Weekly Wander — October 19–25, 2026
Monday, October 19 20 events
- Forever Grateful exhibition, Golden Gate Park (final week) — San Francisco · timed entry, arrival windows noon–4:30pm (Dead exhibition: Furthur bus, Jerry's BMW; closes Sun Oct 25)
- Role Model: Chuck On Tour (rescheduled from Oct 18) @ Greek Theatre — Berkeley · doors 6pm · show 7:30pm (all ages)
- Bobby McFerrin and MOTION: Circlesongs @ The Freight — Berkeley · doors 11:30am · show noon ($40)
- Community Mondays: Country Bluegrass Jam with Richard Brandenburg @ The Freight — Berkeley · doors 7pm · show 7:30pm (sliding scale $5+)
- Irish Céilí Dance with live band @ The Starry Plough — Berkeley · lesson 7:30pm · dancing 8:45pm (suggested donation)
- Julian Lage Quartet feat. John Medeski (SFJAZZ) @ Davies Symphony Hall — San Francisco · 8pm ($50–$105)
- Litquake: Woof, A Celebration of Our Canine Companions @ Page Street Co-Writing — San Francisco · doors 6:30pm · 7–9pm (Free; walk-ups welcome; dogs stay home)
- Litquake: A Celebration of César Vallejo's Trilce @ City Lights — San Francisco · 7–9pm (Free)
- Hovvdy with Emma Ogier @ The Chapel — San Francisco · doors 7pm · show 8pm (all ages)
- Spencer Krug with Emory Duncan @ Swedish American Hall — San Francisco · doors 7pm · show 8pm (all ages)
- Bebe Stockwell with Khatumu @ Rickshaw Stop — San Francisco · doors 7pm · show 8pm (all ages)
- Monday Yoga, Ferry Building Back Plaza — San Francisco · noon–1pm (Free)
- Asian Art Museum: Ha Chong-hyun Retrospective tour — San Francisco · tour 11am · museum 10am–5pm
- UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley — Berkeley · 10am–5pm, last entry 4:30pm (reservations recommended)
- Mount Wanda trails (John Muir NHS) — Martinez · sunrise–sunset (leashed dogs; Visitor Center closed Mon)
- Briones Regional Park — Martinez · 8am–7pm (dogs; no water at Bear Creek)
- Heather Farm Dog Park — Walnut Creek · 7am–8pm or sunset (off-leash)
- Paso Nogal Dog Park — Pleasant Hill · dawn–dusk (off-leash)
- Park at the Berkeley Waterfront — Berkeley · 6am–10pm (off-leash)
- Fort Funston — San Francisco · park open (off-leash under voice control)
Tuesday, October 20 20 events
- Steely Dead @ The Junction Santa Rosa — Santa Rosa · show 7pm, doors 6pm (Grateful Dead + Steely Dan fusion tribute, $35)
- Forever Grateful exhibition, Golden Gate Park (final week) — San Francisco · timed entry, arrival windows noon–4:30pm (Dead exhibition)
- Salsa Tuesdays @ Retro Junkie — Walnut Creek · 7–11pm ($10 at door, 21+; RSVP shows sold out)
- South Berkeley Farmers' Market — Berkeley · 2–6:30pm
- The Moth StorySLAM: Frenemies @ The Freight — Berkeley · doors 6pm · show 7pm ($22)
- Sophie Hunter: Stereoscope The Tour @ Cornerstone — Berkeley · doors 7pm · show 8pm
- Tuesday Open Mic @ The Starry Plough — Berkeley · sign-ups 7:30pm · show 8pm (no cover)
- Sound Bath @ Ruth Bancroft Garden — Walnut Creek · 6–7pm (ticketed, after hours)
- Shakey Graves with Wild Pink @ Castro Theatre — San Francisco · doors 7pm · show 8pm
- The Devil Makes Three with Two Runner (night 1) @ The Chapel — San Francisco · doors 7pm · show 8pm (all ages)
- Allah-Las with April Magazine @ Great American Music Hall — San Francisco · doors 7pm · show 8pm
- Laura Veirs with Karl Blau @ Café du Nord — San Francisco · doors 7pm · show 8pm (21+)
- Litquake: Brian Evenson, Phantom Limb @ City Lights — San Francisco · 7–8:30pm (Free; literary horror)
- Jazz at the Make-Out Room — San Francisco · doors 6pm · show 7pm (no cover)
