October is when the Bay Area really shows off. The fog takes a vacation, the skies turn blue, and suddenly everyone remembers that San Francisco actually has a fall season. And this month? There is plenty to get out of the house for. Whether your idea of a great day involves an independent film, discovering a fabulous piece of art, browsing a fashion show, listening to live music, or simply wandering somewhere you haven’t been lately, October has you covered.

 Oct. 1-11. Mill Valley Film Festival

Grab a friend, a glass of wine and your inner film critic. The 49th Mill Valley Film Festival returns October 1–11 with 94 feature films and 80 shorts from 45 countries. There are documentaries, international films, new directors, filmmaker conversations and special events, with screenings at the Smith Rafael Film Center, Sequoia Cinema, Lark Theater and other venues. And here’s something we especially love: the festival’s Mind the Gap program, which highlights women and nonbinary filmmakers. This year’s festival includes films such as Wild Horse Nine, Josephine, La Bola Negra and Odyssey, along with tributes and appearances from actors and filmmakers. Mill Valley Film Fest

The Silicon Valley African Film Festival

This festival returns for its 17th annual celebration with films from across the African continent and diaspora. This year’s festival features 75 films from 33 countries, plus filmmaker conversations, panels, workshops, live performances, fashion shows and an African marketplace. This is much more than sitting in a dark theater. It’s an opportunity to discover filmmakers, stories and perspectives that don’t always make it onto mainstream screens. There is also a free virtual screening day on October 4 if you’d rather experience some of the festival from your sofa. SV African Film Fest

Oakland SF and SFMOMA  Style

Fashion, art, music, food and Oakland creativity all collide during Oakland Style, a five-day celebration of The Town’s creative culture. We’re particularly intrigued by Inspired on the Runway on October 8, featuring fashion from Oakland School for the Arts, Kingmakers, Creative Growth, Oakland Style Lab and the White Elephant Sale. There are also sneaker exhibits, art experiences, a Creative Growth fashion tour, culinary events and an Oakland film celebration. Because fashion after 40 doesn’t have to mean disappearing into beige. In fact, Oakland Style feels like a very good excuse to steal an idea or two for your own closet. Oakland Style

If your perfect afternoon involves art, antiques, jewelry and beautiful things you absolutely do not need but suddenly cannot live without, put the San Francisco Fall Show on your calendar. Held at Fort Mason, the show brings together art, antiques and design dealers in beautifully staged displays, along with talks and events focused on collecting, interiors, craftsmanship and design. This year’s theme is “Métallique Chic,” so expect plenty of gold, silver, copper and other shimmering inspiration. SF Fall show

And if you prefer contemporary art, make a date with SFMOMA. A particularly fun new exhibition opens October 3: RM x SFMOMA: Between You and Me, bringing together nearly 150 works from BTS superstar RM’s personal collection with works from SFMOMA’s collection. Even those of us of a certain age have surely heard of BTS, the popular Korean Boy Band, it’s definitely an exhibit worth visiting. If you’ve ever wondered what inspires an artist, this is a fascinating way to peek behind the curtain. SFMOMA

Oct. 2-4. Hardly Strictly Bluegrass

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass returns to Golden Gate Park October for its 26th year. The lineup includes Robert Plant with Saving Grace, Mavis Staples, Emmylou Harris, Los Lobos and My Morning Jacket, among many others. Bring a blanket, gather your girlfriends and settle in.  No VIP wristband required. No fancy outfit required either, although we fully support one. It is one of those quintessentially San Francisco events that reminds you why living here is pretty darn special. BLUEGRASS

Oct.4 Litquak

October is also a good month to feed your brain. Litquake Out Loud and the Small Press Book Fair takes over Yerba Buena Gardens from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Expect independent publishers, literary magazines, poetry, readings and live music. It’s free, and you can browse books while pretending you’re only there to “look.” We know how this works. Then comes Lit Crawl SF on October 24. More than 250 authors and nearly 5,000 literary fans descend on the Mission for a gloriously unconventional literary pub crawl. Readings happen everywhere from bookstores and galleries to bars, cafés and other unexpected venues. It is book club meets nightlife, without requiring you to actually join a book club. LITQUAKE

Oct. 9-11. Fleet Week Air Show

If you’ve never experienced San Francisco Fleet Week, October is your chance to look up and watch the sky put on a spectacular show. The big event is the featuring the U.S. Navy Blue Angels, an F-22 Raptor demonstration, an F-35B, the United Airlines 777 and plenty of other aircraft roaring, looping and diving over the Bay. The main viewing area is Marina Green, where general admission is free. But you don’t necessarily have to plant yourself in the middle of the crowds.

Crissy Field and the Presidio waterfront offer gorgeous views of the action with that very San Francisco combination of bay, bridge and sky. Marina Green gives you the full Fleet Week experience, while Presidio Tunnel Tops is another beautiful spot to combine the show with a walk, coffee or lunch afterward. If you’d rather make a day of it, head down to the waterfront for Fleet Fest at Pier 27 and Fisherman’s Wharf, happening October 10–11, with live music, military bands, food vendors and activities. And don’t overlook the Parade of Ships on Friday, October 9, when visiting vessels sail beneath the Golden Gate Bridge and along the San Francisco waterfront. You can also tour visiting ships at Piers 27 and 35 on select days. Fleet Week