Spooky Sights, Show-Stopping Nights & Cultural Highlights in SF
From thrilling haunted ghost tours and fabulous dinner drag shows to celebrating the Bay Area’s First-Ever Black Art Week and diving into politics with KALW's The Bay Votes 2024 election series — Downtown SF is buzzing with unique activities for every interest. Get up to date on everything downtown with our annual State of Downtown SF and Achievement Awards on Tuesday, October 22nd!
21st Annual Architecture + the City Festival: September 6-27, 2024
Explore San Francisco’s architectural gems! The Architecture + the City Festival, hosted by the Center for Architecture + Design in collaboration with AIA San Francisco, is one of the nation’s largest architecture festivals, right here in Downtown San Francisco. Don’t miss your chance to discover the city’s design wonders — sign up now for the Downtown Deco Walking Tour or the Architecture Downtown: Walking Tour and experience the beauty of SF's architecture firsthand!
Vice-Presidential Debate Watch Party: October 1, 2024, 6-7:30 PM
Join KALW for a live watch party of the 2024 vice-presidential debate, hosted by KALW Executive Producer Ben Trefny and the KALW news team.
Complimentary pizza, breadsticks, and salad will be provided by KALW sponsor Joyride Pizza.
This event will be followed by "Black Voices & The Election" hosted by Hana Baba, host of Crosscurrents and The Stoop - get your tickets for that event here.
Black Voices & The Election: October 1, 2024, 7:30-8:30 PM
Join KALW for an important panel discussion with community leaders, advocates and academics about the diverse Black electorate. Moderated by KALW’s Hana Baba, host of "Crosscurrents" and co-host of "The Stoop" podcast. Featuring panelists Pastor Michael McBride, Aimee Allison, and Professor James Lance Taylor. This event is preceeded by a Vice-Presidential Debate Watch Party, which you can register for here.
Nexus: SF/Bay Area Black Art Week: October 1-6, 2024
Don't miss Nexus: SF/Bay Area Black Art Week, hosted by MoAD from October 1-6, 2024. This inaugural event will bring together galleries, institutions, and artists through dynamic exhibitions and programming. Sign up for a guided tour, "The Astonishing Legacy of America's First Black Millionaire," exploring the remarkable life and impact of William Leidesdorff, a pioneering entrepreneur who shaped early San Francisco.
Downtown First Thursdays: October 3, 2024, 5-10 PM
Downtown First Thursdays (DFT) is a FREE, all-ages monthly street party hosted in Downtown San Francisco taking place on every first Thursday of the month from 5-10 PM. Get ready for disco in the streets, DJs, live music, drag, fashion, street performances, and more!
Mean Girls 20th Anniversary Watch Party: October 3, 2024, 5-10 PM
Dress in pink! Celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Mean Girls with a Watch Party at Avotoasty! 💅✨ Enjoy bottomless charcuterie, themed cocktails, Cool Mom mocktails, pink popcorn, and a 2000s after-party.
Friday Friday SIZZLE!: October 4, 2024, 6:30-8 PM
Get ready for SIZZLE! The Drag Dinner Extravaganza is back at One Market Restaurant! Kickoff October with a dazzling night of fabulousness hosted by Bobby Friday, featuring Delilah Befierce, Hera Wynn, and Afrika America on Friday, October 4th! Join the divas for an unforgettable evening of dining and drag while supporting affordable mental health care for San Francisco’s LGBTQIA+ community. Dinner starts at 6:30 PM and the show begins at 8 PM.
San Francisco Fleet Week: October 7-15, 2024
It’s a bird, it’s a plane... it’s San Francisco Fleet Week! From October 7-15, 2024, the skies over the Bay will soar with thrilling aerobatic displays, featuring the U.S. Navy Blue Angels and even a United 777 in a fully choreographed performance. Get ready to have a sky-high time!
State of Downtown SF and Achievement Awards: October 22, 2024
Are you up to date on everything downtown? The Downtown SF Partnership invites you to the annual State of Downtown SF and Achievement Awards on Tuesday, October 22nd at 4:00 PM. Celebrate the resilient core of our city, hear about exciting future plans, and enjoy a captivating keynote address on the power of building public-private partnerships and placemaking by Jeffrey C. LeFrancois, Executive Director of the Meatpacking District Management Association in New York. Plus, mingle with district leaders, savor delicious bites, and sip on refreshing cocktails. Don't miss this exclusive event!
San Francisco Ghosts Booze and Boos Haunted Pub Crawl
Enter into the foggy embrace of the City by the Bay with a late-night, tipsy, adults-only stroll through the old streets of the Barbary Coast. Tours are held nightly. Book now to see available dates and times.
Gold, Greed, and Gunslingers: Forging San Francisco Tour
The Gold, Greed, and Gunslingers: Forging San Francisco tour turns the pages of San Francisco’s early days in real-time. You’ll learn the history of Yerba Buena, the Barbary Coast, and Chinatown while visiting iconic buildings and cultural stops. The City By The Bay was once home to some of the West's most dangerous and twisted individuals. Hear these stories on this historical San Francisco walking tour!
Ghost Hunting in Old San Francisco
Go ghost hunting in old San Francisco! Get ready to travel through Gold Rush-era neighborhoods after dark, seeking out paranormal activity while learning of the city’s haunted past.
Explore more of downtown San Francisco — head to our Events Calendar and History page for upcoming tours and hidden gems waiting to be discovered!
Mentioned in this Post
One Market Restaurant
1 Market St
Landing at Leidesdorff
Leidesdorff St
KALW
220 Montgomery St
The Conservatory at One Sansome
One Sansome St
Center for Architecture + Design
140 Sutter St
Avotoasty
101 California St