Now through 1/31/2027
History: Treasures of the Pharaohs
Egypt’s pharaohs and their connection to a panoply of gods and the afterlife have long been a source of fascination. This enduring popularity is largely due to what they left behind: massive pyramids, the Sphinx, hidden crypts and mummies. One hundred and thirty remarkably preserved artifacts, some retaining the same bright colors from when they were created, are displayed. The exhibit would have benefited from a story line, or deeper reflection on the meaning that can be gleaned from spiritual and artistic items made thousands of years ago. Still, it’s hard not to be impressed by the superlative craftsmanship that created objects that’ve lasted thousands of years and intense dedication to a worldview that’s disappeared. Admission: $20. adults; $17. 65+; $11 for students with valid identification; 17 and under and museum members, free. de Young Museum, Golden Gate Park, 50 Hagiware Tea Garden Drive. For more information: bit.ly/4g4RD3F
9/5 Saturday – 9/26 Saturday
Theater: West Coast Premiere of Manning
Crowded Fire Theater presents a meditation on masculinity, family, and the ways we search for connection after loss. Following the death of their wife and mother, a father and his two sons spread her ashes in their backyard garden. When a giant zucchini mysteriously appears overnight, each family member discovers a unique language for grief through their encounters with the supernatural vegetable. As the extraordinary takes root in the ordinary, they must determine whether they can also cultivate a shared vocabulary for healing together. Tickets: $25 and up, sliding scale. Potrero Stage, 1695 18th Street. For more information: bit.ly/45zPUgv
9/10 Thursday
Community: Valencia Live Night Market
An all-ages monthly neighborhood celebration with live music, cocktails, restaurants, art, shopping. 5 to 10 p.m. Free attendance. Valencia Street between 18th and 21st streets. For more information: bit.ly/4cn2T9l
9/10 Thursday through 9/20 Sunday
Music: Flower Piano in Golden Gate Park
Flower Piano returns for its 11th year with 11 days of music, 12 pianos, and 130 performances. Participants are invited to explore and enjoy the Botanical Garden’s plant collections as they seek out the pianos spread across 55-acres. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Free for San Franciscans with valid identification. Opening night event on Thursday, September 10, 4 to 7:30 p.m.; separate ticket required. San Francisco Botanical Garden, 1199 Ninth Avenue. For more information: bit.ly/4wE6hDU
9/11 Friday through 9/13 Sunday
History: Pier 70 Time Machine Grand Opening
Potrero Hill and Dogpatch neighborhood history comes to life through exhibits that focus on Butchertown’s stomach-churning past, the bustling Chinese shrimp shacks along the Hunters Point waterfront and the Grateful Dead’s legendary gatherings, Friday 4 to 9 p.m.; Saturday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information: bit.ly/3UFUgAk
9/12 Saturday
Festival: Kite by the Bay
Decorate a kite, learn to fish, and visit family activity tables from organizations such as Randall Museum and Exploratorium. Also on hand: DJ and a taco truck. 1 to 4 p.m. Free. Candlestick Point State Recreation Area, 400 Hunters Point Expressway. For more information: bit.ly/4zsQMBr
9/13 Sunday
Art: Noe Valley Art Festival
Painting demonstrations, kids’ activities, and music, as well as photographs, drawings, multi-media, jewelry, ceramics, fabric art, digital art and sculpture from 22 artists. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free. Noe Valley Town Square, 24th and Sanchez streets. For more information: bit.ly/4xdlJbl
9/18 Friday
Art: San Francisco Open Studios Preview Exhibition
The Preview Exhibition features the work of 300+ artists, all work on view is available for purchase with a portion of sales supporting the nonprofit. Enjoy light bites and drinks. 7 to 10 p.m. General admission: $25. VIP Hour 6 to 7 p.m. $50 and up. SOMArts, 934 Brannan Street. For more information: bit.ly/4g1IUz8
9/19 Saturday
Music: Pier Play San Francisco
Pier Play is a waterfront festival at Elevation Sky Park, the new entertainment campus for live music, immersive cinema, art, wellness, and community programming. The event is headlined by BLOND:ISH, along with Darco, Nico De Andrea, Malas, and Admiral. 2 to 10 p.m. Tickets from $72. to $199. 21+ only. Elevation Sky Park San Francisco, Pier 70 (at the end of 22nd Street). For more information: bit.ly/4xMm6cr
9/19 Saturday and 9/20 Sunday
Culture: Autumn Moon Festival
A weekend of entertainment, mooncakes and other foods, kids activities, lion dancing, K-Pop dance contest, and more. Grant Avenue between California and Broadway streets. Pacific Avenue between Stockton and Kearny will be pedestrian-only. Saturday: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors are strongly encouraged to take public transit. For more information: moonfestival.org
9/19 Saturday through 9/27 Sunday
Theater: Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra
San Francisco Shakespeare Festival’s 44th season presents Antony and Cleopatra, a timeless tale of power, passion, and politics that examines the conflict between duty and desire, and the impact of personal relationships on political power. 2 to 3:30 p.m. Free. Sue Bierman Park, Drumm Street at Washington Street. For more information: bit.ly/4xhoR5Y
9/20 Sunday
Community: Fiesta on the [Bernal] Hill
Cortland Avenue comes alive with seven blocks of music, food, vendors, and family-friendly fun. Presented by the Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center, approaching its 50th year of serving the community. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cortland Avenue between Bocana and Folsom streets. For more information: bernalfiesta.com
9/24 Thursday – 9/27 Sunday
Music: Portola Festival
Portola Music Festival returns to Pier 80 for its fifth year, along with more than 15 shows at San Francisco venues. The 5th Birthday DESPACIO Extravaganza — sound system designed by LCD Soundsystem’s James Murphy, Soulwax’s David and Stephen Dewaele, and engineer John Klett — opens at Pier 80 on Friday, September 25, from 5 to 11 p.m. The main festival continues at Pier 80 on Saturday and Sunday, with headliners Robyn, DOG BLOOD (Skrillex and Boys Noize), Swedish House Mafia, Zara Larsson, Tiësto, Four Tet, Tove Lo and Soulwax. Citywide venues — among them The Regency Ballroom, Public Works, The Midway, Great American Music Hall and The Great Northern — host Overmono, Fatboy Slim, 2manydjs, SG Lewis, Chloé Caillet, horsegiirL, Channel Tres, Groove Armada, Ben UFO, Parcels and more. Additional shows to be announced.
For tickets and the full lineup, visit portolamusicfestival.com.
9/29 Tuesday
Community: Noe Valley Night Market
Noe Valley Town Square will host live music, retail and food vendors, and family-friendly fun. 5 to 8 p.m. Noe Valley Town Square, 24th and Sanchez streets. For more information: bit.ly/3Uf4Yha
10/3 Saturday & 10/4 Sunday
Art: 1890 Bryant Street Fall Open Studios
More than three floors of artists in one historic building. Meet humans making incredible art: painters, potters, printmakers, fabric artists, jewelers, photographers and so much more. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 1890 Bryant Street. For more information: www.1890bryant.com
