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. Sign up for Outgoers by clicking this link (opens in new tab) on your phone.
SF Art Week
Catch gallery openings, free museum days, and special events throughout the city at SF’s version of Art Basel. The festivities kick off Saturday with a party at ICA SF.
- Date and time
- Thursday, Jan. 18, to Saturday, Jan. 25
- Address
- Map (opens in new tab)
SF Sketchfest
Two weeks of improv, sketches, and standup from top comics and local heroes — including a screenplay reading of “Airplane!” by its stars — across a dozen venues.
- Website
- Tickets (opens in new tab)
- Date and time
- Thursday, Jan. 16, to Sunday, Feb. 2
Poolside Poets
The poets move inside the Phoenix Hotel’s Be Amazing lounge for a night of readings, live music, dance, fashion vendors, and illustration.
- Website
- RSVP (opens in new tab)
- Date and time
- Thursday, Jan. 16, 6:30 p.m.
Inner Circle at White Rabbit
The best dance party north of Market fills the Marina lounge with surging beats and fun people, soundtracked by DJ Mackswell.
- Date and time
- Thursday, Jan. 16, 9 p.m.
Self-Brainwashing foam art experience
Don a white hazmat suit and get enveloped in foam at this participatory show in Potrero.
- Website
- Tickets (opens in new tab)
- Date and time
- Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, Jan. 17 to Feb. 8.
Across the EDMverse rave
This multi-genre dance party starts early, offering techno, house, trap, dubstep, and trance — plus a cuddle chill room and a spicy kink dungeon — at a secret SoMa location.
- Website
- Tickets (opens in new tab)
- Date and time
- Friday, Jan. 17, 6 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Sound Healing Symphony
Let meditative musicians lull you into bliss with a sonic massage of symphonic gongs, crystal bowls, vibraphone, didgeridoo, and vocals.
- Website
- Tickets (opens in new tab)
- Date and time
- Friday, Jan. 17, 8 to 9:30 p.m.
Gothic Lolita fashion ball
Embrace Japan’s counterculture fashion with anime on multiple screens and industrial, synthpop, and electro tunes, plus tarot readings, photography, go-go dancers, and fashion vendors.
- Date and time
- Friday, Jan. 17, 9:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m.
Everdaze fashion pop-up
Handcrafted coffee and matcha will perk you up for discounts from 40 artists and curators at this Haight Street party.
- Date and time
- Saturday, Jan. 18, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Lion dancing at libraries
In the run-up to Lunar New Year, 19 SF Public Library branches will host lion dance performances on the next two Saturdays.
- Date and time
- Saturday, Jan. 18, and Saturday, Jan. 25
Tet Festival
Larkin and O’Farrell will overflow for the Vietnamese New Year with live music, opera, a traditional dress contest, kids’ activities, and plenty of food stalls.
- Date and time
- Saturday, Jan. 18, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Richmond Lunar New Year Parade
Check out entertainers, kids’ activities, martial arts performances, lion dances, and a parade down Balboa Street, with each block decorated in a different theme.
- Date and time
- Saturday, Jan. 18, 3:30 to 8 p.m.
Jersey concert
Come for the high BPM electro sounds, stay for the mesmerizing analog synth cover of the “Lord of the Rings” theme from this fast-rising French duo that crushed Portola.
- Website
- Tickets (opens in new tab)
- Date and time
- Saturday, Jan. 18, 8 p.m.
Secret Surrealist Salon
Get very weird with the Ministry of Quantum Existentialism at this gonzo art party.
- Website
- Tickets (opens in new tab)
- Date and time
- Saturday, Jan. 18, 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.
- Address
- Secret (opens in new tab)
Wonder Drug Rush rave
This immersive party will take you on a strange trip through a planet that’s biohacked by drug dealers, not pharma giants.
- Website
- Register (opens in new tab)
- Date and time
- Saturday, Jan. 18, 9 p.m. to 3 a.m.
Hubba Hubba Revue
There’ll be bawdy burlesque performers, aerialists, contortionists, and magicians at DNA Lounge’s sexy circus event.
- Website
- Tickets (opens in new tab)
- Date and time
- Sunday, Jan. 18, 7 to 10 p.m.
We Fight Back protest
Join the Party for Socialism & Liberation’s rally against the “extreme-right billionaire agenda” the day before the inauguration of President Trump.
- Date and time
- Sunday, Jan. 19, 1 p.m.
MLK Jr. Day events
Talks, marches, art displays, and more — including a music festival at 1 p.m. in Yerba Buena Gardens — celebrate the legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
- Date and time
- Monday, Jan. 20