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New Year’s Day 2026: Free Guided Walking Tour Weekend (6 Free Tours)

Thursday, January 1, 2026 - 10:30 am to 3:00 pm | Cost: FREE*
*Free tours but donations appreciated.
All Over San Francisco | San Francisco, CA

Free / Learn More

New Year’s Day 2026: Free Guided Walking Tour Weekend (6 Free Tours)

©Angel Jimenez de Luis Getty Images via Canva.com

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. Some tours may require an advanced RSVP

Thursday, January 1, 2026

10:30 am
Golden Gate Park: West End
Breakers, Old Trains & Windmills!

11:00 am
1906: Earthquake And Fire

11:00 am
Gardens in the Sky: Salesforce Transit Center and Rooftop Park

11:00 am
Presidio: From Military Base to National Park with Tunnel Tops

2:00 pm
Making Waves on the Waterfront

2:00 pm
Presidio: From Military Base to National Park with Tunnel Tops

Upcoming New Year’s Day 2026: Free Guided Walking Tour Weekend (6 Free Tours) Events

Disclaimer: Please double check event information with the event organizer as events can be canceled, details can change after they are added to our calendar, and errors do occur.


Cost: FREE*
*Free tours but donations appreciated.
Categories: **Annual Event**, *Top Pick*, In Person, New Year's Day, San Francisco, Walks & Tours
Address: San Francisco, CA

Other Events on This Day

Thursday, January 1, 2026

   SF’s Free New Year’s Day Street Party  FREE
4:00 am   SF’s “Breakfast Of Champions” Block Party & Afterparty 2026 (SF)  $43*
*Tickets start at $43 GA for the Sunset Soundsystem Afterparty; $97 GA for the all day access
All Day   New Year’s Day 2026 Parking Rules in SF (How Not to Get a Ticket)  FREE*
*We have done our best to make sure the information listed is accurate, but please consult the city and port websites before parking and park at your own risk of getting a ticket.
7:30 am   Free Admission Day at SF Botanical Garden for New Year’s Day 2026  FREE*
*Free on the 2nd Tuesday of the month, on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, New Year's Day, and daily from 7:30-9 am
8:00 am   California Hosts 65+ “First Day Hikes” on New Year’s Day 2026  FREE
9:00 am   New Year’s Resolution Bike Ride (San Jose)  FREE*
*RSVP Required
All Day   SF’s Holiday Ice Skating Session at Union Square (New Year’s Day)  $22
All Day   SF’s 12 ft. Tall “Sugar Castle” at the Westin St. Francis (Nov. 26-Jan. 2)  FREE
10:00 am   13th Annual “First Day” Hike at Jack London Stat Park (North Bay)  $15*
*$15 plus $10 per vehicle park entry fee
10:30 am   2026 NYD Ocean Beach Plunge + Naked Bike Ride (SF)  FREE
11:00 am   Cancelled: Free First Thursdays at Berkeley Art Museum  FREE*
*Free admission to galleries. Film programs are excluded. No advanced tickets required, but subject to capacity limits
11:00 am   2026 New Year’s Day “Hatsumode” Japanese Shrine Visit (SF)  FREE
11:00 am   San Jose’s New Year’s Day “Skate Under the Palms” Ice Skating  $21*
*$21 includes skate rentals
12:00 pm   ‘Stranger Things’ Series Finale on the Big Screen & Themed Snacks  $20*
*$20 concession voucher includes reserved seat
12:00 pm   New Year’s Day Aloha Luau Party at Headlands Brewing (Walnut Creek)  FREE*
*FREE ALL-DAY, LIVE MUSIC STARTS AT 2PM
12:00 pm   SFMOMA’s “Free First Thursdays” Free Museum Day for Locals  FREE*
*Residents of the nine Bay Area counties are invited to spend a day at the museum on us
12:00 pm   Life-Sized Candy Land (Castro Valley)  FREE*
*See attached flyer for more information.
12:00 pm   New Year’s (& Final) Day at San Jose’s “Christmas in the Park”  FREE*
*Free, but donations are accepted
1:00 pm   Free New Year’s Day 2026 Huge Sand Art-Making at Ocean Beach (SF)  FREE*
*Open to all
3:00 pm   Free SF Chamber Orchestra Concert on New Year’s Day (Palo Alto)  FREE*
*Tickets/RSVPs NOT required but it helps us to know you're planning to come. Supporting Members may enter up to an hour before downbeat for first choice seating. General Admission begins at 2:45pm.
3:00 pm   The Challah Club  FREE
4:30 pm   New Year’s Day at Oakland Zoo’s “Glowfari” 2025 Lights Festival  $30.75*
*Adult admission tickets start at $30.75; The Zoo is using dynamic pricing, so ticket prices will vary based on date and time and purchase date. Buy early. Tickets do sell out in advance.
5:00 pm   SF’s Epic “Photosynthesis” Light Show | Conservatory of Flowers  FREE*
*Free to watch from outside the building.
5:00 pm   PIER 39’s Dazzling 60′ Tree Lighting Show (New Year’s Day)  FREE
5:00 pm   SF’s Free NYD Block Party: DFT w/ Jazz Mafia + Pet Pageant (2026)  FREE*
*Free with RSVP
5:00 pm   SF’s DFT New Year’s Day: “Downtown First Thursdays” (2026)  FREE*
*FREE with RSVP
5:00 pm   New Year’s Day at “Lightscape”: Immersive Holiday Light Trail  $32*
*Adult tix start at $32
6:00 pm   Lower Polk / TL Art Walk | Trendyloin  FREE
6:00 pm   SF’s 2025 Macy’s Union Square Great Christmas Tree (Final Night)  FREE
7:00 pm   Hecklers Welcome: SF’s First Stand-Up Comedy Show That Invites Heckling  FREE*
*Free with RSVP
9:00 pm   16th & Mission Open Mic (w/out a mic)  FREE*
*Absolutely free for all!
9:00 pm   Every Thursday: “Inner Circle” Dance Party at White Rabbit (SF)  FREE*
*Inner Circle is always Free with RSVP
9:30 pm   Sadderday: An Emo/Pop-Punk/Screamo Dance Party | SF  FREE
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