This weekend, prepare to take your senses on a roller coaster. With a new night market on the scene promising smoked barbecue in the Fillmore and a “taco takeover” taking center stage at this week’s Off the Grid food fest, the savory aromas and flavorful dishes will be treats to your taste buds. As for what you’ll be hearing this weekend, whether you love it or hate it, the Blue Angels will make their thunderous descent on the city for the San Francisco Fleet Week Air Show. Keep reading to see what else you should add to your to-do list this weekend in San Francisco.
1. Night Market in the Fillmore
🗓️ Friday | 4-9 p.m.
📍 O’Farrell Street between Fillmore and Steiner streets
🔗 kblx.com
Open-air night markets seem to be popping up all over San Francisco, from the South Asian-inspired Bhangra and Beats in the Financial District to the sprawling Sunset Night Market akin to one you’d peruse in the streets of Taiwan. The Fillmore has quietly hosted a weekly Friday night market since August, and the event is scheduled to continue regularly until Dec. 15. With smoked barbecue, small business vendors and a domino tournament, the Fillmore night market serves as a one-stop shop for local food, art and neighborhood pride in San Francisco’s historically Black neighborhood. The event’s flier also mentions live entertainment from local artists and the West Coast Caravan of All Stars, an Oakland-born blues band that has previously shared the stage with Etta James, the O’Jays and Chaka Khan.
2. Off the Grid at Fort Mason
🗓️ Friday | 5-10 p.m.
📍 2 Marina Blvd.
🔗 offthegrid.com
Sample some of the Bay Area’s best tacos in one spot for Off the Grid this Friday night. This season, Off the Grid’s foodie-driven block parties explore a different theme weekly, from noodles to this “taco takeover.” Sizzling meats wrapped in freshly pressed tortillas and doused in spicy salsas will please your senses and warm you up on the Fort Mason waterfront. If you’re looking for more than just the hot meal, stick around for a drink and enjoy a night of live music, DJs and dance performances while you eat.
3. Middle Eastern Food Festival in Diamond Heights
🗓️ Saturday-Sunday | Noon-7 p.m.
📍 St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Church
🔗 eventbrite.com
If you’re still feeling hungry for delicious food, pop by San Francisco’s annual Middle Eastern food festival where you can try an extensive variety of authentic dishes crafted with love. Delectable kebabs, falafels, tabbouleh and kibbeh will have you stuffed like a grape leaf before you even have a chance to visit the sweets table. There will also be vendors selling unique crafts, jewelry and souvenirs, as well as live music and dance performances to complete the two-day cultural celebration.
4. Ofrenda Workshop in Ocean View
🗓️ Sunday | 2-3:30 p.m.
📍 Ocean View Branch Library
🔗 sfpl.org
Join San Francisco’s Ocean View Branch Library for a cathartic afternoon of crafts and memory-sharing with an ofrenda workshop–included in the San Francisco Public Library’s program of events honoring Latinx Heritage Month. An ofrenda is an altar built in the memory of a passed loved one, and it is traditionally adorned with offerings that represent and celebrate their life. These altars are displayed for Día de los Muertos, during which it is believed the souls of passed loved ones return to their families as their lives are honored. At the workshop, you’ll be able to handcraft a picture frame to hold your loved one’s photo and tissue paper marigolds to add a vibrant touch to your offering. Completed ofrendas will be on display in the library through Nov. 2, the second day of Día de los Muertos.
5. Fleet Week All Over the City
🗓️ Through Tuesday | Various times
📍 Various locations
🔗 fleetweeksf.org
San Francisco Fleet Week kicked off on Monday, and through the rest of the week you can catch live music, community events, as well as a handful of free first-come, first-served tours aboard amphibious carriers, cutters, destroyers and cruisers docked at the San Francisco waterfront. Though the notoriously noisy event garners its fair share of detractors, the highlight of Fleet Week for many is the three-day air show held between the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz from Friday through Sunday. Staking your claim early at Crissy Field will ensure you a stellar vantage point, or you could try your luck finding a nearby rooftop. Don’t forget to bring your earplugs!