic! will shine at the San Francisco Fall Show, with Gap Inc. Creative Director Zac Posen and Town & Country Editor-in-Chief Stellene Volandes serving as Honorary Co-Chairs. The Opening Night Gala on October 14 precedes the full show October 15–18. Gala tickets: from $400. Show tickets: from $23. sffallshow.org NHG Sponsored
15: The Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel continues its speaker series that highlights fascinating figures with a talk from Rae Alexandra, the KQED reporter and author of Unsung Heroines: 35 Women Who Changed the Bay Area. Catch the free event held in the iconic Redwood Room. 5 p.m. eventbrite.com
15: The Green Film Festival of San Francisco returns to show how being environmentally friendly can be fun, with a line-up of stellar eco movies at the 4 Star Theater on Clement Street. Tickets: $15. Festival passes: from $75. sfindie.com
16: We Came Here to See, famed artist and writer Paul Madonna‘s biggest exhibition of his career to date — and his first major exhibition in more than 10 years — opens at Nelson Duni. It encompasses Madonna’s cityscape drawings, new portraits, new book From Life and an expansive look at his singularly creative process. Opening reception: 4–9 p.m. Through December 3. nelsonduni.com
17: The Potrero Hill R&B Festival returns for its 51st year of annual family-friendly fall fun. With local food vendors, entertainment and music, the festival benefits two local public elementary schools. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. potrerofestival.com
17: AbilityPath’s 35th Annual Authors Luncheon returns for an afternoon of storytelling and inspiration, with authors Alka Joshi, David Pogue and Evelyn Skye uniting with moderator Maureen Langan for a riveting panel discussion. Hosted at The Terrace by AbilityPath in Palo Alto. 11 a.m. Tickets: from $175. abilitypath.org
17: “Groove for good” at Episcopal Impact Fund’s Episco Disco Night of Light gala, taking place in the Julia Morgan Ballroom in support of the organization’s mission of uniting the community to create pathways out of poverty. 6 p.m. Tickets: $400. espiscopalimpact.org
17: Theatre Flamenco of San Francisco celebrates its 60th anniversary season with a production of De Ayer a Hoy/From Yesterday to Today at the Herbst Theatre. The evening highlights a new work from San Francisco native Cristina Hall, who has lived in Seville, Spain for over 20 years, as well as Adrián Santana, a dancer from Málaga, Spain. A post-show gala reception will be held in The Green Room for VIP ticket holders. 7:30 p.m. Tickets: from $50. theatreflamenco.org/60th
17: The 54th Annual Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival returns with champion pumpkins, live music, the Great Pumpkin Parade, costume contests and hundreds of arts and crafts booths. 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Through October 18. hmbpumpkinfest.com
18: Morgan Hill’s vibrant culinary community participates in the third annual MOHI Food & Wine Festival, bringing together exceptional chefs and acclaimed wineries, with proceeds supporting hospitality and culinary scholarships. Tickets: from $200. mohifoodandwine.com
Summit some of the City’s iconic steps during Civic Joy Fund’s third annual SF Stairway Month.
Masaki Omori for the Civic Joy Fund
18: Civic Joy Fund’s third annual SF Stairway Month scales several San Francisco heights, from today’s Telegraph Hill to Russian Hill climb to a Glen Park Neighborhood Walk on October 21, a Tiled to Tiled Stairway Walk on October 24 and an All About SF’s Stairways talk at Bird & Beckett Books and Records on October 27. civicjoyfund.org/projects/sfstairwaymonth
22: Root Division celebrates a quarter century of championing artists and building Bay Area community with its 25th Annual Benefit Art Auction, an unforgettable evening of impact that includes access to artist studios as well as live and silent auctions, all to benefit local artists and provide free art classes to Bay Area youth. 7 p.m. Tickets: from $50. rootdivision.org
23: Travel back in time at the Asian Art Museum by seeing Vishnu’s Cosmic Ocean in the Osher Foundation Gallery. This colossal statue of the Hindu god Vishnu, which once reclined in a temple in Angkor Wat, Cambodia, makes a special stop in San Francisco. Through January 25, 2027. exhibitions.asianart.org
24: Help fight breast cancer with the Pinkathon San Francisco; a free, family-friendly run starting at the Ferry Building that benefits the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Register now for a 5K, 10K or even 50K, done at your own pace, to help make a difference. 7 a.m. Registration: $27.50. runsignup.com
Costumes are encouraged at Symphony San Jose’s Symphonic Spooktacular at the California Theatre October 24 and 25.
Courtesy Symphony San Jose
24: Symphony San Jose’s Symphonic Spooktacular, presented by Peter Jaffe, comes complete with an on-stage costume contest at the California Theatre. 7:30 p.m. (October 24) and 2:30 p.m. (October 25). Tickets: from $35. symphonysanjose.org
29: ODC/Dance presents Unplugged with ODC founding artistic director Brenda Way, co–artistic director Mia J. Chong and composer Mason Bates at ODC Dance Commons’ Studio B. The occasion offers a behind-the-scenes first look at Infinite Scroll (She was always gripped with the desire to be elsewhere), which will make its West Coast premiere during Dance Downtown next March. 7 p.m. Tickets: from $50. odc.dance/unplugged
29: Asian Art Gala’s cocktail reception and seated dinner may be sold out, but tickets are still available for the after party taking place throughout Bogart Court, Bowes Court, Dodson Loggia and all galleries, and serving up cocktails, music, dancing and interactive installations. 9 p.m. Tickets: from $200. give.asianart.org/2026-asian-art-gala
29: If you missed Music Director Designate Elim Chan‘s sold-out appearances in June, fear not. For her return to Davies Symphony Hall, Chan conducts the San Francisco Symphony for performances of works by John Adams and Felix Mendelssohn. Through October 31. 7:30 p.m. Tickets: from $45. sfsymphony.org
30: Pestec takes over Terra Gallery with City Creatures, a one-day-only pest-art pop-up to explore the hidden ecologies of our urban landscape. Free open house: 2–6 p.m. Evening fundraiser in support of USF Gellert Family Business Center: 6–11 p.m. Fundraiser tickets: $15. citycreatures.my.canva.site/city-creatures
30: Famed composer Philip Glass‘ 90th birthday marks the special occasion for Let the Poets Speak: A Celebration of Philip Glass and Allen Ginsberg. The performance at Bing Concert Hall will feature pianist and Glass interpreter Timo Andres, theater artist Taylor Mac and members of the San Francisco Girls Chorus. 7:30 p.m. Tickets: from $51. live.stanford.edu
31: Among the many Halloween festivities taking place around the City is the free, family-friendly Halloween Hoopla at Yerba Buena Gardens’ Children’s Garden for the under-10 crowd and their adults, who will be treated to Circus Bella performers, live music by the Circus Bella All-Star Trio and the popular costume parade. Noon–3 p.m. ybgfestival.org/event/halloween-hoopla-2026