Cultural Celebrations San Francisco

Sunset Disco Dandiya SF City Hall with ®️ BKB

NB18 Fairly Legal: Noisebridge Anniversary Party!

**Noisebridge Hackerspace** celebrates **18 years** as a bastion of Net freedom and open maker culture, somehow remaining fairly legal! Party with us in recognition of Noisebridge's ongoing commitment to human flourishing, hacking the planet, and shaping an excellent future together. NOTE: No ticket required, but this IS a [fundraiser](https://luma.com/b1x6dmp6). ### DAY 1 (Friday, Oct. 16): KICKOFF * Hackerween Social: **5pm-7pm** * Opening Ceremony and Stupidhack Kickoff: **8pm-9pm** * Resident Electronic Music: **8:30pm-LATE** ### DAY 2 (Saturday, Oct. 17): PARTY ON! * Guild Workshops + Repair Fair: **12pm-5pm** * Stupidhack Demos and Awards, 10-Minutes-of-Fame Talks, Costume Contest: **7pm-9pm** * Music Guild Show: **9pm-11pm** * Cyber Rave: **11pm-12am+** More info at: https://www.noisebridge.net/wiki/NB18 And (Friday): https://luma.com/b1x6dmp6 And (Saturday): https://luma.com/ceeotcql

Bollywood Nights - Salesforce Park - Free

**Bollywood Nights at Salesforce Park 🎉** Join Rang De Bollywood for some high-energy, outdoor, bollywood fun! This event is sure to leave you feeling loved, lighter, and delighted in excitement after every session. 🌈 Open to all ages, all levels, all backgrounds. ✨ Come casual or dressed, no pressure! 🎁 Free to attend – just bring your joy, your people, and your dancing feet! 🚶🏼‍♂️‍➡️Register for free so we can prepare at rang.eventbrite.com 🕔 5:30 – 7:00 PM – we’ll start with a beginner friendly dance lesson, followed by an open dance party! 💫 This is a repeating event, happening every 1st and 3rd Friday of the month, May through October and you can register for as many dates as you like. Register now: [rang.eventbrite.com](http://rang.eventbrite.com) **About Rang De Bollywood** Hailing from the dream dance city of Mumbai and Amritsar, which is also home to Bollywood and Holy Vibes, our energetic, charismatic, and fun dance instructors-performers-entertainers, Manpreet (Certified in Indian Folk by India's Best and also an author) and Amit (percussionist, actor, dancer), have spread Indian dance music and moves across the length and breadth of India, USA, and Europe. Their recent performances were at National Center of Performing Arts in Mumbai and Herbst Theater in San Francisco. **Important Notes:** * Enter through transit center building and take the elevator to rooftop. We will be close to the elevator. * No solicitors allowed. * Classes might be video taped for marketing purposes. * All choreographies are Copyrighted and Original Works of Manpreet Komal/Rang De Bollywood. *"I recently had the pleasure of attending Manpreet’s Bollywood dance class, and I must say, it was an absolute blast! Whether you're a complete beginner or an experienced dancer, this class caters to everyone's skill level. The highlight of the class was undoubtedly her teaching style. With a knack for breaking down complex steps into manageable chunks, even the most intricate routines felt attainable. The pacing was just right, ensuring that beginners didn't feel overwhelmed while keeping experts engaged. Highly recommend!" — Kavneet Bindra* **We can't wait to dance together, see you soon!**

Japanese-English language exchange Berkeley

Make international friends & speak in Japanese and English. Members of all ages, from university students to working adults, are welcome to participate. 現役の大学生から社会人まで幅広い年齢の方が参加します。 どなたでも参加可能です！ 是非お越し下さい！お待ちしております。 Please order a drink directly upon arrival to participate (beer or soft drinks etc.)

