September 2026 Events in San Francisco and Marin County

As summer begins to wind down, September brings another month of local traditions, live music, and seasonal celebrations across San Francisco and Marin. From longtime community favorites to unique Bay Area experiences, we've rounded up a few highlights worth adding to your calendar. 🍂🎶

SAN FRANCISCO

Flower Piano at the Botanical Garden  September 10 - 20, 2026

In the final days of summer Flower Piano will fill the San Francisco Botanical Garden with music for everybody. Participants are invited to explore and enjoy the Botanical Garden’s plant collections as they seek out 12 pianos spread out across the 55-acres. At each of the pianos, there will be scheduled professional and community partner performances as well as open play time for anyone to sit down and play, reflecting a range of genres, ages, and cultures.
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Muni Heritage Weekend  September 19 & 20, 2026

This two-day event offers a rare opportunity to explore Muni’s past, present, and future through historic streetcars, buses, and cable cars—vehicles that have connected San Franciscans for over a century. Visitors of all ages can enjoy free rides departing from the event, interactive exhibits, family-friendly activities, and hands-on experiences that highlight the transformative role of transit in shaping our city.

Step aboard unique vintage transit vehicles rarely seen on the modern streets of San Francisco. The festivities will unfold near the San Francisco Railway Museum, conveniently located near the Ferry Building and Embarcadero Plaza. All vintage buses and special excursion streetcars depart for round trip rides from the plaza directly across from the museum.
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Autumn Moon Festival  September 19 & 20, 2026

Through our annual sponsorship of tradition-based events like the Annual Autumn Moon Festival, the SFCMA seeks to help visitors and locals alike appreciate the rich cultural heritage of Chinatown and all those who live and work in the neighborhood. Features multicultural entertainment, traditional lion and dragon dances, arts and crafts, lantern village, moon cakes and children's activities.

The Autumn Moon Festival is located along historic Grant Ave. between California and Broadway Streets. Pacific Avenue between Stockton and Kearny will also be pedestrian-only. Due to the large anticipated crowd, visitors are strongly encouraged to take public transit.

MARIN COUNTY

47th Annual Chili Cook-Off  September 19, 2026

There’s nothing like a chili cook-off to bring out fiercely competitive spirits, and Sausalito’s 47th Annual Chili Cook-Off comes to Dunphy Park on September 19. Event goers can sample the goods and watch a few extra brave souls participate in a hot pepper eating contest. There’s live music, and by the end of the day, awards will be disbursed to the best chilis of the year.

Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival  September 19 & 20, 2026

​Art, music and community come together beneath the redwoods at this beloved annual festival. Browse works by more than 130 artists, enjoy live music and local food, and experience one of Marin’s longest-running arts traditions.

For nearly 70 years, the Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival has been the soul of our town. From the earliest days (1957) when a small group of artists exhibited their works in downtown store windows, through the years that the Festival was held in Lytton Square until we moved to our glorious redwood grove in Old Mill Park, the Festival has always been an annual moment we share - it marks the years in our lives, it brings us together.

San Rafael Porchfest  September 20, 2026

San Rafael PorchFest takes place in the Gerstle Park neighborhood of San Rafael and is an all-volunteer, family-friendly, free event that brings our community together to celebrate music.

At high noon on September 20th, the streets will close and fill with people and 70+ bands will be playing throughout the day across 20+ performance areas. Bands play on porches, front yards, steps, driveways, in the park, on the school playground, and sometimes in the street. We do our best to space things out so there is a minimal amount of sound bleed.

We care about the music and we care about the vibe, and that is why San Rafael Porchfest is one of the Bay Area’s most beloved music events!