The nights are getting longer and – I know we maybe shouldn’t mention it yet, but – Christmas is drawing near. Attention begins to turn to going out: having fun and doing stuff. But what exactly? Which things are the best things to do in SF in November? This is a list of our recommendations, so you can make the most of your time this month. From Turkey Trots to Craft Fairs, via some big sports matches and trips to the museum, we have it all for you right here in The San Francisco Scoop.

Events & Activities in San Francisco This Month

1. VISIT A MUSEUM FOR FREE (ALL MONTH)

For several days of the month (and for some special people on every day of the month) many SF museums are free. We have great museums (partly because of all the rich people that have lived here) – you should make the most of these opportunities.

Exploratorium: free admission for EBT cardholders and San Francisco Medi-Cal or CalFresh recipients. Also free for California public school teachers.

SF Botanical Gardens: free admission second Tuesday of every month.

Japanese Tea Gardens: free Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9-10 am.

De Young Museum: free first Tuesday of every month, also free every Saturday for Bay Area residents.

SFMOMA: free first Thursday of the month for Bay Area residents.

Legion of Honor: free Saturday’s for Bay Area residents and free Tuesday’s for all.

Cable Car Museum: free every day, and one of the most interesting museums in all of San Francisco.

Other museums well worth visiting:

The Walt Disney Family Museum

California Academy of Sciences

Museum of the African Diaspora

2. GO TO A CONCERT BY CANDLELIGHT (DATES THROUGH NOVEMBER)

These events are held in various locations around San Francisco, including St Ignatius Church, Grace Cathedral and the Hibernia. There’s nothing nicer than listening to great music, played by a live orchestra, in a beautiful setting. And then there’s the candlelight too…

More information here.

3. GO ON A GHOST AND TRUE CRIME TOUR (EVERY SATURDAY NIGHT)

When better than the winter nights to experience our Notorious SF: Ghost & Crime tour. San Francisco has a fascinating criminal history, that goes back to the Gold Rush era, when Vigilance Committee’s took over the “policing” of the city (which is where the term ‘vigilante’ likely originated).

There were several red light districts in the downtown area in the nineteenth and early twentieth century, opium dens were tucked into the basements of many of the alleys in Chinatown and sailors had to be wary, lest they woke up on a strange ship, having been shanghaied in the infamous Barbary Coast neighborhood (which is where that term was invented too).

And we haven’t even mentioned the Fatty Arbuckle Scandal yet.

Join us as we go on a cold-case true crime investigation into San Francisco’s dark past, recount some of the scariest ghost stories you’ve ever heard – and get cocktails in a couple of historic bars. We’re obviously biased, but it’s definitely one of the best things to do in SF in November. Every Saturday night, at 6pm.

More information here.

4. GO TO A CIRQUE DU SOLEIL SHOW (FROM NOVEMBER 20)

Cirque du Soleil’s ECHO tells a tale of connection, intention, and the bond between humans, the animal kingdom and the world we share. Through a stunning show of acrobatics, tech, and artistry, ECHO highlights our interconnectedness and takes us on a journey of hope, youthful optimism and empathy. 

Cirque du Soleil

What can I say about Cirque du Soleil? Their shows are amazing. The show venue is at Oracle Park, in Mission Rock . More information here.

5. VISIT THE SAN FRANCISCO FERRY BUILDING (ALL MONTH)

The Ferry Building is one of the city’s most iconic structures, serving as a hotspot for tourists and locals alike. It’s a center for events, pop-ups, a farmers’ market, and countless excellent merchants who sell their wares daily from the building’s ground-floor outlets.

During the course of the month there are a ton of events going on, including pizza nights, a tea festival, creativity pop-ups and holiday craft-making.

More information here.

6. CATCH A GAME (DATES THROUGH NOVEMBER)

Why not enjoy some good old-fashioned gridiron this month? The San Francisco 49ers have a game against the Los Angeles Rams on November 9, at the Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.

More information here.

The Golden State Warriors are also playing the Houston Rockets, as well as the Utah Jazz (what a great name), the Indiana Pacers and the Portland Trail Blazers.

More information here.

7. EXPERIENCE THE SF TURKEY TROT (NOVEMBER 27)

You might be aware that November is the month of Thanksgiving here in the U.S. The SF Turkey Trot is now in its 23rd year and it’s a great event for all the family. The trot starts in the Golden Gate Park, one of the biggest and best urban parks in the world, near the Haight.

More information here.

8. VISIT A CRAFT FAIR (NOVEMBER 1-2)

The Renegade Craft Fair pops up in different cities around the U.S. throughout the year – such as Los Angeles, Chicago, New York and Austin – and in November it visits the Bay Area. Fort Mason, by San Francisco Bay, is taken over by stalls, food trucks and pop-ups of varying types. There’s no entry fee, although donations are encouraged.

More information here.

9. SEE THE INTERIOR OF A PAINTED LADY (ALL MONTH)

Most visitors to San Francisco are aware of the Painted Ladies, beautiful Victorian houses built in the 1890’s, on Alamo Square. The park is always full of visitors taking in the view of the houses, with the city behind, and taking those all important photos for Instagram.

But how about taking it a step further (quite literally) and going inside one of them? Longtime resident George Horsfall owns the blue one and offers daily tours at 4 pm. It’s a very special experience, that I can’t recommend enough.

More information here (tell George we sent you :-).

10. GO SKATING AT AN OPEN AIR ICE-RINK (ALL MONTH) 

San Francisco normally has a bunch of pop-up ice-skating rinks over the winter period and it’s a great way to have fun AND get some exercise (if you don’t do it regularly muscles that you didn’t even know that you have will be aching the next day!. The Yerba Buena Ice Skating & Bowling Center on Folsom Street is a good option. More info here.

Arguably the best open-air ice-skating rink in San Francisco is on Union Square. It’s a lovely spot to do this Winter activity. More info here.

If you have any feedback on the 10 Best Things to Do in SF in November please email us or reach out on social media, we’d love to hear from you.

– By Damien Blackshaw (Twitter)