Yawanawa Tour 2026 - Ceremony, Art Market & Live Concert

Purchase tickets **[HERE](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/yawanawa-tour-2026-ceremony-art-market-live-concert-tickets-2001125182289)**. San Francisco Psychedelic Society is excited to host Matsini and Family for an unforgettable night of music, sacred rapeh ceremony, indigenous art, visionary plant education, and Amazonian culture. 🌍🎶 Join us for a remarkable evening that transcends geographical borders and immerses you in the vibrant spirit of the Brazilian Amazon. This is a unique, multi-faceted event in Berkeley, California, where we come together to support and celebrate the Yawanawa people, welcoming in leaders of an indigenous community from the heart of the Brazilian jungle. This is a special and unique opportunity to learn directly from the tribe about their wisdom and traditions. They will guide a sacred Rapeh medicine ceremony, filled with their beautiful prayers and blessings. This event is an entry point to establish a profound connection with the world of visionary plants, allowing you to sit in the presence of knowledgeable teachers who hold the wisdom of these sacred medicines directly from the jungle. Our evening will begin with an exclusive screening, followed by a rapeh ceremony and live music concert. **🎤 Educational talk** You will expand your understanding of the Yawanawa peoples, an indigenous community from the heart of the Amazon rainforest. This talk will provide valuable insights into their traditions, sacred visionary plant medicines, and the challenges the community faces in preserving their rich cultural heritage. Learn about the rituals and ceremonies that surround sacred medicines in the Yawanawa culture. **🎸Live Music Concert** Let the rhythms and prayers of the rainforest enchant your soul as we present an extraordinary lineup of musicians, each bringing a piece of the Amazon to Berkeley. Experience the traditional sounds of the Yawanawa, in a concert that promises to transport you to the heart of the jungle. **🌿 Rapeh Ceremony** Participate in a profound and ancient ritual known as rapeh, led by indigenous shamanic practitioners. This sacred ceremony, utilizing a traditional Amazonian snuff, offers a unique opportunity for personal growth, healing, and spiritual connection. It's a chance to experience the wisdom of the forest in a profound way. The rapeh ceremony is completely optional. **🎨 Indigenous Art Market** Explore a curated art market featuring exquisite creations from indigenous artists and artisans. Explore sacred geometry designs and ancient art from the jungle. You can support these talented artists while taking home a piece of the Amazon's rich cultural heritage by acquiring jewelry, rapeh and handcrafted exquisite pieces. **🎙️ Q&A Session** Ask your burning questions and engage in an interactive dialogue with our teachers. Gain a deep understanding of the spiritual ancient wisdom of this community. **⭐ Supporting Indigenous Communities** By attending this event, you're not only immersing yourself in an evening of cultural expansion, but also actively contributing to the well-being and empowerment of the Yawanawa Tribe and honoring reciprocity of indigenous peoples. A significant portion of the proceeds will be directed towards the preservation of indigenous culture in the Brazilian rainforest. Experience the magic of the Amazon right here in the bay area, where we come together as a community to celebrate the force and vitality of the forest and its indigenous guardians. Let's stand together in solidarity, recognizing the importance of preserving these vital cultures and their natural habitats. Together, we can make a difference and support these indigenous communities as they share their traditions and wisdom with the world. **About the Yawanawa:** The Yawanawa people live along the banks of the Gregorio River, in the Brazilian state of Acre. They are the guardians of some 200,000 hectares of Amazonian rainforest, of which about 95% is kept intact. In the most biodiverse biome on the planet, their ancestors developed a vast knowledge of the healing plants of the forest and a cosmovision of great spiritual wisdom. The Yawanawa's first contact with the non-indigenous world happened a little over a hundred years ago. The initial conflicts reduced the Yawanawa family to less than 100 people. For decades they endured the presence of the rubber industry and the missionaries who invaded their lands and tried to forbid Yawanawá language, culture and spirituality. In the 1980s, their fight for the recognition of their ancestral territory led the Yawanawá to become the first indigenous people to obtain the official rights to their lands in the state of Acre. Under the guidance and teachings of pajés Tata and Yawa, the last living elders and medicine men of their people, the Yawanawa have been on a profound journey of cultural and spiritual revival. Their sacred rituals, prayers, songs and art are now celebrated all year round. In the last 20 years, the Yawanawa leaders have been dedicated to developing a model of sustainability that allows them to engage with the outside world on their own terms, without compromising their cultural and spiritual identity. Nowadays, the Yawanawa population is estimated at over 1000 people, 80% of which are children and youth. The new generations carry their identity with pride and are committed to the continuation of the legacy of their ancestors. In the last decade the Yawanawa youth introduced instruments such as guitars, flutes and drums into their traditional ceremonies and prayers, and an exceptional musical culture has been rising from deep in the Amazon rainforest. Combined with their powerful voices, Yawanawa music is now known around the world and the new generation of Yawanawa leaders travel the world to share the message of the forest through their ancestral prayers and phenomenal music.

