January’s end won’t be a dull one, as San Francisco has tons of entertainment for residents to enjoy before flipping their calendars to a new month.
Here are the top events to check out this week in The City.
‘American Solitaire’ film screening (Monday)
Stanford University physician Dean Winslow is in conversation with director Aaron Davidman about the latter’s 2025 film. The drama revolves around a veteran who must deal with gun violence in his hometown.
General-admission tickets cost $20, and students get in free with a valid ID. The program takes place at the Commonwealth Club of California, with doors opening at 5 p.m.
Grace Cathedral sound bath (Monday)
Singing and the sounds of drums, flutes and crystals fill this Nob Hill venue as part of a full-body meditative experience curated by Fractals of Sound. The Bay Area music collective features artists Egemen Sanli, Phoenix Song and Sam Jackson.
‘Armando Anto: The Maestro of Comedy’ (Tuesday)
Comedian and climate activist CJ Koepp hosts a performance by Armando Anto, the comedian and violinist who began his live-entertainment career being trained by the French National Conservatory. Anto is being joined by Bay Area comedian Natasha Vinik.
‘The Man Who Saves the World?’ premiere (Tuesday)
Director Gabe Polsky chats with spiritual journeyman Patrick McCollum about the former’s 2025 documentary that chronicles the latter’s work around Indigenous prophecies and resurrection. Their conversation is being preceded by a film screening, which sees the pair visiting Mexico and Colombia.
Free art workshop (Wednesday)
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts invites participants to learn how to paint with watercolors using resist techniques, practices that involve creating areas on canvases that don’t absorb pigments from the water-based solutions.
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts’ latest workshop is inspired by “The Prince of Homburg,” a solo exhibition by artist P. Staff.
Courtesy Ruth Clark
Guests can RSVP online and take their projects home. All materials will be provided for the workshop, which runs from 2 to 4 p.m. and is inspired by YBCA’s “The Prince of Homburg” solo exhibition by artist P. Staff.
‘A Global History of Psychedelics’ presented by Profs and Pints (Wednesday)
Standard University scholar and author J. Christian Greer delivers a presentation on the histories of substances such as ayahuasca, magic mushrooms and peyote, as well as their historical and modern-day applications. The event is organized by Profs and Pints, the group that brings college faculty members into bars for lectures and workshops.
‘Dream Jungle’ opening reception (Thursday)
The San Francisco Arts Commission throws an opening celebration for “Dream Jungle,” a group exhibition inspired by writer Jessica Hagedorn’s 2003 novel of the same name. SFAC’s exhibition highlights six local artists whose works tackle the effects of colonialism.
The admission-free event runs from 6 to 8 p.m. “Dream Jungle” is on view through May 2 at the SFAC Main Gallery, which is at 401 Van Ness, suite 126.
‘Bay Made Showcase’ presented by KALW (Thursday)
San Francisco’s public radio station welcomes May Boeve to its 220 Montgomery St. space, where the activist is holding a live recording of “How We Build This.” The podcast explores the ways in which storytelling can be used to combat authoritarianism.
San Francisco Symphony hosts Jaap van Zweden and Emanuel Ax (Thursday-Sunday)
Dutch conductor van Zweden and American pianist Ax join forces with the San Francisco Symphony for a trio of shows honoring two famed Austrian composers: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Anton Bruckner.
The San Francisco Symphony will honor famed Austrian composers Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Anton Brucknerwith a trio of shows this week.
Courtesy San Francisco Symphony
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Ticket prices range from $30 to $185. Shows start at 7:30 p.m. inside Davies Symphony Hall and will be preceded by discussions with the San Francisco Conservatory of Music’s Scott Foglesong.
BATS Improv presents Theatresports: All-Stars! (Thursday)
Northern California’s longest-running improv theater collaborates with San Francisco Sketchfest and the Upright Citizens Brigade for a night where talents who usually don’t perform together are thrown into teams. Audiences will provide new suggestions before each scene, with songs and games also taking place.
BATS Improv, Northern California’s longest-running improv theater is collaborating with the Upright Citizens Brigade and San Francisco Sketchfest.
Courtesy Ben Krantz
Pivot Festival — Legacies presented by San Francisco Performances (Friday)
Vocalist Tanner Porter joins The Living Earth Show guitarist Travis Andrews and percussionist Andy Meyerson to perform works by Sleeping Giant composer group members, as well as students and modern-day talents influenced by the group. Featured composers include Timo Andres, Christopher Cerrone and Jacob Cooper.
‘Mania: The Abba Tribute’ (Friday)
The West End production that opened to audiences over 20 years ago comes to the Palace of Fine Arts to pay homage to the popular Swedish band. Guests can expect to hear classic hits including “Waterloo,” “Mamma Mia” and “Dancing Queen.”’
The Edwardian Ball’s 25th anniversary (Friday-Saturday)
Honoring works by American writer Edward Gorey, this multi-floor installation takes over the Regency Ballroom with art, circus acts, dancing, crafts, theater performances and other offerings. Saturday’s event features daytime shopping at the ball’s Vendor Bazaar, a pop-up marketplace highlighting 40 artists and makers.
Single-day ticket prices range from $50 to $200, while two-day options are available from $260 to $325. The ball runs both days from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday’s marketplace is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
‘Dirty Dancing’ in concert (Saturday)
Golden Gate Theatre screens director Emile Ardolino’s 1987 romantic drama and dance film starring Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey, which has been digitally remastered for the silver screen. A live band and singers will perform songs from the movie’s original soundtrack, with sing- and dance-alongs following the film.
San Francisco’s 2026 Slavic Festival (Saturday-Sunday)
The Russian Center of San Francisco brings a two-day extravaganza to Sutter Street with live dancing, folk music, a costume contest and cultural dishes. There will also be an activity area suitable for children of all ages and a pop-up market featuring artisans and craft vendors.
General-admission tickets cost $17.85 including fees. Adults over the age of 65, students under the age of 25 and military service members get in for $12.51 including fees. Children ages 12 and under get free admission. Saturday’s event runs from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday’s edition lasts from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
San Francisco Half Marathon (Sunday)
The annual Pamakid Runners club event returns to Golden Gate Park, taking more than 8,500 participants through the scenic area and along the Pacific Ocean. In addition to the half marathon, 5K and 10K races will be held along with a post-event festival.
Free First Sunday at the Asian Art Museum (Sunday)
The Civic Center institution hosts a full day of celebrations and activities in honor of the Year of the Horse, this year’s representative animal of the Chinese zodiac. UC Berkeley’s Vietnamese Student Association will perform lion-dance routines, while author Eddie Ahn will discussing community, environmental justice and San Francisco’s Chinatown. There will also be mah-jongg lessons, as well as numerous tours and art activities.
The Asian Art Museum’s admission-free day features lion dancers.
Courtesy Asian Art Museum
An Evening with Nicola Benedetti (Sunday)
Violinist Nicola Benedetti takes part in a recital featuring accordionist Hanzhi Wang, cellist Adrian Daurov and guitarist Plinio Fernandes. The quartet will perform traditional folk music, as well as works by composers such as Ernest Bloch, Niccolo Paganini and Henryk Wieniawski.