BARTable This Weekend: Oct. 23-25

Head to SFJAZZ Center in San Francisco to see “Femeninas” live. Photo courtesy of SFJAZZ.

Every week, BARTable finds the most fun and unique events accessible by public transportation. From street fairs to live music, the Bay Area has plenty to do this weekend. Check out SF Music Day, Kacey Musgraves at the Oakland Arena, the World of Dumplings festival and much more. 

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.

Step into San Francisco’s Fillmore District in the 1950s with the jazz musical “Every Saturday Night.” Photo courtesy of the San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Company (SFBATCO)/”Every Saturday Night.

Edward Simon: “Femeninas”
Oct. 23 | Civic Center/UN Plaza
7:30 p.m. | 201 Franklin St.

Described as “the best of us all” by no less an authority than Cuban piano giant Chucho Valdés, SFJAZZ Collective pianist and composer Edward Simon presents his all-star “Femeninas” project on October 23 at SFJAZZ Center in San Francisco's Hayes Valley neighborhood, featuring vocalist Magos Herrera, percussionist Luis Quintero, bassist Reuben Rogers and more. This project spotlights the contributions of Latin American women songwriters, living and past, well-known and unknown, such as Violeta Parra (Chile), Marta Valdes (Cuba), Chabuca Granda (Peru), Elizabeth Morris (Argentina) and Joyce [Moreno] (Brazil). The SFJAZZ Center is 0.5 miles from Civic Center/UN Plaza.

One Song All Night: Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams” 
Oct. 25 | Downtown Berkeley
7 p.m. | 2020 Addison St.

The Freight presents its third original concert series, “One Song All Night,” where the audience hears five completely different versions of the same song. This weekend’s song is Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams.” See how various artists reimagine this rock classic. The Freight is located within a block of Downtown Berkeley.

Litquake
Through Oct. 24 | Various stations
Times vary | Multiple venues (San Francisco)

Litquake, San Francisco's literary festival, runs October 8-24 with satellite events running 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 like 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. Presented by African-American Shakespeare Co., 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 through Nov. 1 at Theatre 33, located just 0.2 miles from Powell St.

“Every Saturday Night” 
Through Nov. 1 | Powell St. or Civic Center/UN Plaza 
Times vary | 1127 Market St. 

See this heartfelt new jazz musical that transports audiences to San Francisco’s Fillmore District in the 1950s. The show explores home, belonging and resilience, revealing how the Fillmore’s past and present are connected by the fight to stay rooted in the community. Unlock $5 off tickets when purchased online using code BART5. Exit at Powell St. or Civic Center/UN Plaza and see the show in just 0.4 miles at A.C.T.’s Strand Theater.

"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!

Sample dumplings from various cuisines at the World of Dumplings festival in San Francisco. Photo by Lizzy Montana Myers courtesy of SFGate. 

2nd Annual Lower Polk Live!
Oct. 23 | Civic Center/UN Plaza or Powell St.
4-9 p.m. | Polk St. between Bush and Sutter St.

Enjoy live music, soul line dancing, DJs, artists and makers at this San Francisco street fair. “Lower Polk Live!” is a neighborhood celebration that is open to all. Performers include top chefs JP Breganza and Kendo the DJ. Located on Polk St. between Bush St. and Sutter St., the event is 0.8 miles from both the Civic Center/UN Plaza and Powell St. stations. 

“One Battle After Another” at the PROXY Fall Film Fest 
Oct. 23 | Civic Center/UN Plaza
7:15-10 p.m. | 432 Octavia St.

The Hayes Valley cultural hub PROXY presents an outdoor screening of “One Battle After Another” on Friday as part of its fall film festival. This 2025 action-comedy thriller about a washed-up revolutionary living in a state of paranoia stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Benicio del Toro, Regina Hall, Sean Penn and other notable actors. 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 is about 0.6 miles away. 

Diwali Celebration at the Lesher Center
Oct. 23-24 | Walnut Creek
Times vary | 1601 Civic Drive

This two-day celebration honoring Diwali, the “festival of lights,” includes live performers and artists, a Mandala-marking workshop and a street fair on Saturday with food and marketplace vendors. The performing arts programming includes comedian Nimesh Patel and the play, “Have You Seen the Sharmas?” Held at the Lesher Center for the Arts, the nearest BART Station (Walnut Creek) is just 0.5 miles away.