- Ferry Plaza Farmers Market — San Francisco · 10am–2pm (no pets)
- John Muir National Historic Site — Martinez · 10am–5pm (leashed dogs on grounds, not in buildings)
- Mount Wanda trails — Martinez · sunrise–sunset (leashed dogs)
- Heather Farm Dog Park — Walnut Creek · closed 7am–noon Tue, then noon–8pm or sunset (off-leash)
- Paso Nogal Dog Park — Pleasant Hill · dawn–dusk (off-leash)
- Crissy Field — San Francisco · park open (dogs welcome; 6-ft leash in Snowy Plover area)
Wednesday, October 21 20 events
- Weir Forever celebrates Bobby Weir w/ Pat Nevins & Jay Wilcox (Dylan set) @ Ashkenaz — Berkeley · show 8pm, doors 7:30pm (Dead tribute: Bob Weir songbook, all ages)
- Steely Dead @ The Junction Mill Valley — Mill Valley · show 7pm, doors 6pm (Grateful Dead + Steely Dan fusion tribute, $35)
- Hocus Pocus (1993) Movie Night @ Retro Junkie — Walnut Creek · doors 6pm · movie 7pm (21+, free w/ RSVP)
- Karaoke Night @ Retro Junkie — Walnut Creek · 8:30pm–1am (21+, free RSVP)
- Other Delights @ The Freight — Berkeley · doors 7pm · show 8pm
- Newsmakers: Colonel Eileen Collins @ Lesher Center — Walnut Creek · 7:30–9pm (NASA's first female shuttle pilot and commander)
- Berkeley Poetry Slam @ The Starry Plough — Berkeley · doors 7pm · workshop & sign-ups 7:15pm
- Witches' Brew Tea Apothecary @ Drift Benicia — Benicia · 6–8pm (Halloween tea blending)
- The Fall Show @ Shotgun Players — Berkeley · 7pm (extended through Nov 1)
- Exhibition Tour: Maren Hassinger @ BAMPFA — Berkeley · 12:15pm (galleries 11am–7pm)
- Todd Rundgren: Damned If I Do Tour @ Castro Theatre — San Francisco · doors 7pm · show 8pm
- DIIV with Pink Breath of Heaven @ Great American Music Hall — San Francisco · doors 7pm · show 8pm
- Litquake: All Hallows Eve, An Evening with Ellen Datlow & Friends @ The Lost Church — San Francisco · 8:15–9:45pm ($15; Halloween horror)
- Nerd Nite SF #165 @ Rickshaw Stop — San Francisco · doors 7pm · show 8pm (all ages)
- Heart of the City Farmers Market — San Francisco · 7am–4pm (no pets)
- Ruth Bancroft Garden — Walnut Creek · 9am–4pm, last entry 3:15pm (leashed dogs welcome)
- Mount Wanda trails — Martinez · sunrise–sunset (leashed dogs)
- Paso Nogal Dog Park — Pleasant Hill · dog park closed until 3pm Wed, then until dusk (off-leash)
- Heather Farm Dog Park — Walnut Creek · 7am–8pm or sunset (off-leash)
- Park at the Berkeley Waterfront — Berkeley · 6am–10pm (off-leash)
Thursday, October 22 20 events
- Midnight North, Forever Grateful Concert Series: There's Always a Story — San Francisco · 7–8:30pm, doors 6pm (Dead-family: Grahame Lesh & Elliott Peck, all ages)
- Steely Dead: A Sonic Fusion of The Grateful Dead and Steely Dan @ The Guild Theatre — Menlo Park · show 8pm, doors 7pm (Dead-fusion tribute)
- Forever Grateful exhibition, Golden Gate Park (final week) — San Francisco · timed entry, arrival windows noon–4:30pm (Dead exhibition)
- Scaraoke Night: Halloween Kick-Off Party @ Retro Junkie — Walnut Creek · doors 6pm, until 1am (21+, free w/ RSVP)
- Hisaishi Conducts Hisaishi, SF Symphony @ Davies Symphony Hall — San Francisco · 7:30pm (West Coast premiere of his Concerto for Orchestra)
- North Berkeley Farmers' Market — Berkeley · 3–7pm
- Benicia Certified Farmers Market — Benicia · 4–7pm (season ends Oct 29)
- Off the Grid Pleasant Hill — Pleasant Hill · 5–9pm (leashed dogs welcome)
- Tommy Castro and the Painkillers with the Legendary Horns @ The Freight — Berkeley · doors 7pm · show 8pm
