THURSDAY
3
SEPTEMBER
The Ember List · the Bay Area
Things to do in the Bay Area
We reviewed 550+ Bay Area event sources to pick the 31 best things to do in the Bay Area between September 3 and September 9. Updated daily.
Highlights for September 2 – September 6
Adobe Workshop (Half Moon Bay, Half Moon Bay)
Drop‑in makerspace where visitors can use Adobe Creative Cloud apps on library laptops with staff assistance. Wednesday, September 2, 11 am–12 pm. Free. Adults 19+; no registration required.
Capoeira Angola (La Peña Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley, CA)
Free community class teaching the music, movement, and spirit of Capoeira Angola. Wednesday, September 2, 7 pm–9 pm. Free. Open to all skill levels; free community class.
Because Of Our History (Melrose Branch, Adult Area, Oakland)
Art exhibit exploring African American history and the role of Black artists. Thursday, September 3, 12 am–11:59 pm. Free. Free exhibition; ages teens and up.
Bay Area Comics and Comix Exhibition (King Library, San Jose)
Exhibit tracing the history of Bay Area comic books from the 1800s to modern times. Thursday, September 3 – Wednesday, September 9, 12 am–11:59 pm. Free. Teens 12–18; adults welcome.
Long Time Listener, First Time Caller (ETC Prime - 2965 Mission St)
Improvised comedy where audience members share listening stories that become the show. Thursday, September 3, 7 pm–11 pm. low. All ages; improv based on audience stories.
Teen Park Protector: Aquatic Life and Trash Pickup (Sunol: Camp Ohlone Road Trailhead)
Volunteer water‑way cleanup in Alameda Creek, earning service hours while learning about the habitat. Saturday, September 5, 9 am. Earn 1.5 volunteer hours; adult registration required; bring water and shoes.
Biodiversity Days (Oakland Zoo)
Citizen‑science event using the iNaturalist app to record native species around Oakland. Saturday, September 5, 10 am. Free. Bring a phone with iNaturalist; free participation.
Tai Chi with Nelson Ng (Rinconada Library, Embarcadero Room, Palo Alto)
Guided Tai Chi session for beginners and all ages, focusing on balance and gentle movement. Sunday, September 6, 10 am–12 pm. Free. Kids 6–11 welcome; bring comfortable clothing.
Our best picks: things to do in the Bay Area — September 3–9
Registration is recommended. Seating is limited. Walk-ins are also welcome. Black holes are the most extreme and mysterious objects in the universe. This talk presented by Tom Hartman explores how they provide a testing ground for ideas about quantum mechanics, gravity, and the nature of spacetime. We will take a whirl…
Whether intentionally or not, we are all listening to something every day: a podcast we can't get enough of, the latest album from our favorite artist, the juicy gossip we overheard on the bus... the list goes on! We are interested in knowing what you're listening to, and making a hilarious and fully improvised show ba…
Meet and collaborate with other people using and learning the Rust programming language! Rustaceans of all interests and skill levels are welcome. Bring a laptop and something to hack on in person, whether it's a long-term OSS project or Rust learning exercises ([github.com/rust-lang/rustlings)](https://github.com/rust…
FRIDAY
4
SEPTEMBER
The NTT INDYCAR SERIES Championship Weekend makes its highly anticipated return to WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca for the 2026 Season Finale, taking place September 4–6, 2026. The stage is set for a thrilling conclusion to the 17‑race season.
This Friday Night at OMCA, Oakland-born vocalist and songwriter PHER brings his soulful sound to the Garden Stage with a powerful live performance. Blending contemporary R&B, jazz, and soul with heartfelt storytelling, the three-time Grammy-winning collaborator delivers an uplifting set of original music, reimagined cl…
Are the late night stories about the USS Hornet really true? Come spend the night on the Hornet and find out! The Hornet would like to invite you to join us in an evening of after hours investigations onboard the ship. During this event you will learn about the history of Hornet while investigating the ship with a Horn…
**Foothill Observatory is open for public observing on CLEAR Friday evenings from 9:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m.** You don't have to RSVP here to attend; just come by! Visitors can view the wonders of the universe through the observatory's computer-controlled 16-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope, operated by the Peninsula…
SATURDAY
5
SEPTEMBER
Each year we celebrate the end of Summer with the Bay Area’s largest Labor Day Weekend celebration, the Millbrae Art & Wine Festival! Transforming our downtown area into a spectacular street fair along Broadway. Join us for a two-day celebration filled with vibrant art, live music, delicious food, and savory wines! Thi…
Join Oakland Zoo for a citywide celebration of Biodiversity Days, September 5-13! Using the free iNaturalist app, help us discover 30 native species that share Oakland with us–from ladybugs on sidewalk leaves to salamanders under logs, oak tress in parks, and pelicans along the Bay. Every observation helps tell the sto…
Join us on Saturday, September 5, as CuriOdyssey welcomes the Julia Robinson Mathematics Festival! This non-profit brings interactive math puzzles and games designed to invite participants of all ages into collaborative problem-solving and mathematical play. No competition, no clock, just hands-on math exploration for…
Come to the Kings Mountain Art Fair, Labor Day weekend 2026, under the redwoods! The 100%-volunteer-run fair offers fine arts and crafts from over 130 independent artists, selected through a jury process. There are kids’ activities, food and drinks, and more. Proceeds support the Kings Mountain Volunteer Fire Brigade a…
Celebrate with the Asian Community Cultural Association of San Leandro, including cultural entertainment, moon cake samples, and vendor displays! Everyone is invited to this family friendly community festival.
