We reviewed 550+ Bay Area event sources to pick the 28 best things to do in San Francisco, CA between August 15 and August 21. Updated daily.
to see a personalized list by location, interest, and age group.
Highlights for August 15 – August 22
Family Art Making (de Young / Legion of Honor)
A hands‑on art project led by practicing artists, open for drop‑in participation. Saturday, August 15, 11 am–3 pm. Free or charge. Ages u8–13 and adults; drop‑in, no registration needed.
Saturday Afternoon Drop-in Art (RANDALL MUSEUM)
Drop‑in art session with instructors guiding a new hands‑on project each week. Saturday, August 15, 1 pm–12 am. $10 adult/child combo; children under 8 need an adult; register at front desk.
Storytime: For Toddlers (Ingleside, San Francisco Public Library)
Storytime session for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. Sunday, August 16, 12 am. Free. Ages babies to preschoolers.
Bean Sprouts Family Days (SF Botanical Garden)
Hands‑on garden activities like digging, watering, and building in the Children’s Garden’s “yes space.” Tuesday, August 18, 10 am–12 pm. Free. Included with garden admission; no registration needed.
Services: Summer Math Camp (Excelsior, San Francisco Public Library)
Free summer math camp for elementary school students. Thursday, August 20, 12 am. Free. Ages elementary school; program at Excelsior branch.
Sunset Fridays (SF Zoo (events))
After‑hours family event with live music, kid activities, and ambassador animals on the zoo’s Playfield Lawn. Friday, August 21, 5 pm–7 pm. All ages; free‑entry to the zoo’s event area.
Summer of Love Weekend (Pier 39, San Francisco, CA)
Tie‑dye, live music, and family activities celebrating the Summer of Love. Saturday, August 22, 10 am–6 pm. Low. All ages; free‑spirited weekend vibe.
Our best picks: things to do in San Francisco, CA — August 15–21
Saturday, August 15
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Sunday, August 16
Join Greenbelt Alliance for a scenic hike along the San Francisco coast.
Join the Golden Gate Park Band for its Hungarian Culture show at the Golden Gate Bandshell (75 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive) on Sunday, August 16 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Celebrate Saint Stephen’s Day with an afternoon of music, dance, and tradition! For more information, visit goldengateparkband.org.
Monday, August 17
❤️ **Can Arduino detect true love? There's only one way to find out!** Build your own Love Detector using an Arduino, a touch sensor, and a colorful RGB LED strip. Touch the sensor to trigger dazzling light effects while a companion website calculates your totally scientific love score. It's a fun introduction to senso…
Tuesday, August 18
John Wilkes Booth and his co-conspirators assassinated the 16th President in April 1865. We’ll investigate their plans, capture, and execution.
Our project-based beginning classes provide a thorough introduction to woodworking tools, techniques and machinery. As you build a Shaker bench, you'll learn how to safely operate the workhorses of the wood shop: table saws, jointers, planers, bandsaws, and more. You'll learn about wood selection, milling, joinery, scr…
No small talk. No awkward silences. Just reading in a bookstore afterhours with a few dozen strangers. Beer and wine for sale courtesy of The Alembic! Complimentary hot tea.
Wednesday, August 19
Learn the basics of landscapes and channel your connection to nature.
Come out to Union Square on Wednesdays from April 22 through September 23 from 4 pm to 6 pm for Wednesday Cardio Dance
Thursday, August 20
Join us for family fun in the Children’s Garden: dig, water, pick, build, explore, and investigate in the Botanical Garden’s “yes space” for kids! Grab some garden tools at our welcome station or bring your own to enjoy hands-on activity stations and explore and tend to the Garden. — This program is included with garde…
The New York Times bestselling cookbook author and Substack sensation shares practical strategies for making weeknight dinners easier, faster, and more enjoyable – even when you don’t feel like cooking.
Friday, August 21
We’ve partnered with the UCCE Master Gardener Program of San Mateo and San Francisco Counties to bring you this FREE service to help with your own garden. Stop by the Garden’s Library of Horticulture on Fridays from 10:30am-1:30pm and ask your questions! — This is a free community program. Please consider supporting th…
Braid your own challah to take home and bake, filling your kitchen with the comforting aroma of tradition and joy.
Sunset Fridays, an after-hours event for the whole family, will run on consecutive Fridays* through October 9 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Playfield Lawn. Guests will enjoy live music, outdoor bars, kid-friendly activities, ambassador animals, and more. Learn more about Sunset Fridays here: sfzoo.org/sf-zoo-sunset-fridays/…
Saturday, August 22
Break out your tie‑dye and put flowers in your hair to celebrate the Summer of Love at PIER 39 Saturday, August 22 & Sunday, August 23! Featuring 2‑days of live music, merchant specials, activities for the entire family and much more. Enjoy plenty of peace, love & happiness all weekend long with groovy vibes that helpe…