BARTable This Weekend: Aug. 16-18

Pop-Ups on the Plaza: Black Creators Craft Market. Photo courtesy of Funcheap. 

Another weekend, another fun BARTable event roundup! In San Francisco, the Merola Opera Program’s Summer Festival ends with the Merola Grand Finale, the Hungry Ghost Festival is happening in Chinatown and Daybreakers is hosting a huge daytime dance party at Oracle Park. In the East Bay, choose between Friday Nights at the OMCA or Children’s Fairyland 510 Summer Fridays. Watch the A’s take on the Giants at Oracle Park, attend the largest India Day festival in the country down in Fremont.  Also, for all you BART lovers, don’t miss the Architecture and Art of BART, a walking (and riding!) tour of San Francisco BART stations. Whatever you decide to do this weekend, don’t forget your Clipper card. We’ll see you there!

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India Day Parade and Fair/Mela. Photo courtesy of FogSV. 

Merola Grand Finale & Reception
Aug. 17 | Civic Center/UN Plaza
7:30 p.m. | 301 Van Ness Ave (Grand Finale), 401 Van Ness (Reception)

Merola Opera Program’s 2024 Summer Festival comes to a triumphant conclusion with the Merola Grand Finale, where the best and brightest of tomorrow’s operatic stars offer up a sampling of opera’s greatest hits and hidden gems. This celebratory concert features all 29 of this year’s young artists performing dazzling operatic selections on the War Memorial Opera House stage. With a full orchestra, this evening showcases the extraordinary talent, dedication and passion of the 2024 Merola participants, who hail from thirteen states and seven countries. Tickets start at $10 with promo code "BART10." Catch the show 0.3 miles from Civic Center/UN Plaza.

India Day Parade and Fair/Mela
Aug. 17-18 | Fremont
10 a.m.–6 p.m. | 39439 Paseo Padre Parkway

Attend the largest India Day festival in the country this weekend. This two-day fair has over 120 booths and exhibits offering products, services, arts, crafts, literature and fashion. You can also expect to spot Bollywood singers and actors, including superstar Manisha Koirala. Enjoy the festival 0.4 miles from Fremont Station.

“Collective Rage: A Play in Five Betties”
Through Aug. 18 | Ashby
Times Vary | 1901 Ashby Ave.

This play is about five women, all named Betty. The five Betties collide, and as their view of each other shifts and fractures, so too does the way in which they see themselves. This narrative invites the audience to embrace a more courageous and dynamic imagination about our own identities and capabilities. The production by Shotgun Players at Ashby Stage is a wildly raw, comic exploration of the human heart and more, and it’s only 0.1 miles from Ashby.

Children’s Fairyland 510 Summer Fridays
Through Aug. 30 | 19^th St/Oakland
10 a.m.–4 p.m. | 699 Bellevue Ave.

The Bay Area’s favorite storybook-theme park in Oakland introduces 510 Summer Fridays, a special discount for Oakland residents ($5 per child, $10 per adult). For over 75 years, Children’s Fairyland has been a place of imagination, exploration and dreams. This summer, take advantage of the reduced entrance fees and create lasting memories with loved ones while experiencing multicultural programs, fairy-tale settings, rides, stories and animal interactions. This fairyland adventure is only 0.4 miles from 19^th 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 invites 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!

Hungry Ghost Festival in San Francisco's Chinatown. Photo courtesy of Secret San Francisco. 

Friday Nights at OMCA
Aug. 16 | Lake Merritt
5–9 p.m. | 1000 Oak St.

Gather with friends and family during Friday Night at OMCA in the heart of Oakland. Listen to live music, experience hands-on activities and enjoy Off the Grid food trucks on 10th Street between Oak and Fallon Streets. Beer, wine and cocktails are also available. Consider purchasing a museum ticket for late-night access to galleries and special exhibitions. Take BART to Lake Merritt and walk 413 feet to the fun.

Muni Discovery Day
Aug. 16 | Daly City
1 p.m.–4 p.m. | 345 Randolph St.

This weekend near BART, travel on Muni between two library locations. Start your day with an activity at Ocean View Branch Library and meet with SFMTA operators and staff to learn tips and tricks for using Muni. Pick up a special transit bingo card to fill out on your public transit trip to Sunset Branch Library, where you’ll redeem that bingo card for SFMTA prizes. This BARTable event is for children ten and older. Take BART to Daly City and start the day 0.7 miles away at Ocean View Branch Library.