Come out to the Golden Gate Bandshell on Saturday, September 5 for the 5th Annual Surf Festival from 2 pm to 6 pm
SUNDAY
6
SEPTEMBER
Engaging weekend events like the Drone Plex, Flight Sim Zone, Invention Lab, and the FMX Flight Simulator plus much more. \n
TILDEN NATURE AREA – Join us for a community bioblitz to capture a snapshot of Tilden Nature Area’s biodiversity. Find, identify, and record life on a walk to Jewel Lake. We will use the iNaturalist mobile app to record our observations of the area’s wildlife, plants, and more! Get a head start and download the iNatura…
(40 Min) Developed in partnership and solidarity with Cafe Ohlone, mur taaraxtak , or Ohlone Skies, weaves science and storytelling into a rich tapestry of Indigenous Ohlone knowledge, heritage, and history deeply rooted right here in the Oakland hills. At this star-studded premiere, hear from multigenerational communi…
Enjoy a hearty BBQ dinner and a 4‑hour train ride.
MONDAY
7
SEPTEMBER
Join a Dungeons & Dragons® adventure with other teens. Our teen volunteers will create the one-shots. D&D at the San Ramon Library plays at level 5. Get a jump start on the game by bringing a level 5 character sheet! Middle schoolers and high schoolers only, please. Programming is made possible thanks to support from t…
-please read the whole updated description!- Come to work on your own projects and get some feedback from your fellow woodchucks. We have a planer, drill presses, hand tools, a table saw, and much more! ###################### **starting June 8 we will be taking a break from the intensive power tool trainings provided i…
Celebrate Labor Day with Live Music Join us for an unforgettable Labor Day celebration at our FREE Labor Day ParKoncert in Walnut Creek's Civic Park. The concert will feature a captivating mix of memorable movie and musical soundtracks, marches, and much more. Gather your family and friends, pack your favorite picnic d…
TUESDAY
8
SEPTEMBER
The California Room’s exhibit “Bay Area Comics and Comix” presents the history of American comic books, highlighting the participation of the San Francisco Bay Area. The exhibit displays comic books and materials illustrating our journey from 1842’s The Adventures of Obadiah Oldbuck to the arrival of the modern comic b…
BRUSHY PEAK - Discover a new way to interact with the outdoors – join us for a Bioblitz! This challenge encourages people to find, take photos of, and identify as many different species of plants and animals as possible and record their observations through iNaturalist (a free app that crowdsources scientific collectio…
The Mid-Autumn Festival is a season of light. Join us for an afternoon of candle painting. Draw imagery of the season - the full moon, lotus, rabbits, warm lanterns, or let the brush follow wherever the mood takes you. No experience necessary. Just the quiet pleasure of brush on wax, color finding its shape, and creati…
Be a part of the Harvey Milk Pride Color Guard! Harvey Milk Pride Color Guard is an inclusive performance-based community group. No prior color guard or dance experience is required. Members will learn basic color guard skills and choreography in a nurturing environment to be performed at various events in the Bay Area…
WEDNESDAY
9
SEPTEMBER
Join us for a movie at the Vine Cinema with friends! We'll be surprised by what movie we're seeing. After the show, join us for light appetizers at the newest downtown venue- the Stampede Grill - to chat about the movie and come up with our collective "review" of the film. We'll meet inside the lobby at the Vine Theate…
Step into Samantha Grant’s art installation, where a vintage phone booth prompts honest conversation with the Divine, yourself, and others.
Volunteer with Hidden Villa's farm team and help us care for food for the local community.
Join us for a beautiful nature hike at San Bruno Mountain! San Mateo County Parks staff will guide you through a 2.5 mile social hike along the Saddle Trail. See the great outdoors together and get moving. Enjoy some of the Peninsula’s most stunning parks, views and wildlife, courtesy of our monthly hike series with Sa…
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