BARTable This Weekend: Mar. 8-10

Last Updated On Mar. 04, 2024

Head to San Francisco for Free Bulb Day, where 80,000 tulips will be available to visitors for free. Photo courtesy of Flower Bulb Day.

Get ready to shop and explore the Bay by bike this weekend with BARTable. Unique markets are popping up in Oakland and Berkeley, so grab your totes and fill them with custom wares and rare plants. The largest community bike ride-out, East Bay Bike Party, returns this month with a special theme. March is also Women's History Month, so we encourage you to visit these Women-owned businesses that are close to BART. 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.

See Brandee Younger and friends at SFJAZZ. Photo courtesy of SFJAZZ.

Brandee Younger at SFJAZZ

Through Mar. 10 | Civic Center/UN Plaza
Times Vary | 201 Franklin St.

Rising spiritual soul-jazz harpist Brandee Younger performs music from her highly-acclaimed Impulse! album "Brand New Life" and tribute to the late great Alice Coltrane at the SFJAZZ Center. Brilliantly blending together jazz, classical music and hip-hop, Younger will be joined by an all-star cast of musicians, including her trio of bassist Rashaan Carter and drumming phenom Makaya McCraven, along with special guests Meshell Ndegeocello, Mumu Fresh, DJ Pete Rock, Ravi Coltrane, Nicole Mitchell, a string ensemble conducted by composer De'Sean Jones and more. Miner Auditorium hosts the show 0.5 miles from Civic Center/UN Plaza.

"Big Data"

Through Mar. 10 | Powell St
Times Vary | 415 Geary St.

Sam loves Timmy, and Lucy loves Max, but the pressures of modern life leave them susceptible to the siren song of tech. Do our devices - tantalizingly incarnate in this funny, sexy, uncanny world premiere - know us best? When Sam and Lucy’s parents make a shocking announcement, the family must confront what distracts them from each other—the legacy they’ll leave behind. Catch the twisted tale by the American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T) at Toni Rembe Theater 0.3 miles from Powell St.

"Manahatta"

Through Mar. 10 | Downtown Berkeley
Times Vary | 2081 Addison St.

A young Lenape woman, Jane Snake, returns to her ancestral homeland, Manahatta, to work as a securities trader on Wall Street – the once-walled street built by enslaved Africans to keep the Indigenous Lenape out. Set against the backdrop of the Occupy Wall Street movement and across time, "Manahatta" draws parallels between the forced removal, taxation and fiscal impact on Native Americans during the 2008 financial crisis and the 1626 Dutch purchase of the island of Manahatta/Manhattan. The Aurora Theatre Company presents this stunning performance 0.1 miles from Downtown Berkeley.

Cirque du Soleil "KOOZA"

Through Mar. 17 | Embarcadero
Times Vary | 24 Willie Mays Plaza

"KOOZA" is an innovative journey viewed through the perspective of The Innocent, an endearing yet naïve clown looking for his place in the world. A mystery item is delivered to The Innocent one day when he is flying his kite. Experience an electrifying show where larger-than-life characters meet daredevil acrobatics that will leave you on the edge of your seat! Catch the show under the big top at Oracle Park. Travel to Embarcadero Station and walk or hop on the Muni N line just above the 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!

habitot mobile museum A young child enjoys a STEM activity during Habitot's Mobile Museum. Photo courtesy of Habitot Children's Museum.

East Bay Bike Party
Mar. 8 | West Oakland
7:30 p.m. | 1451 7th St.

Join bike riders of all ages and experience levels to meet, ride and dance together in the streets. East Bay Bike Party (EBBP) is a 100% volunteer-organized event for and by bike enthusiasts to celebrate community and human power. Rides are casual, with party stops at public spaces along a route that changes every month. Attendees are encouraged to express themselves by participating in each ride's theme, and this month is St. Patrick's Day, so wear green! EBBP's always meet at BART, and this month, you'll find the group in the parking lot at West Oakland Station.

Habitot Mobile Museum
Mar. 9 | Rockridge
10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. | 5366 College Ave.

Habitot's traveling "mini-museum" of mobile exhibits features art, STEM, and maker activities geared toward kids up to five years old. Parents and older siblings are encouraged to participate as well. This event is free, but attendees must register to reserve a timeslot. Each reservation includes one hour and fifteen minutes of playtime and materials for your entire family. Laugh and learn at the Rockridge Library, which is 0.4 miles from Rockridge BART.

Flower Bulb Day
Mar. 9 | Powell St
1-4:30 p.m. | 333 Post St.

Flower Bulb Day is coming back to San Francisco! This colorful event will cover Union Square with over 80,000 tulips, and every visitor can bring up to 15 home for free. The "Tulip Garden” has seen long lines in the past, so arrive early and bring a tote or bag to carry your flowers home. This beautiful spring tradition takes place 0.3 miles from Powell St.

Chinatown Night Market
Mar. 9 | Montgomery St
5:30-9 p.m. | 700-900 Grant Ave.

SF's favorite night market returns for the first event of the season. The Chinatown Night Market will feature a tantalizing array of culinary delights from Chinatown favorites like AA Bakery, the Lucky Creation Vegetarian Restaurant, and Dragon Papa Dessert. Dozens of vendors will also be selling gifts and wares. So enjoy a night full of eating, drinking, and shopping in this historic district. Take BART to Montgomery St, and the market is 0.5 miles away.

New Events

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!

hella plants market oakland take BART Find plants and other plant-related items at the Hella Plants Market. Photo courtesy of Happy Cow.

Hella Plants Market
Mar. 9 | 19th St/Oakland
11 a.m.-5 p.m. | 2323 Broadway

Calling all plant parents: the popular plant-centered market returns to Oakland this weekend. Hella Plants promises to "wow" you with rare and unique plants from vendors across California. Shop while tunes are played by a DJ playing the latest and greatest hits. Enjoy some of the best vegan eats while you stroll through the market to find plants, accessories, home decor and more. Oakstop hosts the plantrepreneurs 0.3 miles from 19th St/Oakland.

Toasted Life: R&B Night
Mar. 9 | 19th St/Oakland
10 p.m. | 19 Grand Ave.

Zanzi Oakland invites R&B lovers and soul music enthusiasts to join them for a night of pure melodic bliss. Toasted Life, a group that promotes nightlife in the Bay Area, hosts the highly-anticipated event at Downtown Oakland's newest dance club. Experience a captivating ambiance, be immersed in the smoothest rhythms, and sing along to your favorite hits, from nostalgic throwbacks and soulful sounds to the freshest jams dominating the airwaves. The club is a short 0.3 miles from 19th St/Oakland.

More BARTable Fun

Looking for more BARTable things to do? Stay warm at these BARTable indoor attractions. Need some new duds? Check out these BARTable vintage and consignment shops. Don't forget to use BART's Trip Planner to plan your outing! 

What are you doing this weekend?

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