Carnaval and 4 Other Fun Things You Can Do This Weekend for $10 or Less

1. 626 Night Market in Pleasanton

🗓️ Friday-Sunday
🕔 3-11 p.m. (Friday), 1-11 p.m. (Saturday and Sunday)
📍 Alameda County Fairgrounds, Pleasanton
🔗 626nightmarket.com

For just $5–and the toll fare if you’re coming from San Francisco or the Peninsula–you can check out the acclaimed 626 Night Market as it makes an appearance in the Bay Area this Friday through Sunday. With over 250 vendors of food, merchandise, art, games and more, its setup is meant to emulate the atmosphere of open-air night markets in Asia.

$5 admission, free for children 3 years and under | $15 parking 

2. Carnaval San Francisco Festival and Grand Parade

🗓️ Saturday-Sunday
🕔 11 a.m.-6 p.m., parade 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Sunday
📍 Mission District, parade starts at 24th and Bryant streets
🔗 carnavalsanfrancisco.org

Dance and eat your way through the Mission District as it is livened up by Carnaval San Francisco this Saturday and Sunday. The massive, all-ages multicultural festival will feature 50 local performing artists and 400 vendors, spanning 17 blocks. 

Sunday’s Grand Parade, beginning at 9:30 a.m., starts on 24th & Bryant Streets. It will make its way west on to Mission Street. From there, it will continue north to 15th Street. Both the festival and grand parade are free.  

Free

3. City Star Party in the Presidio

🗓️ Saturday
🕔 8-10:30 p.m.
📍 Presidio Parade Grounds
🔗 sfaa-astronomy.org

This Saturday night, bundle up and head to the Presidio to try stargazing. The San Francisco Amateur Astronomers club host monthly city star parties, welcoming interested folks regardless of experience level. Bringing a telescope of your own is not required because club members will be around, eager to share their collective wisdom and windows to the sky. Cloudy or rainy conditions are party fouls, though, so be sure to check the organization’s website before heading to the park if the weather starts to look unfavorable.

Free

4. Ocean Beach Hot Rods, Kustoms & Classics

🗓️ Sunday
🕔 7-11 a.m.
📍 Great Highway and Lincoln Way
🔗 norcalcarculture.com

If you’re an early bird, head to Ocean Beach on Sunday morning for a vintage car show and peep a collection of hot rods, custom cars and classic rides. While you’re oceanside, make your way down to the water to hunt for velella velella on the shore, recognizable by their stark blue hue and protruding “sail.”

Free

5. Gardeneur Spring Festival, San Francisco

🗓️ Sunday
🕔 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
📍 San Francisco County Fair Building
🔗 gardeneur.com

Remember when people got really into houseplants? If your green thumb is still alive and well, perhaps stop by the plant and ecology marketplace that will be in Golden Gate Park in the County Fair Building on Sunday, where you can shop for plants, as well as plant-related and eco-conscious products. It’s also incredibly close to the Botanical Gardens and the Japanese Tea Garden if you want to keep the plant-themed activities going. 

$5 admission