BARTable This Weekend: Oct. 16-18
Cheer on the Golden State Valkyries in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals at Chase Center or on the big screen outside at Thrive City. Photo by Beth LaBerge, courtesy of KQED.
Every week, BARTable finds the most fun and unique events accessible by public transportation. From local sports to live music, the Bay Area has plenty to do this weekend. Catch the Golden State Valkyries in the WNBA Finals, San Francisco Restaurant Week and more.
Use BART's Trip Planner for detailed routes and transit options.
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Catch a performance from the influential Latin American artist Lila Downs at SFJAZZ. Photo courtesy of SFJAZZ.
Lila Downs at SFJAZZ
Oct. 15-18 | Civic Center/UN Plaza
7:30 p.m. | 201 Franklin St.
With a stunning voice and a multicultural vision rooted in her Mixtec heritage, Lila Downs is among Latin America’s most influential artists. The multiple Grammy and Latin Grammy winner and 2026 Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient returns to SFJAZZ in San Francisco's Hayes Valley on October 15-18 for four concerts. Rooted in Oaxaca, she weaves Mexican tradition with jazz, cumbia, folk and contemporary rhythms. To attend a show, take BART to Civic Center/UN Plaza, which is 0.5 miles from the SFJAZZ Center.
San Francisco Restaurant Week
Oct. 16-25 | San Francisco
Times vary | Addresses vary
The fall edition of San Francisco Restaurant Week is back. Enjoy prix-fixe menus from the city’s best restaurants, explore great neighborhoods and support the local chefs and teams behind San Francisco’s culinary scene. Make reservations, and taste your way through the city! Use the BART trip planner to plan your transportation for Restaurant Week.
WNBA Finals: Golden State Valkyries v. Atlanta Dream
Oct. 17 | Powell St.
12:30 p.m. | 1 Warriors Way
The first game of the WNBA Finals will be played at Chase Center on Saturday, as the Golden State Valkyries host the Atlanta Dream. If you don’t have a ticket to the game, you can watch on the big screen outside the arena at Thrive City. With the Valkyries reaching the Finals in only the second year of the franchise, and with the strong local support the team has received, it’s sure to be a festive and lively event. Get to the Chase Center by taking BART to Powell St. and transferring to the Muni T Third Line to the UCSF/Chase Center (16th St.) platform.
Daly City Top of the Hill Festival
Oct. 17 | Daly City
Noon-6 p.m. | John Daly Blvd. and Mission St.
Head to Daly City for the 3rd annual Top of the Hill Festival. With live performances, a car show, food vendors and a kids zone, it’s sure to be a treat for the entire family. Headline performers include J Boog and Kamaiyah. To enjoy the festivities without worrying about parking, take BART to the Daly City Station, which is about 0.5 miles from the event.
Cal v. Wake Forest
Oct. 17 | Downtown Berkeley
7:30 p.m. | 2227 Piedmont Ave.
UC Berkeley’s Cal Bears take on the Wake Forest Demon Deacons in a football showdown at Memorial Stadium this weekend. This is only the second meeting ever between these two programs. Beyond football, enjoy “Grateful Bears” theme night, honoring the Grateful Dead’s deep local history with UC Berkeley. Take BART to Downtown Berkeley, which is about a one-mile walk to the stadium. You can also take a free game-day shuttle from BART to the stadium.
Litquake
Through Oct. 24 | Various stations
Times vary | Multiple venues (San Francisco)
Litquake, San Francisco's literary festival, runs Oct. 8-24, with satellite events from September through January. The festival features 170+ events, 600+ authors and performers, across the Bay Area, and almost all are FREE! Visit litquake.org for the full schedule and tickets. Take BART to San Francisco to reach festival venues such as Yerba Buena Gardens and Mechanics’ Institute.
SF Open Studios
Through Oct. 25 | San Francisco
Various times | Various locations
Go beyond the gallery walls and discover where art comes to life. Each weekend highlights a different San Francisco neighborhood, letting you explore the city through art. Meet the makers, hear their stories, and find one-of-a-kind works of art along the way. Check out the maps and take BART to San Francisco for a day filled with art, creativity and discovery.
“The Brothers Size”
Through Nov. 1 | Powell St.
Times vary | 533 Sutter St.
A contemporary drama by Academy Award-winning playwright Tarell Alvin, “The Brothers Size” blends the storytelling traditions of Yoruba mythology with modern American life in the South. The play follows the story of an auto mechanic and his younger brother, who has recently returned home after incarceration. As it continues to resonate with audiences worldwide, this play is sure to be a hit in the Bay Area, too. Catch it from October 9th to November 1st at Theatre 33, located just 0.2 miles from Powell St.
"Terror Vault SLASHED: Return to Hellville"
Through Nov. 8 | Powell St.
Various times | 88 5th St.
This Halloween season, step inside a twisted 1980s slasher movie where the movie is starting… and you’re in it. Guests are transported into the abandoned town of Shellville, where a string of happenings has left an entire community deserted. Audiences must navigate a series of cinematic environments while attempting to stop more from happening. Step into this haunting and immersive theatre at the San Francisco Mint just feet from Powell 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!
Join fellow bird enthusiasts for a series of programs and activities at the Berkeley Bird Festival this weekend. Photo courtesy of the Berkeley Bird Festival.
