The Bay Area Science Festival, billed as the largest free science celebration in Northern California, takes over the UCSF Mission Bay campus in San Francisco on Saturday, Oct. 17, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is centered on Koret Quad, admission is free, no tickets or registration are needed, and it goes on rain or shine. The catch this year: the Golden State Valkyries host the Atlanta Dream in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals at Chase Center, one block away, with a 12:30 p.m. tipoff the same day.

What's at the festival

This is the festival's 13th edition, and organizers list more than 125 hands-on activities, stage shows, art installations and behind-the-scenes lab tours. The Mercury News reported that this year's lineup includes a robot zoo, air rockets, live leopard sharks and STEM magic shows. About 10,000 people came last year, co-founder Katherine Nielsen told the paper. The event is run by UCSF's Science & Health Education Partnership with universities, museums, libraries, research labs and public agencies from around the region. It moved from its old Oracle Park finale to Mission Bay last year, partly to save money and avoid working around the Giants' schedule.

Getting there: take transit if you can

The festival's own site warns that parking may be impacted because of the Valkyries game and asks visitors to allow extra time and use public transportation. Its directions:

  • Muni: the T-Third Street line stops a block from Koret Quad. The 22 Fillmore, 15 Bayview Hunters Point Express and 55 Dogpatch buses also serve the campus.
  • BART: ride to Powell Street and transfer to the T-Third Street.
  • Caltrain: get off at 4th and King and take the T, or walk about 15 to 20 minutes. The 22nd Street station is a similar walk.
  • Ferry: there are no special ferries. From Oakland or Alameda, ride to downtown San Francisco, take the N to 4th and King, then the T to the UCSF/Chase Center stop.
  • UCSF shuttles do not run on weekends.

Parking, bikes and the 4th Street closure

Two UCSF garages sit next to the festival: the Community Center Garage at 1625 Owens St. and the Third Street Garage at 1650 Third St. Both charge $5 an hour, up to $35 a day, through the PayByPhone app, and both have ADA spaces at a reduced $7 a day with a valid DMV disabled placard. Nielsen told the Mercury News the UCSF garages will be reserved for festival-goers. Bike parking is at Genentech Hall near Campus Way, inside the Community Center Garage, and in the Third Street Garage, which has an enclosure and 16 lockers.

Organizers say 4th Street will be closed between 16th Street and Nelson Rising Lane from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Drivers coming from the Peninsula should also know that southbound Highway 101 is closed at the Hospital Curve from 11 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16, to 6 a.m. Monday, Oct. 19, with traffic detoured to I-280, the same freeway many Chase Center fans use.

What to bring

Bring a refillable water bottle; there will be refill stations. Food trucks and nearby restaurants will be open, or you can pack your own food. Pets, alcohol, drones, fireworks, smoking and vaping are not allowed. Wheelchairs are not provided, but most exhibits are on paved paths or indoors, and organizers suggest headphones for kids sensitive to noise. More details are on the festival's website. For more weekend plans, see our What's On guide.