Every story we’ve published — by section, by month, or straight through.
Ocean Beach Bonfires on Memorial Day: The Best Free Thing SF Hasn't Ruined Yet
Every Memorial Day weekend, San Franciscans do something almost radical in a city that loves to regulate, permit, and…
Your Weekend Doesn't Need a $200 Cover: SF Comedy's Free and Cheap Scene Is Thriving
Here's something San Francisco does surprisingly well for a city that charges $18 for avocado toast: comedy that…
Free Puzzle Night in SoMa: Solve a Murder Without Spending a Dime
Here's something San Francisco gets right: a local bar offering a completely free event that doesn't require a grant, a…
Your Midweek Reminder That Free Things in SF Do Actually Exist: Thrive City's Live Music Lunch Series
Look, we spend a lot of time around here talking about the ways San Francisco nickels and dimes its residents — parking…
Memorial Day Weekend Is Here — Go Outside and Enjoy the City You're Paying a Fortune to Live In
Memorial Day weekend is upon us, San Francisco, and for once the forecast isn't conspiring against your plans.
Carnaval Is Back — SF's Biggest Street Party Returns to the Mission
The 2026 San Francisco Carnaval Grand Parade is set to take over the Mission District once again, bringing with it the…
Golden Gate Park's Free Concert Series Is the Best Deal in a City That Loves Taking Your Money
Here's a radical concept for San Francisco: the government providing something people actually enjoy, at a price point…
Stern Grove Is Back for 2026 — The Best Free Thing SF Government Didn't Ruin
Every summer, San Francisco does something almost unbelievable: it hosts a world-class concert series in a stunning…
May Is Here, SF — Time to Actually Go Outside
May in San Francisco is that magical sweet spot where Karl the Fog hasn't fully committed to ruining your weekends yet…
Festa Italiana Returns to SF This June — Your Weekend Plans Just Got Better
Mark your calendars, San Francisco. Festa Italiana is back June 6-7, and if you've never gone, this is your year to fix…
Free National Parks Day Is Back for Memorial Day — Here's How to Actually Enjoy It
Memorial Day weekend is shaping up nicely for Bay Area residents who like their nature free and their wallets closed.
Third Thursdays on Treat: A Night Market That Actually Lets the Community Do Its Thing
Here's something San Francisco gets right every now and then: get out of the way and let people gather, sell stuff, eat…
SF's Coolest Nonprofit Is Shooting Lasers Across the Night Sky and We're Here For It
There are a lot of ways nonprofits spend money in San Francisco.
Chaka Khan Is Coming to SF, and Yes, Every Woman Should Be Excited
If you needed a reason to feel good about San Francisco this week — beyond the usual cycle of budget deficits and BART…
The Presidio Keeps Proving Free Doesn't Have to Mean Bad
Here's something you don't hear often enough in a city that charges $18 for avocado toast: some of the best stuff in…
Free Comedy Nights Are Back in Downtown SF — Your Wallet Can Finally Laugh Too
Look, we get it. Between rent that eats half your paycheck and $7 lattes that eat the other half, "going out" in San…
America Innovates Expo Hits Fort Mason May 16–18, Free Admission
The America Innovates expo is taking over Fort Mason from May 16–18, and — here's the kicker — it's completely free.
100+ Free Shows in SoMa This Summer: Yerba Buena Gardens Festival Returns
Here's something San Francisco actually gets right: the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival is back for 2026, running from May…
Your June Calendar Is About to Get Crowded: SF's Street Fair Season Is Here
Summer in San Francisco doesn't mean beach weather — it means street fairs.
Summer's Here, SF — Here's What's Actually Worth Your Time
Memorial Day weekend is basically the starter pistol for San Francisco's summer season — which, as any local knows…
Bay to Breakers Is Still SF's Weirdest, Best Day — Stop Trying to Kill It
Say what you will about San Francisco — and people say plenty — but there's exactly one day a year when this city…
Bay Area's Own Alysa Liu Hits the Ice at SAP Center — And We're Here For It
Alysa Liu, the Richmond-born figure skating phenom who became the youngest U.S.
A Free Innovation Expo at Fort Mason? We'll Take It
In a city that loves to talk about innovation while simultaneously regulating it into oblivion, here's something…
Free Tai Chi on the Great Highway: The One Government Program We Won't Complain About
Here's something you don't hear us say often: a city-adjacent program that's free, doesn't require a permit the size of…