Diwali Returns to Yerba Buena Gardens Alongside SF Symphony Debut

San Francisco's official Diwali celebration returns for a 3rd year to Yerba Buena Gardens, Jessie Square, and Yerba Buena Lane, anchoring a citywide week of South Asian cultural festivities, classical music debuts, civic journalism forums, and neighborhood arts programming, according to San Francisco Examiner neighborhoods and culture correspondent James Salazar.

Running from 4 to 9 p.m., the 3rd annual Diwali festival brings more than 40 vendors offering food, crafts, and community exhibits honoring South Asian culture across the downtown pedestrian plazas. The evening is headlined by Non Stop Bhangra, an artist collective presenting DJs, live dhol drumming, and interactive dance instruction. Attendance is open via online RSVP with optional festival donations encouraged.

Davies Symphony Hall Debut and Fulton Plaza Arts Under Spectra

In the Civic Center arts district, major performing-arts institutions are launching holiday and winter programming across outdoor plazas and concert halls:

• Fulton Plaza Holiday Season Kickoff: Performing-arts organizations will gather in Fulton Plaza from 5 to 8 p.m. beneath Spectra, a 1.6-acre public-art installation spanning the rooftops of the San Francisco Public Library and the Asian Art Museum. The free RSVP program features performances by the San Francisco Opera, San Francisco Ballet musicians, the African American Shakespeare Company, RAWdance, and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.
• Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet at Davies Symphony Hall: From Friday through Sunday, French conductor Marie Jacquot makes her Davies Symphony Hall debut leading the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra in its first performances of selections from Sergei Prokofiev's ballet score alongside works by composers Respighi and Holmes. Jacquot is joined by violinist Sayaka Shoji for performances on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and a Sunday matinee at 2 p.m., with tickets priced from $30 to $185.
• 28th San Francisco International Hip Hop DanceFest: On Saturday and Sunday, dance-production and education nonprofit Micaya brings national and international companies to the Palace of Fine Arts for the 28th Hip Hop DanceFest, showcasing breakdancing, b-boying, waacking, and jit. Performances run Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 12 p.m. (noon) and 5 p.m., with tickets ranging from $64.05 to $75.45.
• Classical California at the Union Square Ice Rink: Every Sunday morning through January 18 (Jan. 18), noncommercial classical radio broadcaster Classical California hosts 1-hour skating sessions set to classical repertoire at Union Square's seasonal rink from 10 to 11 a.m. and from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Admission ranges from $18.02 to $23.32, with locker rentals, socks, or gloves available for $5.30.

Neighborhood Workshops, Literary Panels, and Reuse Fundraisers

Across the Mission District, Financial District, Civic Center, and Bayview, community venues are hosting additional gatherings throughout the week of November 2026:

1. Tequila Arette Tasting at Mosto (Monday): Mission District bar Mosto at 741 Valencia St. hosts Andres Portela, head of advocacy at family-owned Tequila Arette, from 4 to 7 p.m. for tastings and educational workshops on production traditions for guests ages 21 and up.
2. Paint, Sip and Play — A Mission District Game Night (Tuesday): KQED hosts an evening of neighborhood conversations, loteria rounds with prizes, a painting session led by artist Daniel Alvarado-Arias, and a performance by San Francisco drag laureate Per Sia starting at 7 p.m. at 2601 Mariposa St., with tickets priced at $25.
3. Mah-Jongg and Martinis at The Jay (Wednesday): The Delta Chinatown Initiative takes over the Third Floor Terrace rooftop lounge at The Jay Hotel at 433 Clay St. from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., featuring 4 tables of mah-jongg with on-site instructors and 1 specialty cocktail included in the $28.52 ticket price.
4. Mother Jones — 50 Years of Fearless Journalism (Thursday): In conjunction with its "50 Years of Mother Jones" exhibition, the San Francisco Public Library hosts a free panel at the Main Library's Koret Auditorium from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. (preceded by a catered reception from 5 to 6:30 p.m.) featuring Mother Jones editor-in-chief Clara Jeffery and co-founder and historian Adam Hochschild in conversation with moderator Jamil Smith on the Nov. 3 election results.
5. Scrap Bayview Home Fundraiser: Nonprofit reuse and recycling center Scrap celebrates its new Bayview facility at 141 Industrial St. from 7 to 9 p.m. (with VIP entry 1 hour prior to doors opening) featuring a silent auction, music, drinks, and light bites supporting its capital campaign, with tickets ranging from $75 to $200.