SF’s Chinatown “Hungry Ghost Festival”
Aug. 17 | Montgomery St.
4–9 p.m. | 733 Kearny Street

On the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month, the Hungry Ghost Festival (also known as Zhongyuan Festival or Yulan Festival) is a special celebration for the Chinese diaspora. The festival signifies a time when the boundary between the living and spiritual world blurs. Hungry and angry ghosts come to the human realms to seek solace. Rituals include distracting and calming restless spirits. Expect food, performances and more. This second annual festival embraces the theme, “Downpour, Uproar!” and is sure to be quite the celebration. Take BART to Montgomery St to attend the festival 0.5 miles away.

Seed Festival at Yerba Buena Gardens
Aug. 17 | Montgomery St
1–3:30 p.m. | Mission St. & 3rd St.

The Yerba Buena Gardens Seed Festival commissions started with 20 artists in 2020. It quickly evolved to address the acute needs of Bay Area artists during the pandemic. Now in its fourth year, the program has awarded over 60 local creatives through an artist-centered selection process in which artists from previous cohorts nominate artists for the next round. This one-day unique celebration features music, dance, spoken word, storytelling and more. Head to the Great Lawn to see the show, 0.3 miles from Montgomery St.

Pop-Ups on the Plaza: Black Creators Craft Market
Aug. 17 | Embarcadero
9 a.m.–2 p.m. | 1 Ferry Building

Celebrate Black Business Month this weekend with a day of crafts and community. The south patio in front of the Ferry Building will be transformed for a pop-up market featuring Black Bay Area crafters. Find handcrafted goods and gifts such as small-batch jams, skincare, clothing and more. This event exists in partnership with the Fillmore-based Black-led marketplace In The Black. Take BART to Embarcadero to find unique crafts 0.2 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!

Amazing Scavenger Hunt Adventure in San Francisco. Photo courtesy of My Guide San Francisco.

Amazing Scavenger Hunt Adventure in San Francisco's Chinatown
Aug. 16-18 | Powell St
8 a.m. | Southwest corner of Union Square

Explore San Francisco's Chinatown this weekend in the ultimate scavenger hunt adventure. Urban Adventure Quest created an interactive scavenger hunt guided from any smartphone. Groups must solve clues and complete challenges, all while learning about the local history. Take BART to Powell St and head to the southwest corner of Union Square. The tour guides you for approximately one mile through Chinatown. Bring friends – this tour is offered at a fixed price for a group of up to 5 people.

“Squeeze & Boy George” Live at the Fox Theater
Aug. 17 | 19^th St/Oakland
7:30 p.m. | 1807 Telegraph Avenue

Squeeze, celebrating its 50th anniversary with an international tour, has been a vital institution in rock since its formation in 1973. Boy George and Culture Club became iconic in the 1980s New Romantic scene, achieving international fame with hits like “Karma Chameleon” and “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me.” See them both at the iconic Fox Theater this weekend in Oakland. The show is just a short (0.2 miles to be exact) walk from 19^th St/Oakland.

The Architecture & Art of BART
Aug. 17 | Glen Park
10 a.m.–Noon | 2901 Diamond St.

Bay Area Rapid Transit system opened to the public in 1972, and this weekend, you can take a walking (and riding!) tour of San Francisco’s BART stations.  Learn about the history, Mid-Century Modern design, and art of BART. The tour will include visits to several BART stations in San Francisco that have been designed by prominent local modern architects and architecture firms. Take BART to Glen Park. This tour meets here and ends at Embarcadero.

“Daybreaker” at Oracle Park
Aug. 18 | Embarcadero
11:30 a.m.–2 p.m. | 24 Willie Mays Plaza

Daybreaker is a popular daytime dance party. This weekend, they’re hosting their event at Oracle Park. Dance on an epic elevated part of the stadium with field and water views. What a fun way to wrap up the summer! Take BART to Embarcadero and walk 1.2 miles, or transfer at Embarcadero to the Muni Metro N Line and pop out at the stadium. Learn more about taking BART to the game here

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!   Don't forget to use BART's Trip Planner to plan your day! 

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 Instagram and Facebook to see all of the best BARTable events, places to eat and where to have fun around the Bay.