- Cosmo Alleycats @ Ashkenaz — Berkeley · doors 7:30pm · show 8pm (vintage jazz & swing)
- Easy Star All-Stars: Dub Side of the Moon Live @ Cornerstone — Berkeley · doors 7pm · show 8pm
- Trivia Night + Free Funk Glory Jams @ The Starry Plough — Berkeley · trivia 6:30pm · funk 9pm (Free)
- Cal Academy NightLife: Día de los Muertos — San Francisco · 6–10pm (21+)
- Exploratorium After Dark: Death and Life — San Francisco · 6–10pm (18+)
- Fabio Frizzi: FRIZZI2FULCI @ Bottom of the Hill — San Francisco · doors 7pm · music 8pm (horror film scores, 21+)
- Litquake: Porchlight Storytelling on the Big Screen @ Vogue Theater — San Francisco · doors 7pm · 7:30–9:30pm
- Mount Wanda trails — Martinez · sunrise–sunset (leashed dogs)
- Heather Farm Dog Park — Walnut Creek · 7am–8pm or sunset (off-leash)
- Paso Nogal Dog Park — Pleasant Hill · dawn–dusk (off-leash)
- Presidio Tunnel Tops — San Francisco · open daily (Free; leashed dogs, none in playgrounds)
Friday, October 23 20 events
- Steely Dead: A Sonic Fusion of the Grateful Dead and Steely Dan @ The Starlet Room — Sacramento · show 8:30pm, doors 7:30pm (Dead-fusion tribute, 21+)
- Forever Grateful exhibition, Golden Gate Park (final week) — San Francisco · timed entry, arrival windows noon–4:30pm (Dead exhibition)
- Retroween w/ Hall & Oates + Huey Lewis & The News Tributes @ Retro Junkie — Walnut Creek · doors 6pm · Heart & Soul 7pm · Haulin' Oats 9pm · DJ Goodfoot 10:30pm, to 2am (21+, costume contest)
- Trunk or Treat @ Civic Park — Walnut Creek · 3–6pm, low-sensory hour 3–4pm (Free)
- Haunted Trail of Pleasant Hill Park — Pleasant Hill · 5–7pm (Free)
- Halloween Skate Jam @ Terrence McCrary Jr. Memorial Skate Park — Berkeley · 7–9:30pm (costumes encouraged; helmets required)
- Walnut Creek Elks Haunted House — Walnut Creek · 7:30–10pm ($15 adults / $10 kids; not for kids under 7)
- Diwali Celebration Drone Light Show @ Lesher Center — Walnut Creek · 9:15–9:30pm (Free, outdoor)
- Chalice + Prezident Brown: Legends of Reggae @ Ashkenaz — Berkeley · doors 7:30pm · show 8pm
- Mariachi Herencia de México: Día de los Muertos @ Zellerbach Hall — Berkeley · 7:30pm (Cal Performances)
- Liberation (first preview) @ Berkeley Rep — Berkeley · 8pm
- Hisaishi Conducts Hisaishi (night 2) @ Davies Symphony Hall — San Francisco · 7:30pm
- Haunted Riot with Frightwig, AroMa + Scary Story Time with Bay Curious @ The Chapel — San Francisco · doors 7pm · show 8pm
- Edward Simon: Femeninas with Magos Herrera @ SFJAZZ — San Francisco · 7:30pm
- Litquake: Walter Mosley @ SFPL Main Library — San Francisco · 6:30–8pm (Free; going fast)
- Gimme Gimme Disco: Halloween Dance Party @ Rickshaw Stop — San Francisco · doors 8pm · show 8:30pm (all ages)
- Museum of History Benicia — Benicia · 1–4pm
- Mount Wanda & John Muir NHS — Martinez · trails sunrise–sunset · Visitor Center 10am–5pm (leashed dogs)
- Heather Farm Dog Park — Walnut Creek · 7am–8pm or sunset (off-leash)
- Fort Funston — San Francisco · park open (off-leash under voice control)
Saturday, October 24 20 events
- On the Bus! A Furthur Bus Restoration Benefit with the Merry Pranksters — San Francisco · 4–6pm (Dead-related talk, the final Forever Grateful Conversation, $25)
- Grateful Dads of Santa Cruz @ Woodhouse Blending & Brewing — Santa Cruz · 6pm (Dead tribute, Free)
- The Grateful Band @ Golden Gate Bistro — Novato · 7–10pm (Dead tribute)
- Dead & Breakfast @ Smiley's Schooner Saloon — Bolinas · 8:30–11pm, doors 7:30pm (Dead tribute, Free, 21+)
