BARTable This Weekend: Oct. 2-4

Enjoy live music and dance at the African Arts Festival in San Francisco. Photo courtesy of Yerba Buena Gardens Festival.

Every week, BARTable finds the most fun and unique events accessible by public transportation. From live music to art and cultural festivals, there is plenty to do in the Bay Area this weekend. Check out the Filipino Island Fest, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, the African Arts Festival, see Snarky Puppy and much more. 

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.

Check out Snarky Puppy in Oakland this weekend, presented by SFJAZZ. Photo courtesy of SFJAZZ.

​​Snarky Puppy
Oct. 2 | 19th St. Oakland
8 p.m. | 2025 Broadway

SFJAZZ presents five-time Grammy-winning collective Snarky Puppy at Oakland’s Paramount Theatre. Led by bassist and composer Michael League, the ever-evolving ensemble creates exuberant, groove-heavy music where jazz virtuosity meets funk, soul, prog-rock and global rhythmic traditions. With a rotating cast of world-class instrumentalists, Snarky Puppy turns intricate compositions into joyous communal celebrations—music equally suited to close listening and the dance floor. The Paramount Theatre is just feet from 19th St. Oakland Station.

Filipino Island Fest
Oct. 3 | Lake Merritt
11 a.m.-8 p.m. | 2151 Ferry Rd.

Celebrate Filipino culture, community and connection at the Filipino Island Fest at Alameda Waterfront Park. Enjoy a full day of Filipino food, live music, dance and cultural performances, art, shopping, sports, family activities and more at this vibrant waterfront celebration. Take BART to Lake Merritt Station, where a direct free shuttle will take you to the festival with service running approximately every 15–20 minutes.

African Arts Festival
Oct. 3 | Montgomery St.
11 a.m.-4 p.m. | Mission St. bet. 3rd and 4th Sts.

The 6th annual African Arts Festival at Yerba Buena Gardens is a vibrant celebration of African arts and culture featuring live performance, music and dance — the kind of immersive, community-rooted experience that makes for a genuinely memorable weekend outing. Presented by Duniya Dance and Drum Company, a Bay Area performing arts organization with over a decade of work bringing West African and South Asian traditions to the region. To get to the festival, take BART to Montgomery St., and walk about 0.3 miles to Yerba Buena Gardens.

Sundays at the Asian Art Museum
Oct. 4 | Civic Center/UN Plaza
10:30 a.m. | 200 Larkin St.

Head to the Asian Art Museum on Sunday for drop-in art-making activities, storytelling, performances and more. You can even play Mahjong or take a lesson. The schedule also includes docent talks and family storytelling for all ages. Find the museum just 0.2 miles from the Civic Center/UN Plaza.

SF Open Studios
Through Oct. 25 | San Francisco
Various times | Various locations 

Go beyond the gallery walls and discover where art comes to life. Each weekend highlights a different San Francisco neighborhood, giving you the opportunity to explore the city through art. Meet the makers, hear their stories, and find one-of-a-kind works of art along the way. Check out the maps and take BART to San Francisco for a day filled with art, creativity and discovery.

"Terror Vault: SLASHED-Return to Hellville"
Through Nov. 8 | Powell St.
Various times | 88 5th St.

This Halloween season, step inside a twisted 1980s slasher movie where the movie is starting… and you’re in it. Guests are transported into the abandoned town of Shellville, where a string of happenings has left an entire community deserted. Audiences must navigate a series of cinematic environments while attempting to stop more from happening. Step into this haunting and immersive theatre at the San Francisco Mint just feet from Powell St. Station.

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!

Watch the Oakland Black Cowboy Parade at De Fremery Park. Photo by Beth LaBerge, courtesy of KQED. 

North Beach First Fridays Art and Culture Walk
Oct. 2 | Montgomery St. 
5 p.m. | Grant Ave. and Vallejo St.

The North Beach First Fridays Art Crawl is a free, self-guided monthly cultural walk in San Francisco's historic North Beach neighborhood. Visit galleries, boutiques and restaurants around Grant Ave. and Vallejo St. with more than a dozen galleries and other spots opening their doors late with special exhibits. Enjoy live music and entertainment as you stroll the neighborhood. Montgomery St. is located about 0.8 miles south of the main event area around Grant Avenue and Vallejo St. 

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass
Oct. 2-4 | Various stations
Times vary | Golden Gate Park

The Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park will feature headliners like Steve Earle, My Morning Jacket and Alison Krauss & Union Station. This free music festival brings thousands of fans to Hellman Hollow, Lindley Meadow and Marx Meadow. To get to the festival, take BART to Montgomery St. or Powell St. Station, and catch the westbound 5 Fulton or the 5R Fulton Rapid bus. You can also take BART to Civic Center/UN Plaza and transfer to the N Judah light rail train.

Pop-Ups on the Plaza: Celebrating Latine Makers
Oct. 3 | Embarcadero
9 a.m.-2 p.m. | 1 Ferry Building

Celebrate Bay Area Latine makers this Hispanic Heritage Month at San Francisco’s Ferry Terminal Plaza and Ferry Plaza Farmers Market this Saturday. You’ll find great food, crafts and more. Activities include Foodwise demos and an education station. Head to the Ferry Building, just 0.3 miles from Embarcadero.

