TUESDAY
27
OCTOBER
Free things to do in the Bay Area
We reviewed 550+ Bay Area event sources and found 608 free things to do in the Bay Area between October 27 and November 2. Last updated October 27, 2026.
All free things to do in the Bay Area — October 27 – November 2
Anime, cartoons, video games, button making, crafts, and rotating activities fill Totally Tuesdays at Dougherty Station Library, for ages 13–18.
Virtual reality program at Tully lets teens learn equipment, try first-time VR experiences, then explore immersive games and puzzles, ages 12–18.
Henna, coloring sheets, a game or puzzle, and crafts are offered at the Diwali Festival of Lights in Dublin Library’s Virginia Bennett Room, with goodie bags, all ages.
Teen voiceover challenge at King Library’s TeenHQ mezzanine lets participants record a Frankenstein‑inspired script in a recording studio, free for ages 12–18.
Sarita Sarvate discusses her memoir Midnight’s Daughter with Sabina Khan‑Ibarra at the San Francisco Public Library, followed by book sales and signing. Ages 18 and up.
PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch gaming sessions with snacks at Martin Luther King Jr. Branch, Oakland, for ages 13–18.
Teen Lounge at Union City Library’s second floor offers crafts, games, snacks and librarian assistance for study or relaxation, for ages 13–18.
Belmont Library hosts a haunting Blackout Poetry session with the Poet Laureate, fireplace ambience, refreshments, and dead‑page poetry creation, ages 12–18.
Anime episodes screened and discussed at Eastmont Teen Zone, with snacks and friend‑making for ages 13–18.
Create a tin‑embossed art frame for a personal mirror with artist Rachel‑Anne Palacios at Pleasant Hill Library’s maker space, ages 13–18.
Tabletop roleplaying games with swords, sorcery, and snacks in Albany Library’s Edith Stone Room, featuring Dungeons & Dragons and other games, pre‑made characters provided, ages 13–18.
Teens learn studio safety, software and hardware, create beats, loops, edit audio, and record vocals and instruments at The Mix, can reserve the studio independently, for ages 13–18.
Teen Crafting at Dimond Branch offers a new monthly craft to make and take home, ages 13–18.
Nintendo Switch games for teens to play together at Half Moon Bay Library, ages 12–18.
Weekly Pokémon Trading Card Game club at Fruitvale Branch offers deck‑building lessons, battles, and community play for ages 9–18.
Creative crafts hangout at Piedmont Avenue Branch for teens ages 13–18, meeting every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month.
Make a cotton‑and‑lace trick‑or‑treat bag in the Belmont Library’s Taube Room, a STEAM activity for ages 6–18; supplies limited, no registration.
Screen Santa Sangre at San Francisco Public Library’s North Beach branch, then discuss the film with photographer Tommy Milutin, for ages 18 and up.
The Puppet Company presents a Halloween‑themed adaptation of Washington Irving’s Legend of Sleepy Hollow with happier ending, performed by puppeteer Randal Metz at Castro Valley Library, all ages.
Panel discussion on cities as ancestors featuring community leaders exploring place‑based environmental justice at Main, San Francisco Public Library, ages 18 and up.
Swati applies beautiful henna designs on hands at Portola Valley Library, first‑come, first‑served, as space permits, for ages 18 and under.
Hands‑on engineering workshop at Half Moon Bay Library lets participants build structures, use laser cutter, 3D printer, vinyl cutter, soldering iron and iFixit toolkit, all ages.
Rina Ayuyang, Eisner‑nominated cartoonist, discusses her graphic novel while participants share favorites, give talks, and hold drawing sessions at Rockridge Branch, Oakland, for ages 18 and up.
Explore the Atherton Library Makerspace, learning about 3D printers, laser cutters, and more during open hours, for all ages.
Make a colorful sugar skull at the Atherton Library Makerspace while watching a brief visual presentation on Día de los Muertos traditions, ages 6–18.
Guitar and ukulele players jam on popular songs, share chords and strums, and meet fellow musicians in Saratoga Library’s Community Room, ages 13 and up.
Admit Hero presents a free one‑hour virtual workshop on college applications, covering admissions reading, academics, activities, SAT/ACT timing, essay strategies, with live Q&A, for ages 10+, registration required.
Restorative yoga poses supported by props and a sound bath with singing bowls guide relaxation at Woodside Library, with optional supplies provided, for ages 19 and up.
Learn Bocce ball basics and play on Joe DiMaggio’s Bocce Court at the North Beach Library, with balls provided, ages 18 and up.
Guided, hands‑on arts and crafts projects led by staff each Tuesday in the Millbrae Library Makerspace, beginner‑friendly for ages 6–18.
