BARTable This Weekend: May 15-17

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Head to the Pleasant Hill Art & Wine Festival this weekend. Photo courtesy of the Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce. 

From drag festivals to hat parties, night markets and San Francisco's iconic Bay to Breakers,, there's a ton of fun happening near BART this weekend. Take BART to the Pleasant Hill Art & Wine Festival to enjoy fresh flavors and dance to live music. Catch performances from iconic drag performers in Oakland during Oaklash. Or spend an evening in SF at the Castro Night Market. Put on your best fit and get ready to enjoy a sunny weekend in the Bay. 

Use BART's Trip Planner for detailed routes and transit options.

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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.

The founders of Oaklash Drag Festival pose at the event. Photo courtesy of KQED.  

May 15-16 | Civic Center/UN Plaza
7:30 p.m. | 201 Franklin St.
 
With an instrument described as a “sumptuously earthy, which commands strict and often spine-tingling attention,” Lizz Wright first gained attention delivering Swing Era standards associated with Billie Holiday. She makes a welcome appearance on the SFJAZZ stage with songs from her latest release. Miner Auditorium is just 0.5 miles from Civic Center/UN Plaza.
 
May 16 | Coliseum
5:00 p.m. | 7000 Coliseum Way
 
Head to the Coliseum for Small Business Night with the Oakland Roots when they take on Sacramento at home. When you exit BART, cross the footbridge, walk 0.2 miles and you'll find the entrance to the stadium. 
 
May 16 | 12th St. Oakland City Center
5:00 p.m. | 485 9th St.
 
The Oaklash Festival is the Bay Area's favorite annual celebration of drag and queer performance. This year's festival will feature a full day of live performances, DJs, artists, music, dancing, vendors and more. The festivities are happening at Washington and 9th Streets just 0.3 miles from the 12th St Oakland City Center.
 
May 16-17 | Pleasant Hill/Contra Costa Centre
11 a.m.-6 p.m. | 50 Crescent Dr.
 
Take BART to Pleasant Hill/Contra Costa Centre, and hop on the shuttle to the Pleasant Hill Art & Wine Festival. Enjoy tastings, live music and shopping under the sun in Pleasant Hill. 
 
May 17 | Embarcadero
8 a.m.-1 p.m. | Howard St. and Main St.
 
Bay to Breakers is a race made for everyone, so dress up, bring your friends and be cheered on every step of the way by SF’s finest crowds. Pushing boundaries and breaking records since 1912 – it’s your turn to join the party. The race starts at Howard St and Main St, a short 0.3 miles from Embarcadero. BART will run special early service to get you to the starting line on time. 
 
Through May 24 | Civic Center/UN Plaza
Times vary | 1192 Market St. 
 
"Hell's Kitchen" is the hit musical from Grammy® Award-winning Alicia Keys—inspired by her life, her music and her community. Relatable, raw, and refreshingly fun, Hell's Kitchen is a celebration of finding yourself, your purpose and the people who lift you up. Catch the hit show right above Civic Center/UN Plaza Station.
 
Through May 24 | Powell St
Times vary | 415 Geary St.

When the plague steals 11-year-old Hamnet from his loving parents, Agnes and William Shakespeare, they must each confront their loss alone. And yet, out of the greatest suffering, something of extraordinary wonder is born. Experience the U.S. premiere of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s “elegant and beguiling” stage adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s best-selling novel, adapted by award-winning playwright Lolita Chakrabarti and directed by Erica Whyman. Take BART to Powell St to enjoy the show 0.2 miles away. 

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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!

The Castro Night Market returns for the season. Photo courtesy of Race Bannon.

May 15 | Lake Merritt 
5-10 p.m. | 1000 Oak St.

The Town’s favorite block party, Friday Nights at OMCA. The Bay is invited to kick off the weekend with the crew—whether family, friends or neighbors. Lake Merritt Station is a short 0.1 mile from the Oakland Museum of California. 
 
May 15 | 16th St Mission
5-10 p.m. | 18th St and Castro St.

The Castro Night Market brings life and community spirit to the Castro. The series features local food vendors, merchants and live entertainment. The center of the Castro Night Market is 1.1 miles from 16th St Mission
 
May 16 | Rockridge
10 a.m.-5 p.m. | 5660 College Ave.

A vintage and modern consignment market and collective of small makers & businesses with the aim to offer great curation at accessible prices, as well as to give the community a way to recycle and repurpose their own wardrobes.  Take BART to Rockridge and find the market in the station parking lot. 

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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!

Get crafty at the SFMoMA. Photo courtesy of SFMoMA.

May 16 | 19th St. Oakland
8:00 p.m. | 2025 Broadway

Head to the Paramount Theatre for October London's return to the Paramount Theatre. This time, she'll be joined by Leela James and Eric Benet. Take BART to 19th St. Oakland with the venue just 500 ft away.
 
May 17 | 19th St. Oakland
11 a.m.-3 p.m. | 2025 Broadway
 
Head to SFMOMA in celebration of the opening of Matisse’s Femme au chapeau: A Modern Scandal exhibit. Spend an afternoon making crafts inspired by the exhibition, design and create a hat of your choice alongside teaching artists from SCRAP, make vibrant paper flowers with artist Irma Ortiz, and decorate a fireworks-inspired chapeau with award-winning illustrator Cátia Chien. SFMOMA is located 0.3 miles from Montgomery St Station.

What are you doing this weekend?

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