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Events for January 1, 2025

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Wednesday, January 1

Japanese Tea Garden’s Free Admission Hour (Golden Gate Park)

The Japanese Tea Garden provides visitors from around the world with an opportunity to experience the natural beauty, tranquility, and harmony of a Japanese-style garden in the heart of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. Originally created as a “Japanese Village” exhibit for the 1894 California ...Every Wednesday

New Year’s Day Mt. Tam Hike 2025: Views, Water & Forest Trails
Wednesday, January 1 – 9:15 am - Ends at 1:45 pm | Cost: FREE*
*RSVP and waiver required
| Mt. Tam Peak
CHANGE OF LOCATION.  Weather looks good for a warmer side of the mountain.  There’s a tradition of going to the top of Tam on New Year’s Day and we will have an easy climb to the top of West Peak and enjoy the views before ...

New Year’s Day 2025: Free Guided Walking Tour Weekend (7 Free Tours)
Wednesday, January 1 – 9:30 am - Ends at 4:00 pm | Cost: FREE*
*Free tours but donations appreciated. Tours of the Japanese Tea Garden may require additional admission fee.
| All Over San Francisco

Start 2026 off by learning all about the city we love. San Francisco City Guides offers several free walking tours on New Year’s Day. New Year’s Day 2026 Weekend  SF City Guides Walking Tours January 1, 2026 All over San Francisco FREE, but donations appreciated. ...

12th Annual First Day Hike at Jack London State Historic Park (2025)
Wednesday, January 1 – 10:00 am - Ends at 2:30 pm | Cost: $15*
*$15 (parking fee applies)
| Jack London State Historic Park
Discover how great you will feel when you start the new year off on the right foot on the 2025 First Day Hike. Our 12th Annual Hike to the Summit of the Park can be either a personal challenge to see if you can still make it to the ...
SF’s Holiday Ice Skating Session at Union Square (New Year’s Day)
Wednesday, January 1 – 10:00 am - Ends at 11:00 pm | Cost: $20*
*Tickets are $20 with skate rental included in the cost of admission
| Union Square Park

One of San Francisco’s favorite holiday traditions returns for the 2025-26 holiday season. Since 2008, The Safeway Holiday Ice Rink in Union Square has delighted children and adults with its holiday-themed ice park located in Union Square. Gather your family and friends for a beloved ...

New Year’s Day 2025 World Naked Bike Ride + Polar Plunge (SF)
Wednesday, January 1 – 10:30 am - Ends at 2:00 pm | Cost: FREE | Ocean Beach (Taraval St)
It’s the 10th Annual New Years Day Polar Plunge and World Naked Bike Ride-San Francisco, Plunge & Beach Party. Since 2011, the Riptide Bar on Taraval sponsored Polar Plunge that has drawn 400 or more people every year. It stands to reason several hundred will show ...
SF’s GLBT History Museum: Free First Wednesday

Located in SF’s Castro District, the GLBT Historical Society Museum is the first full-scale, stand-alone museum of its kind in the United States. The museum celebrates 100 years of the city’s vast queer past through dynamic exhibitions and programming. Normally, admission is $10, but on ...Monthly

2025 New Year’s Day “Hatsumode” Japanese Shrine Visit (SF)
Wednesday, January 1 – 11:00 am - Ends at 4:00 pm | Cost: FREE | Konko Church of San Francisco
Come on by the Konko Church of San Francisco to experience your traditional Japanese New Year’s Day Shrine Visit, Hatsumode! Come start the year off right and ring the traditional shrine bell for prosperity. Write your wishes and prayers on a Shide (Sacred zigzag paper) and hang it on ...
11:00 amFree Admission Day at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA)  FREE
New Year’s Day Ice Skating at San Jose’s “Downtown Ice”
Wednesday, January 1 – 12:00 pm - Ends at 11:00 pm | Cost: $21*
*$21 includes skate rentals
| Downtown Ice (San Jose)

Located at 120 S. Market St., the downtown San Jose rink opens on Wednesday, November 26, and operates daily through January 19, 2026. Skate in true California style. A local tradition since 1994, Skate Under the Palms, formerly known as Downtown Ice in San Jose, ...

New Year’s (& Final) Day 2025 at San Jose’s “Christmas in the Park”
Wednesday, January 1 – 12:00 pm - Ends at 10:00 pm | Cost: FREE*
*Free, but donations are accepted
| Plaza de Cesar Chavez

Christmas in the Park is an annual holiday tradition that takes place in the heart of downtown San José at the Plaza de Cesar Chavez. For over 45 years, this whimsical walk-thru event has brought people from all over the Bay Area together during the ...

SF’s Free New Year’s Day Sand Art Collaboration at Ocean Beach (2025)
Wednesday, January 1 – 2:00 pm - Ends at 5:00 pm | Cost: FREE*
*donations welcome, not required
| Ocean Beach (Balboa)
Join me in creating a massive artwork on the beach. Let’s set the tone for the New Year by creative beauty together. All are welcome. No experience needed. Participation free. Donation requested but not necessary. The organizer will provide a limited number of my specially made rakes ...
SF’s New Year’s Day 2025 Polar Bear Ice Skate (Union Square)
Wednesday, January 1 – 2:30 pm - Ends at 3:30 pm | Cost: FREE*
*Free to watch; $25 to skate (Includes Skate Rental)
| Union Square Park
POLAR BEAR SKATE Wednesday, January 1, 2025 | 2:30–3:30 p.m. $25pp The Safeway Holiday Ice Rink in Union Square presented by Kaiser Permanente welcomes skaters of all ages to start the New Year off in your swimsuit…on the ice…in the middle of Union Square! As a nod ...
Ranch First Wednesday Open Community Day | Napa