World of Dumplings Festival
Oct. 25 | Embarcadero
11 a.m.-5 p.m. | 1 Ferry Building

The third annual World of Dumplings Festival returns to celebrate different cultures and communities through a shared love of dumplings. Try dumplings from around the world, from Chinese wontons to Spanish empanadas and beyond. There will be more than 25 restaurant vendors, a beer garden, eating contests, family activities, music and more. The event will be held at San Francisco’s Ferry Building, located 0.3 miles from Embarcadero.

SF Music Day
Oct. 25 | Civic Center/UN Plaza
Noon-6 p.m. | 401 Van Ness Ave.

SF Music Day will showcase 95 artists across 20 ensembles and more than six hours of continuous live music at the San Francisco War Memorial & Performing Arts Center. Artists include Latin band Bululú, experimental ensemble Rova Saxophone Quartet, The Sampaguitas and more. Enjoy a program that reflects the region’s diverse, vibrant music scene. The Civic Center/UN Plaza is 0.4 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!

Enjoy drink specials and other Halloween treats at the San Francisco Halloween Pub Crawl. Photo courtesy of CrawlSF.

Kacey Musgraves at the Oakland Arena
Oct. 23 | Coliseum
7:30 p.m. | 7000 Coliseum Way

Singer-songwriter Kacey Musgraves brings her “Middle of Nowhere” tour to the Bay Area, with a show at Oakland Arena on Friday. Musgraves, who has won multiple Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year in 2019, is known for her genre-blending country music that includes elements of pop, disco and more. To catch the concert in person, head to Oakland Arena, about 0.3 miles from Coliseum Station via the pedestrian overpass bridge.

“Once Upon a One More Time” 
Oct. 23-Nov. 21 | Embarcadero
Times vary | 215 Jackson St. 

This “Britney Spears fairy tale musical” is based entirely on the iconic hits of pop star Britney Spears. Fans of Spears will love the soundtrack and find themselves singing along. Enjoy a modern-day Cinderella story with a twist at this fun, glittering show. The musical, which opens on Friday, Oct. 23 and runs through Nov. 21, takes place at the Barbary Stage at Ray of Light Theatre in San Francisco’s Jackson Square, just 0.4 miles from Embarcadero. 

“Vishnu’s Cosmic Ocean” at the Asian Art Center
Oct. 23-Jan. 25 | Civic Center/UN Plaza
Times vary | 200 Larkin St.

See the ancient statue of the Hindu god Vishnu that stood in a temple in the Cambodian kingdom of Angkor a thousand years ago. For the past year, the newly conserved 20-foot-long statue has toured four major institutions worldwide. The Asian Art Museum in San Francisco is the only West Coast venue where you can see it before it returns to Cambodia. The museum is just 0.2 miles from the Civic Center/UN Plaza.

Floating Pumpkin Patch  
Oct. 24 | North Berkeley
10 a.m.-4 p.m. | 2100 Browning St. 

Berkeley’s Floating Pumpkin Patch returns this year with a festive Halloween event on Saturday. Register to enjoy pumpkin decorating and other fun activities. Each registration includes one pumpkin to take home. Halloween costumes are welcome! The event takes place at the West Campus Pool, approximately 0.6 miles from North Berkeley Station. 

San Francisco Halloween Pub Crawl
Oct. 24 | Civic Center/UN Plaza
4-10 p.m. | 1233 Polk St. 

Get your costume ready for CrawlSF’s San Francisco Halloween Pub Crawl. Enjoy drink specials and Halloween surprises as you visit some of the city’s best bars. Buy your ticket ahead of time, and pick up your wristband by 8 p.m. The check-in locations include Mayes Oyster House, about 0.9 miles from the Civic Center/UN Plaza. 

Check out this article for an in-depth look at the San Francisco Main Public Library. Or click here to explore some new Bay Area museum exhibitions you can visit this fall. Looking for Halloween activities near BART? We have you covered with these haunted happenings around the Bay. And don’t miss these fun BART-themed pumpkin stencils to delight trick-or-treaters this Halloween. 

What are your plans for the weekend? Tag @sfbayarearapidtransit on social media and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok to see all of the best BARTable events, places to eat and where to have fun around the Bay.