BARTable This Weekend: May 31-June 2

Participants at SF Hunt’s Scavenger Hunt. Photo courtesy of Reddit.

This weekend in the Bay Area is a big one! You can celebrate the last day of AANHPI Heritage Month at Berryessa Night Market and kick off Pride Month the next day at the San Francisco LGBT Community Center’s first-ever block party. Choose between live theater, musical performances, museums, traditional events like Friday nights at the OMCA and annual events like the Italian Street Fair in North Beach and the Walnut Creek Art & Wine Festival.  Love cherries? Don’t miss the San Leandro Cherry Festival. Are you a book lover? Hop on BART to Downtown Berkeley for the Bay Area Book Festival. Whatever you decide to do, don’t forget your Clipper card. We’ll see you there! Are you hosting an event near a BART station? Visit this page to learn about “what is BARTable.”

Use BART's Trip Planner for detailed routes and transit options.

BARTable partners with local organizations located near BART stations to shine a light on the incredible diversity of businesses, restaurants and happenings that are easily accessible by transit. Our partners provide special deals and prizes for our weekly giveaways, which you can find on our Contest and Deals page. Interested in becoming a BARTable partner? Learn more here.

 

Watch the Cherry Festival stroll through San Leandro this weekend. Photo courtesy of the city of San Leandro.

San Leandro Cherry Festival
June 1 | San Leandro
10 a.m.–6 p.m. | W Estudillo Ave.

Head to the San Leandro Cherry Festival in historic Downtown San Leandro for live music, vendors, local food, a family fun zone and cherries! Don’t miss the annual Cherry Pie Baking Contest and the second annual Pie Eating Contest. Also, check out the San Leandro Cherry Parade from 10-11 a.m. Community members will make their way down E. 14th St. in festive floats, classic cars and creative costumes. Then, dance the day away near the main stage to the musical talents of Eddie 9V, Big Blu Soul Revue, and Eric Rangèl & Orquesta Amèrica! This fun festival is only 0.2 miles from San Leandro Station.

Bay Area Book Festival
June 1-2 | Downtown Berkeley
Times Vary | Between Allston Way and Center St. 

This two-day literary festival is celebrating its tenth anniversary. Programming consists of three talented headliners, ten writer’s workshops and a free outdoor fair with loads of literary vendors and plenty of family-friendly activities. Whether you’re a writer or a reader, take BART to Downtown Berkeley to attend this festival for book lovers, packed with fun for all ages.

Walnut Creek Art & Wine Festival
June 1-2 | Walnut Creek
Times vary| 301 N San Carlos Dr.

Cheers to a merry weekend at the Walnut Creek Art & Wine Festival. Expect an extensive wine list, plenty of local food, live music, vendors and a kid’s zone, including a train, face painting, rides, a playground and more. Admission is free, but drink glasses and tickets are sold separately. Take BART to Walnut Creek Station, then hop on the free shuttle to Heather Farm Park.

“Pictures at an Exhibition”
June 2 | Downtown Berkeley
4 p.m. | 2430 Bancroft Ave.

Enjoy an evening at the Berkeley Symphony. Modest Mussorgsky's “Pictures at an Exhibition” in Zellerbach Hall, orchestrated by Ravel, depicts Viktor Hartmann's paintings. Expect an exceptional mix of sight and sound as the beautiful music illustrates a colorful landscape that will make your jaw drop. Take BART to Downtown Berkeley. This impressive performance is only 0.6 miles away. BARTable readers can get 30% off tickets at this link.

"Best Available" 
Through June 16 | Ashby
Times Vary | 1901 Ashby Ave.

Written by Jonathan Spector and directed by Jon Tracy, “Best Available” is playing in Berkeley. City Repertory Theater Company launches a search for a new artistic director. Who is the best available candidate? Rising star and hometown hero Jonathan Spector interviewed dozens of theater makers to create this satirical tale. Take BART to the Ashby Stage to see this dark comedy about capitalism 0.1 miles from Ashby. 

"The Lehman Trilogy"
Through June 23 | Powell St
Times Vary | 415 Geary St.

Directed by Academy Award, Tony Award and Golden Globe winner Sam Mendes, "The Lehman Trilogy" features a cast of three playing the Lehman brothers, their sons and grandsons, in an extraordinary feat of story-telling told in three parts on a single evening. Hailed by The New York Times as “a genuinely epic production,” "The Lehman Trilogy" is the story of a family and a company that changed the world. Get inspired by an award-winning playwright at A.C.T.'s Toni Rembe Theater, 0.4 miles from the Powell St.

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!

 

Gather at the “Festa Italiana” Street Fair in North Beach. Photo courtesy of SFIAC Foundation.

“Festa Italiana” Street Fair in North Beach
June 1-2 | Montgomery St
11 a.m.–5 p.m. | 601 Union St.

The second annual street festival in North Beach is full of delicious Italian food, drinks, lively music, Italian culture, local vendors and even a symphony of accordions and a pizza toss by Tony Gemignani of Tony's Pizza Napoletana (who just so happens to be a 13-time World Champion). On Sunday, the Italian American Club hosts the 103^rd Statuto Race, an 8k running race or 2-mile walk along San Francisco’s scenic waterfront. This free event is family-friendly. Take BART to Montgomery St for an afternoon of Italian culture in North Beach, 1 mile away.

Friday Nights at OMCA 
May 31 | Lake Merritt
5–9 p.m. | 1000 Oak St.

 

The Oakland Museum of California hosts Friday nights full of live music and hands-on activities, like lawn and table games. Stay for dinner and treat yourself to the Off the Grid food trucks (on 10th St. between Oak St. and Fallon St.). Also, consider purchasing a museum ticket. It's optional but will get you late-night access to galleries and special exhibitions. Fun Friday nights are only 413 feet away from Lake Merritt. 

Art, Poetry & Concert Crawl
June 1 | 24^th St Mission 
7 p.m. | Mission St. and 20th St.

The Mission Arts Performance Project (MAPP) takes place every two months on the first Saturday of the month in over a dozen venues throughout the Mission District. It’s free and loosely organized. Guests will spot live music, performance art, film screenings and more in common spaces like cafes, bars, street corners, gardens and more this weekend. Take BART to 24^th St Mission to explore the neighborhood. Who knows what kind of cool performances you’ll encounter?

Asian Art Museum (free museum day)
June 2 | Civic Center/UN Plaza
10 a.m.-5 p.m. | 200 Larkin St.

On the first Sunday of every month, visitors get free general admission to the Asian Art Museum. The museum’s collection consists of over 18,000 pieces, all representing different Asian cultures. At any given time, the museum’s galleries showcase over 2,000 world-class artworks. The pieces rotate, so each visit is truly unique. The Asian Art Museum is only one block (0.1 miles) from Civic Center/UN Plaza. 

"Building the Block" Purple PRIDE Party
June 1 | Civic Center/UN Plaza
10 a.m.-4 p.m. | 1800 Market St.

The official launch of Pride Month is happening this weekend near BART at the iconic purple building in the Castro. The San Francisco LGBT Community Center’s first-ever event promises live entertainment from local LGBTQ+ creators, tasty eats from BIPOC-owned food trucks, and important community resources for all. Tickets are free, but reserve your space as soon as possible. The fun starts 0.7 miles from Civic Center/UN Plaza. 
 

Tell us about your weekend activities! Show us on social media at @SFBARTable and #SFBARTable! Keep up with us on Instagram, Tik Tok and Facebook to see all of the best BARTable events, places to eat and where to have fun around the Bay.