BARTable This Weekend: Sept. 18-20
Enjoy food, entertainment and activities at the SF Chinatown Autumn Moon Festival. Photo courtesy of the Chinatown Merchants Association.
Every week, BARTable finds the most fun and unique events accessible by public transportation. From football to ballet, there is plenty to do in the Bay Area this weekend. Check out the Chinatown Autumn Moon Festival, the Lafayette Art & Wine Festival, Oktoberfest on Front and much more.
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.
Experience Shakespeare’s “Antony and Cleopatra” at Sue Biermann Park in San Francisco. Photo courtesy of SF Shakes.
SF Open Studios Kick-Off Celebration
Sept. 18 | Civic Center/UN Plaza
6-10 p.m. | 934 Brannan St.
SF Open Studios kicks off its new season with a celebration on Friday. The SF Open Studios Preview Exhibition features the work of 300+ participating SF Open Studios artists. Connect with the creative SF Bay Area ArtSpan community over light bites and drinks, hear from the ArtSpan Team and take advantage of the opportunity to purchase art that directly supports the nonprofit’s mission and exhibiting artists. The kick-off celebration is about 0.8 miles from Civic Center/UN Plaza.
Smuin Ballet Presents “French Kiss”
Sept. 18-19 | Walnut Creek
Times vary | 1601 Civic Drive
My’Kal Stromile makes his Bay Area debut with a world premiere of Amy Seiwert’s “French Kiss.” After commissions with the Paris Opera Ballet and Boston Ballet, Stromile brings his magic to the Bay. Held at the Lesher Center for the Arts, the nearest BART Station (Walnut Creek) is just 0.5 miles away.
Let’s Glow! BART Anime Festival
Sept. 19 | Warm Springs/South Fremont
4-9 p.m. | 45193 Warm Springs Blvd.
BART’s Let’s Glow! BART Anime Festival returns to Warm Springs/South Fremont for a celebration of anime, art, music, cosplay and transit fandom. This year’s free festival will be bigger and better than ever, following a huge turnout of more than 4,000 attendees last year! More than 100 artists will sell a mix of BART, anime- and transit-themed art, along with their own original artwork. The festival celebrates the shared fandom of anime and transit, with an expanded lineup of artists, performances, food, cosplay and more. Get to know BART’s anime mascots then take BART to Warm Springs/South Fremont, where the festival will take place. Anyone who takes BART to the event can receive an exclusive BART anime giveaway.
SF 2026 Chinatown Autumn Moon Festival
Sept. 19-20 | Montgomery St.
11 a.m.-5 p.m. | Grant Ave. from California St. to Broadway
The Autumn Moon Festival brings nonstop entertainment, food vendors, kids activities, mooncakes, lion dancing and much more to San Francisco’s Chinatown this weekend. Scheduled activities include a K-pop dance contest, a dumpling eating contest and the closing White Crane Dragon Parade. The Montgomery St. Station is 0.4 miles away.
Cal v. Wagner College
Sept. 19 | Downtown Berkeley
12:30 p.m. | 2227 Piedmont Ave.
The California Golden Bears will host the Wagner College Seahawks at California Memorial Stadium in the first-ever football game between the two teams. With a theme of “Rooted in the Bay Day,” the game celebrates local community, arts and educators. Take BART to Downtown Berkeley, which is about a 1-mile walk to the stadium.
Shakespeare in the Park
Sept. 19-20, 26-27 | Embarcadero
2 p.m. | Washington St. and Drumm St.
Attend the free Shakespeare in the Park at Sue Biermann Park, just two blocks from the Embarcadero Station. Experience Shakespeare’s epic “Antony and Cleopatra” as love, ambition, power and political intrigue collide in one of his most passionate and compelling tragedies. Bring a lawn chair or blanket, pack a picnic or grab lunch or takeout from one of the many nearby restaurants.
Lafayette Art & Wine Festival
Sept. 19-20 | Lafayette
Times vary | 3553 Mt. Diablo Blvd.
Enjoy numerous booths of art and handmade crafts, along with food from local restaurants and quality wines at this large-scale festival in Contra Costa County. The event also features live music on four stages. Admission and parking are free. Take BART to the Lafayette Station, which is just 0.3 miles away from the festival.
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!
Head to San Francisco for Oktoberfest on Front. Photo courtesy of Downtown SF Partnership.
Oktoberfest on Front
Sept. 18 | Embarcadero
2-10 p.m. | 240 Front St.
San Francisco’s Front St. shuts down for a large, traditional Oktoberfest block party on Friday, featuring live music, beer gardens and video games. Part of Downtown San Francisco’s outdoor entertainment zone initiative, this event brings a bit of Germany to the city. Take BART to Embarcadero, which is just a few blocks away.
