Be afraid. Question. EVERYTHING. The hit podcast Spooked comes to life onstage as host Glynn Washington and guests celebrate the Halloween season with a night of Snap Judgment live storytelling magic. This is storytelling, with a beat – and it’s all going down at historic theaters on the West Coast.

Win a pair of tickets to the Alameda Rock & Roll Flea Market on Sunday, October 26th at Faction Brewing in Alameda. Tickets also include two meals from Satay By The Bay SF! You can purchase tickets here or enter below for a chance to win.

Valencia LIVE!
10/9 | Valencia St | Valencia St between 16th & 19th St, SF | 5 p.m. | Free w/ RSVP

The street party is going down on Valencia Street between 16th and 19th Streets—in the American Indian Cultural District, with live music and family friendly activities up and down the block. PLUS don’t miss out on all of the free fun inside and specials from local eateries and bars throughout the neighborhood. RSVP (for FREE) for specials at local brick and mortars and giveaways on the street.

Queer Lit: New Work Readings by Brittany Newell, Brontez Purnell, and Eric Sneathen
10/16 | The Commons at KQED | 2601 Mariposa St, SF | 7 p.m. | $24.38

Brittany Newell, author of Soft Core, curates a stellar lineup of writers and performers, including Brontez Purnell (Ten Bridges I’ve Burnt), Eric Sneathen (Don’t Leave Me This Way), alongside Newell herself. They’ll share from new unpublished works that reimagine identity, desire, and the cities we live in through the lens of speculative fiction, fantasy, and urban magic.

Broke-Ass Stuart's Book Release Party!
10/17 | Kilowatt | 3160 16th St, SF | 7 p.m. Doors | Sliding Scale Tix

Come hang out as we celebrate The Worst of Broke-Ass Stuart: 20 Years of Love, Death, and Dive Bars! This book is 21 years in the making! It’s gonna be an epic night with burlesque, drag, a circus performer, live music, a DJ, and a book reading + Q&A! Tix are sliding scale!

Tuesday 10/7

Terror Vault Presents: Hexed
10/7 | The San Francisco Mint | 88 5th St, SF | 6-9 p.m. | $59.2+, 18+

Three witches, spread across the globe, each from a different cultural and mystical tradition, converge to form a coven so powerful it threatens to unravel the very fabric of humanity. As this Coven of Three performs their dark rituals, the rising number of missing children alarms a group of witch experts called The Believers. These experts seek to recruit unlikely heroes from our show’s guests to help them stop the coven before the world falls into eternal darkness.

ALTERNA - Goth Night
10/7 | Church of 8 Wheels | 554 Fillmore St, SF | 8 p.m. | $23.08

Join us at the Church Of 8 Wheels for a night of retro vibes and good tunes. Get ready to skate to the best hits from the alternative music scene. Whether you're a fan of New Wave, Dark Wave, Synthpop, or Post Punk, this event is perfect for you.

Wednesday 10/8

The Black Cat Hotel
10/8-11/1 | The Palace Theater | 644 Broadway, SF | 7 p.m.-9p.m. | $39+

A 45-minute walk-through psychological thriller set in a haunted hotel from the 1930s, that takes place in a gorgeously decorated San Francisco venue and finishes in an exquisite cocktail bar.

The Bad Art Gallery Auction for Gaza
10/8 | The Faight | 473A Haight St, SF | 6 p.m. | $10.38+

Join us for this one-of-a-kind gallery show, featuring "bad" art made by members of our local community for the benefit of our global community! We'll be showing some of the large-scale collective art that's been made by Bad Art Club over the past year, as well as art submitted by individuals living in the Bay Area.

Drone Light Show
10/8 | Ferry Building | 1 Ferry Building, SF | 7 p.m. | Free w/ RSVP

Gamma is lighting up SF Tech Week with something never done before: a dazzling drone show over the Bay, paired with a massive projection on the iconic Ferry Building.

Thursday 10/9

Still Here, Images of Resilience and Memory: Rooted Lens Collective Community Art & Film Fundraiser
10/9 | Rivian SF | 340 Fell St, SF | 5 p.m. | $50+

Still Here: Images of Resilience and Memory is a public photography exhibition and short film preview celebrating Black life, identity, and intergenerational memory in the rural South. This immersive community event marks the premiere of a powerful new body of work from Bay Area visual artist Jon Harrison and offers an intimate first look at a documentary currently in production.

