Upcoming Events
BART MART - March 4 and March 24
BART is starting a series of smaller artist alleys in our stations, with a focus on transit-themed illustrations, and goods from local independent artists. Our first 2 events will be held at:
- BART MART 1: Downtown Berkeley Station on Wednesday March 4, 3-6pm
- BART MART 2: Millbrae Station on Thursday March 26, 4-7pm (loosely horse-themed!)
We plan to have approximately 10 tables at our each of our markets for artists who want to sell or showcase their work. Artists of all skills, styles, and mediums are encouraged to apply.
Bach in the Subways - March 21 to March 31
BART invites local musicians to play live music between March 21 and 31 as part of Bach in the Subways, a global celebration of Johann Sebastian Bach and his enduring music.
Bach in the Subways was started organically in 2010 by New York City-based musician Dale Henderson and has grown into an international event that invites musicians to play Bach in public spaces. Musicians have played in more than 150 cities across 40 countries. Watch a short video of a previous performance here.
We'll update this page with the performance schedule in March. All performances take place in non-paid areas of stations.
How to play at a BART station
You are welcome to register as a solo artist or with a group. Playing Bach isn't a requirement, but it is recommended.
1) Register here.
2) Apply for BART's free Expressive Activity Permit.
3) Show up with your permit and play!
For participating musicians, BART requires that they not affix any signs on the walls, do not use amplified music, and only perform in non-paid areas of the stations. Bach in the Subways requires that participating musicians not solicit tips or accept any money as it is meant to be a shared gift of musical joy. Read more about requirements and guidelines here.
For general questions about Bach in the Subways, email [email protected]. For questions related to BART, email [email protected].
Explore Fun Stuff
BART Cab Cam Videos
BART fans can now see the system like never before as BART releases a new series of videos showcasing the entire BART System from the point of view of a Train Operator.
Watch the videos on YouTube at BART Cab Cam.
Rider Guides
Get to major Bay Area events by following our rider guides, which describe how to take transit to local venues.
Find them on our rider guide page.
Railgoods -BART Merch
Railgoods is the one-stop-shop for BART merchandise. Choose from items like BART’s signature “Old Boi/New Boi” t-shirt or Capitol Corridor’s adorable Cappy Train socks. Whether you’re looking to treat yourself or you're shopping for that train enthusiast in your life, there is something for everyone at railgoods.com.
Visit Railgoods.com.
Rail Tales - Infrastructure Storytelling
BART is telling the stories of the history, present, and future of its infrastructure. Read in-depth stories and watch videos that tell the tales of BART through its track, tech, trains, and more.
Read the stories on Rail Tales.
Speedrun Records
BART loves to see transit fans speedrun our system for time. So much so, we have set up this webpage to track speedruns and their records. A speedrun is the total time it takes to travel through all BART stations.
Find the records on the Speedruns Page.
Anime Mascots
Inspired by BART frontline employees and BART-contracted animals (goats, hawks) who have gone on to reach national fame, the anime mascots highlight the tight-knit connections between BART and the Bay Area.
Learn more about the Anime Mascots.
Contests and Deals
Throughout the year, BARTable has exciting contests, sweepstakes, and deals. Don't miss a thing by signing up for the BARTable This Week newsletter at bart.gov/bartable. Look for the blue box.
Learn more about BARTable Contests and Deals.
KPop
We’re excited to welcome Kpop fans to the Bay Area! BART is the best way to discover what the Bay Area has to offer: skip the traffic, parking headache, and enjoy safe & convenient access to our local airports!
Learn more about how to ride BART and get to your concerts at BART.gov/Kpop
Eat + Drink
BARTable is a website dedicated to everything that is BARTable (as in, things that are close to BART stations), and we are spreading the word about some of the best things to experience in the Bay Area, including places to eat and drink by BART stations!
Find places to eat and drink on the BARTable Eat + Drink page.
Outdoors
There are so many BARTable walks, hikes, bike rides, and other activities accessible by BART. Take our trains to get out and explore the outdoors.
Find places to get outside on the BARTable Outdoors page.
Arts + Lifestyle
Looking for a museum, place to shop, or events by BART? BARTable has you covered with regular articles covering some of the fantastic cultural experiences near BART stations.
Find places to eat and drink on the BARTable Arts + Lifestyle page.
BART Connects
The BART Connects storytelling series was launched in2023 to showcase the real people who ride and rely on BART and illustrate the manifold ways the system affects their lives. The subjects of BART Connects will be featured in videos as well as a forthcoming marketing campaign that is slated to run across the Bay Area.
Learn more about BART Connects.
Story Dispensers + Writing Contests
BART has free story dispensers at select stations that are like vending machines for for creative writing. The writing is printed on eco-friendly, recyclable paper that ejects from the machine after you hover your finger over a button.
Learn more about the dispensers, where to find them, and the writing contests BART hosts on this page.
One Book One BART
BART hosts its very own book club centered around books written by local authors or about local themes. Every book club season, BART programs different reading-related events, like book clubs hosted on moving trains during passenger service!
Keep up to date with the book club on the official page.
Transit Saves
Public transportation is the backbone of the Bay Area, and to recognize the many ways it enhances our communities, BART created the Transit Saves campaign. The campaign launched in 2023 with four unique art concepts, which you can view at the bottom of this page. In 2024, BART unveiled a second edition of Transit Saves.
Learn more about Transit Saves.
Machines of BART
It takes more than trains to run a railroad. Some you've no doubt seen, such as police cars and light duty trucks used by maintenance staff. But there are some less familiar vehicles with specialized uses that help bring you a safer, more reliable ride. Here is a guide to some of these massive machines of BART.
Learn more about The Machines of BART.
Why does BART have a fun stuff page? Why does BART do fun stuff?
Let us be clear: providing high-quality, clean, and safe train service is BART's #1 priority. Always.
BART's ridership recovery post-pandemic is ongoing, and our engagement efforts aim to educate riders, help us connect with the communities we serve, and build brand affinity, especially with younger riders. Our programs are getting people excited about transit and emphasizing the many places our system can take them. By partnering with dozens of local businesses and organizations each year, BART is highlighting the role public transit plays in connecting people to enriching and potentially life-changing experiences, all while celebrating the places that give them a reason to take BART in the first place.
BART has one of the most innovative ridership engagement programs in the nation that includes efforts such as the BARTable website and partnership program, anime mascots, story dispensers and writing contests, and family friendly events. Recent events include live music performances at stations, anime mascot boba meetups, poetry readings, a birthday party for the BARTmobile, and a paper ticket fashion show.
With this array of programming, we are activating stations and encouraging the public to come to BART and discover the improvements we've made to the system in the past few years.
We want to get our customers to their destinations quickly and comfortably, and we want to have so me fun along the way. Join us!