San Francisco

Festivals and Events in October

Fleet Week San Francisco

Fleet Week is the Bay Area’s opportunity to honor the men and women of the U.S. Navy and marine services. Navy ship tours and an exciting air show will be happening. Reserved seating and corporate packages available. Fleet Week takes place from October 5 to 13, 2025.

Downtown First Thursdays

DFT is a free monthly street party hosted in Downtown San Francisco, taking place every first Thursday of the month from 5 to 10 p.m. Get ready for disco in the streets, DJs, live music, drag, martial arts, fashion, street performances, and many other surprises! The fun takes place on Second Street (between Market and Howard streets) and along neighboring alleyways ready for you to explore. The event will also feature two 21+ outdoor bars on Minna and Natoma.

Bites & Brew Walking Tour

Get it percolating in the East Cut, one of the busiest corners of San Francisco's SoMa neighborhood on the Bites & Brew Walking Tour, sponsored by The East Cut CBD. On this lovely morning adventure, you'll visit five local businesses known for their outstanding coffee and get to sample their selections. 

KOHO: Destination Nihonmachi

Get immersed in the cultural convergence of the Fillmore's jazz history and Japantown's cultural legacy at this exciting nighttime event. Featuring DJs, live music, great food, and public art, KOKO: Destination Nihonmachi offers visitors a new and inspiring way to see this corner of San Francisco.

San Francisco Ferry Building Mushroom Festival

You can celebrate fantastic fungi at the Ferry Building! Co-sponsored by Far West Fungi, the Bay Area's expert mushroom growers, this festival will feature cooking demos, wine tastings, and even Halloween activities.

Mill Valley Film Festival

Presented by the California Film Institute, the Mill Valley Film Festival celebrates the best in independent and world cinema. Founded in 1978, it has established an impressive track record for launching new films and filmmakers.

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass is a free celebration of music in the park that includes a who’s who of top entertainers in bluegrass, country and rock.

Castro Street Fair

Arts and crafts booths, live entertainment, dancing and music are all part of the fun at Castro Steet Fair, a gay-friendly street festival.

San Francisco Italian Heritage Parade

The city celebrates its Italian heritage with the annual San Francisco Italian Heritage Parade through North Beach with food, music, entertainment and celebrities. 

San Francisco Fall Antiques Show

The oldest continuously operating international antiques show on the West Coast happens at the Fort Mason Center. This show includes 60 distinguished antiques dealers from America and Europe selling a broad range of antique merchandise. The Fall Antiques Show will take place from October 16 to 19, 2025.

Litquake

This San Francisco literary festival showcases hundreds of the Bay Area’s finest writers for a week of readings, discussions, films, cross-media happenings and more. Litquake will take place from October 9 to October 25, 2025.

Grand National Rodeo, Horse and Stock Show

Bareback riding, steer wrestling, barrel racing, saddle bronco riding, team and tie-down roping and bull riding are among the competitive events at the Cow Palace the Grand National Rodeo, Horse and Stock Show, occurring October 10 to 11, 2025.

ArtSpan/SF Open Studios

San Francisco’s most exciting artists open their doors to the public and reveal their latest projects, how they work and what’s for sale at ArtSpan/SF Open Studios. Enjoy SF Open Studios from September 19 to October 12, 2025.

Superfest: International Disability Film Festival

The longest-running festival of its kind in the world, Superfest showcases an innovative range of juried short and feature-length films that celebrate disability as a generative and creative force in cinema and, more broadly, in culture.

Potrero Hill Festival

The Potrero Hill Festival returns with a full day of fun, food, music and community activities. There will be special activities for the kids, including a puppet show and a petting zoo.

LEAP Sandcastle Classic

Teams comprised of architects, engineers, contractors, designers, corporations, and local elementary school students work together to build giant sand sculptures at the LEAP Sandcastle Classic. The funds raised by teams and sponsors make it possible for LEAP to continue to provide arts programs to Bay Area students.

Free Programs in Union Square Plaza

Every week, you can enjoy a variety of free activities in the middle of Union Square. From chess lessons and live music to crafting activities and juggling demonstrations, these programs are perfect for visitors of all ages. Be sure to stop by every second Saturday for special cultural activities, showcasing the diversity of San Francisco.