Things to Do in the Bay Area in October 2026
October brings a packed calendar of events across the Bay Area. Along with the usual fall festivals, pumpkin patches and Halloween activities, you’ll find plenty of live music, cultural celebrations, street fairs and art events happening throughout the month. Here are some things for you to add to your calendar.
Halloween & Fall
Get Into the Halloween Spirit
Halloween is just around the corner, and there’s no shortage of ways to celebrate around the Bay Area. You’ll find everything from haunted houses and costume events to family-friendly activities, themed parties and more. For more information, check out our guides to Halloween events and things to do:
Celebrate Halloween in San Francisco
Psychic Shops, Occult Stores and Oddities Around the San Francisco Bay Area
Visit a Pumpkin Patch
Pumpkin patches are an iconic way to spend a fall afternoon. You’ll find traditional pumpkin patches all around the Bay Area, along with farms and seasonal attractions that offer hayrides, corn mazes, food and other activities.
If you’re on the hunt for the best pumpkin patch near you, take a look at our guide to the Best Bay Area Pumpkin Patches.
Featured October Events
San Francisco Fleet Week
Fleet Week takes over San Francisco’s waterfront in early October, with ship tours, concerts, military demonstrations and the annual air show. The main air show takes place October 9–11, with the U.S. Navy Blue Angels, United Airlines 777, F-22 Raptor Demo Team and other aircraft flying over the San Francisco Bay.
For more information on air shows, ship parades, and community events, check out our Guide to San Francisco Fleet Week 2026.
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass in Golden Gate Park
Who doesn’t love a free music festival? Hardly Strictly Bluegrass is back in Golden Gate Park for three full days of live music, and it’s one of those San Francisco weekends that’s hard to pass up. The festival takes over Hellman Hollow, Lindley Meadow and Marx Meadow from Friday, October 2 through Sunday, October 4. This year’s lineup has something for just about everyone, featuring legend Robert Plant with Saving Grace and Suzi Dian, Mavis Staples, My Morning Jacket, Molly Tuttle, Los Lobos, Old Crow Medicine Show, Gillian Welch & David Rawlings and plenty more.
Since parking around Golden Gate Park can be limited, public transportation is your best bet for getting there. Admission is completely free, so you can settle into the grass, listen to some great music and enjoy a pretty unbeatable weekend in the park.
Oakland Black Cowboy Parade and Festival
Grab your boots and head to Oakland for a day celebrating Black cowboy and cowgirl culture. The Oakland Black Cowboy Parade and Festival returns Saturday, October 3, with the parade kicking off at 10am and the festival continuing until 6pm. Events like this are a great reminder of just how much history and culture there is across the Bay Area. And yes, there will be plenty of opportunities to put those line dancing skills to work.
Culture & Community
Diwali Festival of Lights at Alameda County Fairgrounds
Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, is one of the biggest celebrations of the year for many South Asian families. Across the Bay Area, communities come together each fall for food, music, dancing and other traditions that mark the holiday. The Alameda County Fairgrounds will host an all-day Diwali celebration on October 17, bringing together cultural performances, live music, Indian food vendors, dancing and activities for the whole family. It’s a good chance to experience different regional traditions in one place, whether you celebrate Diwali yourself or are just curious to learn more. Come hungry, because food is an enormous part of the experience. You can also expect colorful outfits, music and plenty of dancing throughout the day.
Castro Street Fair
The Castro Street Fair has been a San Francisco tradition for more than 50 years. Spend the afternoon walking through the neighborhood, checking out local vendors and enjoying the entertainment along Castro and Market streets. For the 52nd annual fair, Market Street, Castro Street and nearby blocks will fill up with hundreds of local artists, vendors, craftspeople and community organizations. There will also be three stages with live entertainment, DJs and dancing throughout the afternoon. The 2026 theme is “Where We Belong,” which feels pretty fitting for an event centered around community, identity and the Castro neighborhood. Admission is free, with a suggested $10–$20 donation.
Getting there: Take Muni if you can. The K, L, M and S lines all stop at Castro Station, which puts you right in the middle of the fair.
Yerba Buena Gardens Festival
The Yerba Buena Gardens Festival continues its free outdoor programming throughout October. This month’s calendar includes the African Arts Festival on October 3, Litquake Out Loud and Book Fair on October 4, Follow the Music on October 10 and other performances throughout the month.
The festival’s October 10 Follow the Music event brings together young Bay Area musicians from organizations including the San Francisco Community Music Center, Oakland School for the Arts and Blue Bear School of Music.
Lower Polk Live!
San Francisco’s Polk Street gets turned into a free outdoor party for Lower Polk Live!, a neighborhood festival bringing together live music, DJs, art and local makers. The event takes place between Bush and Sutter streets and is open to all ages. It’s also pet-friendly, so your dog can join the fun.
The music lineup includes San Francisco’s own The Top Chefs, whose sets mix hip-hop, jazz, R&B and soul, along with DJ JP Breganza. You can also check out Skratchfight, a Bay Area turntable community where you can watch DJs spin or even try the decks yourself. Local artists and makers will be out, and Westside Steppaz will lead soul line dancing and stepping.
Arts & Entertainment
San Francisco Fall Show at Fort Mason
If you like art, antiques, design or just wandering around looking at beautiful things, the San Francisco Fall Show is worth adding to your October plans. The annual show brings together galleries, dealers and designers at Fort Mason for four days of art, antiques, jewelry and decorative pieces from different periods and styles. This year’s theme is “Métallique Chic,” so expect plenty of gold, silver, copper, platinum and other metallic finishes throughout the show. There are also talks and panels covering everything from collecting and interior design to craftsmanship and architecture.
Mill Valley Film Festival
Movie lovers have 11 days to work their way through the Mill Valley Film Festival, which brings independent, international and documentary films to theaters around the Bay Area. The 49th edition includes screenings, filmmaker conversations, tributes, special events and plenty of films you probably won’t find playing at your neighborhood multiplex.
This year’s lineup includes films like Wild Horse Nine, I Play Rocky and The Debut, along with documentaries, shorts, animation, family films and new directors. The festival also has appearances and tributes featuring names including Sam Rockwell, Andrew Scott, Léa Seydoux, Linda Perry and Sophie Okonedo. There are also filmmaker Q&As, special screenings and tributes throughout the festival.
Screenings take place at the Smith Rafael Film Center in San Rafael, Sequoia Cinema in Mill Valley, the Lark Theater in Larkspur and BAMPFA in Berkeley. Standard tickets are $20, with discounted prices for CAFILM members, seniors, students and youth.
October Maker’s Market at Mill Valley Lumber Yard
The October Maker’s Market brings outdoor shopping, local art, live music and small businesses together at the historic Mill Valley Lumber Yard. Just the Lumber Yard itself is worth a visit. The 1892 site has been restored into a walkable little village with boutiques, restaurants, studios and outdoor spaces, so if you can’t make it to the Maker’s Market, you can still always expect to find a way to spend the day. Come by to browse handmade goods and artwork, listen to live music and support independent makers.
Autumn Lights Festival at the Gardens at Lake Merritt
The Gardens at Lake Merritt completely transform after dark during the three-night Autumn Lights Festival, filling the gardens with illuminated art installations and displays from local artists. The festival brings together Oakland’s arts, music and gardening communities, with installations created by local artists throughout the gardens. There’s also an art market where you can browse work from participating artists. Tickets are $25 for adults, $10 for ages 6–17 and free for kids 5 and under. The festival runs from 6–11pm, and proceeds help support the Gardens and their volunteer-run programs and infrastructure.