🎉🌮 Cheers to Teddy’s Excellent Adventure! Happy Hour in San Mateo

One of our longtime New Beginnings friends, **Teddy, is starting a new adventure!** She’ll soon be trading San Mateo for **Roseville, California**, and we’d love to send her off with plenty of smiles, hugs, good conversation—and maybe a margarita or two. 🍹 Come join us for a casual **Happy Hour at Celia’s Mexican Restaurant** as we celebrate Teddy, share some memories, and wish her all the best in her new home. 📅 **Wednesday, October 21** 🕔 **5:00–7:00 PM** 📍 **Celia’s Mexican Restaurant** 504 Peninsula Avenue, San Mateo Drop in anytime between 5:00 and 7:00 and stay as long as you like. Order whatever food or drinks you’d like and enjoy some time catching up with Teddy and other New Beginnings friends. Celia’s has a full Mexican menu, appetizers, margaritas, sangria, cocktails, and non-alcoholic drinks—plenty of choices for a festive Happy Hour. 🌮🍹 **Let’s give Teddy a wonderful New Beginnings send-off as she begins her next chapter in Roseville!** 💛 We hope you can join us! 🤗 \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- 🚗 **Parking** There is a small lot west of the restaurant. After it is full, there is street parking and the Safeway/Starbuck's lot at Delaware and Peninsula Avenues. \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- 🔷 **See our Group Guidelines [HERE](https://sites.google.com/view/new-beginnings-guidelines/home)** *❤️* ***Help Keep the Fun Going in 2026*** *We’re a volunteer-led group, and member contributions help cover annual Meetup fees and occasional venue rentals. See our* ***[2026 contributor list](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FhXm1V0hEuWSbuOMivlLUqTm3JaCPD6VSOzg3ZrAJyE/edit?usp=sharing).*** *Please make your annual $20 contribution for 2026 by giving cash with your name to the host at an in-person event. (Contributions are not tax-deductible.) As a thank-you, you can opt in to receive one-way group text updates with reminders and last-minute announcements. New here? Enjoy a few events first, then pitch in if it feels like a good fit!* ❤️ ***Liability Reminder*** *By participating in any New Beginnings Social Event, you and your guests RELEASE and DISCHARGE the organizers, hosts, and fellow participants from all liability for injuries, illness, damages, death, issues relating to privacy or economic loss arising from activities, advice, or information provided. Participation is voluntary and entirely at your own risk. You are responsible for your safety, belongings, and transportation decisions. Choose carpool drivers carefully and consider leaving valuables at home.*

Ceilidh Celtic Dance Benefit for Cuba at Ashkenaz

7:00 pm doors open 7:30 pm live music and dancing The Ceilidh Dance Benefit is a lively community fundraiser featuring traditional Celtic music by The Sunroom Sessions, dancing, and a welcoming atmosphere for all ages and experience levels. Guests can enjoy live music and participate in easy-to-follow group dances led by a caller, while coming together to support a meaningful cause. It’s a fun, social evening that combines great music, dancing, and community spirit. Proceeds will support a program in Havana providing essential care to 75 elders who have no other support system to rely on and are suffering especially badly under the current blockade. This program was suggested to Colin (a member of The Sunroom Sessions) by a Cuban musician friend that he made in Havana in 2019 as a place where the money raised will directly and quickly help people in great need. It is run by Colin’s friend’s pastor at the International Christian Community in Havana, who started it 20 years ago in an effort to fill in the support system gaps for as many elders in their community as possible. There are five trained caregivers who make (at least) weekly house visits to the elders in their care, buy and bring them food, medicine, and other essentials, provide transportation, offer companionship, check in on their mental and physical well-being, and more. Funds raised will help support this work and close a gap in the program’s $21,000 minimum budget for 2026. For more details on this program and to donate, visit [https://colincotter.com/cuba-donation/](https://colincotter.com/cuba-donation/) Tickets will be a sliding scale $10-30 at the door. This is a fundraiser and Bay Area money goes a *long* way in Cuba, so please contribute what you can to the cause! Tickets: [https://tickets.venuepilot.com/e/ceilidh-dance-benefit-2026-10-13-ashkenaz-music-dance-community-center-berkeley-1be637](https://tickets.venuepilot.com/e/ceilidh-dance-benefit-2026-10-13-ashkenaz-music-dance-community-center-berkeley-1be637) Ashkenaz is all ages, all the time. Kids and minors are always welcome. Those 12 or under are admitted FREE (unless otherwise noted). Note: this event is not organized by Berkeley Dancing Meetup. We encourage everyone to go! The last one was awesome!