An AAC user hosts, a librarian reads Elle McNicoll’s A Kind of Spark aloud, a speech‑language pathologist models AAC communication, then a story‑related activity, for ages 3–18.
DIY crafts with rotating projects, beginner‑friendly materials provided, at West Oakland Branch, fostering community and skill sharing, for ages 18 and up.
Machine sewing basics taught at the Main branch of San Francisco Public Library, with certification after demonstrating fundamentals, for ages 12–18.
Free Zumba fitness class in Gilroy Library’s upstairs community room offers salsa, merengue, cumbia and samba cardio workout for adults.
Game night at San Lorenzo Library includes Wingspan, Exploding Kittens, Giant Jenga, Ticket to Ride, Catan, Uno, Munchkin, and more, with staff help for all ages.
Paint clay Diwali lanterns after a brief history lesson on the Festival of Lights at Foster City Library’s Programming Area, for ages 19 and up.
Guided seated meditation using visualizations and objects, followed by optional journaling or partner conversation, at San Ramon Library upstairs program room, ages 18 and up.
Spoken English practice with native‑speaker tutors, global participants, and optional ASL interpreter or captions at Fremont Library’s van Doorn room, for ages 18 and up.
Weekly Tai Chi class in the Lafayette Library Homework Center, led by 40‑year veteran instructor Robert Noha, offers free beginner instruction for adults.
Vineland Community Room offers free crafting with markers, paper, vinyl, fabric, yarn, sewing machines and Cricut tools for adults 18+, no registration required.
Excelsior Branch Book Club discusses the novel The Volcano Daughters by Gina Maria Balibrera, ages 18 and up.
Book Club at Visitacion Valley Library discusses Susanna Kwan’s Awake in the Floating City, with refreshments from Mission Blue Coffee Shop, for ages 18 and up.
Open sewing session at Half Moon Bay Library lets participants use library sewing machines on personal projects or supplied materials, with assistance available, ages 6+.
Weekly conversation circles for adult English learners at REACH Ashland Youth Center, focusing on speaking practice and job‑related language, ASL interpreter available on request, ages 18+.
Mark Groves discusses Liberated Love, tools to end codependency, set boundaries, and build trust in relationships, via a free virtual talk at Santa Clara County Library, ages 18+.
Practice English conversation with other ESL learners at the Excelsior branch of San Francisco Public Library, a drop‑in program for adults, levels welcome, for ages 18 and up.
Alameda County Library hosts a Zoom English conversation group discussing a pre‑sent news article, rotating speaking turns, 18+.
One‑on‑one tech mentoring at Edenvale, San Jose, offers free drop‑in computer help in English or 中文, no registration required, for ages 12 and up.
Martinez Library Book Club (Martinez Library, downstairs meeting room) — Lively discussion of Henry James’s *The Turn of the Screw*; copies available at the service desk. Ages 18+.
Monthly book club meeting discussing contemporary and occasional classic fiction titles at Los Altos Library’s Orchard Room, ages 18 and up.
Free Zumba class with instructor Becca Todd at Dimond Branch, welcoming beginners and all abilities, held four Tuesdays, ages 18 and up.
Knitting Circle at Glen Park Library invites participants to share and work on knitting, crochet, weaving, or fiber‑art projects in an inclusive setting, all skills welcome, ages 18+.
Book discussion of Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books in Gilroy Library’s upstairs Quiet Study B, featuring community conversation and perspective exchange, for ages 18 and up.
Prompt-based storytelling workshops in the Montclair Branch Back Reading Room, free, for ages 18 +, no experience needed.
Tote decorating evening with fall‑themed designs at Morgan Hill Library’s Children’s Activity Room, supplies provided, no registration required, for ages 5–18.
Read and discuss Cameron Crowe’s The Uncool at the Bernal Heights branch of San Francisco Public Library, with copies available at the circulation desk, ages 18+.
Preserve photographs, home movies, records, and cassettes with assistance from a skilled volunteer in the Rinconada Library’s Embarcadero Room, ages 18 and up.
Gem Painting at Pacifica Sanchez Library lets participants create sparkling mosaic designs using tiny gems on numbered canvases, ages 19 and up.
Archival photos, historical context, and personal storytelling reveal Italian Americans’ wartime internment, industry loss, and resilience in Milpitas Library auditorium, ages 13 and up.
Virtual genealogy club offers weekly presentations, open discussion and Q&A on family history tools and hidden historical treasures, for ages 18 and up.
Innovative short TTRPG campaigns led by an experienced DM, with all materials provided, in the Main Library’s lower‑level community room, 18+.
Interactive workshop at Marina Library teaches practical repair, sharing, and reuse skills to extend item lifespans and support a circular economy, for ages 18 and up.
