Bastille Day Festival at Embarcadero Plaza
Seven-hour celebration of French culture with food, wine, beer, live music, dance, and the famous Waiters Race.
FreeFoodLive musicStreet fair
“What should we do with the kids this weekend?” Solved.
A weekly email of personalized activity ideas for your household, delivered every Thursday.
Here's what families got up to in San Francisco last weekend.
Weekend of Jul 18
This Weekend's Events
Charley Crockett at Stern Grove Festival
Free Sunday concert in a natural amphitheater surrounded by eucalyptus and redwood trees.
FreeLive musicCountryOutdoor concert
2026 San Francisco Arts and Crafts Show at the Presidio
Two-day open-air marketplace with 60+ local artists and crafters selling handmade goods, unique art, and one-of-a-kind items. Lively community atmosphere with live music and food trucks both days.
FreeArts and craftsStreet fairShopping
Summer Vibe Art Fair Grand Opening at Pier 27
First-ever San Francisco Summer Vibe Art Fair debuts with over 125 curated artists, makers, and creatives from across the US.
FreeArt fairShoppingVisual art
Japantown Street Festival with Taiko and Awa Odori
Annual summer celebration of Japanese arts and culture on Post and Laguna Streets in Japantown.
FreeCultural festivalLive performancesArts and crafts
Sunday Streets Car-Free Festival in Mission District
One-mile stretch of Mission District streets closed to cars, transformed into a community space for walking, cycling, dancing, and street performances.
FreeCommunity eventStreet fairWalking
Secondhand Saturday Vintage and Makers Market
Curated flea market with 60+ vintage vendors, makers, and artists. Browse clothing, accessories, furniture, records, jewelry, and handmade goods. Live music, food trucks, workshops, and rotating family activities.
FreeVintageShoppingLive music
Urban Youth Arts Festival at Precita Park
Annual youth-directed art festival celebrating community creativity and expression.
FreeYouth artStreet fairCommunity
Golden Gate Park Band Concert: Treasures of the Band World
The Golden Gate Park Band, performing since 1882, plays a free classical and light-opera program in the Music Concourse.
FreeLive musicClassicalFree concert
Soccer Watch Party at PIER 39 Outdoor Screen
High-energy watch party for World Cup matches on PIER 39's outdoor screen overlooking the waterfront.
FreeSportsFree eventWaterfront
Heart of the Richmond District Summer Night Market
Family-friendly night market on Clement Street between 22nd and 25th Avenue.
FreeNight marketFood vendorsCommunity
Get Outside
Lands End Sutro Baths Trail Hike
Scenic clifftop loop near the ocean offering ruins of the historic Sutro Baths, panoramic coastal views, and redwood groves.
FreeHikingHistoric ruinsScenic views
Twin Peaks Loop Trail for 360-Degree City Views
Short, steep trail to the highest point in San Francisco offering panoramic views of the Bay, Golden Gate, and downtown skyline.
FreeHikingScenic viewsCity landscape
Crissy Field Waterfront Walk and Picnic Spot
Flat, grassy waterfront park with views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the Marin Headlands.
FreeBeach walkWaterfrontViews
Dolores Park Lawn and People-Watching
San Francisco's most social outdoor hang with sweeping city and mountain views.
FreeParkPicnicViews
Wave Organ Sound Art Installation at Marina Green
Unique artist-made pier at the end of Marina Green that channels bay water through organ pipes, creating natural musical tones as the waves rise and fall.
FreeArt installationSound artWaterfront
Explore Clarion Alley Murals and Mission Street Art District
Walk through the Mission's ever-changing street art and mural corridor.
FreeStreet artWalking tourPhotography
Ocean Beach Sunset Cliffs and Tide Pools
Long, dramatic sand beach at the city's western edge with crashing waves, sea stacks, and tide pools at low tide. Low tide around 11 AM on Sunday gives 2+ hours of good tide-pool exploring before the water comes back.
FreeBeachTide poolsSurfing
Alamo Square Victorian Row and Park Views
Iconic park with the famous Painted Ladies (Victorian homes) as backdrop.
FreePhotographyPark viewsIconic landmark
Ferry Building Marketplace Farmers Market Browse
Saturday and Tuesday farmers market at the Ferry Building with local produce, artisan foods, prepared meals, and coffee.
$Farmers marketFoodShopping
Big Art Loop Public Art and Sculptural Walk
Self-guided walking or biking route through neighborhoods showcasing public sculptures, murals, and art installations.
