This Week
in SF
The Valkyries host Game 2 of the WNBA Finals at Chase Center on Monday, San Francisco Opera stages Manon on Wednesday, and Thursday brings museum late nights, a Día de los Muertos NightLife at the California Academy of Sciences, and Joe Hisaishi at Davies Symphony Hall.
Week of October 19 - October 22, 2026. Refreshed every Sunday. See our weekend roundup for Friday to Sunday.
All Week
Free garden mornings in Golden Gate Park
The San Francisco Botanical Garden is free for everyone daily from 7:30 to 9am; in October, last entry is 5pm. The Japanese Tea Garden is free during its first hour, 9 to 10am, on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, which this week means Monday and Wednesday.
Photosynthesis light show at the Conservatory of Flowers
The front of the Conservatory of Flowers becomes a projection screen every night through January 30, 2027. The show starts about 30 minutes after sunset, lasts about half an hour, and runs on a loop until midnight. The light art is by Lumigeek with music by Tim Digulla, and no tickets or RSVP are needed. The Conservatory itself is open 10am to 4:30pm, with last entry at 4pm, and is closed on Wednesday.
Monday, October 19
Valkyries vs. Dream, WNBA Finals Game 2 at Chase Center
The Golden State Valkyries host the Atlanta Dream in Game 2 of the WNBA Finals, with tip-off at 5pm and doors at 3:30pm. The Valkyries lead the series 1-0 after a 68-64 win in Game 1 on Saturday. Games 3 and 4 are in Atlanta, and a Game 5, if needed, returns to Chase Center on Monday, October 26. The game airs on USA and Peacock. Our Valkyries Finals guide has the schedule, ticket details, and watch parties.
Two big museums are open on Monday
Monday is a thin museum day in San Francisco, and two of the largest are open. The Asian Art Museum runs 10am to 5pm and then closes Tuesday and Wednesday; adult general admission is $20. SFMOMA also runs 10am to 5pm, with adult admission at $30, and is closed Wednesday. SFMOMA notes that work on a new installation affects the atrium and the third, fourth, and fifth floors.
Tuesday, October 20
Ferry Plaza Farmers Market
Foodwise runs the market outside the Ferry Building on Tuesday and Thursday, 10am to 2pm, year round. Tuesday brings about 20 vendors with fresh produce and hot lunch options. Thursday is smaller, 10 to 15 vendors, with street food lunch options and produce.
Wednesday, October 21
Dance Outdoors with Rhythm and Motion at Yerba Buena Gardens
The Yerba Buena Gardens Festival runs a free one-hour outdoor dance workout with Rhythm and Motion, mixing choreography with party energy. RSVP is encouraged and drop-ins are welcome. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes that work on grass, and bring water and layers.
Manon at San Francisco Opera
San Francisco Opera’s production of Massenet’s Manon stars Amina Edris as Manon and Pene Pati as Des Grieux, with Music Director Eun Sun Kim conducting. Wednesday’s performance is also livestreamed, with livestream tickets at $25. The run continues October 24, 27, and 30 and November 1.
Thursday, October 22
Museum late nights on Thursday
Thursday is the long day at two big museums. The Asian Art Museum runs 1 to 8pm, and at 5pm hosts Mahjong and Mocktails, a drop-in session for all skill levels with teachers on site, included with general admission. SFMOMA runs noon to 8pm. The Asian Art Museum is closed the following Thursday, October 29, for its annual gala.
NightLife: Día de los Muertos at the California Academy of Sciences
The Academy’s fourth annual Día de los Muertos night, themed una noche en Michoacán, brings art, music, traditional dances, local makers, and food, plus the unveiling of an alebrije sculpture honoring Claude the alligator. Guests must be 21 or older with a valid, physical photo ID. Last entry is 9pm.
After Dark at the Exploratorium
The Exploratorium’s weekly adults-only evening opens the museum to visitors 18 and older on Thursday night. Members and donors get in free with a membership card and ID.
Hisaishi Conducts Hisaishi at Davies Symphony Hall
Composer Joe Hisaishi conducts the San Francisco Symphony in a program titled Hisaishi Conducts Hisaishi.
Mission Community Market
Foodwise runs a neighborhood market on Bartlett Street at 22nd Street on Thursday afternoons, 3 to 7pm, from March through November. The Ferry Plaza Farmers Market also runs Thursday, 10am to 2pm; see Tuesday.
Getting Around
For Monday’s WNBA Finals game, SFMTA runs a supplemental 78X Arena Express from 16th Street BART to Chase Center starting about two and a half hours before tip-off, and 16th Street and Warriors Way close from two hours before to one hour after the game. Southbound US-101 at the Hospital Curve is fully closed through Monday between the Ninth Street/Civic Center exit and Cesar Chavez Street, with detours via I-280. On Geary Boulevard, some 38 Geary and 38R Geary Rapid stops between 32nd Avenue and Stanyan Street are temporarily relocated; look for orange signs. At Castro Station, use the north-side escalator until the new elevator opens. BART lists no disruptions at San Francisco stations for these days. Current Muni alerts are on the SFMTA alerts page. For Friday through Sunday see our weekend roundup, and for the rest of the month our October 2026 guide.
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