Casual English conversation practice for all levels at Orinda Library, for ages 18 and up.
One‑on‑one tech assistance at Excelsior Library covering basic computer skills, email setup, Google Docs, Microsoft Office, and eResources, 30‑minute sessions in English or Cantonese, ages 18 and up.
Personalized tech assistance at Biblioteca Latinoamericana, offering one‑on‑one help with email, Wi‑Fi, Chromebooks, Zoom, library services, and internet searches, free, registration required, ages 18+.
Drop-In Knitting & Sewing (Pleasant Hill Library Maker Space) — Enthusiastic crafters gather to knit, sew, and receive volunteer help with sewing machines; bring projects, all skill levels, 18+.
Small group English conversation practice with fluent speakers and learners at East Palo Alto Library, open to all skill levels, for ages 19 and up.
Gentle low‑impact Tai Chi and chair yoga sessions in Calabazas Library’s community room, ages 18 and up.
Dr. Alexandra Mitchell explains how LIGO detects minuscule spacetime ripples and recent discoveries, in a hybrid lecture at the Sapp Center for Science Teaching and Learning, all ages.
Practice speaking English in a friendly online group on Zoom through the Virtual Library, open to all levels, ages 18 and up.
Practical public‑speaking workshop at the San Francisco Public Library teaches persuasive argument crafting and offers audience practice with delivery and body‑language feedback, for ages 18 and up.
Karaoke Tuesday at Neck of the Woods provides open‑mic singing for adults, free admission, 21+.
Monthly meeting of the Friends of the Piedmont Avenue Branch Library to plan events, fundraise, and coordinate community outreach, ages 18 and up.
Intermediate Spanish learners meet at Millbrae Library’s Lounge to practice conversation and pronunciation with native‑speaking staff, ages 12 and up.
Professionalism in the Workforce – Make a Mark! (Skyline Career Services) — Workshop on workplace culture, attire, email communication, employer networking, career clothes closet, headshot appointments; ages 12+.
One‑on‑one tech assistance covering basic computer, tablet, Apple and Android phone use, offered in Cantonese, Mandarin or English, 15‑20‑minute sessions, ages 18+.
Scrapbook Hour (San Carlos Library) — Open space to create or continue scrapbook projects with basic supplies, optional monthly theme, and fellow enthusiasts sharing ideas, for ages 19 and up.
Identity theft workshop at Half Moon Bay Library teaches thieves' methods, prevention tools, and response steps, ages 19+.
Free, confidential one‑on‑one financial counseling appointments, in‑person or virtual, at the Main Library with English, Spanish and Mandarin‑speaking coaches, for ages 18 and up.
One‑on‑one 20‑minute sessions at the Chinatown branch help with iPhone or Android questions, internet searching and more; reservations required, ages 18 and up.
Taiwanese Mahjong lessons and play sessions in Tully Community Room, teaching tile setup, game flow, set making, and winning strategies for ages 18 and up.
Weekly ESL Conversation Club meets in Cupertino Library Room 201A, offering listening and speaking practice and cultural exchange for adults 18+, registration required.
Tech volunteers give assistance with laptop, tablet, and phone settings, internet, email, social media, app installation, and resource finding at the Main Library for ages 18 and up.
Adult beginners share a page of fiction or nonfiction, poetry or memoirs at Castro Valley Library Writing Group, meeting; registration, ASL interpreter available, for ages 18 and up.
Casual Cantonese conversation sessions at the San Francisco Public Library’s Main branch, fostering confidence and connection in a relaxed, non‑grammar setting, ages 18+.
Volunteer tech mentors offer assistance with printing, Word, Excel, email setup, security tips, and SJPL eResources at King Library’s 3rd‑floor service desk, free, for ages 18 and up.
Weekly English conversation practice led by a trained facilitator in the library’s Rose Garden Group Study Room, ages 18 and up.
One-on-one and small-group tech assistance in the Sunrise Room, where volunteers help with email attachments, smartphone navigation, and other daily tasks, for ages 19 and up.
Free webinar at San José Public Library where a Career Librarian teaches resume and cover letter elements, highlighting accomplishments and transferable skills, for ages 18 and up.
Adult crochet club meets in the Melrose Branch upstairs adult area, offering instruction in basic and advanced stitches, assistance, project sharing, and teaching opportunities for ages 18+.
Coco plays while attendees sip hot cocoa and decorate a 4x6 photo frame for a home ofrenda, Pleasant Hill Library, all ages.
One-on-one and small-group tech assistance for real-life tasks at Half Moon Bay Library, ages 19 and up.
Farmers' market on the Kaiser Permanente San Jose medical campus offers berries, stone fruit, potatoes, corn, bakery items, dumplings, tamales and falafel.
