October, for most San Franciscans means two things: Halloween and Dia de Los Muertos. As you would expect there are a ton of events based around those holidays this month in San Francisco. However, not everybody wants to go to yet another Halloween themed event, and even if they do they probably want to do some other things too, so I’ve included a range of activities and experiences in this list of the best things to do in SF in October.

From street fairs, to comedy shows, via true crime tours and Oktoberfest events, this month has it all.

Events & Activities in San Francisco This Month

1. SAN FRANCISCO ITALIAN HERITAGE FESTIVAL & PARADE (OCTOBER 11)

San Francisco’s large Italian community is always excited to celebrate the Italian Heritage Festival in our own Little Italy. Festivities include a weekend-long market, and of course the parade, which starts at Fisherman’s Wharf, and goes through North Beach (with pit stops for Fernet along the way natch). Don’t miss this fun street party that highlights the enormous contribution of Italian-Americans to San Francisco.  

More information here.

2. OKTOBERFEST (VARIOUS DATES)

That other thing that October is known for – the Barvarian Beer Festival. Why October? Well it’s named after it, right? San Francisco has several different venues for partaking in this ancient heathen Germanic ritual.

The Oktoberfest in Oakland (October 3-4): more info here.

The Radhaus in the Fort Mason Center (dates through October): more info here.

Oktoberfest on Front (September 18): more info here.

3. 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 some great museums (partly because of all the rich people that have lived here) – you should make the most of these opportunities and visit one.

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 everyday and one of the most interesting museums in San Francisco.

Other museums well worth visiting:

The Walt Disney Family Museum

California Academy of Sciences

Museum of the African Diaspora

4. FLEET WEEK (OCTOBER 4-12)

Fleet Week is an annual event in San Francisco. It basically means that for about a week you’re going to be startled by sudden, ear-splitting, screams as US Navy jets, Second World War era fighters and other planes fly overhead (usually very low). Even if you didn’t want to experience this event, if you’re anywhere near downtown SF and the waterfront, you will anyway.

That said it is pretty damn cool. There’s a constant aerial event going on in the skies above you. The US Navy also park some current warships at the Embarcadero, so you can board and look around (under close supervision of course) – which is also pretty interesting.

More info here.

5. NOTORIOUS SF: GHOST & CRIME TOUR (EVERY SATURDAY NIGHT)

What better month than October to do our true 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’ originated).

There were several red light districts in the downtown area during the nineteenth and early twentieth century, opium dens were tucked into the basements of many 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).

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

Join us on Union Square as we go on a cold-case true crime investigation into San Francisco’s dark past – and get cocktails in a couple of historic bars. Every Saturday night, at 6pm. It’s definitely one of the best things to do in SF in October.

More info here.

6. WATCH A SCARY MOVIE OUTDOORS (October 16)

October is also the month for watching scary movies, Sundown Cinema have a free screening of Beetlejuice at Crane Cove Park, on San Francisco Bay. More info here.

7. CASTRO STREET FAIR (OCTOBER 4)

It’s back! This is the 52nd edition in the series and it involves live music, DJ’s, market stalls and much more. All this and the Castro is always a great neighborhood to visit anyway.

Donations of $10-20 are encouraged (proceeds go to various non-profits and over $1.6 million has been raised in this way). Always one of the best things to do in SF in October.

Across the country, LGBTQ+ people and communities are under attack — politically, culturally, and socially. In the face of this, we believe that joy itself is a radical act. To dance, to gather openly, to support one another, and to celebrate our lives in the heart of the Castro is not just fun — it’s a declaration of resilience, solidarity, and love.

Castro Street Fair

This year’s theme: Where We Belong. More info here.

8. SF OPEN STUDIOS (SEPTEMBER 26-OCTOBER 25)

This annual event gives the public a rare opportunity to visit hundreds of local artists in their own studios all over San Francisco.

Since 1975, ArtSpan’s citywide SF Open Studios program has connected local artists to San Francisco’s residents and visitors.

Be inspired by the creative power of San Francisco Bay Area artists. It’s free to attend.

More info here.

9. ENJOY A LIVE PERFORMANCE (VARIOUS DATES)

A “conversation” with a Hollywood star? Who doesn’t want that? Michael Douglas is chatting about his life and career at the Golden Gate Theatre on October 11. It certainly promises to be an interesting evening. More information here.

How about Hasan Minhaj? More information here.

Other options are Cobb’s Comedy Club, Secret Improv Society and Punchline Comedy Club, all well-established comedy clubs that organize regular events, often with well-known stand-ups.

10. CELEBRATE HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH: EXPLORE THE MISSION DISTRICT (TO OCTOBER 15)

The Mission District is the birthplace of modern San Francisco, so it’s got a lot of history. It’s also the spiritual and cultural heart of the Latino community in the city, which means it’s a lot of fun and has great food. Finally, since most the neighborhood survived the Great Fire, it has some magnificent Victorian houses. So there are more than enough reasons to visit this vibrant and interesting San Francisco neighborhood – what better time to do it than Hispanic Heritage Month .

Check our guide to the area here, and use it to explore the Mission.

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

– By Damien Blackshaw (Twitter)