NightLife: Avenues
10/9 | California Academy of Sciences | 55 Music Concourse Dr, SF | 6 p.m. | $25, 21+

NightLife is dedicated to showcasing the unique community, culture, and entertainment of San Francisco, and 'Avenues' is our effort to amplify all that the city's west side has to offer. Think block party in a museum.

Friday 10/10

Día de Los Muertos 2025: We Love You Opening Reception & Unveiling
10/10 | SOMArts | 934 Brannan St, SF | 6 p.m. | $15 Suggested donation

Join us in celebrating the opening and exhibition unveiling of Día de los Muertos 2025: We Love You! The evening features a Día de los Muertos–inspired artist market with local vendors and makers, along with a special musical performance by Louda y Los Bad Hombres.

Friday Nights at OMC with LaRussell
10/10 | Oakland Museum of California | 1000 Oak St, Oakland | 5 p.m. | Free

The Garden Stage will light up with an unforgettable live set from LaRussell. That’s right, this Vallejo-born phenomenon known for his sharp lyricism, viral freestyles, community-first ethos, and epic presence will take the stage with The Yee Section & CO-LLAB Choir and light up Oakland’s favorite block party!

Hirie
10/10 | Great American Music Hall | 859 O’Farrell St, SF | 7 p.m. Doors | $38.14

Hirie is a prominent reggae musician known for her vibrant performances and uplifting music.

Saturday 10/11

Sweater Weather ArtPärdē
10/11 | The Impact Center for Art & Dance | 1625 Bush St Suite 4, SF | 6:30 p.m. | $28-$35

This art salon party is sure to keep you entertained with a wide variety of acts including dance, music, comedy, a DJ set and more! Wear your favorite sweater because you're in for a cozy night. 

2 Blocks of Art 2025: Site + Sound
10/11 | Market St | Market St between 5th & 7th, SF | 11 a.m. | Free w/ RSVP

This year’s theme — Site + Sound — showcases the deep connection between music and art in reimagined spaces, weaving together Mid Market’s rich history of movie houses, radio, live music venues, and culture with the energy of today’s creative arts community.

Monster Drawing Rally 2025
10/11 | Southern Exposure | 3030 20th St, SF | 4 p.m. | $25-$30

The Monster Drawing Rally is an incredible evening of art making and fundraising, where over 120 local artists create new work right before your eyes-all available for just $100 each. Additional artwork will be available at discounted prices!

Sunday 10/12

Italian Heritage Festival & Parade
10/12 | North Beach | Columbus & Stockton St, SF | 12:30 p.m. | Free

San Francisco’s Italian-American Community celebrates the Italian Heritage Festival & Parade, featuring Italian and Italian-American dignitaries, music, performances, floats, and representatives of Italian and Italian-American organizations and businesses.

PhotoAlliance Lecture Series: John Divola and Auting Leong
10/12 | Fort Mason | 2 Marina Blvd Building B, SF | 5 p.m. | $25

This evening of compelling discussion highlights each artist’s innovative approaches to contemporary photography and its larger role in visual culture. The artists present an overview of the past, present, and upcoming work, as well as field questions from the audience at the end.

Monday 10/13

Oddisee
10/13 | The Independent | 628 Divisadero St, SF | 7:30 p.m. Doors | $32.47

Oddisee is one third of the hip hop trio Diamond District, known for his introspective lyrics and jazz-influenced beats.

Tuesday 10/14

Marketplace with Kai Ryssdal
10/14 | Sydney Goldstein Theater 275 Hayes St, SF | 7 p.m. | $35.10-$55.80

Join KQED for a special live show with Marketplace, public radio’s essential guide to business and the economy “for the rest of us,” at the Sydney Goldstein Theater in San Francisco. Go beyond the headlines as host Kai Ryssdal brings his signature wit and insight to the stage to explore the forces shaping our economy—and what they mean for our everyday lives.

Wednesday 10/15

Free Art Workshop: Folded Story Book
10/15 | Yerba Buena Center for the Arts | 701 Mission St, SF | 2 p.m. | Free w/ RSVP

Create a folded story book inspired by your connections with community, family, friends, or draw a story entirely from imagination. This workshop is inspired by artist Jenifer Wofford’s Flor series in the exhibition MAKIBAKA: A Living Legacy presented by SOMA Pilipinas in collaboration with YBCA.

