BARTable This Weekend: May 10-12
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Spend an event-filled day with mom at the Exploratorium this weekend. Photo courtesy of 510 Families.
Have a wholesome Mother's Day weekend at exciting BARTable events around the Bay Area. Lake Merritt will be active this weekend with the annual 510 Day celebration on Friday, and Kidical Mass bike parade on Saturday. East Bay Regional Parks District is celebrating its 90th birthday and the Exploratorium is letting moms and their kids visit for free to celebrate the holiday. Save mom from traffic this weekend and take BART to your favorite events. Are you hosting an event near a BART Station? Visit this page to learn about "what is BARTable."
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Join East Bay Regional Parks District in celebrating 90 years. Photo Courtesy of East Bay Regional Parks District.
Yerba Buena Gardens Festival
May 11 | Powell St
1-2:30 p.m. | 750 Howard St.
Yerba Buena Gardens Festival (YBGF) presents the award-winning vocal group Kitka in concert. The vocal group consists of a nine-woman ensemble that sing traditional songs from the Balkans, Caucasus and Slavic lands. This weekend the group will perform a special selection of songs to express solidarity with the people of Ukraine. The YBGF is an annual festival that runs through the summer to enhance the vitality and quality of life in the parks and open spaces of Yerba Buena Gardens. These curated presentations are free to the public and feature of wide range of artistic and cultural programs. Take BART to Powell and head 0.3 miles to see the show.
May 11 | Powell St
1-2:30 p.m. | 750 Howard St.
Yerba Buena Gardens Festival (YBGF) presents the award-winning vocal group Kitka in concert. The vocal group consists of a nine-woman ensemble that sing traditional songs from the Balkans, Caucasus and Slavic lands. This weekend the group will perform a special selection of songs to express solidarity with the people of Ukraine. The YBGF is an annual festival that runs through the summer to enhance the vitality and quality of life in the parks and open spaces of Yerba Buena Gardens. These curated presentations are free to the public and feature of wide range of artistic and cultural programs. Take BART to Powell and head 0.3 miles to see the show.
May 11 | Bay Fair
10 a.m.-4 p.m. | 17600 Lake Chabot Rd.
10 a.m.-4 p.m. | 17600 Lake Chabot Rd.
Celebrate 90 years of land preservation, environmental conservation and recreation with the East Bay Regional Parks District. This eco-friendly festival will have live performances, provisions from Drakes Brewery, a kids' zone, nature exhibits, food trucks and more. The park district was created in the 1920's after thousands of acres of watershed land in the East Bay Hills became available for development when civic leaders came together to preserve the land by creating the public space with a focus on conservation. Catch BART to Bay Fair and hop on the shuttle to Lake Chabot Regional Park to celebrate.
May 11 | Hayward
12-6p.m. | 22622 Main St.
The Kumu Hula Association of Northern California is hosting its free Hawaiian May Day celebration on Saturday. Celebrate the legacy of Hawaiian tradition and cultural power with a line-up of live artists, local vendors and legendary eateries. May Day in Hawaiian culture is also known and Lei Day, and stands as a celebration of the traditional flower lei offerings given to guests, community and loved ones. Each flower lei has a different meaning depending on which island is being represented. Take BART to Hayward and travel 0.4 miles to enjoy the colorful, joyful cultural celebration.
12-6p.m. | 22622 Main St.
The Kumu Hula Association of Northern California is hosting its free Hawaiian May Day celebration on Saturday. Celebrate the legacy of Hawaiian tradition and cultural power with a line-up of live artists, local vendors and legendary eateries. May Day in Hawaiian culture is also known and Lei Day, and stands as a celebration of the traditional flower lei offerings given to guests, community and loved ones. Each flower lei has a different meaning depending on which island is being represented. Take BART to Hayward and travel 0.4 miles to enjoy the colorful, joyful cultural celebration.
Mother's Day at the Exploratorium
May 12 | Embarcadero
10 a.m.-5 p.m. | Pier 15 Embarcadero St.
May 12 | Embarcadero
10 a.m.-5 p.m. | Pier 15 Embarcadero St.
Spend Mother’s Day discovering something new at the Exploratorium. All mothers are invited to celebrate this special holiday at a free day with their families. Enjoy fabulous performances of folklórico dances and a mariachi concert serenading all the moms and make paper flowers as a gift, and learn about the “mother food” of the Americas; maize. Get inspired just 0.7 miles away from Embarcadero.
Through May 12 | Montgomery St
Times Vary | 1830 17th St.
Times Vary | 1830 17th St.
This weekend, spend an afternoon or evening at the ballet. The "Dance Series 2" program by Smuin Contemporary Ballet offers quite the show. Enjoy “Starshadows,” a dreamy piece by Michael Smuin, “Untwine” by Brennan Wall, “Broken Open” by Amy Seiwert and Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s first creation for Smuin, “Tupelo Tornado,” where she takes inspiration from the life of Elvis. For an inspiring experience at the ballet, travel 0.4 miles from Montgomery St to the Blue Shield of CA Theater at YBCA.
