Every Friday night from 6:30-8:30pm, the deYoung turns up the volume and throws a party. Visitors enjoy free admission and soak in the featured act – poet, musician, lecturer, or hip-hop choreographer.

Friday Nights at the de Young offers a variety of interdisciplinary arts programs, including live music, poetry, films, dance, tours, talks and more. The café is open with a special Friday Nights dinner menu and a no-host cocktail bar offers drinks. There are art-making activities for everyone. Programs take place in the free zone of the museum.

Cultural Encounters at the de Young is a series of interconnected programs created in collaboration with community arts organizations and performing and visual artists. These programs are designed to attract new and diverse audiences to the museum while creating exciting educational and artistic possibilities from the permanent collection and temporary exhibitions.