Movies Under the Stars: “How to Train Your Dragon”
Sept. 18 | Fremont
7:30 p.m. (sunset) | 40000 Paseo Padre Pkwy
Central Park in Fremont presents an outdoor screening of the film “How to Train Your Dragon.” The popular fantasy adventure movie produced by DreamWorks Animation grossed over $1.6 billion after its release. Bring your kids, and check it out in the fresh air with the scenic backdrop of Lake Elizabeth. The movie begins after sunset at the Central Park Performance Pavilion. It’s a little over a mile from Fremont Station.
45th Annual Northern California Book Awards
Sept. 19 | Civic Center/UN Plaza
2-5 p.m. | 100 Larkin St.
Celebrate the work and achievements of Northern California authors and translators at this annual event, held at the Koret Auditorium in the San Francisco Main Public Library. Winning authors will accept their awards and deliver remarks on their books. Finalists and honored books will be available for purchase and signing. A reception will follow in the library’s Latino/Hispanic Community Room. The library is about 0.3 miles from Civic Center/UN Plaza.
Glen Park Night Market Finale
Sept. 19 | Glen Park
3-8 p.m. | Kern between Diamond and Brompton
The Glen Park Night Market in San Francisco returns on Sept. 19th for another festive evening. Enjoy local artists, live music, food and drinks in the charming Glen Park neighborhood. Support local businesses as you wander the market. The event takes place on Kern St. from Diamond to Brompton. It’s a few blocks from Glen Park.
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!
Celebrate traditional American music and dance at the Berkeley Old-Time Music Convention. Photo courtesy of description. Photo by Mike Melnyk courtesy of Mother Jones.
Berkeley Old Time Music Convention
Sept. 16-20 | Downtown Berkeley
Various Times | Various Locations (Berkeley)
Get ready for some American nostalgia at the Berkeley Old-Time Music Convention. This annual five-day festival features concerts, square dances, workshops and a traditional string band contest. Spread across various venues in Berkeley, this is a unique celebration of traditional old-time American music. Most venues are in close proximity to Downtown Berkeley.
Steve Aoki at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
Sept. 19 | Civic Center/UN Plaza
7 p.m. | 99 Grove Street
Catch Steve Aoki in San Francisco this Saturday for a performance at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium. A Grammy-nominated producer with nearly three billion music streams, Aoki has performed at top festivals around the world, including Coachella and Lollapalooza. To see the show, take BART to Civic Center/UN Plaza, which is located two blocks (0.2 miles) from the venue.
Ravi Coltrane at UC Theater
Sept. 19 | Downtown Berkeley
8 p.m. | 2036 University Ave.
Jazz saxophonist Ravi Coltrane, son of the legendary John Coltrane, brings a young band to the UC Theater in Berkeley for a night of memorable music. Just days before his father would have turned 100, this performance marks the milestone as he carries on his father’s legacy. Ravi Coltrane is an American jazz saxophonist and co-owner of the record label RKM Music. He has produced music for pianist Luis Perdomo, guitarist David Gilmore and trumpeter Ralph Alessi. Downtown Berkeley is just 0.2 miles away.
“This Asian American Life”
Sept. 19-Nov. 2 | Civic Center/UN Plaza
Times vary | 200 Larkin St.
The Asian Art Museum presents “This Asian American Life,” the latest work in Kayan Cheung-Miaw’s ongoing public art series highlighting the stories of Chinatown’s residents and tenants in San Francisco. Featuring a mural that highlights how a child might experience Chinatown, this artwork takes you into the daily life of a working-class neighborhood. The Asian Art Museum is just 0.2 miles from Civic Center/UN Plaza.
Vintage Rock Night at Gilman Brewing Company
Sept. 20 | North Berkeley
7-9 p.m. | 912 Gilman St.
It’s Vintage Rock Night at Gilman Brewing Company in Berkeley, with tunes from the 60s, 70s and 80s. This festival is part of the Not Loud Concert Summer Series. Held in the large courtyard behind the brewery, the event will feature two vintage rock bands, The Rockbusters and Dirty Cello, on stage at the same time dueling it out with music. Purchase tickets in advance or at the door, space permitting. North Berkeley is approximately 0.9 miles away.
Check out this article for an in-depth look at the San Francisco Main Public Library in Civic Center. Or click here to plan a day in Berkeley’s quaint Elmwood District. Want to discover different types of cuisines close to home? We have you covered with these BARTable food tours. And don’t miss these outdoor patios for dining and drinking under the sun.
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