Come and walk-in every first Wednesday of every month from 3-5 pm in the spring, summer and fall, and from 2-4 pm in the winter. Ranch First Wednesday Open Community Day Every First Wednesday Connolly Ranch, 3141 Browns Valley Road, Napa FREE (RSVP requested but not required) $5 ...Monthly

Union Square’s 2024 Chanukah Festival: 25-Foot-Tall Menorah: Final Night
Wednesday, January 1 – 4:00 pm - Ends at 6:00 pm | Cost: FREE | Union Square Park

Lighting it up since 1975, San Francisco celebrates the 50th anniversary of the first giant public menorah outside Israel, a landmark Bill Graham project that went on to inspire thousands of menorahs around the world. This year’s eight-night festival brings music, community gatherings, and nightly ceremonies ...

4:00 pmChanukah on Ice at Petaluma Fairgrounds  *
*20
New Year’s Day at Oakland Zoo’s “Glowfari” 2024 Lights Festival

Glowfari returns in November 2025! This wildly popular, family-friendly experience features hundreds of ALL new, larger-than-life animal lanterns throughout the Zoo. Each lantern tells the story of the ongoing journey of wildlife, the importance of every species on our planet, and Oakland Zoo’s commitment to ...

PIER 39’s Free Tree Lighting Show w/ 60′ Tall Tree (2024-25)
Wednesday, January 1 – 5:00 pm - Ends at 10:00 pm | Cost: FREE | Pier 39

The Holidays are HapPIER at PIER 39! Get into the spirit of the Season at PIER 39 while shopping, dining and strolling The PIER. An awe-inspiring Christmas tree has welcomed millions of visitors at the Entrance Plaza of PIER 39 every holiday season since 1983 ...

SF’s “Photosynthesis” Light Show (Conservatory of Flowers)
Wednesday, January 1 – 5:00 pm - Ends at 11:59 pm | Cost: FREE*
*Free to watch from outside the building.
| San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers

Light up the season with Photosynthesis, This beautiful light art installation was developed in partnership with the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department and was designed by Lumigeek with music by Tim Digulla. The installation uses special projectors to transform the all-white glasshouse into a ...

2024 Pier 39 New Year’s Day Christmas Tree Lighting Show
Wednesday, January 1 – 5:00 pm - Ends at 10:00 pm | Cost: FREE | Pier 39

An awe-inspiring Christmas tree has welcomed millions of visitors at the Entrance Plaza of PIER 39 every holiday season since 1983 (except 2020), becoming a not-to-be-missed San Francisco holiday tradition. Synchronized and choreographed to festive Holiday music, the tree “performs” every half hour from 5-10pm, ...

PIER 39’s “The Festival of Lights” Hanukkah Celebration (2024-25)
Wednesday, January 1 – 5:00 pm | Cost: FREE | Pier 39

The Holidays are HapPIER at PIER 39! Get into the spirit of the Season at PIER 39 while shopping, dining and strolling The PIER. Join PIER 39 and celebrate The Festival of Lights as we light our menorah in the PIER 39 Entrance Plaza at sundown ...

5:00 pmBarbie Day  $26*
*$26 per adult, $20 for children Ages 3 - 10
SF City Hall Lights Up Gold for New Year’s Day (2025)
Wednesday, January 1 – 5:01 pm - Ends at 7:00 am | Cost: FREE | San Francisco City Hall

San Francisco’s City Hall and its 220+ state-of-the-art LED lighting fixtures get into the New Year’s spirit by illuminating in gold for New Year’s Day. City Hall Holiday Lighting Schedule Wednesday, January 1, 2025 – gold – Happy New Year!! 😊 The schedule is always tentative for ...

6:00 pm“Safe Words” Comedy & Hot Dogs | SF  FREE*
*Donation-based admission
6:00 pm“Wiener Wednesday” Free Hot Dog Night at Rye (SF)  FREE*
*Every Wednesday, Free Hot Dogs with every Hornitos Cocktail purchase
“South Side Beer Ride” Free Monthly Brewery Shuttle | SF
Wednesday, January 1 – 6:30 pm - Ends at 10:30 pm | Cost: FREE*
*Shuttle is Free. Beer for purchase.
| Triple Voodoo Brewery

Free hop on/hop off brewery shuttle. Start at any of the eight participating breweries, then hop on any one of three vans running approximately every 30 minutes.  First Wednesdays Free Beer Shuttle Every 1st Wednesday | 6:30 pm to 10:30 pm Speakeasy Brewery, 1195 Evans ...Monthly

6:30 pmDrink & Draw Art Event & Raffle | The Knockout  FREE
6:30 pmIntro to Personal Safety & Self-Defense Class | SF  FREE*
*Free but an RSVP is required.
7:00 pmBlack Hammer’s Free “Hopped Up” Trivia Night (Every Wednesday)  FREE
“Comedians with Criminal Records” Live in SF (7p + 8:45p)
Wednesday, January 1 – 7:00 pm - Ends at 10:00 pm | Cost: FREE*
*Free with RSVP for first 50 people. Donations appreciatied
| The Function

Crime and comedy collide in San Francisco’s most daring and unique event: Comedy’s Most Wanted: Comedians with Criminal Records, brought to you by HellaFunny. Prepare for a night of laughter and lawlessness as we unveil the Bay Area’s top professional comics who’ve had run-ins with the ...

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