Oakland Black Cowboy Parade
Oct. 3 | West Oakland
9 a.m.-6 p.m. | 1651 Adeline St. 

Celebrate the historical legacy of African American cowboys and cowgirls in the American West at the Oakland Black Cowboy Parade & Festival. Held at West Oakland’s De Fremery Park, the family-friendly event features horse and pony rides, live music, line dancing, food and craft vendors, youth roping activities and more. Take BART to West Oakland, which is just 0.7 miles from the event.

Mission Arts Performance Project (MAPP) Crawl 
Oct. 3 | 24th St. Mission
12 p.m. | Mission District (venues vary)

Mission Arts Performance Project (MAPP) takes common spaces in San Francisco’s Mission District and, for one evening, transforms them into art and cultural spaces with live music, spoken word, performance art, film and more. From street corners to cafes and taquerias, your surroundings will be full of surprises at this delightful event. Focused on building culture and community in the Mission District, MAPP has been taking place in the neighborhood for more than 20 years. Performances will take place in various sites within walking distance of the 24th St. Mission and 16th St. Mission stations.

5th Annual MexiPino Festival
Oct. 3 | Berryessa/North San Jose
10 a.m.-4 p.m. | 1590 Berryessa Rd. 

The MexiPino Festival is back in San Jose for another year of powerful cultural fusion, community joy and MexiPino style celebration! This event, which brings Mexican and Filipino cultures together, will feature a full day of festivities at Garden at the Flea. Enjoy live music, DJs, cultural dance and performances, local artists, food, small businesses, a curated car show and more. It’s the perfect way to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. The event is located across the parking lot from the Berryessa/North San Jose (0.3 miles from the venue entrance). 

Castro Street Fair
Oct. 4 | 16th St. Mission
11 a.m.-6 p.m. | Castro and Market Sts.

Celebrate San Francisco’s vibrant and diverse Castro neighborhood this Sunday at the annual Castro Street Fair. Founded by the late Harvey Milk, the Castro Street Fair emphasizes community, freedom and belonging and brings together the LGBTQIA+ community. This year’s theme is “Where We Belong.” The 16th St. Mission Station is about 0.9 miles away. 

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!

Enjoy some electronic music with DJ Shingo Nakamura at the San Francisco Mint this Saturday. Photo courtesy of the Shingo Nakamura Facebook page. 

Robert Plant With Saving Grace and Suzi Dian
Oct. 2 | Civic Center/UN Plaza
7:30 p.m. | 1192 Market St.

Singer and songwriter Robert Plant joins his band Saving Grace and singer Suzi Dian on the Up the Sharp End tour. Hear some blues, folk, gospel and country music from the former Led Zeppelin singer. They will be joined by special guest Rosie Flores. Catch the concert at the Orpheum Theatre, located just steps from the Civic Center/UN Plaza. 

Billy Strings at Oakland Arena
Oct. 2-3 | Coliseum
7:30 p.m. | 7000 Coliseum Way

Guitarist, singer, songwriter and Bluegrass musician Billy Strings will perform for two nights at Oakland Arena. Three of his albums have won the Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album. Don’t miss your chance to see him live in the Bay Area. Head to Oakland Arena, about 0.3 miles from Coliseum via the pedestrian overpass bridge.

Shingo Nakamura Day Party
Oct. 3 | Powell St. 
2-8 p.m. | 88 5th St. 

Tokyo-based electronic music producer and DJ Shingo Nakamura takes over the historic San Francisco Mint this Saturday for a daytime party. This is his largest headline show in the Bay Area to date. This will be a treat for fans of electronic music, especially his brand of progressive and melodic house. The SF Mint is very close to Powell St. (about 0.1 miles away). 

RM x SFMOMA Opening Weekend
Oct. 3 - Feb. 7 | Montgomery St.
Times vary | 151 3rd St.

Fans of the K-pop supergroup BTS won’t want to miss this special exhibition at SFMOMA. “RM x SFMOMA: Between You and Me” is the first-ever museum exhibition featuring artworks from RM's personal collection (born Kim Nam-joon). The South Korean rapper, songwriter, record producer and global leader of BTS has also become a prominent contemporary art patron and collector. The exhibition opens this weekend at SFMOMA, located just 0.3 miles from Montgomery St.

The Green Live in Concert
Oct. 4 | Downtown Berkeley
8 p.m. | 2036 University Ave. 

Based in Hawaii, The Green has been a force in the reggae music scene for more than 15 years, cultivating a global fanbase in the process. The band’s classic songs include “All I Need,” “Love I” and “Wake Up.” Catch their TITLES tour this Sunday at the UC Theatre in Berkeley. The concert takes place at the UC Theater, just 0.2 miles from Downtown Berkeley.

Check out this article to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month in the Bay Area. Or click here to explore the San Francisco Main Public Library. Looking for new places to eat and shop in the East Bay? Discover all that Berkeley’s Elmwood neighborhood has to offer. And don’t miss these BARTable food tours in the Bay Area. 

What are your plans for the weekend? Tag @sfbayarearapidtransit on social media and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok to see all of the best BARTable events, places to eat and where to have fun around the Bay.