Promenade decouverte Art Deco @ San Francisco

Promenade decouverte des immeubles Art Deco de la Marina ou Financial District [a definir bientot] et de l'histoire du mouvement Art Deco. [details a venir]

Black & Dating: A Black-Centered Mixer Open to All

Whether you’re African American or simply interested in meeting Black singles, this is a wonderful opportunity to expand your social circle, spark new friendships, and perhaps even meet someone special. **Adult** **Singles of all races and ethnicities are warmly welcome**. Adults of all ages. Dress to impress and enjoy an evening of lively conversation at a lovely restaurant. Our signature FUN Mixer Game makes it effortless to meet lots of interesting people—breaking the ice naturally and ensuring everyone has a chance to connect. No awkward moments, just great conversations and a fun, welcoming atmosphere! Adults of all ages are welcome. **[TICKETS](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/african-american-singles-those-who-love-them-tickets-2002157563168?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true)**: $30/early birds; $40/advance; $50/door, if space permits. These events often sell out, so we recommend purchasing a ticket early. RSVP does NOT guarantee you a spot, only if you prepay online by credit card. WHEN: Thursday, October 15, 2026, 7-9pm. WHERE: [DACHA](http://dachaprojects.com/), 1085 Sutter Street, San Francisco CA. Free street parking in SF after 6pm. We request that everyone purchase at least one drink so that this fine venue invites us back! CO-SPONSORED by *The Society of Single Professionals, Singles Bay Area*, and dozens of singles organizations and meetups. All events benefit [The Seva Foundation](https://www.seva.org/), to restore sight to the blind. MORE PARTIES at [[www.thepartyhotline.com](http://www.thepartyhotline.com/)](). · [National Singles Day Speed Dating](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/national-singles-week-speed-dating-for-40s50s-tickets-1996885269596?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true), 40s/50s, Sep 26, Emeryville · [Silicon Valley Speed Dating](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/silicon-valley-speed-dating-for-30s40s-tickets-1998025308483?aff=oddtdtcreator), 30s/40s, Oct 1, Santa Clara · [50 & Fabulous, 50+](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/50-fabulous-party-for-single-professionals-50-tickets-1995324979727?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true), Oct 3, San Francisco · [Speed Dating for 40s/50s at fun hotel](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/speed-dating-for-40s50s-at-fun-union-square-hotel-tickets-1995325455149?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true), Oct 10, San Francisco · [Master Speed Dating!](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/master-speed-dating-online-seminar-for-men-tickets-2000213001933?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true) Online Seminar, all ages, Oct 11 · [African American Singles & Those Who Love Them](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/african-american-singles-those-who-love-them-tickets-2002157563168?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true), all ages, Oct 15, SF · [Single and Ready to Mingle](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/single-and-ready-to-mingle-50-tickets-1998161677366?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true), 50+, Oct 18, Tiburon · [Peninsula Speed Dating for 30s/40s](https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/sfosadt-doubletree-san-francisco-airport-south-blvd/), Oct 25, South San Francisco · [Rooftop Party at Spectacular Hotel](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/rooftop-party-at-lovely-napa-hotel-tickets-2001262960387?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true), 40+, Oct 25, Napa · [Halloween Party](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/halloween-party-for-single-professionals-21-49-tickets-1999052946175?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true), 21-49, Oct 31, San Francisco · [Halloween Party](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/halloween-costume-party-dance-for-single-professionals-50-tickets-1999054831815?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true), 50+, Oct 31, Mill Valley · [Peninsula 50+ Mixer](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/peninsula-mixer-for-50-tickets-1999055415561?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true), Nov 1, Burlingame · Christmas Mixer, 40+, Dec 13, Tiburon FOLLOW US ON **[INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/singlesbayarea/)**. **[VIDEO](https://www.instagram.com/p/DETWrxSvvvW/)** from our New Years Eve Bash. PLEASE NOTE: The number of people who RSVP on this meetup doesn't reflect all who have registered or will be attending. We promote our events on 26 different singles meetups and dozens of major websites, including *Facebook, Twitter, Yelp, Yahoo, Google*, etc., plus email blasts to thousands of Bay Area singles.

[Festival] World of Dumplings

**World of Dumplings** *World of Dumplings* is a festival organized by *Asians are Strong*. Tickets are free, but dumplings are not. This is the third year of this festival at the Ferry Building. a few dozen vendors will showcase their various dumplings from around the world, many cuisines will be represented celebrating the cultures of many asian countries and others including Italy and Spain. This is a large festival, so it is loosely organized, we'll meet around 11:00a at the western front doors near Peaches Patties. I'll have a flag, I will also have a discussion channel created for this event on WhatsApp in the San Francisco Foodies group, so people can point out great finds, posting in this event's comments is also recommended. **Minutiae** Tickets are free, and can be purchased at [World of Dumplings 2026](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/world-of-dumplings-2026-tickets-1997773482264) **History** Started by *Asians are Strong* in 2024, this is the third year at the San Francisco Ferry building, last year was a lot of fun. From their site: *What to expect:* * *Dumplings from all over the world* * *25+ restaurant vendors* * *Eating contests* * *Cooking demos* * *Beer garden* * *Raffle prizes* * *Dumpling trivia* * *Family activities* * *Performances* * *Music* * *And more exciting new additions to be announced!* Administratriva Estimated Cost (of Entree or three course meal) *Dress is smart casual*