“A Strange Loop”
Through May 12 | Powell St
Times Vary | 415 Geary St.
The bold and heartfelt Tony Award-winning musical arrives directly from Broadway. Michael R. Jackson's Pulitzer Prize-winning funny work of art exposes the heart and soul of a Black queer writer, writing a musical about a Black queer writer, writing a musical about a Black queer writer. The thoughts in his head come to life on stage by the hilarious ensemble. See this unmissable show at A.C.T.'s Toni Rembe Theater, just 0.3 miles from Powell St.
“A Strange Loop”
Through May 12 | Powell St
Times Vary | 415 Geary St.
The bold and heartfelt Tony Award-winning musical arrives directly from Broadway. Michael R. Jackson's Pulitzer Prize-winning funny work of art exposes the heart and soul of a Black queer writer, writing a musical about a Black queer writer, writing a musical about a Black queer writer. The thoughts in his head come to life on stage by the hilarious ensemble. See this unmissable show at A.C.T.'s Toni Rembe Theater, just 0.3 miles from Powell St.
CAAMFest
Through May 19 | Stations Vary
Times Vary | City-wide
CAAMFest is an 11-day celebration of Asian American film, music and food hosted by the Center for Asian American Media. With 35 events scheduled across San Francisco and Oakland, there are multiple ways to engage with this beloved Bay Area festival. Watch films that shine a light on Asian American stories. Fill your ears with music from exciting, rising artists and experience delightful culinary creations from around the Bay. CAAMFest showcases the layered possibilities and complex forces that live within Asian America. Visit the CAAMFest event page for a list of events and use the BART Trip Planner to get directions.
Through May 19 | Stations Vary
Times Vary | City-wide
CAAMFest is an 11-day celebration of Asian American film, music and food hosted by the Center for Asian American Media. With 35 events scheduled across San Francisco and Oakland, there are multiple ways to engage with this beloved Bay Area festival. Watch films that shine a light on Asian American stories. Fill your ears with music from exciting, rising artists and experience delightful culinary creations from around the Bay. CAAMFest showcases the layered possibilities and complex forces that live within Asian America. Visit the CAAMFest event page for a list of events and use the BART Trip Planner to get directions.
This two-man play at the Aurora Theatre Company showcases over a century of history in a very personal way. The story follows Lewis, a Black mathematics professor. During a night of sleepless delusion, he meets three generations of Black ancestors who lived during times of enslavement, Jim Crow and Black Power. Lewis's journey is full of joy, pain, resiliency and music. Take BART to Downtown Berkeley to see Lewis travel through the past to determine his future 0.3 miles away at 2081 Addison St.
Through May 26 | Civic Center/UN Plaza
Times Vary | 1192 Market St.
Enjoy musical comedy heaven featuring one of the most iconic scores of all time at the Orpheum Theatre. The sensational Broadway revival dazzles with celebrated classic songs, including “Don’t Rain on My Parade,” “I’m the Greatest Star,” and “People.” This bittersweet comedy is the story of the indomitable Fanny Brice, a girl from the Lower East Side who dreamed of a life on the stage. Everyone told her she’d never be a star, but then something funny happened—she became one of the most beloved performers in history, shining brighter than the brightest lights of Broadway. The theater is 0.2 miles from Civic Center/UN Plaza.
Times Vary | 1192 Market St.
Enjoy musical comedy heaven featuring one of the most iconic scores of all time at the Orpheum Theatre. The sensational Broadway revival dazzles with celebrated classic songs, including “Don’t Rain on My Parade,” “I’m the Greatest Star,” and “People.” This bittersweet comedy is the story of the indomitable Fanny Brice, a girl from the Lower East Side who dreamed of a life on the stage. Everyone told her she’d never be a star, but then something funny happened—she became one of the most beloved performers in history, shining brighter than the brightest lights of Broadway. The theater is 0.2 miles from Civic Center/UN Plaza.
You needn’t pay a dime – or even a pretty penny! – to enjoy the breadth of the Bay Area’s offerings. Below you’ll find a roundup of free local events, including festivals, markets, museum admission-free days and more!
Attend Fourth Street Marketplace in Berkeley hosted by Head West. Photo Courtesy Head West. 510 Day at Lake Merritt
May 10 | Lake Merritt
12-10 p.m. | 1750 Lakeshore Ave.
"We Still Here" is the motto of the powerhouse festival, at Oakland 510 Day. The festival celebrates the city's powerful and diverse history. The 9th annual celebration takes place at the dome/pillars of Lake Merritt and represents the voices of local youth, organizations and Oakland natives. DJ Infinxte Soul will be spinning tracks. There will be a youth march and space for unhoused residents to speak. Take BART to Lake Merritt with the event just 0.7 miles away.
May 10 | Lake Merritt
12-10 p.m. | 1750 Lakeshore Ave.
