October weather in San Francisco is often warm and clear. Hardly Strictly Bluegrass brings free music to Golden Gate Park early in the month, and Fleet Week puts an air show over the bay soon after. The month ends with Halloween parties in the Castro and around the city.
In this guide
This page is part of our San Francisco events calendar.
October 2027 at a glance
- Oct 3 Free First Sunday at the Asian Art Museum
- Oct 5 Free First Tuesday at the de Young and Legion of Honor
- Early October Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, usually the first weekend, free
- Early to mid October Fleet Week, with the air show over the bay
- Oct 31 Halloween, a Sunday
- Weather Average high 70°F, low 54°F, about 0.9 inches of rain
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass is a free three-day music festival in Golden Gate Park. No tickets are needed. It is usually held on the first weekend of October in Hellman Hollow and the nearby meadows. In 2026 it ran October 2 to 4. Watch the festival site for the 2027 dates and lineup.
Fleet Week
San Francisco Fleet Week usually falls in early to mid October. It includes an air show over the bay, which the Blue Angels usually headline, and public tours of Navy ships along the waterfront. The Marina Green, Crissy Field, Aquatic Park and the hills above the northern waterfront are popular viewing spots. The 2026 event ran October 7 to 12. Our Fleet Week guide has more.
Halloween
Halloween falls on a Sunday in 2027. Neighborhood events have included gatherings in the Castro and on Cortland Avenue in Bernal Heights, and some streets close with Muni reroutes. Check local listings closer to the date.
Coming up in November
DÃa de los Muertos in the Mission on November 2 and the start of the holiday season. See San Francisco events in November.
Official resources: Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, San Francisco Fleet Week.
Frequently asked questions
When is Hardly Strictly Bluegrass?
Usually the first weekend of October in Golden Gate Park. Check the festival website for 2027 dates.
When is Fleet Week in San Francisco?
Usually early to mid October. The 2027 dates had not been announced when we published this.
Is October a good time to visit San Francisco?
Yes. It is one of the warmest and clearest months of the year.
Photo credits
Featured image: Jesse Wagstaff / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0; Fleet Week: Dllu / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.