Outgoers is a weekly column published in partnership with the new event newsletter of the same name, founded by Josh Constine. Each week, Outgoers texts readers a list of San Francisco events and activities that are worthy of their time. The Standard will feature all of those events, plus a few bonus ones, every week. Sign up for Outgoers by clicking this link (opens in new tab) on your phone.
‘NightLife’: BigPicture
The California Academy of Sciences has a new photography exhibit, plus DJs echoing through its penguin zone, planetarium, and jellyfish tank.
- Date and time
- Thursday, Sept. 26, 6-10 p.m.
Sunset Night Market with 150 vendors
Expect street food, live music, carnival games, a stinky durian-eating contest, and more at this seven-block festival.
- Date and time
- Friday, Sept. 27, 5-10 p.m.
SF Open Studios featuring 100 artists
Stroll through open studios in a three-floor warehouse in the Mission, and meet the artists over wine and cheese.
- Date and time
- Preview Friday, Sept. 27, 6-9 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, Sept. 28-29, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Portola Raccoon Social with Anish Kumar, Bob Moses, and more
Whether you’re warming up for Portola or curing your FOMO, catch a slew of amazing acts who are not playing the festival.
- Date and time
- Friday, Sept. 27, 7 p.m.-3 a.m.
Floating Features: ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ on a boat
Board this floating movie theater as it screens the Johnny Depp classic while cruising through the Bay.
- Date and time
- Friday, Sept. 27, 7 p.m.
Asian Art Museum’s K-Pop/Korean culture exhibit opening party
From BTS to Squid Game, Korean culture has swept the world. Experience it first-hand at the “Hallyu!” exhibit of fashion, film sets, and interactive installations.
- Date and time
- Friday, Sept. 27, 8-10 p.m.
Cambodia Day fest with Dengue Fever
Celebrate Cambodian heritage with food vendors, dance exhibitions, and musical performances by rockers Dengue Fever and others.
- Date and time
- Saturday, Sept. 28, 10:30 a.m-8:30 p.m.
Dog Days of Summer
Bring your fur babies for doggie dance, trick, and costume contests.
- Date and time
- Saturday, Sept. 28, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Portola Music Festival
The biggest electronic artists, including Rufus Du Sol, Justice, Four Tet, and M.I.A., take over piers and warehouses for this two-day fest.
- Date and time
- Saturday-Sunday, Sept. 28-29, 1 p.m.
- Address
- Pier 80 (opens in new tab)
Cloud9’s benefit bash
Dress in white and blue for this ball featuring DJ sets from the founders of Twitch and Reddit. Hosts GoodPeople, Modernist, and We Heart SF support a range of local charities.
- Website
- Cloud9 (opens in new tab)
- Date and time
- Saturday, Sept. 28, 9:30 p.m.-2:30 a.m.
Electroluxx Folsom party at Public Works
SF’s premier Pride party crew will fill the Mission nightclub and its patio with neon art, go-go dancers, drag performers, and DJs.
- Date and time
- Saturday, Sept. 28, 10 p.m.-4 a.m.
DJ Dials’ Dimsum Portola after-party
The legendary Chinatown after-hours event returns for a third year with special guest performers in a swanky secret venue.
- Website
- DJ Dials (opens in new tab)
- Date and time
- Saturday, Sept. 28, 11 p.m.
Folsom Street Fair Kink Festival
The 41st annual SF leather-and-fetish fair will literally expose you to the art, fashion, and joys of sexual liberation.
- Date and time
- Sunday, Sept. 29, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
Folsom after-hours at the Fuzzy Place
The kink continues at this gonzo party parlor complete with cuddle spots and an amusement-park train.
- Date and time
- Sunday, Sept. 29, 6 p.m.
An intimate evening with pianist James Blake
Soul-crushing ballads, beguiling head-nodders, and electronic ecstasy are on the lineup for this small performance at a secret venue.
- Date and time
- Monday, Sept. 30, 8 p.m.