"We Still Here" is the motto of the powerhouse festival, at Oakland 510 Day. The festival celebrates the city's powerful and diverse history. The 9th annual celebration takes place at the dome/pillars of Lake Merritt and represents the voices of local youth, organizations and Oakland natives. DJ Infinxte Soul will be spinning tracks. There will be a youth march and space for unhoused residents to speak. Take BART to Lake Merritt with the event just 0.7 miles away.
Friday Nights at OMCA
May 10 | Lake Merritt
5-9 p.m. | 1000 Oak St.
Enjoy a night at the museum this Friday at the Oakland Museum of California. The museum's Friday Nights series offers live music, hands-on activities and local food trucks on 10th Street between Oak and Fallon Streets. Beer, wine and cocktails are also available. If you purchase a museum ticket, you will receive late-night access to galleries and special exhibitions for the evening. Take BART to Lake Merritt and find OMCA just 413 feet away.
May 10 | Lake Merritt
5-9 p.m. | 1000 Oak St.
Enjoy a night at the museum this Friday at the Oakland Museum of California. The museum's Friday Nights series offers live music, hands-on activities and local food trucks on 10th Street between Oak and Fallon Streets. Beer, wine and cocktails are also available. If you purchase a museum ticket, you will receive late-night access to galleries and special exhibitions for the evening. Take BART to Lake Merritt and find OMCA just 413 feet away.
Celebrate Mother's Day weekend in downtown Lafayette. Walk through the city's main corridor and see the businesses throughout Lafayette showcasing local artisan items – perfect gifts for the holiday and other upcoming spring and summer occasions. The Lafayette Chamber plans these Artisan Walks and other local events to support the growth and success of local retail businesses and cultivate a vibrant and thriving downtown. The family fun starts 0.3 miles from Lafayette Station. Use the south station exit and head to Mt Diablo Blvd to begin your way through the event.
Head to Berkeley this weekend to catch some sun at the Fourth Street local market, hosted by Head West Marketplace. Fourth Street in Berkeley boasts an outdoor, open-air environment nestled in a neighborhood of small shops, cafes and eateries. With over 60 local vendors, you will find offerings that range from bodywork to pottery to local food artisans, encompassing works from a range of local creatives. Take BART to North Berkeley and travel 1 mile to the Fourth Street corridor.
New events have just arrived in the Bay Area! New shows, one-time events, unique workshops, annual events or anything that's just popped up on our radar. Learn more about what qualifies as "BARTable" or use hashtag #sfbartable for the chance to be featured!
Take a ride around Lake Merritt with Kidical Mass this Saturday. Photo courtesy of Kidical Mass.
Move to the beats of the Bay and celebrate San Francisco’s cultural diversity - all while gazing at the moon rising above the stunning Downtown San Francisco skyline at Bhangra & Beats Night Market. This event transforms three City blocks into a vibrant marketplace for the delight of locals and visitors alike, offering delicious street food, cocktails and crafts from local artisans. Mixing South Asian Bhangra music and other popular Bay Area music genres, Bhangra and Beats Night Market’s eclectic sound featuring local and international talent will get everyone moving in the streets. Get groovy 0.4 miles from Embarcadero.
"Mortified Live"
May 10 & 11 | Civic Center/UN Plaza & 19th St/Oakland
May 10 & 11 | Civic Center/UN Plaza & 19th St/Oakland
7:30pm | 375 11th St. & 1743 San Pablo Ave.
"Mortified Live" is a live storytelling deemed a “cultural phenomenon” and celebrated by entertainment outlets nationwide. This adult-only event features performers who will go on stage and share their most embarrassing childhood artifacts like journals, lyrics, plays and home movies. The show's premise celebrates the growing pains commonly faced but rarely shared like life at bible camp or nightmare prom experiences. Performances will spend Friday, May 10, at the DNA Lounge, 0.7 miles from Civic Center/UN Plaza, then head to Oakland on Saturday, May 11, for an evening at the New Parish, 0.3 miles from 19th St/Oakland.
Join East Bay Kidical Mass for a fun-filled bike ride around Lake Merritt. This bike ride is a large group ride for kids, family members and supporters. The route is accessible, safe and enjoyable for all age groups and abilities. While everyone rides at their own risk, the organization has guides to help keep the group together and block traffic at intersections. Kidical Mass advocates for safer neighborhoods and streets for riders and pedestrians in Oakland. Meet up at the Lake Merritt BART Plaza to join the family-friendly event.
Visit the Rockridge Market Hall for an afternoon with independent artisan food-makers from across the nation. This market-wide food festival will feature tastings from esteemed culinary confectionaries like Arawak Farm, Le Bon Garçon, Burlap & Barrel and more. SAVEUR Magazine, recently acquired and revamped, is collaborating on literary features and coverage for the event. Fill your tummy with delightful treats 0.1 miles from Rockridge.
Check out this article for our favorite weekly farmer's markets. Or click here for our favorite BARTable date night spots. Looking for the best BARTable restaurants? We have you covered with our favorite carnivorous restaurants and vegan eats. Seeking a refreshing adult beverage? Check out these BARTable breweries to get your beer on. Don't forget to use BART's Trip Planner to plan your day!
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