Covet
10/15 | The Independent | 628 Divisadero St, SF | 8 p.m. | $43.28, 21+

Covet was founded in the Bay Area, California, with the intention of fusing lush post-rock soundscapes with the more intricate elements of progressive music, with melody and emotion at the forefront, evolving with each release.

Thursday 10/16

Paint & Sip: Cosmic Hauntings
10/16 | Chabot Space & Science Center | 10000 Skyline Blvd, Oakland | 6:30 p.m. | $45, 21+

Celebrate the spooky season with the eerie beauty of a Halloween night sky, painting ghostly nebulae, glowing moons, and shadowy silhouettes of cosmic phenomena. Enjoy Halloween-inspired cocktails, light snacks, and fascinating tales of spooky celestial myths and phenomena.

Silicon Valley: The Musical
10/16-10/19 | Potrero Stage | 1695 18th St, SF | 7 p.m. | $39.19+

Silicon Valley: The Musical is a satirical commentary and love letter to the absurdity of the Valley, chronicling the misadventures of two startup founders who drop out of school determined to change the world.

Friday 10/17

SG LEWIS
10/17 | Bill Graham Civic Auditorium | 99 Grove St, SF | 7 p.m. Doors | $73.25

SG Lewis started his musical career as a resident DJ for Chibuku in Liverpool. It was there that he fell in love with electronic music, club culture, and mixing records. Fast forward ten years, and that original love for club music remains the fuel that feeds every piece of music he makes.

Fort Mason Night Market
10/17 | Fort Mason Center | 2 Marina Blvd, SF | 5 p.m. | Free

The monthly event is a family-friendly destination featuring more than 100 top retail vendors and more than 25 exceptional food and drink options from Off the Grid. Live music performances, DJs, creative workshops, special menus, and public art installations from FMCAC resident organizations round out the experience.

Saturday 10/18

Hexen Festival: The Witches Brew
10/18 | Hayes Valley SF Biergarten | 424 Octavia St, SF | 1 p.m. | Free, 21+

Join us for an enchanting afternoon at the 1st Annual Hexen Festival, where the veil between worlds thins and the magic flows freely. Bring your broom, your friends, and your best cackle. Whether your magic is light or dark, this festival is for EVERY witch at heart.

Ghost Fest
10/18 & 10/19 | Balboa Theater | 3630 Balboa St, SF | 12 p.m. | $15+

Two days of 1960-80’s ghost classics at the haunted & historic Balboa theater!

Sunday 10/19

Hubba Hubba Revue Presents: Cabaret de la Noche's "SINNERS!"
10/19 | DNA Lounge | 375 11th St, SF | 7 p.m. Doors | $15-$40, 18+

The Dark Siren summons you to an evening of immortal delight as Cabaret de la Noche takes over Hubba Hubba Revue's big, monthly show with an incredible, BIPOC-forward evening of glamour ghouls, aerialists, and the tops in tease from Las Vegas, Long Beach, Sacramento, the Bay Area, & beyond! Vintage attire admired but not required.

Crucial Reggae Sundays
10/19 | Golden Gate Bandshell | 75 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr, SF | 4:20 p.m. | Free, All ages

This week is Dub To Dancehall: A Day Of Reggae Music featuring Blakkamoore & Yungg Trip (sound system set), Roommate, SistaSara (featuring tracks from her latest release, Ablaze), Guidance, and DJ Sep.

Monday 10/20

Profs & Pints San Francisco: Nosferatu and Erotic Horror
10/20 | Bartlett Hall | 242 O’Farrell St, SF | 6 p.m. | $14.77+

Join Professor Michael Chemers, a scholar of monsters and horror who has extensively studied Nosferatu and other vampire films, for a look at the history of Nosferatu and what it tells us about horror, hatred, ourselves, and our desires.

You already know independent journalism makes very little money. We don’t get paid more if we expose corruption, we don’t get a bonus for giving free exposure to small businesses, we don’t get lucrative contracts for interviewing local artists or defending the Bay Area’s progressive ideals. We’re only able keep doing this because of readers like you.

If you find anything in this email helpful or important, we hope you'll become a member of the Broke-Ass Stuart Patreon. Join over 500 people who support our independent journalism each month. Plus you’ll get rad perks for doing so!