FreePublic artWalking tourSculptures
Mission District Murals Walking Tour
Self-guided walk or casual stroll through the Mission's vibrant street art landscape on and around Valencia Street, Folsom Street, and 24th Street.
FreeStreet artWalking tourMurals
Fog-Walk the Presidio Trails and Forest Loop
Miles of shaded trails wind through the Presidio's former military grounds.
FreeHikingForestTrails
Get this for your weekend
We'll email you the full list every Thursday.
Indoor Ideas
de Young Museum or Legion of Honor Free Resident Day
Bay Area residents get free admission to permanent collections (with ID or proof of residency).
FreeArt museumAmerican artFree admission
SFMOMA and Yerba Buena Gardens Free Afternoon Stroll
Wander the modern art museum's central atrium (free to enter), then explore Yerba Buena Gardens outdoor plaza with sculptures, fountains, and a reflecting pool.
$$Art museumModern artCultural
Exploratorium Hands-On Science Museum
Interactive science museum at Pier 15 with hundreds of hands-on exhibits for all ages. Explore optics, physics, human perception, and marine ecosystems. Waterfront views and outdoor plaza areas.
$$ScienceInteractive
Asian Art Museum Collection Tour
World-class Asian art collection from ceramics to scrolls to sculptures.
$Art museumCulturalAsian art
Japanese Tea Garden Stroll and Tea House Ceremony
Serene garden within Golden Gate Park featuring Japanese landscaping, bridges, koi ponds, and a traditional tea house.
$GardensCulturalTea ceremony
Conservatory of Flowers Tropical Greenhouse Tour
Historic Victorian greenhouse in Golden Gate Park filled with rare orchids, carnivorous plants, and tropical ferns.
$GardensGreenhouseNature
Vesuvio Cafe and City Lights Bookstore Literary Hang
Historic North Beach cafe next to City Lights, the legendary beat-poetry bookstore.
$CafeBookstoreLiterature
Castro Theatre Historic Movie Palace and Vintage Vibes
Iconic 1920s theater with ornate architecture. Check weekend movie schedule, catch a film on the grand screen, and soak in the historic ambiance. Pre-show pipe organ performances add old-school charm.
$$CinemaHistoric venueEntertainment
Mint Museum of Toys Nostalgia Collection
Small, quirky museum packed with vintage and collectible toys from across eras. Dolls, action figures, tin toys, board games, and pop-culture memorabilia. Cozy, intimate vibe perfect for a rainy-day outing.
$ToysVintageNostalgia
Onsen Bathhouse and Japanese Dining Experience
Traditional Japanese bathhouse with soaking pools and restaurant serving Japanese cuisine.
$$WellnessBathingJapanese dining
Wild Card
Off the Grid Food Truck Night Market at Fort Mason
Open-air night market with 100+ food vendors and craft stalls on the waterfront. Late afternoon and evening means cooler temps, soft light, and food-truck energy. Free to browse; pay per food item.
$Food trucksNight marketDining
North Beach Literary Walking Tour: Beat Poets and City History
Self-guided or group-tour walk through North Beach exploring the neighborhoods haunts of Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, and Gary Snyder.
$Walking tourLiterary historyNeighborhood
Musée Mécanique Vintage Mechanical Machine Museum
Free museum at the Embarcadero featuring antique and quirky mechanical machines: fortune tellers, peep shows, player pianos, and more. Interactive and wonderfully weird. Short visit but unforgettable experience.
FreeQuirky museumMechanical artUnique
Hayalley Street Fair Summer Carnival
Annual Hayes Valley block party with Circus Bella performances, street games, prizes, and local food vendors.
FreeStreet fairCarnivalCircus
Board-Game Cafe or Puzzle Afternoon Indoors
Spend a cozy afternoon at a local board-game cafe or community center. Order coffee or tea, choose from dozens of games, and settle in for some low-key strategic fun while fog rolls past outside.
$GamesSocialIndoor activity
Rooftop Perch at Hayes Valley for Fog Watching
Hayes Valley neighborhood breweries and cafes often have rooftop or elevated seating.
$NeighborhoodViewsCasual dining
How it works
- Tell us about your householdA few quick questions: location, family makeup, interests, budget.
- We hand-pick weekend ideas every ThursdayLocal events, outdoor days when the weather plays nice, indoor backups.
- Skim the email; tap a card to see all the ideasThumbs up what you like. Every click tunes future recommendations.
Get this for your weekend
We'll email you the full list every Thursday.