BARTable This Weekend: Sept. 6-8

Participants at the Oakland Pride Parade. Photo courtesy of Oakland Pride. 

This weekend is jam-packed with things to do near BART. Head to the East Bay to celebrate love at Oakland Pride, dine and dance at the Pittsburg Seafood & Music Festival or taste dumplings at Oakland Chinatown’s first night market. Across the Bay in San Francisco, catch the African Arts Festival and American Bon Dancing at Yerba Buena Gardens, experience outdoor movies and concerts and explore an iconic San Francisco neighborhood via the Castro Art Walk. You can also spend the evening at the opera, the symphony, or inside the city's oldest operating theater. Whatever you decide to do, BART can help you get there. Remember your Clipper card, and have a wonderful weekend! 

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Pittsburg Seafood & Music Festival. Photo courtesy of Pittsburg Seafood & Music Festival.

Pittsburg Seafood & Music Festival
Sept. 7-8 | Pittsburg Center
Times Vary | 515 Railroad Ave.

The Pittsburg Chamber of Commerce is hosting the Pittsburg Seafood and Music Festival in historic Old Town Pittsburg at John Buckley Square. Expect arts and crafts exhibitions, kids' activities, like face painting and magic shows, live cooking demonstrations and entertainment stages. You’ll also find plenty of tasty eats, including gumbo, crawfish, BBQ oysters and fish & chips. Catch the Tri Delta 381 bus from Pittsburg Center to enjoy the festival just one mile from BART. 

Yerba Buena Gardens Festival
Sept. 7-8 | Montgomery St
Times Vary | Mission St. & 3rd St.

Head to the Yerba Gardens Festival this weekend for two exciting days of entertainment. On Saturday, check out the African Arts Festival for live music and dance, drum lessons and face painting for children. Many vendors will also offer traditional African food and goods, like clothing, jewelry, hair care and skincare. On Sunday, it's time for American Bon Dancing. A joyous celebration of departed ancestors, Bon is a Japanese Buddhist festival that’s been observed for more than five centuries with a traditional folk dance known as Bon-Odori. Find Yerba Buena Gardens just 0.3 miles from Montgomery St.

Oakland Pride
Sept. 8 | 19^th St/Oakland
11 a.m.-6 p.m. | 20^th St. & Broadway

Don't miss the 14th Annual Oakland Pride Parade & Festival. The day begins with a parade up Broadway (look for the BARTmobile!), followed by the festival (at 20th & Broadway) featuring three stages of live entertainment, a Chill Zone (a safe and sober area for kids, families and elders), dozens of food and drink vendors, artisan booths and much more. Click here to buy tickets and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community this weekend near 19th St/Oakland.

California Jewish Open
Through Oct. 20 | Montgomery St
11 a.m.-5 p.m. | 736 Mission St.

The first major open-call exhibition invited Jewish-identifying artists in California to submit pieces in response to a central question: how are artists looking to the many aspects of Jewish culture, identity and community to foster, reimagine, hold or discover connection? The result? An exhibition of forty-seven artists reflecting on their connection to Judaism, the world and their own history. Expect paintings, sculptures, interactive video games, video works, photographs and more. Witness the exhibition 0.3 miles from Montgomery 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!

Admire art on the Castro Art Walk. Photo courtesy of Castro Art Walk. 

Outdoor Movie at Duboce Park
Sept. 6 | 16^th St Mission
6 p.m. | Duboce Park

Sundown Cinema is partnering with the Prelinger Archives to screen “SF’s Lost Landscapes: Found Home Movies.” The eclectic montage of lost and rarely seen historical film clips showcase San Francisco beautifully. The footage is carefully curated by Rick Prelinger, a Bay Area guerrilla archivist who collects the uncollected and makes it accessible for all. Grab your Clipper card and a few friends and head to Duboce Park (1.0 mile from 16th St Mission) to catch the film.

Castro Art Walk
Sept. 6 | 16^th St Mission 
5-9 p.m. | 2324 Market St

Explore the iconic neighborhood every first Friday of the month and enjoy a journey of art exhibits on the Castro Art Walk. The walk is an invitation to discover the creativity and artistic talent that thrives in the Castro neighborhood. Twenty art galleries and local merchants extend their business hours to host special events and share artwork with the community. Be sure to RSVP if you want the digital map and guide to art exhibits on the walk. Immerse yourself in this self-guided tour and see what the Castro District has to offer, 0.8 miles from 16^th St Mission.

Outdoor Concert: Eagles of Death Metal
Sept. 7 | 24^th St Mission
1-6 p.m. | 25th St. & San Bruno Ave.

