November in San Francisco means cool weather, cozy events and the start of the cheery and bright holiday season. From a festival for coffee aficionados to Día de los Muertos, you sure don’t want to miss out on all the fun. Make this month an eventful one before the holiday season arrives.
We’ve done the deep research for you on the best things to do in San Francisco in November including museums, cultural events and food tours and more. Speaking of food, we also have an extensive list of our best restaurants in San Francisco, and if you’re planning a weekend, the best places to stay. Take a peek below and join in on all the fun things to do in San Francisco in November!
Featured photo provided by FanExpo.
November 6–January 20
Set in San Francisco’s iconic Union Square, this ice rink — the only outdoor one in the city — kicks off its season of outdoor skating and special on-ice events with an opening celebration on November 6.
2025 Dates TBD
The Marigold Project’s Dia De Los Muertos celebration (aka Day of the Dead) honors the dead and celebrates the circle of life. Come celebrate the annual tradition at Potrero Del Sol Park to view or build your very own altar. If you plan on doing so, please bring flowers, 8-inch glass prayer candles and mementos of loved ones.
2025 Dates TBD
GLIDE is a historic church in San Francisco dedicated to fighting injustice and lifting folks out of poverty. Every year, their annual benefit concert provides funding for a myriad of programs, while showcasing top talent. See the concert at the Masonic, with performances by soul singer Lenny Williams, multi-instrumentalist The Philharmonik and the GLIDE Ensemble.
2025 Dates TBD
Are you a Chemex or French press kind of person? Find out at the annual SF Coffee Festival at the Fort Mason Center. Over the course of a weekend, you can sample all sorts of coffee brews and pastries while supporting local coffee shops in the Bay Area. Dive deep into a coffee culture filled with the Bay Area’s most enthusiastic caffeine fiends and coffee aficionados.
2025 Dates TBD
Watch downtown San Francisco light up for the holidays, starting with 17,000 lights outlining the Embarcadero Center. At this festive market, just up the street from the Ferry Building and the San Francisco bay, visitors can browse artisan goods, groove to live music, get a tarot card reading and enjoy cocktails and mocktails from Bar Cart (Psst.. the first 200 attendees get a free drink). It’s your chance to get ahead on some holiday shopping while taking in the sights of the season in a beautiful urban setting.
2025 Dates TBD
This three-day pop culture convention is the largest of its kind in Northern California, bringing together fans of comics, sci-fi, horror, anime, gaming and cosplay. You might even be able to get a selfie with your favorite celebrity — celebrity appearances include Priscilla Presley, actor Giancarlo Esposito, Andy Serkis (yes, THE Smeagol/Gollum) and more.
Event Venues
Looking to see what’s happening right now in SF? Our comprehensive list of venues across the city below will help you find what you need to know what’s going on.
Looking for more things to do in the area?
Visit our What to Do in Northern California page!
