This Week
in SF
Treasures of the Pharaohs at the de Young, free lunchtime concerts downtown Tuesday through Thursday, and NightLife at the Academy of Sciences.
Week of August 18 to 20, 2026. Refreshed every Sunday. See our weekend roundup for Friday to Sunday, and our August 2026 guide for the rest of the month.
All Week
Treasures of the Pharaohs at the de Young
The de Young opened Treasures of the Pharaohs on August 1. The show of ancient Egyptian objects runs through January 31, 2027, is ticketed separately from general admission, and uses timed entry. See our guide to the exhibition for booking details.
A Gallery of Their Own at the de Young
A Gallery of Their Own: Women Artists from the Carr and Goldblum Gift runs through February 14, 2027 and is included with general admission. See our guide to the show.
Civic Center Soundtrack
Live music runs on Fulton Plaza, between the Main Library and the Asian Art Museum, every Tuesday and Thursday from noon to 3pm. The series runs through October and admission is free.
Free garden mornings in Golden Gate Park
The San Francisco Botanical Garden is free for everyone daily from 7:30 to 9am. The Japanese Tea Garden is free during its first hour, 9 to 10am, on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, which this week means Wednesday. Both gardens are in Golden Gate Park.
Tuesday, August 18
People in Plazas: Melody of China Trio and Emily Day Swingtet
People in Plazas runs free lunchtime concerts in downtown plazas. Tuesday has two: the Melody of China Trio at 101 California and the Emily Day Swingtet playing swing at 303 2nd Street. Both run noon to 1pm outdoors.
Wednesday, August 19
Dance Outdoors with Rhythm and Motion
The Yerba Buena Gardens Festival runs a free outdoor dance class from noon to 1pm. This is the festival’s only August program; the series picks back up on September 2.
People in Plazas: Kool With Klass and The Dans of Steel
Two free noon concerts downtown. Kool With Klass plays R&B at 555 California, and The Dans of Steel play the music of Steely Dan at 425 Market. Both run noon to 1pm.
Thursday, August 20
NightLife at the California Academy of Sciences
The Academy stays open Thursday from 6 to 10pm for adults 21 and over with valid photo ID. Last entry is 9pm. This week’s edition centers on the rainforest after dark. Planetarium passes cost $7 extra, with shows at 6:30, 7:30, 8:30, and 9:30pm, and almost always sell out in advance. EBT cardholders can buy $5 tickets at the window. See our guide to Thursdays in San Francisco.
People in Plazas: Orquesta Tipica Tarareando and Twango
Orquesta Tipica Tarareando plays tango at 333 Market, and Twango plays French jazz at Rincon Center. Both run noon to 1pm. Rincon Center is indoors, which is useful if the wind is up along Market Street.
Thursday Evening Hours at the Asian Art Museum
The Asian Art Museum is closed Tuesday and Wednesday, then opens Thursday from 1 to 8pm, its one evening of the week. Current shows include One Hundred Plays of the Noh Theater by Tsukioka Kogyo, woodblock prints in the Tateuchi Japanese Galleries included with general admission, and This Asian American Life. See our guide to the Noh prints.
SFMOMA Open Until 8pm
SFMOMA runs its long day on Thursday, noon to 8pm. General admission is $30 for adults and free for visitors under 18. The museum is closed Wednesday.
Getting Around
The downtown lunchtime concerts are within a few blocks of the Embarcadero and Montgomery stations on BART and Muni Metro, and Fulton Plaza is next to the Main Library at Civic Center Station. The de Young, the Academy of Sciences, and the gardens sit around the Music Concourse in Golden Gate Park. The Giants are in Cleveland through Thursday, so there are no game night crowds at Oracle Park. Drivers should note two ongoing projects: the Broadway Tunnel is down to one lane in each direction during phased construction for the Chinatown Public Health Center, covered in our guide to the Chinatown closures, and Caltrans closes four of the five eastbound lanes on the Bay Bridge from 10pm to 7am on Sunday through Thursday nights, most nights through October. Check SFMTA for transit alerts before you travel. For Friday through Sunday, see our weekend roundup, and for the rest of the month, our August 2026 guide.
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