San Francisco’s outdoor concert series is bringing arts and culture into our parks and plazas in 2024, and this weekend, it's coming to Potrero del Sol Park. Check out the American Rock band, Eagles of Death Metal. Despite the name, which is meant to be humorous, the band is a combination of “bluegrass slide guitar mixed with stripper drum beats and Canned Heat vocals.” There will be food and drink for sale, but feel free to bring your own blankets and chairs. The show is only 0.9 miles from 24th St Mission.

43^rd Annual Northern California Book Awards
Sept. 7 | Civic Center/UN Plaza
2 p.m. | 100 Larkin St.

The San Francisco Main Public Library, Koret Auditorium, is hosting the 43rd Annual Northern California Book Awards. This free in-person event celebrates the literary talents of Northern California authors in various categories. Meet your favorite writers, discover new books and mingle with fellow book lovers. Don’t miss out on this exciting event 0.1 miles from Civic Center/UN Plaza.

Oakland Chinatown’s 1st Ever Night Market
Sept. 7 | 12^th St/Oakland City Center
5-9 p.m. | 800 Franklin St.

Expect delicious Asian cuisine from local vendors, unique shopping experiences, live performances, and so much more at Oakland Chinatown's first night market. Catch basketball players competing in the Oakland Asia Cup, sample and vote for your favorite dumping in the event's Dumpling Wars, and immerse yourself in the Art Gallery Activation, a vibrant pop-up art gallery. For an unforgettable evening in the heart of Oakland’s Chinatown, hop on BART to 12^th St/Oakland City Center, and you're a short 2-minute walk from the action.

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!

Pride Party at Children’s Fairyland. Photo courtesy of Funcheap. 

SIZZLE: One Market Restaurant’s Monthly Drag Dinner Extravaganza
Sept. 6 | Embarcadero
6:30 p.m. | 1 Market St.

This new dinner series at One Market Restaurant blends sophistication with sensational entertainment. Kicking off this weekend near BART, the Drag Dinner Extravaganza will be hosted by the renowned Bobby Friday. Take in high-energy drag performances with a delectable 4-course dinner crafted by Chef Mark Dommen. Enjoy this night of fun and food 0.1 miles from Embarcadero.

San Francisco Opera: "Un Ballo in Maschera"
Sept. 6 | Civic Center/UN Plaza
8 p.m. | 301 Van Ness Ave.

Music Director Eun Sun Kim leads the orchestra in "Un Ballo in Maschera." Promising to captivate newcomers and seasoned opera lovers alike, the lavish costumes, dramatic storyline and beautiful sounds are sure to be a hit. The show is three hours long with two intervals. See this timeless drama 0.3 miles away from Civic Center/UN Plaza at the War Memorial Opera House.

"Legally Blonde: The Musical"
Sept. 6-7 | 16^th St Mission
8 p.m. | 2961 16^th St.

Head to San Francisco’s oldest operating theater this weekend to see "Legally Blonde: The Musical." Based on the novel by Amanda Brown and the hit movie, the musical follows Elle Woods as she evolved from from a pink-loving sorority girl to a Harvard Law student. This award-winning Broadway musical is dynamic, fun, and fashionable. Don’t miss it at Ray of Light Theatre just 121 feet from 16^th St Mission.

"Distant Worlds: Music from Final Fantasy" at Davies Symphony Hall
Sept. 6-8 | Civic Center/UN Plaza
Times Vary | 201 Van Ness Ave.

Enjoy Jow Hisaishi, the man behind the music of Studio Ghibli, at the beautiful Davies Symphony Hall this weekend near BART. Known as a master of multiple genres, Hisaishi’s signature sound and unique style will surely entertain. He'll lead a full orchestra and choir through some of his best-loved compositions for "Princess Mononke," "Porco Rosso," "My Neighbour Totoro" and Academy Award winner "Spirited Away," among others. Witness Japan's most celebrated and prolific composer 0.3 miles from Civic Center/UN Plaza.  

FairyProud 21+ Pride Party at Children’s Fairyland
Sept. 7 | 19^th St/Oakland
6-10 p.m. | 699 Bellevue Ave

Once a year, Children’s Fairyland turns into an adults-only Pride extravaganza. This weekend, Drag royalty, Rebel Kings of Oakland and The Royales, will entertain patrons with 90s boy band nostalgia and incredible performances. Expect dancing, DJs, drinks and more 0.7 miles from 19th St/Oakland.

Looking for more BARTable things to do? Take BART to the best summer events. Enjoy the summer sunshine during a  BARTable walk in San Jose. Or revamp your wardrobe at these BARTable shopping centers. Don't forget to use BART's Trip Planner to plan your outing!

What are you doing this weekend?

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