Upcoming Events
August 8, Fremont: Tool Time with the BART Deputy General Manager
On Saturday, August 8, BART Deputy General Manager Michael Jones invites riders to explore the inner workings of BART and the equipment that keeps it running for Tool Time with the BART Deputy General Manager, in the Fremont Station north parking lot from 10am to 12:30pm.
The free all-ages event will be held beside an active construction area, where BART is currently working to replace a vital interlocking nearing the end of its lifespan. A series of equipment and vehicles BART uses to build, maintain, and run the system will be on display for the day, giving families the rare opportunity to see things like high railers, a vactor truck, a speed swing, and other cool tools up close, with staff on hand to answer questions.
A highlight of the day is a live crane demo, featuring the project’s massive Bigge crane -- the second largest of its kind on the West Coast! The demo will take place at 11am.
Other activities include a BART Police K9 demonstration, BART engineer show-and-tell tables, a Railgoods BART Merch pop-up shop, and more. The event will also give attendees the chance to meet and ask questions of BART Deputy General Manager Michael Jones and members of BART’s dedicated workforce.
Tool Time will be held in the Fremont Station Parking Lot next to the construction area on the north side of the station, which is currently an active construction laydown area where crews are working to replace the interlocking between Union City and Fremont stations. Interlockings are fail-safe systems that allow trains to safety cross from one track to another. Come see for yourself!
What: Tool Time with BART Deputy General Manager Michael Jones
When: Saturday, August 8, 10am to 12:30pm
Where: Fremont Station Parking Lot, next to the construction area on the north side of the station.
IMPORTANT - If you are driving and parking, the Mowry Ave./Waterside Circle parking lot entrance will be closed during the event. Enter the north lot from Walnut Ave. or the south lot via BART Way.
Parking is free at BART stations on weekends. Taking BART is encouraged.
Free and open to all ages.
Restrooms and water onsite; wear sunscreen and a hat.
Now accepting applications for community tables at the 2026 Let's Glow! BART Anime Festival (September 19)
The Let's Glow! BART Anime Festival returns to Warm Springs/South Fremont Station on September 19, 2026, 4pm to 9pm, for a celebration of anime, comics, gaming, and novel (ACGN) culture. We’ll announce more details on cosplay, itashas, freebie trading, stamps, exclusive merch, a detailed schedule, and more in the next few months!
In the meantime, BART is looking for BART fan projects, fan clubs, community fan events/spaces, transit operators, or public services to table at the event. You must be able to table for the required time (4pm to 7:30pm; optional tabling hours are 7:30pm to 9pm). Tabling at this event is free.
Fill out the community table application here. The application closes August 1.
More Let's Glow! opportunities:
- Itashas: We will have a parking lot dedicated to wrapped vehicles (cars, bikes, mopeds, etc) managed by Dreamscape. An application form will be posted in June.
- Do you run a food or boba truck on wheels? We’re especially interested in having local vendors who can make custom food & drinks themed around our mascots or BART. Please reach out to Tom Williams at [email protected].
- Note: The artist alley application has closed.
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 Kpop
Coloring Sheets
Color with BART! We've made a series of coloring sheets you can download and print to create a BART-themed masterpiece! Download the files by clicking the hyperlinks below.
Learn more about Coloring Sheets
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.
Pumpkin Stencils
From ghosts and ghouls to bats and BARTy, enjoy the "oooos" and "aahhs" of trick-or-treaters coming to your door as they check out your BART-themed creations.
Learn more about Pumpkin Stencils
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!