English conversation practice in Campbell Library’s community room, free with limited space, registration required, open to ages 18+, accessibility accommodations available on request.
One‑On‑One Tech Help (Santa Teresa Internet Cafe, San Jose) — Volunteers assist with email setup, Microsoft Word/Excel basics, web searches, app downloads, printing and more, free, ages 12+.
Vietnamese computer help via Zoom at San José Public Library, covering Word, Excel, PowerPoint, email setup, Facebook and Zalo basics; free, 18+.
English speaking and listening practice in Village Square’s Group Study Room 2, led by a library volunteer, free, for ages 18 and up.
Yarn enthusiasts gather in Vineland Library’s Community Room to share projects, refine techniques, and learn knitting or crochet, all hand‑needle crafts welcome, free for ages 12+.
Virtual English conversation club via Zoom, led by a volunteer instructor, lets adult learners practice speaking, listening, and vocabulary through current‑event discussions, free with registration for ages 18+.
Free ESL class at Seven Trees Branch Library offers basic reading, writing, speaking, and listening instruction for adults 18+, requires placement test, led by instructor Miriam Sachs Martin.
Weekly yarn gathering in Willow Glen Library Community Room where knitters share projects, exchange tips, and receive advice from experienced crafters, free, ages 18 and up.
U.S. Citizenship Mock Interview Practice (Edenvale, San Jose) — In‑person practice of N‑400 civics, reading, writing and interview strategies. Free, ages 18+.
LEGO® building session at Centerville Library lets participants design creations with bricks, offering Duplo for younger children, for all ages.
One-on-one and small-group tech assistance for email attachments, smartphone navigation, and other real-life tasks in Millbrae Library Study Room B, ages 19+.
English Conversation Club at Fruitvale Branch, Oakland, offers practice speaking English with other learners in a supportive environment, ages 18 and up.
Civic Literacy: Vocabulary for Voting (San José Public Library) — Workshops reading an Easy Voter Guide, defining civic terms, and reviewing ballot propositions; free, registration required, ages 18+.
Professional instructor leads beginner and intermediate ESL class at Los Altos Library teen room, requiring full attendance and offering accessibility accommodations, for ages 18 and up.
Free meals served first‑come, first‑served at Half Moon Bay Library, limited quantity, all ages.
Free meals served at North Fair Oaks Library for all ages, with adults and children eating at no cost.
Open rehearsal showcases Erhu with a Q&A on preparation, inviting instrument enthusiasts to observe and discuss, free, for ages 18 and up.
Book sale in the first‑floor lobby of Seven Trees Library, with all proceeds supporting library events and programs, cash only, for ages 5 and up.
Volunteer work among coastal terrace views at Año Nuevo State Park includes weeding invasive plants, sheet mulching, native seed collection, and planting to aid wildlife for all ages.
Free in‑person English class taught by a certified instructor at Half Moon Bay Library, focusing on everyday conversation practice, ages 19 and up.
One‑on‑one tech help at Evergreen Library’s information desk offers personalized assistance with Wi‑Fi, email, documents, e‑books, and device basics, free, ages 18 and up.
Climb aboard the Shipyards Hunters Point Bookmobile to browse the all‑ages collection, borrow books, make a library card, and consult a reference librarian.
Volunteer computer docents at Prewett Library provide basic instruction on email, document creation, printing, web searches, and Libby eBooks, first‑come, first‑served, all ages.
Crochet, knit, and hand‑craft sewing projects in a drop‑in group at San Carlos Library Meeting Room A, meeting local stitchers informally, no instruction provided, for ages 19 and up.
WEDNESDAY
28
OCTOBER
Eerie Edward Gorey celebration at North Beach Library features performances, stories, film clips and surprises hosted by Carol Verburg; costumes optional, prizes awarded, for ages 18 and up.
Interactive comic writing workshop with Nidhi Chanani at Brisbane Library, covering idea to finished graphic novel, celebrating Diwali, for ages 12–18.
Teen Craft & Connect (Calabazas, San Jose) offers weekly crafts like trinket trays, tote bags, mini pumpkins and bedazzling with free supplies while they last, ages 12–18.
488 more events through Monday, November 2.
Less searching. Better weekends.
Get your personalized event picks for free
A thoughtful list, delivered every week. Free, local, and personalized to you.
- Personalized event feed based on your interests, city, and age groups.
- Weekly event picks delivered to your email inbox.
- Search and filter the full event catalog.
How it works
Create your free profile
About a minute. No payment required.
Tune your picks
Choose ages, interests, and nearby cities.
Get your weekly shortlist
Fifteen event picks for you.
Explore the full list
Browse the complete local catalog anytime.