Everything You Need to Do This October

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival
What: Golden Gate Park’s most popular free event returns once more for a weekend of banjos, hipsters, and dust.
Where: Golden Gate Park
When: October 3-5
Cost: FREE
Why: Because everyone else is doing it too.

Burlesque and Creepy Puppet Show
What: According to the event’s website, “dancing girls, sometimes a creepy little puppet show, and strange guest performances.” All right then.
Where: The Stork Club, Oakland
When: Friday October 3, 9pm
Cost: FREE
Why: “Creepy Puppet Show” sounds well, creepy, but it’s just the kind of creepiness worth checking out, provided there’s a drink in your hand.

Star Party!
What: Join the San Francisco Amateur Astronomers for their monthly star party and telescope clinic.
Where: Point Lobos at Land’s End
When: Saturday October 4, sundown
Cost: FREE
Why: Sure, you could go to the Academy of Sciences, but that’ll cost you $35.

5^th Annual Japanese Cultural Festival
What: An all-ages party celebrating the food, music, and crafts of Japan.
Where: Civic Center Plaza, Millbrae
When: Sunday October 5, 10:30am-4:30pm
Cost: FREE
Why: Because Millbrae’s so much more than the airport.

Bernal Heights Outdoor Cinema
What: A screening of the films that won this year’s “Best of Bernal” awards, followed by a reception and music.
Where: Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts, San Francisco
When: Tuesday October 7, 7pm
Cost: FREE
Why: The first Outdoor Cinema Weekend happened in early September, but the films were so good an encore was necessary.

Dollar Book Sale!
What: San Francisco Public Library’s monthly book sale, where all books are $1 or less!
Where: Treat Avenue Donation Center, San Francisco
When: Saturday October 11, 10am-2pm
Cost: Varies
Why: If you missed last week’s giant annual book sale at Fort Mason, make up for it here.

Repair Café
What: Volunteers will be on hand at this community workshop to help you assess and repair damaged electronics and other household items.
Where: Museum of American Heritage, Palo Alto
When: Sunday October 12, 11am – 3pm (getting there early is recommended)
Cost: FREE
Why: Event volunteers hope that repairing broken items will lead to less waste ending up in landfills. Sounds like a good cause to us.

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