“Hoppers” at the PROXY Fall Film Fest
Oct. 16 | Civic Center/UN Plaza
7:15-9 p.m. | 432 Octavia St.
The Hayes Valley cultural hub known as PROXY presents an outdoor screening of the film “Hoppers” on Friday, as part of its fall film festival. This 2026 Disney Pixar film is about a teenager who transfers her consciousness into a robotic beaver to infiltrate a forest ecosystem and save a wildlife sanctuary. Go early to grab a good spot, and enjoy the food and drink options in this charming San Francisco neighborhood. The Civic Center/UN Plaza BART station is only about 0.6 miles away.
Filipino American International Book Festival
Oct. 17-18 | Civic Center/UN Plaza
10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. | 100 Larkin St.
Explore literature from the Filipino diaspora at the largest Filipino American literary festival in the U.S. Authors and scholars from around the world, including the U.S., Canada and the Philippines, will be participating. Enjoy panel discussions, book signings, readings and an opening keynote by Randy Ribay, a Filipino-American author of young adult fiction. This two-day event takes place at the San Francisco Main Public Library, located about 0.3 miles from Civic Center/UN Plaza.
Joe Bataan at Yerba Buena Gardens Festival
Oct. 17 | Montgomery St.
2-4:30 p.m. | 750 Howard St.
A Latin music legend since the mid-1960s, Joe Bataan returns to Yerba Buena Gardens for an afternoon of music. As the father of Latin soul, Bataan made his mark as one of Fania Records' early stars. Join fellow music fans for the show, which will be opened by MeloDious. To get there, take BART to Montgomery St., then walk about 0.3 miles to Yerba Buena Gardens.
Fall Family Festival
Oct. 17 | Civic Center/UN Plaza
4-7 p.m. | Fulton Plaza (Fulton St.)
Celebrate fall with family at this Saturday San Francisco festival. With carnival games, free pumpkin decorating, candy apples, food trucks, face painting and entertainment, it’s sure to entertain attendees of all ages. The San Francisco Public Library Bookmobile and an autumn-themed selfie station will also be there, all with City Hall as a backdrop. Take BART to the event, which is at Fulton Plaza, just steps (0.1 miles) from the Civic Center/UN Plaza.
Berkeley Bird Festival
Oct. 18 | Downtown Berkeley
Noon-5 p.m. | 2150 Allston Way
The Berkeley Bird Festival is a free “All Day All Berkeley” public event that honors and celebrates local birdlife through bird-themed activities, including birding field trips, family-friendly art and craft activities, chalk art and a lecture/performance series, “Winged Wonderment.” The festival takes place at the David Brower Center, a short 0.1-mile walk from Downtown Berkeley.
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!
See the Tony Award-winning dark comedy “Oh Mary!” at the Curran Theatre. Photo courtesy of San Francisco Theater.
“Oh Mary!” at the Curran Theatre
Oct. 13-Nov. 1 | Powell St.
Times vary | 445 Geary St.
The Tony Award-winning play “Oh Mary!” debuts at the Curran Theatre in San Francisco and runs Oct. 13-Nov. 1. The dark, satirical comedy reimagines the lives of Mary Todd Lincoln and President Abraham Lincoln in the weeks leading up to his assassination. It may not be accurate, but it’s been very well received on Broadway and is a box-office smash hit. The Curran Theatre is just 0.2 miles from Powell St.
Disney On Ice Presents Find Your Hero
Oct. 15-18 | Coliseum
Times vary | 7000 Coliseum Way
This theatrical ice-skating production from Disney showcases world-class figure skating, vibrant costumes and impressive acrobatics. The show features characters from “Moana,” “Frozen,” “Encanto,” “The Little Mermaid,” and “Beauty and the Beast.” Hosted by Mickey and Minnie Mouse, it promises to be a memorable event for children and families. The event takes place at the Oakland Arena, approximately 0.3 miles from Coliseum Station via the pedestrian overpass bridge.
Friday Nights at OMCA | 60th Anniversary of the Black Panther Party
Oct. 16 | Lake Merritt
5-9 p.m. | 1000 Oak St.
The Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) hosts this Friday night event celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Black Panther Party. With music, film and storytelling, the event features hip-hop ensemble MacArthur Maze and special guests Loove Moore and DJ Kream. The programming also includes Gallery Chats from 5:30 to 7:30, allowing visitors to share personal reflections and explore new perspectives on the artwork and artifacts at OMCA. The museum is conveniently located just steps from Lake Merritt.
Musiq Soulchild at Yoshi's
Oct. 16 | 12th St. Oakland City Center
Times vary | 510 Embarcadero West
Grammy-nominated artist Musiq Soulchild is among the most influential R&B singers of his generation. He is recognized as one of the most prominent pioneers of the Philadelphia neo-soul movement. With a series of performances at Yoshi’s in Oakland wrapping up with two shows on the 16th, don’t miss your chance to see him live. Take BART to 12th St. Oakland City Center, which is about 0.6 miles away from the venue.
Check out this article for some exciting, new Bay Area museum exhibitions to visit this fall. Or click here to explore Berkeley’s Elmwood District. Looking to rediscover all the city has to offer? We have you covered so you can play tourist for a day in San Francisco. And don’t miss these hidden gems in the Mission District.
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