- Forever Grateful exhibition, Golden Gate Park (final week) — San Francisco · timed entry, arrival windows noon–3:30pm (Dead exhibition)
- Fang Bang w/ Mickey Avalon, Live! Costume Contest @ Retro Junkie — Walnut Creek · doors 6pm · show 7pm · DJ Ajax 10:30pm, to 2am (21+)
- Howl-O-Ween Pawty on Fourth — Berkeley · 1–5pm, dog costume runway 2:30pm (Free; leashed dogs; Rocket Dog adoptions)
- Benicia Main Street Halloween Costume Contest & First Street Stroll — Benicia · 10am–1pm · Canine & Critter Costume Contest noon (dogs)
- Downtown Martinez Halloween Spooktacular — Martinez · 11am–2pm (Free)
- Diwali Celebration Street Fair @ Lesher Center — Walnut Creek · noon–5pm (Free)
- Lit Crawl SF (Litquake finale) — San Francisco · 5–9pm, Mission District (Free, $10–15 suggested)
- Hisaishi Conducts Hisaishi (final night) @ Davies Symphony Hall — San Francisco · 7:30pm
- Randall Museum Family Halloween Day — San Francisco · 10am–2pm (Free; come in costume)
- Steve Reich at 90: Bang on a Can All-Stars + Ensemble Signal @ Zellerbach Hall — Berkeley · 7:30pm
- Whippoorwill Arts Bay Area Roots Fest @ Ashkenaz — Berkeley · doors 5:30pm · show 6pm per event description (ticketing lists a 5:30pm start)
- Pleasant Hill Farmers' Market — Pleasant Hill · 9am–1pm
- Ferry Plaza Farmers Market — San Francisco · 8am–2pm (no pets)
- Paso Nogal Dog Park — Pleasant Hill · 9am–dusk (off-leash)
- Heather Farm Dog Park — Walnut Creek · 8am–8pm or sunset (off-leash)
- Briones Regional Park — Martinez · 8am–7pm (dogs)
Sunday, October 25 20 events
- Grateful Sunday with Matt Hartle and the Hartle Gold Band @ The Crepe Place — Santa Cruz · 6–9pm (Dead tribute, $15 at the door)
- Forever Grateful exhibition, Golden Gate Park (last day) — San Francisco · timed entry, arrival windows noon–4:30pm (Dead exhibition, closes today)
- The Great Hauntway @ Sunset Dunes — San Francisco · 1–4pm (Free; car-free beach Halloween)
- Martinez Farmers' Market — Martinez · 9am–1pm
- Walnut Creek Farmers' Market (Locust St) — Walnut Creek · 9am–1pm
- Pumpkin Decorating for Kids @ Ruth Bancroft Garden — Walnut Creek · 10am–1pm (ticketed; garden 9am–4pm, leashed dogs welcome)
- One Song All Night: Fleetwood Mac's "Dreams" @ The Freight — Berkeley · doors 6pm · show 7pm
- Balkan Jam @ Ashkenaz — Berkeley · dance workshop 7:30pm · music 8pm (Free, RSVP)
- 4th Sunday: Squeeze Variety + Irish sessions @ The Starry Plough — Berkeley · 2–4pm · Early Session 5:30pm · Starry Session 7:30pm (no cover)
- Diablo Symphony: Sibelius Symphony No. 2 @ Lesher Center — Walnut Creek · 2–3:45pm
- Black Flag @ Cornerstone — Berkeley · doors 7pm · show 8pm
- World of Dumplings @ Ferry Building — San Francisco · 11am–5pm
- SFMOMA Free Family Day: K-Pop, Art, and Beyond — San Francisco · 10am–4pm (Free with RSVP)
- Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal with Leonidas Kavakos @ Davies Symphony Hall — San Francisco · 2pm
- Charles Tolliver Presents Africa/Brass: Trane Forever @ SFJAZZ — San Francisco · 7pm
- Lindy in the Park — San Francisco · 11am–2pm, beginner lesson noon (Free)
- Mount Wanda trails — Martinez · sunrise–sunset (leashed dogs; Visitor Center closed Sun)
- Heather Farm Dog Park — Walnut Creek · 8am–8pm or sunset (off-leash)
- Benicia State Recreation Area — Benicia · 8am–sunset (leashed dogs)
- Ocean Beach: last week of beach-fire season — San Francisco · beach fires through Oct 31, only in rings between Stairwells 15–20 (dogs leashed Stairwell 21 to Sloat)