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Thursday, January 1
SF’s Free New Year’s Day Street Party
Thursday, January 1 – |
Cost: FREE | 2nd St & Howard St
San Francisco plans to host its first free New Year’s Day street party on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026, with organizers expecting more than 20,000 people along Second Street between Market and Howard from 5 to 10 p.m., rain or shine.
New Year’s Day in San Francisco ...
SF’s “Breakfast Of Champions” Block Party & Afterparty 2026 (SF)
SF’s longest-running New Year’s Day celebration is back and bigger than ever to celebrate 2026.
Get ready to kick off the new year with a bang at the ultimate block party hosted by Great Northern and Space Cowboys 2026!
Headliners
Boris
Claude VonStroke
Coco & Breezy
David Harness
DJ Dan
Krafty Kuts
Doc Martin
Eddie ...
New Year’s Day 2026 Parking Rules in SF (How Not to Get a Ticket)
Celebrate the kick off of 2026 with a day of free parking throughout the city of San Francisco.
Although parking hazardously is always ticketable and towable – as is parking in a red or blue zone – much of the rest of the city is yours ...
Free Admission Day at SF Botanical Garden for New Year’s Day 2026
The San Francisco Botanical Garden is one of the most diverse gardens in the world. A unique urban oasis, the garden is a living museum within Golden Gate Park, offering 55 acres of both landscaped gardens and open spaces, and showcasing over 9,000 different kinds ...Monthly
California Hosts 65+ “First Day Hikes” on New Year’s Day 2026
Thursday, January 1 – 8:00 am - Ends at 2:00 pm |
Cost: FREE | All Over the Bay Area
Step into 2026 on the right foot and on the right trail! California State Parks is inviting outdoor enthusiasts to bring their family and friends to the annual First Day Hikes on Thursday, Jan. 1, to embrace a healthy start and breath in fresh air. ...
New Year’s Resolution Bike Ride (San Jose)
Happy 2026! Come join us and kick off our Fitness New Year’s Resolution goals.
Join us as we kick off the year with a ride to keep those New Year’s resolutions. We’ll have nutrition samples and plenty of fun. We look forward to seeing you all ...
SF’s Holiday Ice Skating Session at Union Square (New Year’s Day)
Thursday, January 1 – All Day |
Cost: $22 | 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 ...
13th Annual “First Day” Hike at Jack London Stat Park (North Bay)
Jack London State Historic Park will kick off the new year with their 13th Annual First Day Hike and a “Gentler Version” of the First Day Hike, both on January 1, 2026.
The traditional trek can be either a personal challenge to make it to the ...
SF’s 12 ft. Tall “Sugar Castle” at the Westin St. Francis (Nov. 26-Jan. 2)
Thursday, January 1 – All Day |
Cost: FREE | The Westin St. Francis
The Westin St. Francis’ iconic Sugar Castle celebrates 20 years of holiday magic in San Francisco. This nearly 12-foot-tall, 1,000-pound masterpiece features more than 20 towers, 15 illuminated rooms, and a running train, bringing a whimsical French château to life in the heart of the ...
New Year’s Day 2026: Free Guided Walking Tour Weekend (6 Free Tours)
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. ...
2026 NYD Ocean Beach Plunge + Naked Bike Ride (SF)
Thursday, January 1 – 10:30 am - Ends at 3:00 pm |
Cost: FREE | Ocean Beach Great Highway & Taraval
It’s the 11th 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 ...
2026 New Year’s Day “Hatsumode” Japanese Shrine Visit (SF)
Thursday, 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 ...
San Jose’s New Year’s Day “Skate Under the Palms” Ice Skating
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, ...
Life-Sized Candy Land (Castro Valley)
HOW SWEET (LITERALLY) IS THIS ? There is a super fun life size Candyland game at the Castro Valley Library ! It opened today at 1 PM and is open through the New Year on the following dates : 12/22-12/23 1:00pm-4:30pm 12/29-12/30 1:00pm-4:30 pm 12/24 ...
‘Stranger Things’ Series Finale on the Big Screen & Themed Snacks
Netflix is giving Stranger Things fans a rare chance to watch the two-hour series finale on the big screen. The final episode of the hit sci-fi series will screen at select theaters nationwide on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day at over 20 theaters across ...
New Year’s (& Final) Day at San Jose’s “Christmas in the Park”
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 ...
SFMOMA’s “Free First Thursdays” Free Museum Day for Locals
On the first Thursday of every month, all residents of the nine Bay Area counties are invited to spend an evening at the museum on us! General admission is free from 4-8 pm. Surcharged exhibitions require separate paid tickets. Tickets are available approximately two weeks ...Monthly
Free New Year’s Day 2026 Huge Sand Art-Making at Ocean Beach (SF)
Welcome the New Year by creating a monumental, collaborative artwork at the beach. All ages and abilities welcome.
Free Huge Sand Art Creation on Ocean Beach w/ Artist Andres Amador (SF)
Andres Amador is an earthscape artist from San Francisco who is well known for creating massive ...
2026 “Fresh Start” SF’s Massive New Year’s Day Block Party w/ 4 Stages (Pier 80)
John Summit, Purple Disco Machine, Layton Giordani + many more
Pier 80 Warehouse, The Midway SF and 888 Garage
🪩🫧🥂 For bottle service inquiries please reach out to us at tables@freshstartsf.com
Kick off 2026 with Fresh Start, San Francisco’s signature New Year’s celebration returning on January 1 for ...
Free SF Chamber Orchestra Concert on New Year’s Day (Palo Alto)
Always Admission Free…because world class music belongs to EVERYONE!
These concerts are in Memory of SFCO Founder, Edgar Braun and Ida Braun
Program
Louise Farrenc – Symphony No. 3, mvt. 4
Niccolò Paganini– Violin Concerto, mvt. 1
Lisa Saito – Debut Artist
Beethoven – Symphony No. 7
Ring in the New Year with the SFCO and the ...
New Year’s Day at Oakland Zoo’s “Glowfari” 2025 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 Dazzling 60′ Tree Lighting Show (New Year’s Day)
Thursday, 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 Epic “Photosynthesis” Light Show | 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 ...
SF’s DFT New Year’s Day: “Downtown First Thursdays” (2026)
DFT: NEW YEAR’S DAY EDITION. The DFT Street Party on 2nd St.
DFT is back for a full year of street parties in 2026! Kick off a brand new season and a brand new year of DFT on New Year’s Day. DJs – Live Performances – ...
New Year’s Day at “Lightscape”: Immersive Holiday Light Trail
San Francisco Botanical Garden will transform into a glowing after-dark wonderland this winter with Lightscape, an immersive holiday light and music trail that has wowed crowds in London, Chicago, Melbourne, and New York. From November 21, 2025 through January 4, 2026, visitors can wander a ...
SF’s 2025 Macy’s Union Square Great Christmas Tree (Final Night)
Thursday, January 1 – 6:00 pm - Ends at 10:00 pm |
Cost: FREE | Union Square Park
This iconic landmark, Macy’s Great Tree in Union Square, returns decorated in an abundance of festive ornaments and glimmering lights to light up Union Square throughout the holidays. 2025 update – The official lighting quietly took place on Tuesday, November 11, 2025. San Francisco’s most ...
