Well, it’s unofficially summer now with Memorial Day behind us, and there is a lot going on from films to music, street festivals, and more. Read on.
Thursday, May 28
The 2026 S.F. Documentary Festival (DocFest) opens tonight with the “part road movie, part communal portrait” Summer Tour with lotsa Dead music, Punkie, shot in black-and-white about stand-up comedian and Saturday Night Live star Punkie Johnson, and two additional films, including one about the band NOFX, which will also be available for a free meet-and-greet. Films in over 20 categories will be screened and are also available for virtual viewing. Visit the links for details and ticketing.
Friday, May 29
Check out The Glance: A Laptopera, an immersive opera “that reimagines the Orpheus myth for laptop orchestra and live voices” in a contemporary retelling of “Orphea” and Eurydice in a world of constant surveillance that blends voice, technology, and movement, inviting audiences to explore “surveillance, control, care and the fragile nature of trust in our technological age.” Through Sunday at the ODC’s B. Way Theater. Tickets from $25.
Funny person, actor, and musician Margaret Cho is on tour and will stop by her hometown to perform Margaret Cho: Choligarchy. 9:30 p.m. at the Palace of Fine Arts. Tickets from $65.
In L’Chaim America!, there are no sets, props, or costumes, but just actors in multiple roles telling stories that range from an Iranian Thanksgiving on the midwestern plains to a naturalization ceremony in an American suburb. 7:30 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center. Tickets: $40 (includes dinner).
Saturday, May 30
A small ensemble of musicians from the San Francisco Symphony will perform a chamber music community concert in an intimate setting. 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Anza Branch Library. Free.
Bundle up brewski lovers, this one’s for you: Parks4All Brewfest, benefiting the Parks Conservatory and featuring lotsa breweries, food trucks, local merchant booths, live music, lawn games, and more in a setting that can’t be beat. Kiddos and puppers are welcome, but I’d recommend food tasting only for them. Noon to 4 p.m. at the Civil War Parade Ground in the Presidio. Tickets from $60.
This sounds like so much fun: an afternoon of music and community at the eighth annual S.F. Porchfest with over 100 concerts on porches, stoops, and other venues in the Mission. Visit the link for locations and lineups. Noon to 6 p.m. Free.
Sunday, May 31
Chinatown is always worth a visit, and at today’s Cultural Festival in Chinatown, you’ll find even more to enjoy from cultural activities and lessons in calligraphy and painting; lion dancing, kung fu, and music performances; great food; and more, including Chinese medicine consultations. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Grant Avenue. Free admission.
Notable next week
If your schedule is flexible, enjoy the first Tuesday of the month, with free admission to the Fine Arts Museums and the Conservatory of Flowers.
Enjoy whatever you decide to do, just be kind to each other and be safe.
