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Culture

18 events for Portola weekend, from after-parties to Oktoberfest

What’s worth checking out? We’ll help you choose.

Three people in festive attire drink from large beer glasses, surrounded by inflatable pretzels, celebrating together in an outdoor setting.
Oktoberfest returns to Front Street! | Source: Kevin Shea Adams

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

Hayes Valley wine walk

Sip and stroll through shops and galleries, with more than 20 wineries pouring along the route. The after-party’s at Rivian.

A hand holds a small glass of red wine with the words "EXPLORE SF | CA HAYES VALLEY" printed on it.
Wineries descend on Hayes Valley on Thursday. You get a free glass with a ticket. | Source: Explore Hayes Valley
Website
Tickets
Date and time
Thursday, Sept. 18, 4 to 8 p.m.

Mid-Market block party

It’s a free performance arts takeover of Market Street, with an R&B band, DJs, and interactive installations.

Website
Unstaged
Date and time
Thursday, Sept. 18, 4 to 7 p.m.

Pre-Portola block party

Ellis Street shuts down for a free Portola Music Festival kickoff, with a performance by Irish dance music singer Jazzy, plus art, food trucks, and outdoor drinking.

Two young men stand outside at a crowded event; one wears a light hoodie and cap, the other sports spiked hair and a black jacket, both wearing sunglasses.
Kick off Portola Music Festival with this free block party. | Source: Morgan Ellis/The Standard
Website
RSVP
Date and time
Thursday, Sept. 18, 5 to 10 p.m.

The Moth Mainstage: ‘Daring’

This marquee storytelling show features stories about courage, vulnerability, and all the ways humans take risk. The two-act show features San Francisco Poet Laureate Genny Lim and moderation by story slam regular Amber Wallin.

Website
Tickets
Date and time
Thursday, Sept. 18, 7:30 p.m.

Yetsuby rave

You don’t have to stay out all night to catch record label Program’s latest secret-location party, featuring Seoul producer Yetsuby spinning glitchy, genre-bending club beats.

Website
Tickets
Date and time
Thursday, Sept. 18, 8 to 11:59 p.m.

Bob Moses

The Grammy-winning electronic duo delivers sexy guitar plus beats at the tiny Great American Music Hall ahead of a Portola gig.

Website
Tickets
Date and time
Thursday, Sept. 18, 9 p.m.

Off Night disco

Jeremy Castillo and Pascual bring sleazy house and cheap disco vibes to Valencia Street’s classic wooden dance floor.

Website
Off Night
Date and time
Thursday, Sept. 18, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

2080 Society Chinatown underground

Mr. Mahjong’s basement transforms into a boiler-room stage for two-hour sets from Sseda and Hapki.

Date and time
Thursday, Sept. 18, 9:30 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Oktoberfest on Front

Front Street transforms into a Bavarian block party, with stein-holding contests, axe throwing, bands, and more than 70 beers on tap.

Three men dressed in traditional German attire are sitting outdoors, enjoying large glasses of beer, smiling, and engaged in conversation.
Carl Oman chats with San Francisco Standard reporter Sam Mondros during Oktoberfest on Front. | Source: Noah Berger for The Standard
Date and time
Friday, Sept. 19, 2 to 10 p.m.

Inner Sunset equinox art walk

Stroll galleries and shops for seasonal art while enjoying jazz sets, DJs, local makers, food pop-ups, and the latest sunset of the year.

Website
Details
Date and time
Friday, Sept. 19, 5 p.m.

Mission Rock outdoor movie: ‘Best in Show’

Spread out a blanket at China Basin Park for a free screening of Christopher Guest’s cult mockumentary, with a pre-movie dog contest.

Website
Details
Date and time
Friday, Sept. 19, 7 p.m.

Chris Lorenzo set

If you don’t want to brave the Portola festival, catch the house heavyweight at an all-night Dogpatch warehouse party.

Website
Details
Date and time
Friday, Sept. 19, 10 p.m.

Flower Piano at GG Park

Explore 55 acres of the Botanical Garden dotted with 12 pianos for the final weekend of open play and professional performances.

A young child plays a piano outdoors surrounded by lush green plants while adults watch, including a man bending down to assist the child.
Discover all 12 pianos around Golden Gate Park. | Source: Courtesy Travis Lange/San Francisco Botanical Garden
Website
Details
Date and time
Friday, Sept. 19, to Sunday, Sept. 21

Portola Music Festival

The waterfront fest at Pier 80 returns with a stacked lineup that includes LCD Soundsystem, the Prodigy, Bob Moses, and even Christina Aguilera.

A concert stage in San Francisco with large screens showing performers, surrounded by a crowd at dusk, while fog blankets the hills in the background.
An unforgettable lineup converges at this year’s Portola Music Festival.
Website
Details
Date and time
Saturday, Sept. 20, and Sunday, Sept. 21
Address
Pier 80

King of the Streets lowrider parade

Hundreds of classic lowriders cruise along Mission Street, with a televised parade, car show, and the Bay Area’s wildest hydraulic hopping competition.

Website
Details
Date and time
Saturday, Sept. 20, 12 to 6 p.m.

Heart of the Richmond night market

The final Clement Street party of the year brings performers, arts and crafts, and family fun to the Richmond.

Website
Details
Date and time
Saturday, Sept. 20, 4 to 8 p.m.

Daytime Realness

The queer day party returns, with NYC’s Kim Anh spinning alongside drag shows and performances all afternoon on El Rio’s sunny patio.

Daytime Realness is back. | Source: Estefany Gonzalez/The Standard
Website
Details
Date and time
Sunday, Sept. 21, 2 p.m.

SFJAZZ x Smartbomb open house

The SFJAZZ Center transforms into a multi-stage showcase mixing in hip-hop with jazz greats, visuals, DJs, and a community art market.

Website
Tickets
Date and time
Sunday, Sept. 21, 4 to 10 p.m.