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What's Up This Weekend with Fonseca 01/16/26

Friday, January 16


Cirque du Soleil ECHO ~ Under the Big Top at Oracle Park, San FranciscoLast chance to see Cirque du Soleil ECHO before it leaves San Francisco on January 18. Don’t miss Cirque du Soleil’s newest show blending daring acrobats, cutting-edge technology, and moving storytelling. Use this link for tickets starting at $60.

The Adventures of Pinocchio – Mountain View


Saturday, January 17

Glowfari at Oakland Zoo ~ OaklandThis wildly popular, family-friendly experience is back with hundreds of new, larger-than-life animal lanterns throughout the Zoo. Each lantern tells the story of the ongoing journey of wildlife, the importance of every species on our planet, and Oakland Zoo’s commitment to conservation. Finish your experience with a ride on the train through the great red island of Madagascar, a wondrous world full of lemurs, chameleons, and other unique flora and fauna!

Creature Feature – Berkeley

MLK Celebration – San Leandro

Mike the Magician (Free) – Redwood City

Planetarium Shows – Cupertino

Science Saturdays – Capitola


Sunday, January 18

Harlem Globetrotters – San Francisco

The Addams Family – Pleasanton

Storytime at the Foster Museum (Free) – Palo Alto


Monday, January 19

MLK2026 Music Festival (Free) – San Francisco

Health & Wellness Festival (Free) – San Francisco

MLK Day Parade & Rally (Free) – El Cerrito


Wide / Major Theatrical Releases

  • 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple – Horror continuation of the 28 Days Later franchise.

  • Hamnet – Biography/drama historical film directed by Chloé Zhao.

  • Dead Man’s Wire – Crime/drama based on a true story starring Bill Skarsgård and Al Pacino (expanded release this weekend).

  • Night Patrol – Horror/thriller blending police drama and mystery.

  • Charlie the Wonderdog – Family/animated adventure featuring Owen Wilson.

  • I Was a Stranger – Drama film releasing January 16.

Limited Theatrical / VOD & Specialty Releases Opening This Weekend

  • The RIP – Crime thriller starring Matt Damon and Ben Affleck on Netflix and limited screens.

  • Killer Whale – Intense thriller involving a deadly orca; limited/VOD.

  • Sheepdog (limited) – Veteran drama with Steven Grayhm.

  • Sheepdog (alternative dramatic title listing).

SPORTS BAY AREA THIS WEEKEND
SPORTS BAY AREA THIS WEEKEND

National Football League (NFL)

  • San Francisco 49ers — NFC Divisional Playoff

    • vs. Seattle Seahawks — Saturday, January 17, ~5:00 PM Pacific Time (NFC Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs)

National Basketball Association (NBA)

  • Golden State Warriors

    • vs. Charlotte Hornets — Saturday, January 17 at ~5:30 PM PST (regular season)



Oakland Museum of California (first Sunday) – Oakland

Telescope Viewing at Chabot (Fri & Sat eves) – Oakland

San Mateo County History Museum (1st Friday) – Redwood City

Asian Art Museum (1st Sunday) – San Francisco

California Academy of Sciences (4 select days per year) – San Francisco

Exploratorium (select days throughout the year) – San Francisco

CuriOdyssey at Coyote Point (select days) – San Mateo

Hands on Science Classes at Intel Museum (always free) – Santa Clara

Bay Area Children’s Discovery Museum (1st Wednesday) – Sausalito

Bay Model Center – Sausalito

Cantor Arts Center at Stanford (always free, special family programs on Sundays) – Stanford

Home Depot Kids Workshop (1st Saturday) – all locations


Friday, January 16, 2026

  • Live show at Bottom of the Hill (SF) — rock/alternative acts including Soothsayer & Theya (doors ~8:00 PM; music ~8:30 PM).

  • Candlelight concert experiences (various classical/pop-tribute performances) in SF (multiple sets).

  • DJs and electronic/nightlife sets at The Midway (SF) — e.g., Basscon Presents MISFITS with Ben Nicky and others (evening events).

Saturday, January 17, 2026

  • San Francisco Symphony performance — Gardner Conducts “The Planets” at Davies Symphony Hall (~7:30 PM).

  • Neck of the Woods — shows including Black Eyes / Vulture Feather / The Intima (~8:00 PM).

  • Nueve Lio: Her Turn Tour at The Fillmore (~8:00 PM).

  • Bass Rush Presents: KOMPANY electronic set (details/events in Bay Area listings).

  • Peninsula Symphony with pianist Joyce Yang (classical event).

Sunday, January 18, 2026

  • MLK Tribute Concert: “Fight the Power!” — at The Freight (SF) with doors ~7:00 PM (MLK weekend music event).

Other Venues with Likely Shows This WeekendThese venues typically host live music and have weekend listings around Jan 16–18; check local schedules for exact artists/times:

  • The Independent (SF) – rock/indie acts

  • Great American Music Hall (SF) – touring bands and specialty concerts

  • The Chapel (SF) – live shows often Fri/Sat

  • Brick & Mortar Music Hall (SF) – club concerts

  • 1015 Folsom (SF) – DJ/night sets

  • Paramount Theatre Oakland (Oakland) – major concerts

  • Fox Theater (Oakland) – touring artists

  • The UC Theatre Taube Family Music Hall (Berkeley) – live rock/pop

  • The Sound Room (Oakland) – jazz/blues sets

FESTIVAL AND EVENTS


  • 2026 Napa Lighted Art Festival – Outdoor light art walk and installations opening Saturday, January 17 and running through February 15 along Downtown Napa (free to attend; family-friendly).

  • 2026 Lunar New Year Lion Dance Festival – A multi-day cultural celebration of the Lunar New Year (Year of the Horse) with lion dance performances and related festivities starting January 17 through January 31 at multiple San Francisco Public Library locations.

  • SF Art Week – A week-long Bay Area art celebration beginning Saturday, January 17, with exhibitions, installations, open studios, talks, and public art events across San Francisco (Jan 17–25).

Community & MLK Weekend Celebrations (Festival-Style Public Activities)

  • MLK Day Weekend Events & Parades/Marches – While not all are traditional “festivals,” there are weekend-long community celebrations and marches tied to Martin Luther King Jr. legacy (Jan 16–19) around the region, often including live music, performances, and civic activities


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