The Geography Within Us: A Poetry Gathering on Place, Memory, and Belonging

Perhaps home is not simply the place we come from. Perhaps it is a language in which our name sounds different. A kitchen where someone knows what we like to eat. A city whose streets our feet remember. A landscape whose seasons still live somewhere in the body. A person beside whom we do not have to explain ourselves. A song that returns us somewhere. Or a place where we arrived as strangers and, slowly, unexpectedly, learned to belong. We carry many geographies within us. The place where we were born. The neighborhood where we grew up. The cities we chose and the ones circumstance chose for us. The landscapes we left behind. The languages through which we learned to understand the world. The people who made unfamiliar places feel like home. Over time, these places become more than locations on a map. They enter our memories, our gestures, our food, our music, our language, even the ways we understand distance and belonging. Sometimes we leave a place and discover that it never entirely leaves us. And sometimes a place we never imagined belonging to becomes part of who we are. **The Geography Within Us** is **a gathering devoted to place, memory, and belonging, and to the many landscapes, languages, people, and journeys that quietly become part of our inner lives**. Together, we will explore not simply where we come from, but the more mysterious question of **what places have become part of who we are.** Across traditions, poets have carried entire worlds within their poems. Mahmoud Darwish carried Palestine through memory and language. Agha Shahid Ali recreated Kashmir across distance and longing. Derek Walcott explored the ways landscape, history, and identity become inseparable. Naomi Shihab Nye finds belonging in family, language, ordinary encounters, and the crossings between cultures. Joy Harjo writes of land, ancestry, memory, and our deep relationship with place. Their poems remind us that geography is not only something outside us. It can also become something we carry within. This gathering asks: **What places have become part of who we are?** **How do landscapes, languages, cities, and communities continue to live within us long after we leave them?** **And how do the places we discover unexpectedly change our understanding of where we belong?** We will read poems about childhood streets and adopted cities, familiar landscapes and distant homelands, kitchens and train stations, migration and arrival, language and memory, journeys and returns, and the unexpected places where belonging finds us. You are welcome to bring: * A poem about a place that has shaped you. * A piece connected to a city, landscape, language, neighborhood, or community you carry within you. * A poem about leaving somewhere, arriving somewhere, or unexpectedly finding a sense of belonging. * A song, photograph, recipe, memory, or passage that transports you to another place. * An original work about a geography, real or imagined, that has become part of who you are. We invite poetry from all languages and traditions. Together, we will read, translate, reflect, and listen, allowing the different geographies we carry to meet in the same room. As always with Kaavya Connections, the gathering may wander beyond the theme. We follow where the poems, memories, and conversations lead. Join us for an afternoon exploring the places that made us, the places that changed us, the places that surprised us, and the places that continue to live quietly within us. Bring a friend, a poem, a place, or simply come to listen. **Above all, bring the worlds you carry within you.** Please find more about us here — Kaavya Connections Website: [https://www.kaavyaconnections.com/](https://www.kaavyaconnections.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) Please also join the mailing list for upcoming gatherings and events: [https://www.kaavyaconnections.com/mailing-list/](https://www.kaavyaconnections.com/mailing-list/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) If you would like to volunteer to help organize future gatherings and performances, please email: [contact@kaavyaconnections.com](mailto:contact@kaavyaconnections.com) **Kaavya Connections**

Anhad Naad Sufi Qawwali at Medicine for Nightmares

Come join us for an evening of Sufi poetry and South Asian Qawwali music at Medicine for Nightmares Bookstore. For this event we are sharing your donation 50/50 with this iconic community oriented bookstore acknowledging their contribution to the cultures of Mission district. About Medicine for Nightmare Bookstore: "**Lifting Diverse Voices:** Co-founded by Josiah Luis Alderete and Tân Khánh Cao, the shop specializes in radical literature, poetry, and Spanish-language books that reflect the neighborhood's diverse and marginalized communities. * **Cultural Sanctuary:** Operating in the heart of the Calle 24 Latino Cultural District, the store functions as a gathering place and community portal preserving the Mission's deep literary legacy." https://medicinefornightmares.com/ Suggested donation $10 or more.