By Zack Ruskin

With schools out and gaggles of tourists likely to be found at the Bay Area’s most popular destinations, it’s a good time to explore some local options that have managed to thrive away from well-trodden paths. From a legendary Pride party to a punk music festival hosted by filth-friendly filmmaker John Waters, to a world-class magic theater inconspicuously hidden deep in the Mission, to a floating art museum, and a surreal sound experience 50 years in the making, these options are sure to set your summer ablaze.

Juanita More’s Pride Party • June 28

This year, drag queen and local queer icon Juanita More will host the 22nd edition of SF’s hottest Pride party on Jones Street. Boasting a lineup packed with drag performances from the Bay Area’s best and boldest, this community-focused affair offers a stylish, sweaty way to relish in all Pride is meant to celebrate. The annual shindig also serves as a fundraiser that has raised more than $1 million for worthy local causes and nonprofits, with this year's beneficiary being the LGBT Historical Society. Prepare to be dazzled!
Tickets at eventbrite.com

The Magic Patio

It’s easy to walk past the Magic Patio without realizing what you might be missing. Run by world-class magician Andrew Evans, the non-descript exterior of this small Bernal Heights venue tucked into a block of Mission Street hides a stage and seating where you can catch Andrew Evans performing every Thursday-Saturday evening. The project is the brick-and-mortar evolution of Evans' short-lived but beloved stint hosting “unsanctioned” magic shows in his apartment complex’s shared yard. Today, things are a bit more polished with public shows for adult audiences (16+) and a steady stream of private and corporate events. See where wonderment remains alive and well by visiting the enchanting confines of the Magic Patio.
More information at themagicpatio.com

Mosswood Meltdown

• July 17-19
Where else but Oakland can you find a musical festival in a local park where 80-year-old filmmaker John Waters provides personal introductions for every act? This July tradition brings local punk acts, music oddities, and legends like Devo and Ronnie Spector together for a DIY weekend of tunes sans corporate sponsors. Festival organizers have outdone themselves for the 2026 installment, which is set to feature headlining performances from Pavement, Iggy Pop, and Bikini Kill. Tix and information at mosswoodmeltdown.com

Internet Archive

Did you know the Internet Archive — an unparalleled repository of digital culture and history — has a physical headquarters in San Francisco? Residing within a century-old former church at Funston Avenue, the Internet Archive’s HQ is part nerve center, part funhouse. To wit, the building’s main pew area is home to the IA’s all-important servers but also acts as a venue for various talks and screenings. Featuring fascinating artifacts designed to showcase the evolving technologies we’ve relied on to capture media and how the Internet Archive preserves such media for future enjoyment, the best way to step inside is courtesy of their free public tours, offered on most Fridays starting at 1 p.m.
More information at archive.org

The Museum of International Propaganda
Across the Golden Gate Bridge in sleepy San Rafael, you’ll find a non-profit space devoted to the history and influence of political propaganda around the world. All credit goes to couple Tom and Lilka Areton, who have traveled to more than 100 countries over the past 40 years to collect relevant posters, statues, and other artifacts for their one-of-a-kind museum. To bear witness to propaganda’s lasting influence on humanity can be a fascinating if formidable experience. Thankfully, the museum offers added context in the form of a robust reading room and an event space that hosts guest speakers. Located at the site of a former shoe store, this San Rafael oddity now provides a very different product by illuminating the dark power behind propaganda for all to see. museumofpropaganda.org

Escape to the Island: Art, Science, and History in Alameda

The Bay Area is home to a bounty of acclaimed museums but only one holds the unique distinction of literally being on the water. Encompassing five unique gallery spaces, the Floating Art Museum is a barge that formerly served as founder Marta Thoma Hall’s home and now showcases works by women and under-represented artists. Visitors can find the vessel — essentially a small houseboat — docked in a tidal canal between Alameda and Oakland. A few miles away located in the heart of charming downtown Alameda is the Pacific
Pinball Museum, where you can kill a few hours at the mercy of classic pinball machines. Get your fill of over 100 options, all lovingly housed at the museum whose mission is to inspire an interest in science, art and preservation of an important part of American culture. This hybrid arcade-museum operates on a pay-per-hour fee that ensures you can pack in as much pinball as your fingers can handle. Put your flipper finesse to the test at this beloved pinball palace that displays rare artifacts and relevant exhibits on the history of the game. More information:
Floating Art Museum: hallartandtechnologyfoundation.com
Pacific Pinball Museum: pacificpinball.org

Audium Theatre of Sound

Founded over 50 years ago, Audium is a one-of-a-kind place that’s also a veritable instrument unto itself. Inside the Bush Street venue , audiences are invited to enjoy curated sound and music programs — aka “sound sculptures” in Audium parlance — while submerged in total darkness. Consisting of 176 speakers arranged to deliver an unparalleled immersive audio experience, shows at this intimate 49-person space have been taking place since 1967 under the vision of original co-founders Stan Shaff and Doug McEachern. In 2021, the theater began hosting artist residencies. Let your ears take the plunge with a night in this surreal space. We love this place! More information at audium.org