The 20 best events in SF this week, from a secret strip show to a doggie costume contest

Outgoers is a weekly column published in partnership with the event newsletter of the same name founded by Josh Constine. Each week, Outgoers texts readers a list of San Francisco events and activities worthy of their time. The Standard features those events, plus a few extra, every week. Sign up for Outgoers by clicking this link (opens in new tab) on your phone.

You didn’t know art battles were a thing? Well, they are, and the final championship round is in SF this week. Watch the top 12 painters, culled from 6,000 applicants and 100 events across the U.S., paint live onstage to fight for the title of 2024 Art Battle National Champion.

Dress up and revel alongside hundreds of art lovers, enjoy an open bar and bites, and see the “Hallyu! The Korean Wave” exhibit at this black-tie-requested ball.

The contemporary dance company presents four nights of world premieres to celebrate its 20th anniversary.

Check out ICA’s new location on New Montgomery, with three exhibits featuring mind-bending sculptures.

Mushroom masters host lectures, while local merchants sling all forms of fungi. There’s also live music Saturday and Halloween family fun Sunday.

This two-day trap and EDM festival takes over Bill Graham Civic Center with a stacked lineup for those looking for big buildups and bigger drops.

Fast-rising producer CRi brings dreamy dubstep-pop and house music to a secret location before moving on to bigger venues.

German darkwave dance guitarist Monolink brings his moody, seductive house music to this Golden Gate Park concert from Lightning in a Bottle producers DoLab. 

Legendary Pride party crew Electroluxx takes over the grounds of the Palace of Fine Arts with neon, interactive performances, and giant art cars, plus 50 DJs, including Yacht and Hercules & Love Affair.

Pole performances, go-go dancers, and techno/club DJs will go into the wee hours at a secret SoMa location.

Nonstop techno and spooky vibes at this dance party at a secret location, themed after the famous scene from the movie “Blade.”

A pumpkin patch and painting, mildly haunted house, trick-or-treat lane, carnival games, and lion dances fill Chinatown’s Waverly Place.

This year’s team sandcastle-building contest on Ocean Beach has a UFO theme.

More than 40 bars across Polk Gulch, Russian Hill, North Beach, and the Marina open for a giant party and costume contest that last year drew 15,000 people.

Muttville’s fundraiser includes costume and trick contests, a jazz jam, and a trick-or-treat trail.

If you’re still squeezing the last out of the pre-Halloween weekend, DJ Gordo has a 10-hour takeover of the historic Hibernia Bank, which survived the 1906 quake.

The San Francisco Civic Symphony plays Dvořák and other Czech masters at the Herbst Theatre.

Set sail on the old-school San Francisco Belle for a house music party, followed by an after-party at the Great Northern.

Four DJs, fire dancers, aerialists, and laser projections will fill a swanky penthouse at this tech conference after-party hosted by Outgoers’ Josh Constine.

Famous for his renegade livestreams, improv madman Rebillet composes silly, sexy, dance-y songs on the fly using his looping machine and unbridled mania.